Virgin Atlantic orders seven new planes to complete fleet overhaul
23 July 2024, 12:04
The airline said it has ordered seven new Airbus A330-900s, which will be delivered from 2027.
Virgin Atlantic has announced a new plane order which will complete its multibillion-dollar fleet transformation.
The airline said it has ordered seven new Airbus A330-900s, which will be delivered from 2027.
This will take the carrier’s total A330neo fleet to 19.
Virgin Atlantic, which would not disclose the value of the order, said it will use the new A330-900s to replace its A330-300s, which it received in 2011.
The new planes are designed to be 13% more fuel-efficient.
Chief executive Shai Weiss said: “Today, we complete our multibillion-dollar fleet transformation, with the purchase of seven additional A330-900s, which we know our customers and our people love to fly.
“Flying the youngest fleet is the most readily available and significant lever towards decarbonising long-haul aviation and we are proud to operate one of the youngest and most fuel- and carbon-efficient fleets across the Atlantic.”
He added that Airbus is not “first to the party” – Virgin Atlantic’s first aircraft were built by Boeing – but has been “our main dance partner”.
By 2028, Virgin Atlantic plans to operate 45 aircraft comprised of 19 A330-900s, 12 A350-1000s, and 14 Boeing 787-9s, with an average age of 6.4 years.
