Virgin Atlantic has taken delivery of its first Airbus A330-900, a twinjet which is being acquired through US lessor Air Lease.
The aircraft (G-VJAZ) is one of 13 A330neos ordered by the UK carrier, and Virgin will become the first operator of the type in the country.
Six of the 13 A330neos will be taken through Air Lease. Airbus says the airline intends to increase the fleet to 16 at some point.
Virgin selected the A330-900 – powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engines – as part of a fleet modernisation that has also included introducing A350s and Boeing 787s.
It has configured the A330neo with a three-class layout featuring 262 seats including 32 in the first-class cabin, plus two suites.
Airbus says the aircraft was delivered to the airline’s London Heathrow base using a 35% blend of sustainable aviation fuel.
