Virgin Australia is all set to use its brand new B737 MAX 8 aircraft on its newly resumed Cairns-Tokyo route starting July 30. The airline resumed this route after almost a decade.
Speaking at the resumption of the route, Garry Porter, chief operating officer, Cairn Airport said: “It was the ideal time to launch the new route, with the mild winter weather a perfect backdrop for visitors to enjoy all the region has to offer. It has been more than a decade since we had a full-service carrier servicing the route from Tokyo to Cairns, and that coincided with peak Japanese visitation, which is a great indication of the potential of these flights. With Virgin Australia's extensive domestic network in Cairns, we also expect to see travellers from southern states opt to travel via Cairns to visit Japan, especially during the Japanese winter ski season, which is always a drawcard for Aussie winter sport enthusiasts."
The airline recently unveiled its first B737-8 at a ceremony in Brisbane. This is the first of eight 737-8 aircraft that Virgin will receive, with all to be delivered by the first quarter of next year. The airline has a further 25 737-10 MAX on order that are expected to arrive from late 2024.
By deploying the 737-8 on the route, the airline plans to add more seats on the market. The route is expected to bring around 30,000 Japanese visitors per annum into Cairns with Virgin Australia, generating around $45.9 million for the local economy and supporting nearly 700 jobs