November

2 November

Australian Aviation photographer Lenn Bayliss may have captured the moment a former Virgin 737 was being readied for delivery to new rival Rex as staff paint over its iconic tail branding. Rex previously announced it was close to a deal to lease six 737-800 NG aircraft to fly its new network between Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, with speculation insisting some were from Virgin’s trimmed fleet.

Flightradar reveals VH-VUF msn 34168 departed Brisbane on 30 October as flight VA9908 at 8:20am and landed at Wellcamp half an hour later, when the photos were taken. The developments come after Rex announced in September it had signed a letter of intent with two lessors that will see three of the Boeing aircraft ready to fly between Sydney and Melbourne at launch, with another two to follow by Easter and the final one shortly after.