Jake Nelson

The first of the new A350-900ULRs, A6-EXM, touched down at Adelaide Airport on Monday night. Adelaide is the first city in Emirates’ global network to see the aircraft, which features an updated premium economy cabin.

The regional carrier and ACMI operator – which rebranded from Skytrans earlier this year to better align branding with its parent, Avia Solutions Group – is set for another change, likely in the new year, its chief commercial officer Richard George exclusively confirmed to Australian Aviation.

The inaugural flight VA7 took off aboard Qatar Airways’ leased 777-300ER A7-BEK at around 5:35pm on Monday. Melbourne is the final major Australian gateway to receive Virgin’s Doha services, following Sydney, Brisbane, and Perth in June.

The trial will see flights permitted to depart in tailwinds of five to 10 knots during overnight hours (10pm to 6am) for the first six months, expanding to arrivals for the next 12 months. It comes as 63 per cent of aircraft between those hours have arrived or departed over water in the last six months.

The flights, operating a total of 34,650 additional seats during the season, will operate until March next year on 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft, initially three times per week but ramping up to four per week from 14 December.

The Malaysian flag carrier has commenced five A330-300 flights per week, with the first MH135 service touching down aboard 9M-MTO just before 6:30am on Saturday. The service will add more than 75,000 inbound seats to Brisbane each year.