Virgin Australia Receives First of Six Boeing 737 MAX 8 Jets from Avolon

Virgin Australia Takes Delivery of First Boeing 737 MAX 8 in New Fleet Expansion Deal

Melbourne / Dublin, August 21–22, 2025 – Virgin Australia has received the first of six Boeing 737 MAX 8 jets from Dublin-based aircraft lessor Avolon, under a sale-and-leaseback agreement. This marks the 12th 737 MAX 8 in Virgin Australia’s fleet, reinforcing its ongoing fleet renewal and growth strategy.

The newly delivered aircraft, registered VH‑8VA, made its journey to Melbourne International Airport after a roughly five-hour flight from Boeing Field in Seattle. This handover stems from a converted order—Virgin Australia exchanged some previously planned 737 MAX 10s in favor of the MAX 8 variant to better suit its operational needs.

This long-standing partnership between Virgin Australia and Avolon dates back to 2011, with Avolon already leasing eight aircraft to the airline. Both parties expressed enthusiasm for the deal: Virgin Australia’s CFO welcomed the latest addition and looked forward to continued collaboration. Avolon’s President and CCO emphasized the lessor’s robust financial capacity to deliver bespoke solutions aligned with Virgin’s expansion and modernization plans.

In a broader context of modernization, this new 737 MAX 8 reinforces Virgin Australia’s transition toward a more efficient fleet. The aircraft serve as the backbone of its domestic and short-haul international network—offering improved fuel efficiency, extended range, and sustainability advantages over older models.

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