Virgin Australia expects delivery of its first 737 MAX 10 aircraft next year.
The airline has 10 firm orders for the MAX 10, a larger variant of its existing 737 MAX 8 fleet, and expects the first by the end of 2027 “based on manufacturer Boeing’s positive progress with US regulatory approvals.”
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“The 737-10 will be the largest aircraft in Virgin Australia’s fleet and will give us more capacity and more flexibility across our network,” said Virgin Australia chief executive Dave Emerson.
“This is an important next step in our fleet renewal program as we continue to build a younger, quieter and more fuel-efficient fleet.
“Fleet renewal is the main lever we have to reduce emissions in the short term, and the 737-10 will leverage the benefits we are already seeing from the 737-8.”
Virgin currently operates 19 737 MAX 8s and this month marks three years of 737 MAX family operations, with the first, the VH-8IA “Monkey Mia,” arriving in June 2023. The airline converted 12 of its 737 MAX 10 orders to MAX 8s in 2024 due to delays at Boeing.
“Over that period, Virgin Australia’s 737 MAX operations are estimated to have saved approximately 30 million liters of fuel and reduced more than 77,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions compared to the previous generation 737-800,” the airline said in a news release.
“The airline will take delivery of seven additional 737-8s before the end of the calendar year, bringing its total fleet of 737-8s to 26.”
Erika Pearson, Boeing’s vice president of commercial sales and marketing for Southeast Asia and Oceania, said the planemaker is “pleased to partner with Virgin Australia as it continues the modernization of its fleet, with the 737 MAX family as the backbone.”
“In addition to offering more seats, the introduction of the 737-10 will preserve commonalities across the fleet, increase flexibility and improve environmental performance on domestic and international routes,” he said.
“We remain committed to supporting Virgin Australia as they embark on this new chapter.”
The announcement comes after Virgin’s current 100th 737 and the 150th in its historic fleet, the VH-8VI “Lake Centenary”, which is painted red in a tribute to the days of Virgin Blue, entered commercial service late last month.
