Virgin Australia Unveils 150th Boeing 737 in Special Retro Livery

The airline's bold new all-red design pays tribute to its pioneering Virgin Blue era.

Mar. 30, 2026 at 9:53pm

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Virgin Australia has unveiled its very first retro livery, blending a proud look back at its heritage with a clear message of ongoing growth and future confidence. The eye-catching all-red design was revealed on the airline's newest Boeing 737 MAX 8 as it rolled out of Boeing's factory in Seattle, marking two important milestones: the 150th Boeing 737 delivered to the airline since Virgin Blue launched in 2000, and the 100th 737 in the current Virgin Australia fleet.

Why it matters

The new retro livery celebrates Virgin Australia's pioneering history while signaling the airline's focus on building a robust and competitive business through continued fleet renewal and expansion. The modern 737-8 aircraft offer clear advantages in fuel efficiency, noise reduction, and operational reliability that benefit both passengers and the environment.

The details

The aircraft has been named Lake Centenary, following Virgin Australia's long-standing tradition of naming planes after bodies of water. Registered as VH-8VI, the plane is one of twelve Boeing 737-8s scheduled for delivery this year. Virgin Australia is also receiving four Embraer E190-E2 jets for its regional arm, Virgin Australia Regional Airlines (VARA), as part of a major fleet renewal program.

  • In August 2000, Virgin Blue began flying with just two Boeing 737-400 aircraft on the Brisbane–Sydney route.
  • In 2025, more than 21 million guests flew with Virgin Australia – the highest number in the airline's history.
  • This delivery comes nearly three years after Virgin Australia welcomed its first 737-8 into the fleet.

The players

Virgin Australia

An Australian airline that was founded in 2000 as Virgin Blue and has since grown to become one of the country's major domestic and international carriers.

Dave Emerson

The CEO of the Virgin Australia Group, who stated that the airline is in the strongest position it has been in over the past 25 years and is using that momentum to keep investing in its future.

Boeing

The American aerospace company that manufactures the 737 aircraft that Virgin Australia has been receiving as part of its fleet renewal program.

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What they’re saying

“Virgin Australia is in the strongest position it has been in over the past 25 years. We are using that momentum to keep investing in our future.”

— Dave Emerson, CEO, Virgin Australia Group

“It comes at an important time, ensuring we have the right fleet to support our continued domestic and short-haul international expansion while operating efficiently in a changing environment.”

— Dave Emerson, CEO, Virgin Australia Group

What’s next

The milestone aircraft is now completing final preparations, including test flights, and is expected to ferry to Brisbane in April before entering commercial service on domestic and short-haul international routes.

The takeaway

By honouring its roots with this special retro livery while embracing advanced technology, Virgin Australia is showing how far it has come and how excited it is about the journey ahead. The striking red jet serves as a flying reminder of the airline's heritage and a symbol of its ambitious future.