VIRGIN AUSTRALIA: Unveils new interiors for Boeing 737 fleet starting in late 2023

On Saturday 8 July, Virgin Australia welcomed it first Boeing 737-8 MAX jet with new interiors. Interiors which will soon be rolled out across its fleet. Interestingly, it leaves the ‘MAX’ part out of its release. Probably since the plane has such a bad reputation including two fatal crashes blamed on a faulty computer system.

But lets put that aside. Since the aircraft has now been re-licensed in all major markets after some structural and major software changes. Lets celebrate the new cabins. At least they have been announced, unlike Qantas which is holding its fire its new Airbus 220 and 320 interiors.

What’s new?

This new cabin will be rolled out as part of the Boeing 737 AU$110 million fleet cabin refurbishment program, and will include:

• 50% more overhead locker space – allowing vertical storage of cabin luggage
• New Business class with wider seats, foot and leg rests AC and USB power, storage and water bottle holders
• New slimline Economy Class seats giving more space with USB power
• In-flight WiFi
• Tablet/smarphone holders in each seat
• Fuel efficient

Launch

The aircraft arrived a week ago, but got its official launch in Brisbane on Saturday to an audience of Virgin Australia staff and their families.

It represents the first of a total of 33 Boeing 737-8MAX and 737-10 aircraft Virgin Australia has on order.

Virgin Australia has also confirmed that the new interiors will be rolled out to its existing fleet starting later this year.

The downside

Virgin will also be replacing that famous purple business class bulkhead divider, with something a bit more slender. That will allow Virgin to increase the ‘floor space in the Economy cabin’. That means shove in another six to 12 additional seats – that’s another row. They are also taking out one row of Economy X, and replacing it with ordinary economy. More seats = more money!

“In 2021 we introduced a prototype cabin interior on two Boeing 737-800 aircraft, and over the last couple of years we’ve been able to obtain feedback from our guests, which enables us to enhance our entire Boeing fleet with the features that are most important to them. We’ve always said that we are a business that listens to its customers, and this is a testament to that.

Virgin Australia Group Chief Customer and Digital Officer, Paul Jones

I bet none of the customers said to take out a row of Economy X, and pack even more seats in! Mr Jones goes on:

“With the reconfiguration of our cabin interior, we are also able to add more seats to the market without changing the legroom experience, providing Australian travellers with even more choice and great value airfares as well as a consistent in-flight experience.”

Virgin Australia Group Chief Customer and Digital Officer, Paul Jones

Sure.

2PAXfly Takeout

This new 737-MAX aircraft was set to launch Virgin Australia’s Tokyo route. It’s currently scheduled to head to Tokyo from 30 July 2023.

Virgin Australia already has a pretty good business class domestic product. With power at every seat’ and, on board wifi, and improvements to cabin storage should challenge Qantas