Tag Archives: QANTAS Link

QANTAS Link to help open the new Brisbane West Wellcamp Airport

Brisbane West Wellcamp Airport, the country’s newest airport, and QANTAS Link have announced they have signed a deal to start passenger flights to the airport when it opens later this year.

The landmark deal will secure 11 return flights a week to and from Sydney from November 17 and provide a Toowoomba centric schedule of double daily services Monday to Friday and daily services on the weekend.

BWWA is Australia’s first privately-funded public airport and the first public airport to be built in 50 years. The 300 ha airport, featuring a 2.87 km runway capable of landing a Boeing 747 aircraft, is the anchor tenant of the 800 ha Wellcamp Business Park.

Copyright Photo: John Adlard/AirlinersGallery.com. Sunstate Airlines Bombardier DHC-8-402 (Q400) VH-QOH (msn 4132) in the special NBCF livery approaches the runway at Sydney.

QANTAS Link-Sunstate Aircraft Slide Show: CLICK HERE

QANTAS unveils a new Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander special livery

QANTAS Airways (Sydney) has unveiled a new Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander special color scheme on Bombardier DHC-8-402 (Q400) VH-LQM (msn 4450) operated by QANTAS Link partner Sunstate Airlines: QANTAS issued this statement and photos:

QANTAS has joined the movement to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the Australian Constitution by unveiling a new QANTAS Link Q400 aircraft showcasing a large RECOGNISE logo on its livery.

In addition to the aircraft livery unveiled at today’s event, QANTAS Link will soon embark on displaying a smaller version of the RECOGNISE logo on its entire fleet of 31 Q400 aircraft, ensuring the message is spread across the country.

About RECOGNISE

RECOGNISE is the movement of Australians campaigning for the recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the Australian Constitution and to ensure there is no place for discrimination in our founding document. The movement has wide support from across the political spectrum and in the Australian community from grassroots supporters and many major institutions, non-government organisations, companies, sporting codes and faith groups.

About QANTAS’ commitment to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians:

QANTAS has a longstanding commitment to value Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage, cultures and peoples and to recognise the original custodians of Australia. A Reconciliation Action Plan has been in place since 2007 and QANTAS currently holds partnerships with the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence, Career Trackers, Bangarra Dance Theatre, Clontarf, the Indigenous Marathon Project, Supply Nation, Engineering Aid Australia, Jawun, Lirrwi Yolngu Tourism Aboriginal Corporation, the Yothu Yindi Foundation, the Australian Indigenous Education Foundation and RECOGNISE.

QANTAS Airways:

QANTAS announces five new Link destinations

QANTAS Airways (Sydney) has announced a number of new regional routes, providing customers with direct services to five new destinations on its domestic network.

Through better utilization of aircraft, QANTAS will provide customers with access to the following new routes: Brisbane to Port Macquarie, Melbourne to Coffs Harbour, Sydney to Hervey Bay, Sydney to Hamilton Island and Brisbane to Miles.

Domestic Routes

Copyright Photo: Keith Burton/AirlinersGallery.com. Sunstate Airlines‘ Bombardier DHC-8-402 (Q400) VH-LQM (msn 4450) departs from Sydney.

QANTAS Airways:

QANTAS Link-Sunstate Airlines:

Boeing leases additional 717s to QANTAS Link and Volotea

Boeing’ (Chicago) leasing unit, Boeing Capital Corporation, announced additional deployments of 717s.

Australia’s largest regional airline, QANTAS Link, will receive an additional five leased 717s to add to its existing fleet of 13 of the twinjets that operate across Australia. Those deliveries will begin in late 2013 after the aircraft are refitted with upgraded interiors to include a full business class experience and new in-flight entertainment systems. The QANTAS Group has operated the 717s since 2002.

The 717s will be deployed on the Sydney-Canberra, Brisbane-Canberra and Melbourne-Canberra routes.

In Europe, startup carrier, Volotea (Barcelona and Venice), will increase its 717 fleet (below) in 2013 to a total 15 as it continues to develop its business model of offering point-to-point service to passengers between medium and small-sized European cities. Volotea began operations on April 5, 2012 with a network built around the 717 that is supported by a comprehensive Boeing solution for operations and training.

Volotea recently surpassed the million passenger mark enabled by its operation from 52 European airports, currently serving 97 city pairs.

There are more than 150 Boeing 717s in service today since the first airplane was delivered in 1999. The twinjet’s technology and fleet performance have earned it the distinction of being the world’s best jetliner serving the 100-passenger airline market.

Top Copyright Photo: Micheil Keegan/AirlinersGallery.com. Operated by Cobham Aviation Services Australia for QANTAS, Boeing 717-2K9 VH-NXH (msn 55055) prepares to land in Perth, Western Australia.

QANTAS Link-Cobham:

Volotea:

Bottom Copyright Photo: Keith Burton/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 717-2BL EI-EWI (msn 55170) climbs away from Southend after maintenance.

QANTAS Group to lease five Boeing 717s, order three Bombardier Q400s and cancel one Boeing 787

The QANTAS Group (QANTAS Airways) (Sydney) has announced an update to its fleet plan to capitalize on growth in Australian domestic markets.

QANTAS will lease an additional five Boeing 717 aircraft (above) and purchase three Bombardier DHC-8-402 (Q400) aircraft (below), due to start arriving from the second half of 2013.

The company has also made a change to its international fleet plan, with the cancellation of a single Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner on order for Jetstar Airways.

The remaining 14 Boeing 787-8s will be delivered to Jetstar as planned, with the first aircraft to arrive in mid-2013. This will enable the gradual transfer of Airbus A330 aircraft from Jetstar to QANTAS Domestic and the retirement of QANTAS’ Boeing 767 fleet.

Mr Joyce said the cancellation of one B787 took advantage of flexibility in its fleet plan and contract with Boeing.

“The original 787 order for Jetstar was designed to replace all 11 of its existing A330s that are used for long haul services plus provide another four lines of flying for future growth.

“While the plan is for Jetstar’s long haul network to keep expanding we are using the flexibility in our agreement with Boeing to cancel a firm order knowing that we can replace it with one of our 50 options for this aircraft down the track, and with a full view of what market conditions are like at the time,” added Mr Joyce.

Jetstar’s short haul growth plans continue to be supported by the QANTAS Group’s existing order of Airbus A320 aircraft.

Mr Joyce said the QANTAS Group remained firmly committed to the Dreamliners for both Qantas International and Jetstar, and that it retained options and purchase rights for 50 Boeing 787s of either -8 or -9 variants available for delivery from 2016.

In an important milestone for the Jetstar Boeing 787 program, production of its first aircraft has just begun. With delivery of the aircraft not due until mid-2013, the airline is confident current technical issues will be resolved by Boeing.

The decision to amend the 787 order was reached at the end of 2012 and the agreement with Boeing has now been finalized.

The fleet changes announced will have no material impact on the Group’s planned capital expenditure, which remains unchanged at $1.8 billion for FY13 and $1.9 billion for FY14.

Top Copyright Photo: Peter Gates. Boeing 717-231 VH-NXN (msn 55095) of Cobham Aviation Services Australia operating as a QANTAS Link carrier poses for the camera at Brisbane.

QANTAS Link-Cobham Aviation Services Australia:

QANTAS Link-Sunstate Airlines:

Bottom Copyright Photo: John Adlard. Bombardier DHC-8-402 (Q400) VH-QOC (msn 4117) of Sunstate Airlines approaches the Sydney hub.

It’s finally true: snakes on a plane!

Alliance Airlines to operate QANTAS Link services on the Brisbane-Emerald route starting on June 4

Alliance Airlines (Brisbane) will start operating Fokker 100s as a QANTAS Link carrier on the Brisbane-Emerald route starting on June 4. So far, no Alliance Fokker F.28 Mk. 0100s have been repainted into QANTAS colors.

QANTAS issued the following statement:

“QANTAS Link has announced it will introduce Fokker F100* jet services between Brisbane and Emerald from June 4, 2012. These new jet services will support Q400 services on the route whilst also providing cascaded growth across several key Queensland markets including Roma and Bundaberg.

Alongside the introduction of 19 F100 jet services, QANTAS Link will also add four extra flights between Brisbane and Emerald taking the total number of return services on the route to 45 per week.

Additional Q400 aircraft services will benefit several key markets as follows:

– Increased flights between Brisbane and Roma with four additional services introduced to provide over 290 new seats per week.
– Customers travelling between Brisbane and Bundaberg will have access to an extra 392 seats per week.
– Customers travelling to and from Newcastle, Hervey Bay and Biloela will also benefit from extra seats becoming available on these markets.

*F100 services between Emerald and Brisbane will be operated on behalf of QantasLink by Alliance Airlines.”

Alliance Slide Show: CLICK HERE

QANTAS Link to expand Boeing 717 operations in Queensland

QANTAS Link will launch new Boeing 717 services to Rockhampton and Gladstone on March 15 and Mackay on March 26, 2012.

The introduction of two 115-seat QANTAS Link Boeing 717-200 aircraft in Queensland will deliver an increase of over 200,000 seats per year in Queensland.

The combined QANTAS Link fleet includes five Bombardier DHC-8 200s (Q200s), 16 DHC-8-300s (Q300s), 25 DHC-8-400s (Q400) and 11 Boeing 717-200 aircraft.

Cobham Aviation Services (formerly National Jet Services) (Adelaide) Cobham operates the 11 Boeing 717-200 aircraft on behalf of QANTAS regional subsidiary QANTAS Link. The company flies more than one million passengers for QANTAS Link each year, across 300 sectors per week. Other than the physical supply of the actual Boeing 717 aircraft by QANTAS, Cobham provides all the necessary resources and infrastructure required to deliver this service. This includes all pilots, cabin crew, the high capacity CASA approved Air Operators Certificate (AOC) and associated regulatory compliance systems as well as the engineering and maintenance support for the entire Boeing 717 fleet, maintaining QANTAS Link’s branding strategy and standards.

Top Copyright Photo: Planegeezer.

Bottom Copyright Photo: Cobham Aviation Services.

Cobham Route Map:

Please click on the map to expand.

Sunstate Airlines dedicates a Q400 for the Taronga Western Plains Zoo

Sunstate Airlines’ (QANTAS Link) (Brisbane) 74-seat Bombardier DHC-8-402 (Q400) VH-QOW (msn 4285) aircraft showcasing the images of the Taronga Western Plains Zoo animals was introduced yesterday (November 1) in Sydney to help promote regional tourism. The airliner is decorated with images of giraffes and rhinoceros.

The Bombardier Q400 aircraft in its wildlife livery was launched at a special debut event at the QANTAS Jet Base at Sydney Mascot that included a visit by Taronga’s wildlife outreach ZooMobile and the animals that help Zoo educators teach communities about the needs of wildlife.

The Taronga Western Plains Zoo is located in Dubbo, NSW. Formerly known as the Western Plains Zoo, it opened to the public on February 28, 1977, to provide more living and breeding space for large animals which needed more space than was available at the restricted Sydney site. The zoo is run by the Taronga Conservation Society (formerly Zoological Parks Board of New South Wales), along with the Taronga Zoo.

QANTAS Link operates 50 roundtrip flights each week between Sydney and Dubbo, providing easy access to Taronga Western Plains Zoo’s famous Zoofari Lodge wildlife Safari experience, along with access to the Orana region’s many attractions.

QANTAS grounds five Bombardier Q400s

QANTAS Link-Sunstate Airlines Bombardier DHC-8-402 (Q400) VH-QOS (msn 4263) BNE (Peter Gates), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.

QANTAS Airways (Sydney) grounded five Bombardier DHC-8-400 (Q400) turboprop aircraft due to landing gear problems.

The aircraft, operated by its QANTAS Link carriers were removed from service on August 21 following advice from the manufacturer, the airline said in a statement.

Cracks were discovered in a major component of a landing gear fitting in five of its 21 Q400s, with the remaining 16 Q400s unaffected and to remain in service.

The company issued the following statement:

CLICK HERE