Tigerair (Tiger Airways) Airbus A320 VH-VNP Departs - And Returns in Virgin Australia Colours!

We posted in September about a reported upcoming departure for good of a Tigerair (Tiger Airways) Australia Airbus A320, but recently, we've discovered that a different A320 has subsequently left the Tigerair fleet and flown overseas for maintenance and re-painting in preparation for service with Virgin Australia in Western Australia.

A320 VH-VNP was noted departing Melbourne (Tullamarine) for overseas on Tuesday 2 October after it completed its last service for Tigerair the previous day.

It then returned to Australia on Tuesday 26 November, touching down in Perth in full Virgin Australia livery.  It was also noted wearing the name 'Little Parakeet Bay'.

VH-VNP arrives into Perth Airport  (Photo added)

It is assumed that VH-VNP will soon commence operations out of the Western Australian capital for Virgin on their regional WA, Fly-in Fly-out (FIFO) and other services, joining other Airbus A320s - VH-FNP, VH-YUD and VH-VNJ.

UPDATE!  VH-VNP was noted completing a test flight before then entering service with the airline out of Perth on Tuesday 11 December.

Of interest, VH-VNP was originally delivered to Tiger Airways (Singapore) in 2006 as 9V-TAH. It was then delivered to Tigerair Australia in November 2010 and re-registered VH-VNP.

VH-VNP at Brisbane Airport in September this year  (File photo)

The final visit of VH-VNP into Central Queensland was to Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport only on Saturday 29 September when it operated the scheduled TGW394/397 service from and back to Sydney.

Finally, as we reported below, fellow Airbus A320 VH-VNB continues to fly for Tigerair Australia on their scheduled services in an all-white livery suggesting that it may be the next aircraft to leave the fleet and join Virgin Australia in WA!

Photos taken by David Rowcroft and Lloyd Fox  ©