Virgin Australia has announced its decision to defer the delivery of their Boeing 737 MAX aircraft on order citing safety and reducing capital spending as their reason.
Originally scheduled to be delivered in the November period of this year, Virgin Australia has come to terms with Boeing to defer the delivery of the aircraft to July 2021.
Additionally, 15 737 MAX 8s have been converted to the larger 737 MAX 10, taking Virgin Australia’s total 737 MAX order to 25 737 MAX 10s and 23 737 MAX 8s.
Recently appointed CEO of Virgin Australia, Paul Scurrah, states he still has faith in the aircraft despite the ongoing crisis surrounding it and that the airline will continue to work with the manufacturer as a long term customer to resolve the issues.
Virgin Australia operates a fleet of 80 Boeing 737 Next Generation aircraft alongside their ATR regional aircraft, Boeing 777-300ERs and Airbus A330s. The 737 MAX aircraft were ordered in 2012 in an effort to reduce the age of their fleet by replacing next-generation 737s.