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Virgin Australia Regional Airlines is expecting the arrival of its first Embraer E190-E2 next month.
The second-generation E-Jets, a replacement for VARA’s ageing Fokker 100 fleet, will begin operating charter flights in October with regular passenger transport (RPT) services to follow starting from November, according to data from AeroRoutes.
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The information from VARA’s Northern Winter 2025 schedule (October 2025-March 2026) suggests that the first FIFO services for the E190-E2 will be Perth-Boolgeeda, starting 27 October, with the first RPT service to be Perth–Newman on 14 November.
Virgin Australia has confirmed that it is expecting the first aircraft in September, and says schedules are subject to change.
In an update in March this year, VARA executive general manager Nathan Miller said the planes will mainly be used for charter and FIFO operations.
“We have opted for a dual-class layout, which actually gives us three product options when you include our extra legroom option, Economy X,” he said.
“It means we have the flexibility to use the aircraft for regular commercial operations on the days of the week when there is less charter demand and leisure traffic is higher.
“From a network and scheduling perspective, we have been planning how to best utilise the aircraft to support both charter and commercial flying.
“The first aircraft will operate primarily on our current charter routes and to the intra-WA commercial passenger airports we service, but there is definitely growth opportunity as the fleet grows.”
The aircraft, to be based in Perth and used for Virgin Australia Regional Airlines, will be the first E190-E2s to be operated by a major airline group in Australia, though various carriers, including QantasLink, Alliance, and National Jet Express, operate the original E190.
“We have the flexibility to use the aircraft for regular commercial operations on the days of the week when there is less charter demand and leisure traffic is higher,” he said.
“We have had very positive feedback since we announced the acquisition of these aircraft, especially as these will be the first brand-new aircraft in the WA charter market this century. Our customers are excited about the two-plus-two layout in our economy cabin, which means there are no middle seats.
“There is enough room in the cabin for every guest to have a bag in the overhead bin. The seats are more spacious than the outgoing Fokker 100s, which gives our guests an improved flying experience.”
According to Miller, the E190-E2 is the most fuel-efficient aircraft, with the lowest noise profile, in its segment, and will reduce emissions by around 30 per cent compared to the Fokker 100s.
