Virgin Blue VH-ZHB Embraer E170-100-AR v1.0

Virgin Blue VH-ZHB Embraer E170-100-AR v1.0

Virgin Blue started as a low-cost airline in August 2000, based in Brisbane Australia. While the core fleet centred around the Boeing 737 product, the airline ordered 20 Embraer E-jets (six E-170s, and 14 E-190s), with the first E-170 arriving in September 2007. The E-Jets were operated to smaller regional ports, as well as the busy Sydney to Canberra route.

In February 2011, the airline was rebranded as Virgin Australia. The Embraer’s left the fleet in 2011 after contracting regional services to Skywest, which became Virgin Australia Regional Airlines and operated ATR-72s.

All Virgin Blue jets received cheeky or playful names, with VH-ZHB receiving the name Brazilliant Blue – a play on Brilliant / Country of Origin. VH-ZHB now flies with Compass Airlines.