Virgin Australia upsizes fleet with first Boeing 737-10 set to hit the skies in late 2027

Virgin Australia has confirmed it expects to take delivery of its first Boeing 737-10 aircraft in late 2027, with 10 firm orders for the larger MAX variant as the airline advances a fleet renewal strategy it says is central to cutting emissions.

The 737-10 is the largest member of the Boeing 737 MAX family, seating between 188 and 204 passengers with a range of 5,740km.

The aircraft offers a 20 per cent reduction in fuel use and carbon dioxide emissions per seat compared with the 737-800 NG it is designed to replace.

Deliveries are contingent on Boeing securing certification from the US Federal Aviation Administration, which the manufacturer expects to achieve later this year.

FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said in April that no issues had been identified that would prevent MAX 7 and MAX 10 certification before the end of 2026, with the MAX 10 having entered the final stage of certification flight testing.

Canadian carrier WestJet has been designated as the global launch customer for the MAX 10, with combined global orders for the variant exceeding 1,700 aircraft.

Virgin Australia CEO Dave Emerson says the 737-10 represents a significant milestone for the airline's fleet growth and sustainability ambitions.

“The 737-10 will be the largest aircraft in Virgin Australia’s fleet and will give us more capacity and more flexibility across our network,” says Emerson.

“This is an important next step in our fleet renewal program as we continue building a younger, quieter and more fuel-efficient fleet.

“Fleet renewal is the single biggest lever we have to reduce emissions in the near term, and the 737-10 will build on the benefits we are already seeing from the 737-8.”

Virgin Australia celebrates three years of Boeing 737 MAX operations this month, with 19 Boeing 737-8 aircraft now in the fleet. A further seven are due for delivery by the end of calendar year 2026, bringing its MAX fleet to 26.

The 10 firm 737-10 orders will extend that modernisation push into the higher-capacity segment of the domestic and short-haul market.

Fleet renewal is the single largest lever in Virgin Australia's decarbonisation strategy, accounting for about 85 per cent of its targeted emissions reduction.

The airline targets a 22 per cent reduction in net Scope 1 and 2 emissions intensity by 2030 from an adjusted FY19 baseline and reported a 13 per cent reduction in FY25.

Boeing's regional vice-president of commercial sales Erika Pearson says the order builds on a longstanding partnership between the two companies.

“In addition to offering more seats, introducing the 737-10 will preserve commonality across the fleet, enhance flexibility, and improve environmental performance on both domestic and international routes,” says Pearson.

“We remain committed to supporting Virgin Australia as they embark on this new chapter.”

While the 737-10 has seating for up to 204 passengers in a typical two-class configuration, Virgin says the seat count and interior configuration of its new fleet will be announced at a later date.