Traffic #398 | New planes and aerobridge prangs

I’d like to take this opportunity to apologise and fix an error made in the last edition. Like a fool, I mixed up the Airbus A321-271NY (A321XLR) and A321-251NX (A321LR/neo) when investigating the register. The mistake led me to suggest that several A321XLR jets were headed for Jetstar, when this is not the case – yet.

Instead, to date, three Airbus A321XLRs have been added to the CASA register, all bound for Qantas to replace part of its Boeing 737-800 fleet. The airline says the new fleet offers them greater range and fuel efficiency, meaning cheaper operational costs. As customers, all this is to say that we’re about to see a lot more narrow-body flights to Asia.

Meanwhile, Jetstar does intend to take on up to 12 A321XLRs beginning in 2027, however, for now is focused on its A321LR/neo program with 19 planes already in operation. The budget carrier has already started using its A321neo fleet to fly to the Philippines and Bali – a decision that has been met with some pushback from customers, given the lack of in-flight entertainment available on the aircraft. Instead, Jetstar offers a pay-for-play, BYOD (bring your own device) streaming option for these medium-haul international hops.

First MAX delivered for 2025

Elsewhere in next-gen narrow-body jet deliveries, Virgin Australia has finally welcomed its first 737 MAX 8 for 2025, with up to six more slated to be delivered by year-end. The brand-spanking-new plane, VH-8II, named by the airline ‘Aldinga Beach’, was delivered on 1 August after a nearly week-long journey from Boeing Field in Seattle, Washington.

VH-8II was first ferried on 23 July to Melbourne, Florida – the exact opposite direction of its intended destination of Brisbane, Australia – to first be fitted with WiFi at an MRO partner’s facility. From there, the plane travelled via Ontario, California, Kona, Hawaii, and then finally touched down in Brisbane on the morning of Friday, 1 August.

In its original order, Virgin was slated to take delivery of just eight Boeing 737 MAX 8 jets, with emphasis placed instead on the larger 737 MAX 10. However, Boeing continues to battle to get its longest MAX variant certified, facing increased scrutiny from the American regulatory body. Due to said delays, the MAX 10 is unlikely to begin deliveries until 2027 at the earliest. The delays have since seen Virgin increase its MAX 8 order to 14, and swap 12 of its MAX 10 orders instead to the MAX 8 – giving us a total of 26 MAX jets.

VH-8II marks the ninth 737 MAX to be delivered to Virgin, with four additional planes already registered with CASA and planned to be delivered in the coming months. Up next is expected to be VH-8IJ, which is, at the time of writing, having its WiFi installed in Florida, and after that, -8IK, which is currently undergoing flight testing in Seattle.

Total gridlock – planes damaged in airport standoffs

There may have been something in the air this quarter, with several ground collisions between aircraft and non-aircraft vehicles. Brisbane Airport alone was responsible for not one, not two, but three aircraft being struck and damaged by misaligned jet bridges in as many months. To start, in late May, an Air New Zealand Boeing 777, ZK-OKN, was gearing up to perform a passenger service from Brisbane to Auckland when the plane was hit by a jet bridge, causing a 7cm puncture in the airframe. The flight was cancelled, and the plane was ferried empty and unpressurised at 9,000 feet back to Auckland for repair.

One month later, a Qantas Boeing 737-800 arriving from Queenstown, VH-VZG, was also struck by a misguided jetbridge. This time, the plane was pierced through its windscreen, shattering it completely. No one was injured, and passengers were able to deplane via the rear stairs. Qantas engineers were able to inspect and repair the plane before it returned to service.

Most recently, a Fiji Airways Boeing 737 MAX, DQ-FAE, arriving from Nadi, was also struck through the windscreen by a Brisbane Airport aerobridge. Again, no injuries were reported, and all passengers were able to safely disembark. Brisbane Airport spokesman Peter Doherty confirmed that an inspection of the aerobridge in question found no mechanical faults, hinting instead that it was human error that caused these incidents. The airport is continuing to review.

Further south, on 27 July, a Virgin Australia Boeing 737-800 collided with a ground tug vehicle at Melbourne Airport, resulting in a large puncture to the fuselage. The story goes that the aircraft erroneously disconnected from the tug vehicle as it was being towed to the hangar for maintenance, before it was then struck by the tug on the forward fuselage. The resulting gash is clearly several metres in length, and at the time of writing, the plane remains grounded in Melbourne.