VH-VUY?

[cavemanzk]

Photos: Boeing 737-8KG Aircraft Pictures | Airliners.net (http://www.airliners.net/photo/Untitled-(Virgin-Blue/Boeing-737-8KG/1845100/L/)

Just noticed this photo on airlines.net, It mentions that its painted all white due to the well rumored new branding.

By the looks of it this a/c isn't fitted with live2air, which could be that its going to be transferred to the Tasman?

[Sunstar320]

They dont paint this one, but they have just freshly painted a few 73G's for some reason.

[cavemanzk]

I'm thinking this bird might be heading to Pacific Blue, but be painted in NZ colors under the Tasman Alliance.

At the start of the process of applying for the Alliance, NZ said that DJ would be matching its product. So I'm thinking they will fit the planes out to NZ standard with DJ operating them.

[Skystar320]

wow.......... a white plane. So cool!

[EW73]

"cool"....maybe...

I formerly flew 742/3 for AAI for some years, to all sorts of places throughout the world.
As a lease operator, of course all their airplanes were painted white, excepting those involved in lengthy lease agreements.
I recall working a lease of three airplanes for Air France in the six months leading up to 9/11...AF wanted to paint (only) the tails in the AF tricolour red/white/blue stripes, but were threatened by the pilots union that to do so would cause a pilot walkout...very strange!

EW73 :)

[Tiger01]

All new 737's from VUY onwards are being delivered in white until the launch of new branding / livery. They just have standard seating - No Premium Economy or Live 2 Air.

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/hs033.snc6/166330_1848065881782_1244748931_32223231_7709621_n.jpg

[Tiger01]

All white Virgin points to 2011 relaunch | Australian Aviation Magazine (http://australianaviation.com.au/2011/01/all-white-virgin-points-to-2011-relaunch/)
Sounds like big changes in the air at Virgin. Is going up market the right move?
Any News? Its all very hush hush..

[Skystar320]

The aircraft will be a flying billboard for the AFL - It's too early to repaint the aircraft

[DJ738]

VH-VUY does not have the new Boeing Sky Interior. Does anyone know why not?

[DJ738]

cavemanzk: I don't know if DJ will be matching NZ's current standard of product / interior. NZ have recently removed Business Class from their trans-Tasman fleet (A320s) and its well rumoured that part of Virgin Blue's relaunch is to introduce a Business Class. Of course they'll need something similar to each other for the upcoming codeshare / alliance, but who knows how they'll find that middle ground.

John Borghetti has made it clear he wants one product across the whole group, so I'd doubt they'd have a pure-Economy fleet fitted out just for the Tasman to match NZ...

[UnderneathTheRadar]

This might explain it:

Virgin Blue launches AFL plane amid controversy (http://www.theage.com.au/travel/travel-news/virgin-blue-launches-afl-plane-amid-controversy-20110124-1a2ga.html)

[The Bunglerat]

So it has an AFL logo on it. Whoopdee-doo. Still looks unfinished, but then that's because it is (until the big brand revamp with new name, logo & livery to complete the rest of the paint job).

[Cactusjack]

Still looks like a giant white whale penis.....

[bankrunner]

I've flown as SLF on one or two 738s that were brand new and were yet to have Live2air installed, according to the CC.

Speaking of which, what sort of performance/fuel burn penalty does that great whopping Ku-band antenna have, anyway?

[Tidbinbilla]

Are we a plane spotters forum now? :ugh::8

Sure sounds like it........