The 737 MAX 8, VH-8VI “Lake Centenary”, is Virgin’s 16th aircraft in the 737 MAX family, and the 100th 737 in its current fleet. Virgin is expecting 12 MAX 8s to join the fleet in 2026, as well as four Embraer E190-E2s for Virgin Australia Regional Airlines, the first having arrived last year.

Between mid-April and late July, the Flying Kangaroo will switch its Paris flights from Perth to operate from Sydney via Singapore, adding two extra services per week and allowing 60 extra customers per flight, while Perth–Rome will fly daily and Perth–Singapore 10 times per week.

At a press conference this week, the Tourism and Transport Forum and Australian Airports Association said the full digitisation of the incoming passenger system could be achieved for around $25 million, funded through the passenger movement charge (PMC).

First published by Jim Thorn in 1976 as Australian Aviation & Defence Review, Australia’s leading aerospace magazine has been part of the Momentum Media stable since February 2020 and continues to build on its iconic brand.