Are Virgin Australia’s 777s on the way back?
Those excellent business class seats and that wonderful bar could soon return to Australian skies...
By David Flynn, October 4 2024
Five years after Virgin Australia’s Boeing 777 fleet was grounded by the pandemic and the airline’s subsequent collapse – and quickly ditched altogether by new owners Bain Capital – the big jets could be on their way back to Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth.
This surprise return for Virgin’s former flagships would come as Virgin Australia restarts long-range international flights under a strategic partnership with Qatar Airways which will see the Gulf carrier taking a 25% stake in the airline.
By mid-2025, the airlines says, Virgin expects to launch flights from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth to Qatar Airway’s Doha hub, with onwards connections to over 100 destinations across Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
Those will complement Qatar’s current daily flights from Sydney, Brisbane and Perth, and the double-daily service from Melbourne.
Putting their best foot forward: Qatar Airways and Virgin Australia.
Of course, Virgin Australia doesn’t have the planes, pilots or crew for these flights – which is why Qatar Airways will provide all those to Virgin under a packaged leasing deal.
It’s the same model which Qantas now uses to fly Finnair jets from Sydney to Singapore and Bangkok.
So to all intents and purposes, these ‘Virgin Australia’ flights will be Qatar Airways flights: although they’ll carry both VA and QR flight numbers, with everything from airport lounge access and a full serve of Velocity Point and status credits in the mix.
The Boeing 777 is the long-distance workhorse of the Qatar Airways fleet.
And as it happens, Qatar Airways’ fleet includes three former Virgin Australia Boeing 777s which it flies on a regular basis to destinations in Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia, along with hops around the Gulf, the Maldives and Africa.
(Want to see where those three jets have been in the past week? Click here, here and here to track their recent movements on Flightradar24.)
Although painted with Qatar’s livery, these 777s still have the same seats and interiors as when Virgin Australia used to fly them between Australia and Los Angeles.
We can’t help but think the symbolism of those three ex-Virgin 777s returning to Australia to help Virgin resume international flying is simply too good an opportunity for Qatar Airways to pass up.
And it’ll be an eerie Twilight Zone moment of deja vu for Virgin Australia loyalists setting foot on these planes, because nothing has changed since Virgin’s 777 heyday from 2016 to 2020.
Qatar's ex-Virgin 777s retain the original business class.
There’s that excellent business class: 37 private pods with direct aisle access and plenty of personal space.
Blast from the past: Virgin's 777 business class.
Of course, each business class seat folds down into a fully lie-flat bed – just change into your Qatar Airways pyjamas and settle down for a good long sleep.
Virgin's flatbed business class, although it'll come with QR pyjamas and amenities.
As it happens, Virgin Australia’s 777 business class was based on the same ‘Super Diamond’ platform from Collins Aerospace as Qatar’s A380 business class, albeit a much more evolved and stylistically refined version for which former VA boss John Borghetti took cues from the high-end auto industry.
Qatar Airways' A380 business class.
So while it’s not the much-praised Qsuite, this remains a superb way to fly – especially when you add Qatar Airways’ excellent business class meals (which now include caviar) and service.
Qatar Airways excels at business class dining.
Then there’s the innovative inflight bar which once added a generous serve of jet-set glamour to Virgin’s flights across the Pacific.
We'd love to see the business class bar back in action.
Cleverly positioned in the plane’s main entry/exit zone, and between the two business class cabins, the bar stools and banquette seating allow passengers to enjoy a drink, snacks or even breakfast, as well as providing a space to escape from the seat and socialise with other high flyers.
It’s not known if Qatar Airways would recreate that experience, along similar lines to its A380 superjumbo bar and lounge area, or leave the space empty and unattended.
These 777s also have Virgin’s premium economy cabin of 24 recliners, which Qatar Airways offers as a Comfort+ upgrade option from economy.
Qatar Airways sells Virgin's former premium economy as Comfort+ class.
And they’ll certainly make those 15-hour flights between Australia and Doha more comfortable: the sculpted seats are not only an inch wider than the economy seats but have better back support, footrests and a generous 9” recline (compared to 6” in economy).
Most importantly, there’s plenty of legroom, with the seats set at a 41” pitch (compared to 32” in economy).
Qatar Airways sells Virgin's former premium economy as Comfort+ class.
Alongside those three former Virgin Australia 777s, Qatar Airways is also flying four Cathay Pacific Boeing 777s leased from the HK-based airline.
If any of those come to Australia to become ‘Virgin Australia’ flights, passengers will be able to look forward to not only a solid business class product but six Cathay 777 first class berths.
Cathay Pacific's iconic and still much-loved Boeing 777 first class is now also flying on Qatar Airways.
It’s the same spacious open suite design, except that the seat upholstery has been changed to Qatar’s signature burgundy.
The ex-Cathay 777s allow Qatar Airways to extend its first class network.
This is in effect Qatar Airways’ only first class offering apart from the A380 superjumbos (although of course a new Qatar Airways 777X first class is on the way for 2026).
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24 Aug 2011
Total posts 1207
If VA are going to be daily to DOH from MEL, SYD, BNE and PER, they are going to need more than 6 planes. Realistically, they would need at least 8. Whether the 777-300ER is too much plane for some of these routes is also worth considering. A 787 may be more appropriate.
11 Sep 2015
Total posts 225
Well, obviously QR will need more than six planes for this. I think we might see Perth lose its A380 when the VA flight is added because that could be too much capacity for PER, the QR 787 will be quite capable of PER-DOH.
03 May 2021
Total posts 54
I’ve flown on that QR Perth to Doha a380 flight multiple times and every time the flight has been full. So I don’t think that’s a certainty and it would make much more sense to change it to 777 rather than the much smaller 787.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
07 Aug 2013
Total posts 248
Yeah wanted to query what the basis for too much capacity ex Perth - the QR flights have always been full when I've flown except for maybe a few seats in F.
01 Jun 2023
Total posts 11
most of qatars 787s are needed for middle eastern and european flights or central asia and affrica. I think Virgin are only being wet leased the 777s because qatar will replace them with remaining A350s and in future, 777x. The current 777s are still in good condition, but remember how absurdly Qatar like to retire their aircraft after just 10 years unlike most other airlines which will keep them for at least 17 - 30 years
11 Sep 2015
Total posts 225
This would be so great to see! Not every business class seat has to always be the latest and greatest. The VA 777's The Business is a dated seat, no doubt about that, it will be showing signs of wear and tear because of its own age plus QR works these planes hard, they don't want them sitting on the ground, look at the flights in those links. And sure they won't have USB-C, wireless charging etc. But for what they are, they're still pretty good, and good enough for what they will be used for.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
24 Jan 2018
Total posts 767
Not hard to upgrade power supply from USB-A to USB-C, wireless charging not a consideration for me, and seat refurbishment to 'as-new' is far cheaper and faster than upgrade. Am sure QR will want the first impression for VA to matter, after all, VA will be paying the leasing charges.
28 Oct 2020
Total posts 6
Thanks for the good story. I have maintained the Qatar Privilege Club Gold from the VA Velocity status match, and noticed I can also book Comfort+ for $0 'add on', as well as emergency exit seats which I have booked previously (a great benefit.) I noticed some QR flights using CX aircraft out of HKG or HKT had Comfort+ as CX offerer PremEcon, and now 'maybe' there's a chance the 777s in your story could fly to AU. Planning is half the fun ;-)
05 Sep 2017
Total posts 6
I flew once SYD-LAX on VA 777 and gladly they had 9-abreast in economy. It was 2015 now you hardly see them anywhere. All of them are 10-abreast
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
30 May 2013
Total posts 381
I flew on a Singapore Airlines Boeing 777-300 last year and it was nine abreast. It felt and looked so much roomier than the 787s and A350s which are nine abreast.
07 May 2015
Total posts 40
This would be a pretty smart move by QR to bring back at least one or two VA 777s. Might be better for cities with less demand for premium cabins, as those should get the QSuites, but then again the 'Comfort+' premium economy could be a real hit too. Would love to see the CX 777s so there's the added option of first class.
24 Aug 2011
Total posts 1207
QR does not sell the VA W class seats as Premium Economy and would not want VA to either. There is no corresponding class for travel onward from DOH so they are likely to be just sold as an extra space Y seat or reserved for high tier pax. The same applies to the W cabin on the ex-CX 77Ws.
20 Nov 2015
Total posts 477
A friend caught one of these VA 777s from Doha to Phuket, says the seats are showing the years, and QR apparently used the bar area as an additional service space for preparing some meals but also served drinks from it, so it sounds not a bad way to use the bar in some form instead of letting it go to waste.
18 Sep 2015
Total posts 138
Seems like a bit of a grab bag of planes. Which model of seat you get on any given flight might be a surprise (good or bad).
20 Nov 2015
Total posts 477
Well that's QR for you, especially now with these extra leased jets. QR has always been a bit of a lottery. At least Qantas is more consistent with business class across its the twin-aisle jets!
24 Aug 2011
Total posts 1207
QF is consistently average only. QR has a range from the exceptional Q-Suite to the still good but not special Collins seats on the A380s and 787s.
21 Jul 2021
Total posts 4
I flew the VA 777 from SYD-LAX a few times too, felt much roomier than the QF offering at the time. Being a bit of an older 777 with 9 abreast (compared to the newer 'standard' of 10 abreast) would have me choosing the older seat config (esp as I'm tall) over some of the newer tech
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
23 May 2016
Total posts 6
Don’t the Foreign Investment Review Board and the Government still have to approve the agreement between Qatar and Virgin? If that is so, current events in the Middle East may mean it’s not a certainty.
20 Nov 2015
Total posts 477
Yes FIRB has to approve it but I don't see "current events in the Middle East" having any real impact here.
QF
11 Jul 2014
Total posts 1010
More importantly, do people really think Qatar wants to play second fiddle to Qantas after the sum they paid for 25%. The enemy of my enemy is my friend and I can see brand new planes A-350s, 787s and maybe a A-380 wet leased to Virgin.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
24 Jan 2018
Total posts 767
Snap! I was thinking something very similar. QR could feel quite justified giving 🌶 'chilli-laden curry' to QF under the guise of giving Australian flyers a superior service, particularly if the Doha Tourism Authority were to copy 🇹🇷 Türkei.
This could get quite . . . spicey. 😆
QF
11 Jul 2014
Total posts 1010
The bigger question will be how does Virgin make itself appeal to Qantas travelers with no P1, No LifeTime Gold?
01 Dec 2012
Total posts 63
Nice story, David. QR’s leased Cathay planes probably have an Australian connection too. Much of Cathay’s fleet was parked at the APAS facility in Alice Springs for the duration of the pandemic.
Cathay Pacific - The Marco Polo Club
19 Apr 2014
Total posts 50
Great to see a 9-abreast 777 (which doesnt feature on premium airlines like EK, CX and QR themselves) for us folk back in Y.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
27 Nov 2020
Total posts 6
Wonder if the planes leased to VA from Qatar will be re-painted with the VA livery?
QF
11 Jul 2014
Total posts 1010
Doubt it, they will stick to Qatar paint jobs just like Finair
29 Jan 2012
Total posts 182
QR will no doubt put pressure on QF and others to solidly maintain their presence and expansion into Australia and use competitive aircraft and not the tired VA 777's in this article. Would not make business sense.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
14 Sep 2012
Total posts 382
Those ex-VA 777s are being used on low yield leisure routes ex DOH for some years now and I wouldn’t hold my breath so see them back on higher yield DOH-Australia long haul. This may all read like the triumphant return of VA 777s here on this thread but the reality is something quite different.
24 Jul 2017
Total posts 7
I can’t wait for this. Last international J, albeit the 333 to HK was fabulous in every way. Never got to try the 777. Can’t wait to get back to a wide body on Virgin even if it looks like a Qatar plane.
09 Sep 2020
Total posts 13
A quick question, Long Haul to LA, etc by Virgin ,is ever going to happen again, a great experience, can anyone reply to this or the best code share to do it please
31 Mar 2014
Total posts 397
No, it won't
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
24 Jan 2018
Total posts 767
As late as 2020, the VA777 J-class beds were in great condition, quite wide and comfort-wise better than anything I've tried to sleep on since (UA, SQ, TK or VS).
09 Dec 2023
Total posts 7
They will need refurbishment. The oldest seats will be 9 years old and would be pretty well clapped out.
01 Jun 2023
Total posts 11
she'll be alright. at the end of the day, if anything, you will still have to pay for meals lol
01 Jun 2023
Total posts 11
I know their not interested but VA should also consider buying Rex. It would expand their portfolio and then with that plus these international flights, it will slowly become strong enough to fight qantas again
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