Virgin Australia says it has the flexibility to introduce more Boeing 737 MAX 10s into its fleet after converting 10 of its Max 8 orders to the bigger planes.
Virgin Australia chief executive John Borghetti said the Max 10s, due to arrive from 2022, would form an integral part of the airline’s customer offering on “important business routes” but did not disclose the destinations to which they would be deployed.
They could also be deployed internationally, he said, adding: “For example, they could hypothetically be deployed to New Zealand.’’
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Borghetti said the airline still had the flexibility to change the mix of aircraft types in its MAX order but said: “We don’t have to make that decision now”.
The MAX 8 can accommodate up to 210 seats and has a 3550 mile (6570km) range whereas the MAX 10 can accommodate up to 230 seats with a 3300 mile (6,110kms) range. Boeing also offers the MAX 9, which has the same range as the MAX 8 but can carry 10 additional seats.
The seat count would be reduced if Virgin follows through on suggestions it could introduce a business class similar to JetBlue’s Mint product that would offer passengers on longer flights lie-flat beds.
Both are powered by LEAP-IB engines from CFM international and offer advanced technology winglets, Boeing’s Sky interior, big flight deck displays and other improvements..
Boeing says The MAX 10 offers the lowest seat costs ever and it competes against Airbus A321neo.
Chief financial officer Geoff Smith earlier told journalists on a conference call for the airline’s results announcement that the MAX 10 would complement its existing order of MAX 8s, due to arrive from November, 2019.
Smith said the MAX 10s innovative interior featured a bigger cabin with increased seat numbers with an extended range and greater efficiency.
It also offered flexibility for Virgin’s network at slot-constrained airports.
“The delivery of both the MAX 10 and MAX 8 aircraft will support — again — the group in retaining its young average fleet age,’’ he said.
Virgin initially ordered the MAX 8 in 2012 with an order for 23 planes between 2019 and 2021.
It later brought forward the delivery date for the first aircraft to 2018 and in 2015 converted orders for 17 737-800s to MAX 8 orders to bring the total to 40 aircraft.
In early 2017, is postponed the delivery date to the final quarter of 2019.
