Virgin Australia (VA, Brisbane International) is planning to end the use of ATR - Avions de Transport Régional turboprops in Queensland with the process set to begin during the third quarter of the year.
According to Australian Aviation, an internal company memo to employees from Virgin Australia Group executive for airlines, John Thomas, said all six ATR 72-500s would be withdrawn along with two ATR 72-600s. This process is to begin in July.
The memo added that Virgin was “investigating a number of different options” for the future of its regional Queensland routes that were currently served with the ATRs. Virgin Australia uses the turboprops to connect its Brisbane International hub with Bundaberg, Gladstone, Middlemount, Miles, Moranbah, Port Macquarie, and Rockhampton.
The move will see the carrier's ATR network consolidated around routes within the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), New South Wales, and Victoria.
