Virgin Australia to add more 737s as all staff return

Virgin Australia has signed up for seven more Boeing 737-800NGs and has advised all staff that they will be re-employed by December. To meet anticipated demand on the back of rising vaccination rates and open borders the airline also says its needs 600 more. Over the last 12 months since its re-launch, Virgin Australia has announced it will grow its 737 fleet by over 45 percent, from 58 aircraft to 84 aircraft with the additional seven aircraft announced today. An additional two A320s also have been recently added to VARA, the group’s West Australian resource operation, bringing VARA’s total A320 fleet number to seven, along with 11 Fokker F100 aircraft. READ: Aussie whizz Hapgood to lead digital production of Boeing’s next aircraft. READ: Qatar Airways adds more flights to Australia READ: Sensational new finding in MH370 search  Speaking at a staff event at Virgin Australia’s Brisbane hangar Virgin Australia chief executive Jayne Hrdlicka thanked staff for their dedication, loyalty, and support since the airline’s re-launch 12 months ago. Ms. Hrdlicka said it had been a huge year for the airline in so many ways “and it wouldn’t have been possible to be in the position we are today, standing here, more competitive than ever, marking one year since our re-launch, if not for our amazing people.” Ms Hrdlicka said that the entire workforce would be stood up by next month and that Virgin Australia has close to 600 roles advertised across five states to support the introduction of new aircraft, including in engineering, pit crew, cabin crew, and corporate.