Virgin Australia says it will defer delivery of its Boeing 737 Max jets by nearly two years.
The delay will buy it time to be completely satisfied with its safety and to reduce its short term capital spending.
New CEO Paul Scurrah said the deferment could help boost its credit rating.
"It was certainly the first priority I walked into the business with when I got here," he told Reuters
"We are confident in the assurances given us around (Boeing’s) commitment to safely return the MAX to service. As a long term partner we are looking to work with them through that process."
Norwegian Air Shuttle and Indonesia`s Lion Air, which was involved in the first Max crash, have also pushed back deliveries.
Virgin said it will convert another 15 of its 737 Max jets on order to the larger 737 Max 10 version.
The first of these will be delivered beginning in July 2021.
The bigger capacity and longer range will give the airline additional flexibility, Scurrah said.
