Virgin America has become the first operator to take delivery of the Airbus A321neo, with its first aircraft handed over at the manufacturer’s Hamburg, Germany facility on Thursday.
The aircraft, configured with a 185-seat, three-class cabin and powered by CFM International LEAP-1A engines, is due to enter service on May 31 between San Francisco and Washington National Airport. It is one of 10 A321neos to be leased from GECAS and joins 63 other Airbus A320 Family aircraft in the Virgin America fleet.
This content is available exclusively to Australian Aviation members.
To unlock all Australian Aviation magazine content and again unlimited access to our daily news and features, become a member today!
A monthly membership is only $5.99 or save with our annual plans.
PRINT
See benefits
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
MOST POPULAR
PRINT + DIGITAL
See benefits
- Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
- Access to the Australian Aviation app
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
- Daily news updates via our email bulletin
DIGITAL
See benefits
- Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
- Access to the Australian Aviation app
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
- Daily news updates via our email bulletin
“We are honoured to be the first operator of this high in-demand aircraft,” said Virgin America president Peter Hunt in a statement.
“The new A321neo – the third member of the Airbus A320 Family to join our Virgin America fleet – will allow us to further reduce our unit costs and enable us to further reduce our carbon emissions.”
The LEAP 1A-powered A321 received joint US and European certification on March 1. The Pratt & Whitney PW110G-powered A321 was certified in December 2016 but has yet to be delivered.
Lechuga
says:I feel like V Aus is slightly out of place with their colours seeing as V Atlantic and V America have that red tail and red eninges.
NJP
says:Think Virgin Australia couldn’t have red tails & white logo as it would have been too similar to Qantas from a distance – from a safety perspective, not a corporate branding perspective.
JR
says:Yes, Virgin America and Virgin Atlantic look way better than Virgin Australia livery.
Davo
says:Don’t expect this livery to last too long on this neo bird. Virgin America will cease to exist by 2019 as its fleet is to be absorbed into that of parent company Alaska Airlines.
Anil Kattula
says:Very surprised it was delivered in Virgin colours given the merge with Alaska Airlines. Read reports elsewhere that they may not take all their order due to Alaskans large 737 fleet. Could we see a321 operating virgin flights here!
Rob
says:At least one Virgin operator has the sense to keep operating Airbus aircraft!….. HINT HINT TIgerair…….
Tim
says:NJP, umm why would two different airlines need different colours for safety?
And Rob, still think the plan to Tigerair is to go Boeing 737. The plan was over 3 years, though that may well have changed with Virgin Aus’s decision to delay 737 MAX deliveries, as no doubt Tiger would have got the Virgin Aus NG cast offs as new a/c come online. Here is hoping Airbus can offer Qantas some good incentive to change to A320. They nearly got them back in 2001, only to be thwarted by Ansett going under, Qantas needing aircraft fast and 9/11 freeing up the AA 738 slots.