Virgin Australia has today confirmed a delay in the delivery of its first Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft, due to an issue related to a Boeing supplier. As a result, Virgin will be forced to temporarily operate its Cairns to Tokyo Haneda service using existing Boeing 737-700 aircraft.
The good news is that customers will not be impacted, with Japan services to continue as planned from 28 June 2023. Despite the older jets, Virgin Australia assures its customers that their flight experience will be just as wonderful as ever.
“Virgin Australia customers will not be impacted and our schedule of Japan services will continue as planned,” a Virgin Australia spokesperson said in a statement issued today.
“We look forward to sharing the wonderful Virgin Australia flight experience and service with Japanese and Australian travellers alike, creating more choice and value in the market.”
A statement from Boeing explains that the delay “is not an immediate safety of flight issue,” and that the in-service fleet of MAX jets with other airlines can continue operating safely. The American aircraft manufacturer blames the delay on a “non-standard manufacturing process,” that will likely “affect a significant number of undelivered 737 MAX aeroplanes both in production and in storage.”
As far as the delivery of Virgin Australia’s 737 MAX, the airline is now targeting a July arrival, with updates provided as soon as a confirmed delivery date is known. Following delivery and the routine regulatory approvals, Virgin’s 737-8 will enter service immediately between Cairns and Tokyo Haneda.
For the uninitiated, the 737-700 that will temporarily operate the new route is part of the same aircraft family as the factory-fresh 737 MAX. Virgin has two 737-700s fitted with the same business class seating as the majority of its larger 737-800 type, with the main difference being that the -700 has an increased range required for this route. The airline also has six of the baby boeing jets configured with only economy class, although these are currently reserved for domestic flights.
While Virgin only has two of 737-700s fitted with business class, we suspect the 17-year-old VH-VBY will be the aircraft of choice, with the airframe currently in Abu Dhabi for a cabin refit. Virgin will install the same seating as is to be delivered on the MAX and is currently complete in two 737-800 aircraft. Given the cabin similarities of the refitted Boeing 737-700 and brand-new 737 MAX, it is unlikely most passengers will even notice the change.
Meanwhile, photos have emerged of Virgin Australia’s first Boeing 737 MAX 8 parked up at Boeing’s Renton Factory. The first aircraft is suspected to be registered as VH-8IA, one of the first large commercial jets in Australia to feature a number in its registration. Hongming Zheng of www.planespotters.net captured the airframe below.
Australia to Japan in a narrow body??? No thanks, I’ll take the wide body every time!
To be fair, the 737 MAX is also narrow body 🙂