Virgin Australia Embraer E-190 VH-ZPE Also Departs Australia For Good

Also departing Australia this week was Virgin Australia Embraer E-190 jet VH-ZPE which was initially withdrawn from service on Saturday 23 April and departed Brisbane on Tuesday 26 April for Apia (Tonga) and all stops to Nashville (Tennessee) for post lease maintenance.

VH-ZPE on one of its last visits to Gladstone Airport  (File photo)

VH-ZPE is the fourth of five Virgin Australia E-190s that will be withdrawn from the fleet and transferred to operate for Aero Mexico.  VH-ZPD, VH-ZPG and VH-ZPF have already left Australia - see referring Blog post HERE.

VH-ZPE was originally delivered to Virgin Blue at the start of July 2008 and took up the name 'Bluephoria'.  After re-painting into the new Virgin Australia livery, it then wore the name ‘Coogee Beach’.

VH-ZPE at Rockhampton Airport in 2011  (File photo)

VH-ZPE 'Coogee Beach' at Gladstone Airport  (File photo)

VH-ZPE made frequent visits to CQ was looked to make its final visit last Friday 22 April when it operated the VOZ1249/1252 rotation into Rockhampton Airport from and back to Brisbane.

Sad to see them go!

Photos taken by Col  ©