Virgin Australia almost doubles MAX 8 fleet to 14 aircraft

Virgin Australia intends to almost double its Boeing MAX 8 fleet by adding another six aircraft to the fleet. The carrier had planned to induct eight MAX 8s, but this will now grow to 14 aircraft. All deliveries are scheduled for next year, with the latest six arriving in HY2.

Virgin Australia hasn’t said if this is a direct order or a lease, but the latter seems the most obvious. The first two MAX 8s have been leased from China Aircraft Leasing Corporation (CALC) since June. The third aircraft arrived from Renton in Brisbane on Friday. CALC announced in August that it would sell its backlog of 64 MAX orders

to Dubai-based lessor DAE. This transaction has been completed in Q3. It is therefore likely that Virgin Australia will source the aircraft from DAE now.