DoC - I don't see the retirement of the Virgin Fokker F27/50's as anything other than the retirement of what are essentially, "old technology, uncompetitive", aircraft.
I guess you wailed about the final retirement of DC-3's/C-47's, from RPT, too?
The Virgin Fokkers are ex-Ansett - ex-Skywest - and first flew between 1987 and 1992.
No-one installs SatNav in their 1980's model cars - why would you bother with keeping F27/50's going on RPT, when their depreciated value is probably only the value of the engines?
Virgin Australia to sell Fokker 50 fleet | AviationWA