On April 15, 2021, the Brisbane-based air carrier said it would re-acquire 10 Boeing 737-800s, with the first three to join in April 2021. Other 737s are set to progressively enter service by October 2021. Leased Boeing 737s are all former Virgin Australia aircraft returning back to the airline.
“More aircraft means more flying, and with easing travel restrictions, there are more opportunities to further support domestic tourism and the nation’s economic recovery from COVID-19,” Virgin Australia Group CEO Jayne Hrdlicka said.
To this moment, Virgin Australia is operating approximately 850 flights per week. With network and frequencies expansion, the airline aims to add 220 operations to its schedule by mid-June 2021. The Australian carrier also plans to begin network efficiency changes by releasing Boeing 737 capacity to different markets that are yet to be disclosed.
Virgin Australia restarts hiring process
After laying off many of its workers due to the setbacks COVID-19 brought to the aviation sector, the Brisbane-based carrier said it would return more than 220 cabin crew staff from the airline’s discontinued long-haul international, ATR regional, and Tigerair Australia operations.
Additionally, it would open up 150 cabin crew positions for former Virgin Australia staff as well as new candidates. The new recruits would join one of 15 cabin crew training schools over the next months.
“We’re hopeful that domestic border closures will soon be a thing of the past and are continuing to see positive signs of consumer recovery. As an example of this, we’ve had multiple record-breaking sales days of half-priced fares,” Hrdlicka added.
