Virgin Australia to Deploy Boeing 737s on Key Regional Routes

Virgin Australia has today announced that they will deploy Boeing 737 aircraft on key regional routes, including service to Mount Isa and Townsville, creating additional capacity for regional Queensland. 

Virgin Australia Boeing 737

On Monday (June 9, 2025), Virgin Australia announced the deployment of Boeing 737s on key regional routes.  From late July 2025, the aircraft will be deployed on the Brisbane-Mount Isa route, offering guests the choice of Business Class or Economy seating, which until now has been supplemented by Alliance Airlines’ Fokker 100 aircraft through a partner agreement.  Additionally, from November 2025, Virgin Australia will increase capacity on the Brisbane-Townsville route, with an increase in 737-operated services, adding over 6,000 additional monthly seats from November 2025.      

In Monday’s announcement, Virgin Australia’s Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer, Alistair Hartley, said,

“By operating our Boeing 737 aircraft on more flights, we can offer increased value and choice to our customers, more seats, and greater connectivity to Mount Isa and Townsville, further aligning our flying to our pre-COVID levels for these key regional hubs.  These routes are critical to regional Queenslanders who regularly commute for work, and as a business we see the value in the enhanced product offering the bigger aircraft provides our customers.

“As we modernise our fleet with more next-generation Boeing aircraft, we are able to refine our network schedule and increasingly deploy our larger B737s on regional routes that have traditionally been serviced through a partner agreement.  By operating our Boeing 737 aircraft on more flights, we can offer increased value and choice to our customers, more seats, and greater connectivity to Mount Isa and Townsville, further aligning our flying to our pre-COVID levels for these key regional hubs.”

Also commenting on the upguaged service to region, Queensland Airports Limited’s Chief Commercial Officer, Adam Rowe, added,

“Virgin Australia’s decision to upsize to Boeing 737 aircraft at Mount Isa and Townsville airports is positive news for the North and North West Queensland communities.  Services to and from Brisbane are the top route for passengers at both Townsville and Mount Isa airports, with many flights fully booked – so it’s great to see Virgin Australia adding more capacity and an enhanced product offering to cater to demand.  We’re proud to work with airline partners like Virgin Australia to ensure the region is well-positioned for the future.”

Currently, Virgin Australia operates up to three weekly return services between Brisbane and Mount Isa, as well as up to five weekly return services between Brisbane and Townsville.  Based on operational and schedule requirements, there will be times during the season when this route will be serviced with a Fokker 100 aircraft, so there is no guarantee that all customers will fly on a Boeing 737.

Source: Virgin Australia