SYDNEY, Sept 17 (Reuters) - Australian low-cost airline Virgin Blue (VBA.AX) is in talks with U.S. plane-maker Boeing (BA.N) to acquire between 30 and 50 single-aisle aircraft, The Age newspaper said on Thursday, quoting Virgin's chief executive.

The daily quoted Brett Godfrey as telling an aviation gathering on Wednesday that Virgin Blue aimed to replace a large portion of its 65-strong 737 domestic fleet from 2011 onwards. Many of its existing planes are leased, The Age added.

"Now is the best time to do a deal," Godfrey was quoted as saying.

"We are in the market because the market is right and we don't want to miss the opportunity."

A Virgin Blue spokeswoman could not be immediately reached by phone for comment on the report. Boeing declined to comment, referring all questions to Virgin Blue. (Reporting by Mark Bendeich, Denny Thomas in Sydney and William Rigby in Seattle; Editing by Michael Urquhart)

Why is it that Virgin Blue is buying Boeing narrow body, while its US sister is buying Airbus narrow body?
Since the planes are similar, can't they just make one big order and save money on purchase price & parts?

Buying from both likely helps each negotiate a better deal by playing them off on each other.

Aside from the name, the two companies are not in any way related. Virgin group owns under 25% of Virgin Blue, and who knows how much (really) of Virgin America, but Virgin Blue and Virgin America have no relationship or cross-shareholding.

Why should two unrelated entities collaborate on fleet purchases? It hasn't worked for the airline alliances, why two unallied airlines?

The misunderstanding may have occurred because VA - V Australia (not VirginBlue, specifically) has an interline relationship with VX - Virgin America. The Virgin America domestic US counters are located directly next door to some of the V Australia counters in LAX, I understand. However .. with V Australia's new 'domestic' bliss with DL, it will be interesting to see how long this interline agreement survives.

But as ProudWings correctly points out, the 'ownership' commonality between the two carriers is effectively nil. While Branson may be a shareholder in both companies .. he is only a minority shareholder .. without enough strength to direct aircraft purchase policy, it would appear.

ProudWings & Kimshep answers make sense, thx.