(29/05/23) Qantas will mark the end of an era with the
departure of one of its Boeing 717 jets, the first of its type to
be registered and flown in Australia.
The departing 717 (registration VH-NXI) holds a
special place in the Qantas Group’s modern history, having
operated Jetstar’s first flight between Melbourne and Launceston
on the day the airline started flying in May 2004.
The aircraft has also flown on regional and
domestic routes for QantasLink for the past 15 years. In total, it
has completed more than 29,000 flights and safely carried more
than 1.6 million customers for both Qantas and Jetstar over two
decades.
Named Blue Mountains after the world-heritage
listed national park in New South Wales, the aircraft is due to
depart Australia in mid-June ahead of being sold to another major
carrier.
Qantas Boeing 717 reg: VH-NXI
It is the third of the airline’s 717s to leave the
fleet and its range limits mean the journey to its new owner in
North America will involve eight fuel stops, including Cebu,
Sapporo and Anchorage.
All of QantasLink’s 20 Boeing 717s will be
gradually replaced by 29 fuel efficient Airbus A220 aircraft as
part of the “Project Winton” fleet renewal program. The first A220
aircraft is due to arrive later this year and the first of 20
A321XLRs will arrive in late 2024.
The departing 717 was flanked at Sydney Airport
today by two new arrivals in the fleet – a Boeing 787 Dreamliner
and a Jetstar A321neo LR.
The next generation aircraft are part of a
significant investment in fleet renewal that will see the group
take delivery of a new aircraft every three weeks on average for
the next few years. The incoming aircraft will help Qantas and
Jetstar restore capacity and expand their network while lowering
emissions and improving efficiency.
Qantas’ latest Boeing 787 Dreamliner, Billabong,
started flying on the airline’s international network this month,
with another two Dreamliners to be delivered over the next three
weeks.
The additional aircraft enabled the resumption of
Sydney-San Francisco flights and will support the launch of the
Sydney to New York via Auckland route next month. This will bring
Qantas’ 787-9 fleet to 14.
Jetstar also this month welcomed its
seventh Airbus A321neo LR aircraft, which are 50 per cent
quieter than the older A321s they replace and burn up to 20 per
cent less fuel. They are operating domestic services and flying
between Australia and Bali. The airline will receive another 11
A321neo LR aircraft by the end of 2024.
Through a combination of new arrivals and standby
aircraft returning to service, the Qantas Group has returned to
around 100 per cent of pre-COVID domestic flying levels and
expects to restore 100 per cent of international flying by March
2024.
“It’s the end of an era for these Boeing 717s
which have played a crucial role in connecting Australians across
our domestic and regional network for more than two decades,” said
Qantas Group CEO, Alan Joyce. “It’s fitting that the very first
717 to be registered in this country is making way for another
brand-new fleet type, the A220, which can operate double the range
of the 717s opening up new domestic and short-haul international
routes. Qantas is in the early stages of the biggest fleet renewal
program in its history, with up to 299 narrowbody aircraft spread
over 10-plus years as well as the A350s that will operate our
Project Sunrise flights. It’s an incredibly exciting time for our
employees as well as our customers as these new aircraft create
more opportunities and unlock new destinations. We’ve already
taken delivery of four new aircraft this year and we’re on track
to receive another eight before the end of the year. The new
aircraft we’re receiving are much more capable than the aircraft
they’re replacing. They can fly further while being much quieter
and more efficient and providing a great experience for our
passengers.”
Blue Mountains Boeing 717 – operations in
Australia:
2000 – First registered in Australia as VH-IMP.
Operated first commercial flight for Impulse Airlines.
2001 – 2004 – Transferred to operate QantasLink
flights.
2004 – 2005 – Operated for Jetstar.
2006 – 2023 – Operated for QantasLink, registered
as VH-NXI.
