Recently Re-delivered Virgin Australia Boeing B737-800 VH-VUJ First Visit Back into CQ at Mackay Airport

On Sunday 19 December, Virgin Australia Boeing B737-800 VH-VUJ was noted making its first visit back into Central Queensland, since it was re-delivered back to the airline at the start of October. It operated into Mackay Airport as VOZ613/616, arriving from and later departing back to Brisbane.

File photo

The B737-800 was previously operated by Virgin Australia also as VH-VUJ and was one of two aircraft that were placed on the American Aircraft Register and ferried back to lessors in the USA in late 2020. VH-VUJ took up the registration marking N343CG and ferried out of Australia from Melbourne (Tullamarine) in mid-December 2020.

On Friday 8 October, N343CG arrived back in Australia from the USA and promptly took up the registration marking of VH-VUJ once again. It re-entered service with Virgin Australia on Friday 12 November.

N343CG parked at Brisbane Airport  (File photo)

Of interest, it appears that VH-VUJ is still named 'Rosebud Beach'.

As mentioned previously, VH-VUJ was joined by another B737-800 VH-VUI which also ferried out in mid-December 2020 and was re-registered N341CG. It returned to Australia in early September and has been re-registered back to VH-VUI. It entered service in mid-October and has visited CQ on at least one occasion.

Photos taken by Ryan Hothersall and Lloyd Fox  ©