Virgin Australia has just revealed the stunning new interiors of their dual-class Embraer E190-E2 narrowbody jets, all set to be utilized for the carrier’s Western Australian charter market. Production for the first E190-E2 aircraft by Embraer kicked off in March 2025, and the regional business of the Group, Virgin Australia Regional Airlines (VARA), will be welcoming four out of the eight new aircraft within a year. The inaugural aircraft, dubbed ‘Coral Bay’, is expected to kick off operations by October 2025.

"We've decided on a dual-class layout, which not only offers us three product options when factoring in our extra legroom option, Economy X," shared Nathan Miller, VARA’s Executive General Manager. "This setup allows us the flexibility to operate the aircraft for regular commercial services on days with lower charter demand and increased leisure traffic."

Excitement has been palpable around the announcement of VARA’s acquisition of the E190-E2s, with Miller expressing that they have received "very positive feedback". This is mainly attributed to the fact that this order marks the introduction of the first brand-new aircraft in the Western Australian charter market. Each of these aircraft will be equipped with Virgin Australia’s Wi-Fi connectivity, in-flight entertainment accessible via personal devices, as well as in-seat power.

"Our passengers are thrilled about the two-plus-two seating configuration in our economy cabin, ensuring no middle seats are in play. There’s ample cabin space for passengers to stow their belongings in the overhead bins. Compared to the previous Fokker 100s, the seats are more spacious, offering our guests an enhanced flying experience," Miller added.

Underlining the E2’s remarkable sustainability features, Miller noted the aircraft boasts the quietest noise profile in its segment. "The reduced noise levels are a boon for communities near the airport, especially given many of our departures are scheduled for early mornings," acknowledged Miller. "In terms of sustainability, the E2 stands out as the most fuel-efficient in its class, potentially cutting emissions by up to 30 percent as opposed to the outgoing Fokker 100s."

On top of these exciting developments, VARA also shared plans to unveil a new hangar at Perth Airport (PER) in the upcoming months, which will serve as a hub for the airline’s engineering team. Stay tuned for more updates on this promising expansion!