Virgin Australia‘s Landmark Ferry Flight Completion
Virgin Australia’s first Embraer E190-E2 has successfully landed in Perth after a significant ferry flight originating from Brazil. This journey from Embraer’s facilities engaged several global stops, marking a pivotal modernization step for Virgin Australia’s regional operations.
Modernizing Regional Operations
The arrival of this aircraft signifies Virgin Australia Regional Airlines‘ (VARA) shift towards replacing aging Fokker 100 fleets. VARA plans to introduce four E190-E2s in the upcoming year, enhancing their service offerings.
A Detailed Journey
According to Virgin Australia, the Embraer E190-E2, registered as VH-E2A, commenced its delivery on September 3. The journey included key stops at Curacao, Texas, Ontario, Kona, and finally its destination, Perth. The aircraft arrived safely at Perth Airport, welcomed by Perth Airport’s COO, Scott Woodward, acknowledging the commitment this adds to VARA’s prospects in Western Australia.
Journey Breakdown
- September 3: São José dos Campos (SJK) to Willemstad (CUR) to Brownsville (BRO)
- September 4: Brownsville (BRO) to Ontario (ONT) to Kona (KOA)
- September 5: Kona to Nadi Airport (NAN)
- September 6: Nadi to Canberra International Airport (CBR)
- September 8: Canberra to Perth
Fleet Expansion Plans
In March 2024, Virgin Australia decided between the Airbus A220 and the Embraer E190-E2 to replace their Fokker 100 jets. By August 2024, Virgin had chosen the Embraer E190-E2. Their acquisition plan includes:
| Aircraft Type | Number In Fleet | On Order |
|---|---|---|
| Airbus A320-200 | 5 | – |
| Embraer E190-E2 | 1 | 7 |
| Fokker 100 | 3 | – |
| Total | 9 | 7 |
The acquisition deal with Embraer, valued at $300 million, involves eight E190-E2 aircraft, facilitating the planned fleet modernizations targeted to complete by early 2026.
