Virgin Australia has confirmed delays to new Boeing 737-8 aircraft which are set to operate its Japan services starting in late June. The airline said that the aircraft deliveries are delayed from Boeing impacting the carrier’s Japan schedule.
Now, the airline will fly its existing 737-700 planes on the Cairns-Tokyo Haneda route.
“No material impact to the service would occur,” the airline said. However due to removal of aircraft from domestic fleet, other flight schedules in the short term are bound to be impacted.
“Due to an issue related to a Boeing supplier, there will be a short delay in the delivery of our first Boeing 737-8 aircraft,” an airline spokesperson revealed.
Virgin Australia’s new Japan flight is part of the company’s strategic return into the international travel market. The 737-700s have the ability to make the journey directly and have minimal differences between the cabin.
Virgin assumes the new 737-8s will be delivered at in a few months