Virgin Australia Orders New Aircraft

Virgin Australia has announced orders for new aircraft to boost its regional and charter business, Virgin Australia Regional Airlines.

The division focuses specifically on operations within Western Australia and regional markets home to important areas such as mining towns.

The latest purchase comes from the Embraer E2 series with a commitment to eight units of the E190-E2.

Virgin Australia firmly believes such a commitment will enable future business growth and stability.

Furthermore, the E2 fleet, once delivered, will support and also create 150 new jobs in Western Australia over the three-year period of which the jets are to be delivered.

Thanks to their optimal performance metrics, the E190-E2s have become a fantastic option for airlines looking to harness their single-aisle flying, especially through regional markets.

Furthermore, for Virgin Australia, the E2s will complement the existing fleet while also replacing the Fokker 100 fleet, the longest-serving aircraft type in the family.

Virgin Australia expects the first new E2 jet to enter service in October 2025, marking a landmark occasion as the first new aircraft in the charter market across Western Australia this century.

Once delivered with fantastic efficiency, Virgin Australia has stated it believes the aircraft will boost performance, overall reliability, and customer comfort.

Purchasing the E2 for growth across Western Australia also allows the major Australian airline group to get a feel for the E2 series for prospective future usage away from WA.

The Group CEO hinted at this possibility, saying the new aircraft will predominantly operate on charter flights but may not be restricted to this type of operation in the future.

Virgin Australia concluded that the aircraft will be configured in two-by-two seating, a configuration classic to Embraer, and will have a range of six hours.

The addition of the E2s will build upon an already successful fleet transformation effort as the mainline brand moves towards the 737 MAX to boost efficiency.