Tony 1 Report post Posted November 2, 2006 Virgin Blue to spend $950m on Embraer jets Steve Creedy Aviation writer November 02, 2006 VIRGIN Blue will acquire up 20 Embraer E-Jets worth $950 million to support its expansion in domestic and regional markets. The airline today announced it would acquire 11 98- to 114-seat Embraer 190s and three 70- to 80-seat 170s with an option for six additional jets. Virgin's move beyond its Boeing 737 workhorse will give it added flexibility to better match capacity to demand as well greater efficiency and an ability to service thinner routes in regional markets. Deliveries are scheduled to start next year and the planes will feature "elite" leather seats that are the world's widest in a single-aisle aircraft in 2-2 configuration, which means there is no middle seat. The 190 has a range of 4260kms, enabling it to fly anywhere in Australia as well as to New Zealand and the Pacific with a full payload. The smaller 170 can operate from Sydney to anywhere on the Eastern seaboard, as far north as Darwin, as well as to New Zealand and some part so the Pacific. Source: The Australian ------------ Virgin Blue to spend $1b on 20 new aircraft November 2, 2006 - 3:56PM Low-cost carrier Virgin Blue Holdings is to spend almost $1 billion on 20 new aircraft which will fly throughout Australia and parts of the Pacific. The jets will be fitted with leather seats and spacious seating as part of the airline's new strategy to attract business customers. Virgin said it had ordered 11 Embraer 190 and three Embraer 170 jet aircraft, with options for six additional E-Jets. "The Brazilian jets - the first of their type to operate scheduled services in the Australasian region - will give the Virgin Blue Group significant additional operating flexibility, while increasing efficiency through lower fuel burn," the company said in a statement. Chief executive officer Brett Godfrey said the current fleet of Boeing 737-700 and 737-800 aircraft provide sufficient capacity to serve key routes in the Australian, trans-Tasman and Pacific Island markets, however, it was not optimal on all markets. "This new jet will enhance our ability to serve the corporate market by more accurately matching seat capacity and frequency to passenger demand," Mr Godfrey said. The Embraer 190 has a maximum range of 4260 kilometres, enabling it to fly with a full payload from Sydney to anywhere in Australia, or beyond to New Zealand and a range of destinations throughout the Pacific. It can fit up to 114 seats, and the smaller Embraer 170 can fit up to 80 seats. Virgin Blue and its international carriers currently operate a fleet of 53 Boeing 737 aircraft flying to 22 Australian and eight international destinations. Source: SMH ------------ Also have a look at Embraer's press release re the same matter. http://www.embraer.com.br/institucional/do...e_Sale-I-06.pdf Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Seng Lim 0 Report post Posted November 2, 2006 Haven't got chance flying with E-jet, must be pretty nice I guess. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tony 1 Report post Posted November 2, 2006 Here's a pic... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sandeep G 1 Report post Posted November 2, 2006 All right! plus with the codeshare with MAS, we might stand a better chance of hopping onto these birds in the future! (that is if we want to go to smaller destinations on the east coast...) Hopefully we'll see a couple deployed to Perth! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pieter C. 5 Report post Posted January 16, 2007 More Virgin Blue news: Virgin Blue Close To Planes Deal January 16, 2007 Australian airline Virgin Blue is close to reaching an aircraft deal for international services, a German newspaper quoted a senior company executive as saying. Chief Commercial Officer Stefan Pichler said plans to launch long-haul flights were in "intensive preparations", according to the Boersen-Zeitung newspaper article published on Tuesday. Virgin Blue is Australia's second-biggest airline and has about one-third of the country's domestic aviation market, where it competes against Qantas and budget carrier Jetstar. The company said last month it planned to launch international long-haul operations by late 2008. Pichler said Virgin Blue was already in talks with aircraft makers Boeing and Airbus about supplying planes, and that an agreement should be announced soon. He declined to comment on further details, the newspaper said, beyond saying that flights to the United States were first on the agenda. Virgin Blue is expected to provide further details about its expansion plans at its half-year results next month. (Reuters) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
