Virgin Australia to close out the Virgin Blue era

Virgin Australia Airlines (formerly Virgin Blue Airlines) (Brisbane) is getting ready to close out the Virgin Blue brand. The last aircraft to be repainted, the pictured Boeing 737-8FE VH-VUL (msn 36603), will enter the paint shop shortly to be repainted. Virgin Blue became the current Virgin Australia on May 3, 2011.

Why did Virgin Blue Airlines painted their aircraft mainly red? The Virgin Blue name was selected as a result of a naming contest. The selected name was an unique and clever play on the predominantly red livery and the Australian slang expression of calling a red-headed male “Blue” or “Bluey”. Today Virgin Australia continues to use the red color.

Top Copyright Photo: Rob Finlayson/AirlinersGallery.com. VH-VUL departs from the Brisbane base.

Bottom Copyright Photo: John Adlard/AirlinersGallery.com. VH-VUL once wore the promotional Avatar livery.