Red Airbus Jets for Virgin Blue's 10 year fleet plan
 

VB are currenty talking to aircraft manufacturers to secure aircraft for their needs for the next 10 years. No surprise there.

The types being considered may well be though. Potentially looking to get rid of ALL the E jets AND 737's and replace them with A318's / A319's / A320's and A330's.

Think anyone who fly's the line and does Bali etc would agree the 73 is the wrong aircraft (for a number of reasons) for these new longer routes so the A330 has been rumoured for a while, but ALL Airbus...

I guess having a tray table infront of you may not be such a bad thing. :)

Don't expect an announcement for a while yet with deliveries spread over many years, but I thought I'd float it now...

Forgetabowdit

Anything is possible I s'pose, but merely an unsubstantiated rumour at this stage.
A318 is certainly NO replacement for an Ejet, and to replace the 777-300ER's with A330 would have to qualify as the biggest blunder an airline board could commit at the moment. So that part of the rumour ain't gonna happen.

The E170 has a MTOW in the range of 37t and the A318 ranges from 59t-68t so don't think the numbers could ever stack up on that one.

Agree that anything over about 5 hours in pretty uncomfortable on the 73 but if you're only paying $199 you can't really complain, heh?

Just to clarify, I have heard this is only specific to Virgin Blue and not V also. The 777 will be with V for a long time yet - as it shoud be.

This would therefore see the introduction of wide bodies to Virgin Blue - which will make for, amongst other things, some interesting EBA negotions when they come around again as the current one only covers domestic 737 and E-Jet flying.

Cheers.

Hmmm... I would be surprised. Virgin always gets Airbus in for a chat when they want Boeing to "sharpen the pencil" on a pending deal. The Embraer introduction hasn't been as smooth as hoped, and I suspect our management have lost their stomach for introducing new types ... for now at least.

I doubt Customer comfort is a factor in these decisions nowadays.

Well, the new GM FO is a renowned airbus man. Having said that, the idea of getting some 737/5/6's instead of the bandit was poo poohed as being to much a/c. (And not cheap enough, of course. Not cheap enough. Isn't hindsight a wonderful thing!!) Can't see that an A318 is any advancement on that theory. Still, if they can find a way to F2ck things up more, they will. As long as someone's pockets get lined. And I don't mean the employees!!

If VB have looked at how "cost effective" Easy jet found replacing fleets, then I doubt they would contemplate the change.

Can't see it happening , but a good wind up!

Slopes, you make a valid point. But, as you well know, we do have to reinvent the wheel here, or it isn't the virgin way.........

First thing they should be doing is throwing out the E jets!! They are just about worn out now anyway...:uhoh::uhoh:

Virgin blue is reluctant to spend money on training,be it for pilots,engineers or cabin crew. If they were to change brands this would mean a total retrain of all technical and flying staff. Given that the e jets are a bucket of poo and need more LAMEs than they have trained, I doubt that the huge investment to retrain everyone will come to fruition.

It is a good rumour but I think it is just that.

Tray tables are fun. :D

I heard they were in secret negotiations with embraer on bringing to market a larger E jet as a replacement for the Boeing :)

You heard it here first :)

I heard Qantas were giving them a good deal on some 767's. :}

Well, since it's descended this far, I'll trot out the old observation that it depends who's in town.

If Airbus, then rumour will favour the whole suite.

If Boing expect the 787 to get a run.

If the full Brazilian, another scenario.

If it were my airline I'd do the same.

Sharpen the pencil lads.

Maybe they should just buy Strategic!

Did hear that when some aircraft were returned from lease that they where to be replaced with 737-900ERs.

People have been wondering for years what Boeing and Airbus will be doing to replace 737s and A320s, so would VB do a major re-equip with a type that is just about to go out of production? That is what AirNZ does. People will have noticed discussion, where Boeing say they may do a simple re-engine job on the 737, and Arbus are talking about possibly replacing the A320 with two types. The larger A320 replacement might be a twin aisle type, because some LCCs in Europe think that will help load and unload passengers more quickly.

So, would VB want to make a decision very quickly, when a couple of new versions may be just around the corner?

Word today is that they're negotiating an order for 30-50 737s, so they've probably been talking with Airbus but ultimately only as a tool to get Boeing to give them a better deal. No word on if they're going up to 737-900s, but it wouldn't surprise me.

Standard practice to scare Boeing and ensure pricing is sharper...Tactical I would say. Fleet replacement; massive undertaking and costly. Price of aeroplanes is not the only driver. Everything else is impacted that supports fleet/operations etc...