While there’s yet to be an official release, leaked flight schedules indicate that Virgin Australia is about to launch a new service to Japan in mid-2023. The airline plans to operate a nonstop service between Cairns and Tokyo Haneda utilising narrowbody Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft, which are soon to be delivered to the airline.
Cairns isn’t the logical departure point to integrate such a service into the Virgin Australia network, but with the MAX 8 maxing out (pun intended) at 6,570km, the airline doesn’t have much of a choice. For reference, flying from Cairns to Haneda is 5,840 kilometres, whereas departing Brisbane is 7100 kilometres, further than the 737-8 can handle.
While flights are yet to show up on Virgin’s IBE, and the route is still subject to official confirmation, seats are expected to become available from 14th December 2022, with the first service to Tokyo Haneda departing on 28th June 2023. We can expect the following schedule;
- VA77 departs Cairns at 1:15pm to arrive in Tokyo at 8pm the same day
- VA78 departs Tokyo at 9:45pm to arrive in Cairns at 6:15am the following day
If you didn’t clue on above, the scheduled flight time is 7 hours 45 minutes to Tokyo and 7 hours 30 minutes on the flight back to Cairns. That is a very long time to spend onboard a narrowbody aircraft, even at the pointy end. Unless Virgin takes us by surprise, and I truly hope they do, there will be no fully-flat beds on Virgin Australia’s 737 MAX fleet.
We expect that Velocity Points Redemptions will open up shortly for Tokyo flights. To lock in a one-way award seat from Cairns to Haneda, be sure to set aside;
- Economy: 27,800 Velocity Points + taxes
- Business: 59,500 Velocity Points + taxes
Virgin previously planned to operate between Brisbane and Tokyo Haneda with its Airbus A330-200 widebody jets, although those plans were scrapped along with the type. Most of the airlines previously leased A330’s were returned to their owners when faced with financial hardship.
More to come…
Who wants to fly a narrow body for a flight over 3 hours anyway? Unless it’s all biz class of course but even then…
I’ve flown the Singapore Airlines Max in economy, it was actually pretty spacious. I think the Virgin Max will just be a temporary measure until they get something bigger in a few years. If I’m not mistaken they were about to lose their slot at Haneda. I think if they price it right, it could be popular.
A great option but terrible for anyone connection onwards to places other than Sydney or Brisbane or Melbourne.
I am from Adelaide so will when I go in 2024 will be most likely booking Singapore Airlines.this way I get my velocity points and given I am flying into Osaka but out of Tokyo a much easier connection.
Hi Franz. Agreed, but unfortunately, the MAX just doesn’t have the range to operate any further South. Blue skies, Tom.