Virgin Australia (VA, Brisbane International) has concluded ATR - Avions de Transport Régional turboprop operations after all of its ATR72s were returned to their respective lessors.
The airline used to operate up to six ATR72-500s and eight ATR72-600s. The -500s, all of which were dry-leased from Avation, were retired in 2017. Two of them have since been dry-leased by Hevilift Australia (Brisbane International). In turn, the -600s, which include three units dry-leased from Chorus Aviation and five from Avation, were mostly active through the end of March 2020 but have since been grounded.
According to the ch-aviation fleets module, the ex-Virgin ATR72-500s are currently stored at Cairns, while the -600s are parked at Melbourne Tullamarine (four), Nelson, NZ, and Brisbane International (two each).
Avation said in an investor update that the five -600s and three -500s had indeed been returned. The lessor is trying to sell or remarket all eight turboprops. The fourth -500 has already been placed on a five-year operating lease with an unspecified new carrier in Asia. Indian start-up flybig (FLG, Indore) has recently revealed that it was in the process of securing a leased ATR72 from Australia.
Avation disclosed that its total claim against Virgin Australia amounts to USD74.7 million.
Following the retirement of its ATRs, Virgin Australia Regional's fleet consists of jet aircraft exclusively, namely thirteen Fokker 100s and six A320-200s. All of them are operated on behalf of Virgin Australia International (VA, Brisbane International). Virgin Australia itself does not operate any regional aircraft.
