The airline has 10 Boeing 737 Max 10s on order.
Virgin Australia has outlined the delivery timeline for its Boeing 737 Max 10, as the type inches closer to certification this year.
The Australian operator says it expects to receive the first of 10 737 Max 10 jets in late 2027, becoming the airline’s largest aircraft in its fleet.
“The larger 737-10 will provide additional capacity and flexibility across Virgin Australia’s domestic and short-haul international network, supporting the airline’s strategy to operate an efficient, streamlined fleet,” Virgin Australia states.
The airline, which will be Australia’s first and only operator of the Max 10, has not revealed the new aircraft’s configuration or where it intends to deploy it on its network.
Virgin Australia committed to 25 737 Max 10s in a 2020 order, as it amended its order book after emerging from business restructuring.
However, production and certification delays led to the airline shifting its orders to the Max 8. Virgin Australia took delivery of its first Max 8 in 2023, and operates 19 examples currently.
Its fleet also comprises 737-800s and Embraer 190-E2s. The airline expects to receive seven more 737 Max 8s by the end of 2026.
On 27 May, Boeing chief Kelly Ortberg said that certification work on the Max 10 and smaller Max 7 aircraft was in “final stages”. Ortberg, who spoke at an investor conference, said Boeing has completed “roughly 80%” of the Max 7 and 10 certification flight-test programmes.
Media reports also suggest the Max 10 could be certificated by the end of this year.
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