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Rowan McKeever
25th March 2016, 07:52 AM
At this rate you should be pretty right, Steve. QF1550/1553 were cancelled last night & replaced with a B738, and YQT positioned out of BNE this morning in order to take QF1562. YQY still here...

Rowan McKeever
3rd April 2016, 11:14 AM
Having seen photos of NXM on facebook yesterday, she's in desparate need of some new paint. My money would be on NXK, NXL & NXM as the prospects to join the 2-class fleet...???

Brad Myer
3rd April 2016, 01:35 PM
Has YQYs reliability picked up now?

Steve S... 2
3rd April 2016, 03:57 PM
YQY appears to be behaving now. It has had six days of normal service.

I wonder if YQX will be a problem child too :)

Steve S... 2
15th April 2016, 02:22 PM
Yesterday I flew from OOL-SYD on the beautiful YQV.

The schedule had it planned as being YQT, however QantasLink were playing musical 717's yesterday because YQS was misbehaving in SYD.

YQT instead went to HBA, and YQV came up to OOL, while YQS sat in the hangar in SYD.

YQX has been in ADL since early Feb, so when that comes online things should hopefully fall into place...

Why is YQX taking so long though?

Rowan McKeever
15th April 2016, 02:51 PM
I didn't think the ADL hangar was capable of doing 2x concurrent B717 cabins, so assume YQX didn't get started until YQY was done. I imagine once YQX is out we'll see the first of the NXx fleet go in for its new cabin?

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Stefan Perkas
15th April 2016, 07:27 PM
I didn't think the ADL hangar was capable of doing 2x concurrent B717 cabins, so assume YQX didn't get started until YQY was done. I imagine once YQX is out we'll see the first of the NXx fleet go in for its new cabin?

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It can do 2 at once I beleive. However due to Bae146 maintenanicne and the new AMSA challengers being delivered aroudn the same time, they are a little busy.

Brad Myer
16th April 2016, 06:43 AM
Didnt QF announce that B717 maintenance work was going back in house using the CBR facility?

Also any update on the Network F-100 repaints?

Rowan McKeever
16th April 2016, 08:16 AM
Yeah the B717 work is in CBR... YQW is in there at the moment for a heavy check. I don't know if that will include the rework on the NXx or not... maybe it does!

Thanks, Stefan! I thought I'd heard 2 couldn't be in together but it must be because of the other aircraft coming through, not the size of the hangar :)

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Zac M
19th April 2016, 11:15 PM
YQX is scheduled to enter service on Thursday as QF1543 BNE-CBR, assume it will position to BNE tomorrow night, however only flight scheduled for it at present is a 2hr test flight leaving ADL at 11am.

YQW was pushed out of the hanger in CBR yesterday afternoon, and should re enter service in the coming days, this will be replaced by NXJ in the CBR hanger and will mean that all flights that are supposed to be 2 class aircraft will be two class aircraft!

Rowan McKeever
20th April 2016, 10:42 AM
YQX just filed on flightaware for a test flight ADL-ADL at 1200 local today, then ADL-BNE as QJE6201 at 1500 ACST today.

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Brad Myer
20th April 2016, 10:43 AM
Could NXJ be in for conversion from all economy to 2 class?

Zac M
20th April 2016, 01:48 PM
I would expect NXJ and R to as they already have the pre-recorded announcements which earlier deliveries do not have, however id expect the mod to be done in ADL. We shall see.

NXJ is now showing as operating QF1543 tomorrow so YQX is likely delayed

EDIT: The test flight appears to have not gone ahead however it has now filed as QF6201 ferry to BNE departing shortly.

Steve S... 2
20th April 2016, 03:38 PM
YQX is now scheduled for an ADL-ADL test flight tomorrow 21st April.

Stefan Perkas
21st April 2016, 08:14 PM
YQX is now scheduled for an ADL-ADL test flight tomorrow 21st April.

VH-YQX sort of skipped the test flight and flew Adelaide-Brisbane today. However upon departure from Adelaide it flew out to Kangaroo Island and did a few circuits before continuing up to Brisbane.

Greg Hyde
22nd April 2016, 04:08 PM
Did YQX enter service this morning flying QJE1553, Brisbane to Canberra ?

Steve S... 2
22nd April 2016, 04:11 PM
YQX was about to operate it's inaugural as QF1549 BNE-CBR but instead NXO jumped in.

Dare I suggest another problem child like YQY was - which leads one to wonder about YQX & YQY's background dating back to 1999.

MarkR
22nd April 2016, 04:51 PM
Dare I suggest another problem child like YQY was - which leads one to wonder about YQX & YQY's background dating back to 1999.

Both very similar history, worked hard no doubt by the likes of Olympic, Spanair and Blue1 and maybe not given the love they deserve.

Max C
22nd April 2016, 05:31 PM
All the YQ* series 717's have had problems from the start.

Usually 1-2 u/s everyday.

QLink have also recently taken over the 717 maintenance from Cobham at most ports which is adding to the headaches as more engineers are trained up.

Zac M
22nd April 2016, 06:03 PM
1-2 every day is way over the top....no where near that many. Its not a great performance but not that bad.

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Max C
22nd April 2016, 07:07 PM
It's 1+ a day Zac. I did say usually, so every now and again they get them all in the air!

Especially if you include the NX* series in QLD.

Greg Hyde
22nd April 2016, 07:24 PM
I wonder if Delta are having the same problems with the Blue1 birds they picked up ?

Maybe, it's time to pick up a few more and retire the YQ* to spare-ships.

MarkR
22nd April 2016, 07:37 PM
Maybe, it's time to pick up a few more and retire the YQ* to spare-ships.

Given YQW is the youngest on the planet (and probably one of the lowest in terms of time/cycles) I wouldn't lump them all in the same bucket.

Rowan McKeever
22nd April 2016, 10:42 PM
As I understand it, YQT & YQX were to operate 1543 & 1545 this morning, in that order.

YQT remains out of service in BNE with NXQ having taken over its full day of flying.

YQX was pushed back to 1549 with 1545 operating on NXJ. That changed again with NXO eventually taking 1549. Long story short, YQX entered service a little behind schedule this evening as 1553.

Suspect there will be a few repositioning flights tonight and over the weekend. Separately, NXJ is enroute BNE-CBR for maintenance.

I agree with Zac. I don't believe it averages anywhere close to even 1 a day being u/s. They've been quite reliable since YQY settled in until the hiccups with YQT & YQX over the last couple of days.

The 'buy more and push the YQx to spares' isn't a thing either... the worldwide fleet is fairly entrenched with its current operators, except V7, and any that do become available will be highly sought after. DL in particular is likely to bid very hard for them. The only frames that aren't likely to be so sought after are the HA fleet with their high cycles.

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Brad Myer
22nd April 2016, 11:03 PM
What ports are QFLink engineering taking over from cobham?

Zac M
22nd April 2016, 11:20 PM
All of them, exception of ADL I would assume as I believe Cobham provide Qlink with line maintenance there, so wouldn't really make sense for Qlink to do 717 maintenance, but certainly CBR and SYD link provide line maintenance.

And yeah, no where near average of one aircraft as day, as someone who works first hand with them I can say recently if you factor in the heavy checks then yes its one a day, but the breakdown rate (whilst a lot higher than it should be) is probably closer to 1 a week.

Max C
23rd April 2016, 08:31 AM
I also work with them Zac and see the effects network-wide, not just at CBR, and it's no where near 1 a week. It's an average, the other day 3 were U/S. Not always for the whole day, sometimes it's only a few hours, but enough to have a knock on effect.

Added to this is the daily substitution of an all Y-class 717 on route where customers have purchased J-class fares. This is less than ideal.

QLink will eventually do the 717 line maintenance at BNE and MEL. Cobham own the hangar in ADL and still do the 146 heavy maintenance there. The line maintenance facilities at some of these ports only have basic facilities, so anytime a 717 has more than a minor issue, then it's out for a day or so while parts are shipped from ADL or PER.

Things will eventually sort themselves out. The biggest issue is the fact that the bulk of the QLink engineers have little 717 experience and they are having to learn very quick.

Steve S... 2
23rd April 2016, 09:09 AM
Dare I say internal issues or the way things are being "operated" at the moment and NOT a 717 issue.

Greg Hyde
23rd April 2016, 02:26 PM
Imagine, what today would be like if 10 years ago, Boeing had built a "baby" B737, say 100pax to compete against the A318/A319.

You would have fleet/crew/spares compatibility and the B717/F100 would of faded into history.

Unfortunately, you can't rewrite history.

MarkR
23rd April 2016, 04:34 PM
Imagine, what today would be like if 10 years ago, Boeing had built a "baby" B737, say 100pax to compete against the A318/A319.

You would have fleet/crew/spares compatibility and the B717/F100 would of faded into history.

Unfortunately, you can't rewrite history.

Boeing would be in more trouble now had they done it. They saw the 100 seat market as dying, correctly so, given their experience with the 717. The A318 was even outsold by the 717 2:1. I doubt they would have recovered the development costs of the mini 737.

Rowan McKeever
23rd April 2016, 05:30 PM
The B737-600 was built to compete with the A318. They were equally as (un)popular and some of both have met the same fate... ie scrapping.

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Bob C
23rd April 2016, 09:31 PM
Six B737-600s previously operated by Air China and China Southwest are flown by "JANET Airlines" from Las Vegas' McCarron International Airport to "spooky" places throughout the western U S A. This small fleet is believed to be operated by the U S Air Force and "JANET' apparently stands for "Just Another Non Existent Terminal".

Rowan McKeever
23rd April 2016, 11:34 PM
Is the 717s' reliability really any worse than other aircraft in the fleet, then? Or is it distorted by the relatively small fleet number (11 less than the Q400, somewhere around a quarter of tve 737, etc), 2 distinct cabin configurations, a network covering a large geographic area, and the inherent teething problems of bedding down a new maintenance system? Seems to me like it's probably much of a muchness...

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Max C
24th April 2016, 06:55 AM
The J class 717 is certainly higher when you look at the small fleet size (5, now 7), and the fact that they are flying a lot of sectors so any problems quickly snowball.

The Q400's also go through stages where 3-4 can be U/S at a time. They aren't flying as hard as the 717's at the moment so can absorb the delays better. There's also usually a spare Q400 in BNE to allow for a 717 breaking or being sent down South.

One of the factors for the 717's was that additional flying was introduced in March but with delays in the introduction of YQX/YQY and with YQW in the hangar longer than expected, then the shortfall needed to be made up somehow. Bringing a 2nd hand aircraft online always causes difficulties because you really don't know what you're getting maintenance wise until you push it out online and start working it.

Like I said, hopefully the reliability will improve because the inflight product is really good.

Greg Hyde
24th April 2016, 12:43 PM
Six B737-600s previously operated by Air China and China Southwest are flown by "JANET Airlines" from Las Vegas' McCarron International Airport to "spooky" places throughout the western U S A. This small fleet is believed to be operated by the U S Air Force and "JANET' apparently stands for "Just Another Non Existent Terminal".

I believe Area 51 was one of the daily services.

Brad Myer
24th April 2016, 09:28 PM
Do we have any confirmation on how many single class B717s will be converted to 2 class?

BNE-TSV-BNE 2 class B717 services begin mid June.

Bob C
25th April 2016, 10:43 AM
Yes, Greg, I believe so and others not so public as well.

Brad Myer
15th May 2016, 04:10 PM
Anyone have an update on how many F-100s are now in QLink livery and how many are still in Network livery?

Bob C
16th May 2016, 10:56 AM
Hi Brad

AFAIK, there are five F100s in Qantaslink colours : VH-NHC, NHK, NHM, NHV and NHY. I have "eyeballed" them all over the past few weeks. The rest remain in Network colours and from what I've been told, new ones will arrive already painted, allowing the Network one to be withdrawn and repainted. Unfortunately, I don't know when this will start.

Cheers

Bob

Max C
27th May 2016, 10:55 AM
Details on 2 of the 3 F100's for Network have emerged.

VH-NHA ex OE-LVA s/n 11490
VH-NHZ ex OE-LVD s/n 11515

Both registered to Alliance Slovakia but destined for Network.

Greg Hyde
27th May 2016, 11:51 AM
Both are ex. Austrian (Arrows) Airways aircraft with NHZ being registered on 13/05/2016. NHA hasn't hit the register as of late last week.

Alliance are picking up the F100's as Austrian withdraws them from service.

Alliance will eventually have access to 15xF100 & 6x F70.

Zac M
5th June 2016, 12:14 AM
VH-NXJ has emerged from the hanger in CBR with a Q-Streaming sticker. Pretty safe to say she has been reconfigured to 12J98Y

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Brad Myer
5th June 2016, 08:15 AM
Makes sense…

Any others planned to follow NXJ in going 2-class config?

Zac M
5th June 2016, 04:20 PM
There is supposed to be three, so at a guess I'd say NXR will get done as it (like NXJ) already has the Pre-recored announcements fitted, unsure on the third

Greg Hyde
6th June 2016, 02:04 PM
Both are ex. Austrian (Arrows) Airways aircraft with NHZ being registered on 13/05/2016. NHA hasn't hit the register as of late last week.

Alliance are picking up the F100's as Austrian withdraws them from service.

Alliance will eventually have access to 15xF100 & 6x F70.

NHA added to the register on 02/06/2016

No word yet on when they will be heading south.

Max C
10th June 2016, 09:34 AM
NHG is PER-WGA as QF6682 today for repaint.

Zac M
10th June 2016, 03:25 PM
NXJ entering service as QF1510 tomorrow morning. Confirmed to have J class

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Robert.M
10th June 2016, 06:09 PM
NHG is PER-WGA as QF6682 today for repaint.
Must have past each other! Was on QF575. Pity I missed it

Max C
11th June 2016, 01:56 AM
NXJ entering service as QF1510 tomorrow morning. Confirmed to have J class

Showing YQU now. A late change perhaps?

Zac M
11th June 2016, 09:14 AM
Its a 717....need i say more?

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Max C
15th June 2016, 02:59 PM
Trying again tomorrow, QF1535 CBR-MEL

Max C
16th June 2016, 06:11 AM
Now QF1562 CBR-BNE.

Rowan McKeever
16th June 2016, 07:37 AM
She made it!!

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Steve S... 2
16th June 2016, 08:55 AM
Very proud of her.

Rowan McKeever
17th June 2016, 07:15 AM
B717 services on BNE-TSV-BNE commenced this morning with NXJ (with its newly reconfigured J/Y cabin) operating QF1788.

Due, I suspect, to the delay in getting NXJ back in service, YQU is out of service (planned) in CBR now and so NXL (125Y cabin) is operating QF1543 and will obviously continue throughout the J/Y network until YQU is back.

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Brad Myer
17th June 2016, 08:13 AM
Clearly they need more of the all Y B717s converted to J/Y ASAP.

Rowan McKeever
17th June 2016, 09:43 AM
Hey Brad 😊 Honestly, 8 aircraft is enough to cover what they have been doing plus the addition of the TSV flying. The 9th aircraft is only needed when ISA, HTI & CNS swap from 125Y to J/Y.

The only reason NXL is needed down here now is that YQU's planned maintenance was deferred while NXJ was occupying the hangar space. Once YQU is back, NXL should return to normal Qld ops. I suspect the next reconfiguration will start then, too, unless another aircraft is due for planned maintenance.

Incidentally, it seems very likely there will be 10 J/Y aircraft in the end. As only 9 are required for the flying that's currently known for that configuration, it makes me wonder if something else will be announced for them. My money is on CBR-ADL getting some love, if that's the case.

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Zac M
23rd June 2016, 11:46 PM
Dash 8-Q400 VH-QOI has lost it's Tamworth stickers....long overdue!

Max C
27th June 2016, 12:32 PM
NHG now in QLink colours.

Michael R
27th June 2016, 12:41 PM
Zac, I see after a few weeks in Tamworth VH-LQL is now back operating in Queensland any idea if she is still wearing the Dubbo Taronga Zoo livery. I noticed last time I unloaded it in Sydney she was looking very ordinary.

Max C
27th June 2016, 01:07 PM
G'day Michael,

Yes, LQL still has the Zoo livery.

Michael R
27th June 2016, 01:20 PM
Thanks Max. She is always a favourite with the passengers especially during school holidays.

Steve S... 2
29th June 2016, 09:30 AM
Hi,

Anyone know what is happening with VH-SBJ - which flew from Cairns to Bundaberg on 13 March and hasn't flown since?

Thanks.

Zac M
29th June 2016, 09:55 AM
I dont know where you get that info from but SBJ is at Tamworth with pieces missing and hasn't flown in well over a year now.

In other news Q400 VH-QOI has lost her Tamworth decals

Steve S... 2
29th June 2016, 12:44 PM
I found SBJ on Flightaware.

Sounds like it is being scrapped for spare parts?

Robert.M
29th June 2016, 12:51 PM
NHG now in QLink colours.
This time I was in Darwin! :(

I dont know where you get that info from but SBJ is at Tamworth with pieces missing and hasn't flown in well over a year now.
https://flightaware.com/live/flight/VHSBJ

Looks like Airservices Australia used it (rego) for a test (TAAT).

Max C
29th June 2016, 02:40 PM
SBJ was for sale at one point but the sale never eventuated. It's now a spares donor in TMW.

Max C
3rd July 2016, 08:40 PM
NHA has had a test flight ex BTS (Bratislava) today.

http://slovakaviation.sk/photos/civilne-lietadla/qantaslink-fokker-100-vh-vna-3871

https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/vh-nha

Due into PER later this month/early Aug.

NHZ due to PER later in August.

Greg Hyde
3rd July 2016, 09:41 PM
Max,

Are they owned by Alliance and leased to QF/Network ?

Is there a third one as well ?

Max C
4th July 2016, 07:29 AM
I believe they will be sold to Network.

Yes 3 in total but only 2 at BTS at the moment.

Greg Hyde
4th July 2016, 12:18 PM
I expect the timing will depend on Austrian Airlines withdrawing the aircraft and handing them over to Alliance.

Planespotters is showing that there are 16 F70/100 still in service.

https://www.planespotters.net/production-list/search?fleet=Austrian-Airlines&manufacturer=Fokker&type=F100&fleetStatus=current

Greg Hyde
5th July 2016, 10:33 AM
From Skyliners

Fokker 100 11367 VH- Alliance Airlines delivery 02/04jul16 BTS-TZX-AAN, OE-reg ex OE-LVN
Fokker 100 11490 VH-NHA Network Aviation QantasLink cs, delivery 04jul16 BTS-TZX ex OE-LVA

OE-LVN does not appear on the Aussie Reg.

lloyd fox
5th July 2016, 01:17 PM
VH-NKQ has just been entered 1 July on the CASA register.


NKQ
Manufacturer:
FOKKER AIRCRAFT B.V.
Model:
F28 MK0070
Serial number:
11572
Engine type:
Turbofan
No of engines:
2
Aircraft first registered in Australia:
1 July 2016
Year of manufacture:
1996
Registration holder:
ALLIANCE AVIATION SLOVAKIA S.R.O C/O Alliance Airlines Pty Ltd PO Box 1084 EAGLE FARM QLD 4009 Australia
Registration holder commencement date:
1 July 2016
Registered operator:
ALLIANCE AIRLINES PTY LIMITED PO Box 1084 EAGLE FARM QLD 4009 Australia
Registered operator commencement date:
1 July 2016


I also believe that these aircraft may come to BNE first?

Max C
5th July 2016, 01:23 PM
They'll head straight to PER.

Steve S... 2
5th July 2016, 02:37 PM
Spare parts like the other VH-NK* series Fokker70's ?

Greg Hyde
5th July 2016, 03:58 PM
OE-LVN is currently in/enroute to PEN

https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/oe-lvn

We will see if it turns right or left at Singapore.

Also it may of added to reg in the last couple of days.

Kent Broadhead
5th July 2016, 04:01 PM
Looks like BNE

Max C
5th July 2016, 05:31 PM
The NK? Block suggest it's for Alliance.

The 3 Network F100's should head staright to PER.

Neil L
5th July 2016, 05:41 PM
Due to depart Kupang for Cairns shortly according to Flightaware

https://flightaware.com/live/flight/OELVN

Greg Hyde
5th July 2016, 11:40 PM
On it's way to Brisbane (due 01:09AM AEST Wed 6/7)

lloyd fox
6th July 2016, 06:49 AM
Yep that is what i have always been told re OE-LVN.The other 2 will be delivered to PER and NKQ possibly to BNE.

Greg Hyde
6th July 2016, 12:23 PM
Lloyd, Is it still in Austrian livery ?

lloyd fox
6th July 2016, 01:11 PM
Partial livery -red and white tail.Blue underbelly and engines minus that logo on tail and minus titles.

Greg Hyde
6th July 2016, 02:23 PM
thanks Lloyd,

LVN was the 1st F100 withdrawn from Austrian in November last year

Greg Hyde
6th July 2016, 05:40 PM
Alliance to add three Fokker aircraft to local operations

http://australianaviation.com.au/2016/07/alliance-to-add-three-fokker-aircraft-to-local-operations/

Max C
7th July 2016, 08:24 AM
LQL has lost its zoo decals

Greg Hyde
7th July 2016, 09:50 AM
From Skyliners

Fokker 100 11490 VH-NHA Network Aviation QantasLink cs, delivery 04jul16 BTS-TZX ex OE-LVA



NHA is still heading south, last seen at PEN

Greg Hyde
7th July 2016, 04:23 PM
NHA is due in Perth at 02:57PM AWST today. (FlightAware)

Rowan McKeever
11th July 2016, 11:22 AM
From Qantas' Industry Sales website, both SYD-HVB and MEL-CFS nonstop services will cease with final services operating over the first weekend in August 2016. This will free up a B717 in MEL for a few hours on Saturdays and SYD for a few hours on Sundays, and a Q400 in SYD for a few hours on Saturdays.

Change is not yet reflected in online timetable nor online bookings at Qantas' website.

Greg Hyde
13th July 2016, 12:16 PM
http://australianaviation.com.au/2016/07/alliance-delivers-fokker-100-to-qantaslink/

Looks good in fresh paint

Rowan McKeever
13th July 2016, 12:17 PM
From Qantas' Industry Sales website, both SYD-HVB and MEL-CFS nonstop services will cease with final services operating over the first weekend in August 2016. This will free up a B717 in MEL for a few hours on Saturdays and SYD for a few hours on Sundays, and a Q400 in SYD for a few hours on Saturdays.

Change is not yet reflected in online timetable nor online bookings at Qantas' website.

The cancelled services have now been removed. At this stage the only additional flying I can see for a 717 is QF1590/1591 replacing QF864/861 on Gold Coast Saturday evening/Sunday morning. Doesn't really replace the Sunday HVB service but does allow around 8hrs based on the 0850 arrival of QF1591 and the previously-scheduled 1740 arrival of QF1577 ex-HVB.

Max C
15th July 2016, 09:30 PM
NXI & NXR are the other 717's getting J class

Brad Myer
16th July 2016, 08:41 AM
So with another 2 B717s getting J class that should leave a bit of slack in the 2-class fleet.

Unless they are planning to increase the 2-class routes or flights?

Max C
16th July 2016, 11:34 AM
ISA and CNS flights to go 2 class later this year. Most likely that the 3rd will allow the others to cycle through maintenance while operating some of the QLD-based 1 class flights in the down time.

Also having a spare J class 717 wouldn't be a bad idea given the OTP of late

Greg Hyde
25th July 2016, 01:23 PM
NHA is due in Perth at 02:57PM AWST today. (FlightAware)

NHA was transferred to Network/QLink on 21/7

Any news on when it is due to enter service ?

lloyd fox
27th July 2016, 02:45 PM
Apparently BNE-ADL will get some 2 class 717's from 30Oct according to today's Qantas media announcement.

Rowan McKeever
27th July 2016, 03:15 PM
Apparently BNE-ADL will get some 2 class 717's from 30Oct according to today's Qantas media announcement.
As will ISA, and it alludes to an increase in 717 deployments on BNE-TSV.

MEL-MCY gets a seasonal B717 service over the summer holidays.

CNS-POM will cease in favour of a new daily B738 service BNE-POM.

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Greg Hyde
28th July 2016, 12:24 PM
Qantas expands 717 domestic network

Qantas plans to operate more domestic routes with its fleet of Boeing 717s in order to free up 737s for extra overseas flying.

Two-class 717s featuring 12 business and 98 economy seats will be deployed on Adelaide-Brisbane, Brisbane-Townsville and Brisbane-Mt Isa routes, as well as a seasonal Melbourne-Maroochydore service during December and January, to “match capacity with lower demand”, Qantas said on Wednesday.

This will free up 174-seat (12 business, 162 economy) Boeing 737-800s to add a daily Brisbane-Port Moresby flight and boost Brisbane-Christchurch to daily from three times weekly from October 30. There is also a new daily Melbourne-Christchurch service scheduled to start from December 4.

Qantas recently signed a contract extension worth A$1.2 billion for Cobham Aviation Services to continue to operate the 717 on behalf of QantasLink for a further 10 years.

The new deal has Cobham continuing to supply pilots and cabin crew for QantasLink’s fleet of 20 717s, as well as line maintenance engineering in some locations.

While initially mainly used on regional routes in Western Australia, Queensland, the Northern Territory, Qantas’s announcement on Wednesday continues the airline’s recent move to utilise the 717 fleet on more capital city services.

In 2013 the type was introduced on services to Canberra, while in 2014, QantasLink’s 717s took over Qantas mainline 737s on services from Hobart to Melbourne and Sydney, and some Adelaide-Sydney flights have also switched to the 717.

While Qantas boosts its operations 100-seat aircraft – its 717s have either 110-seats in a two-class configuration or 125 all-economy seats – the reverse is happening at domestic rival Virgin Australia, which is withdrawing its fleet of 98-seat Embraer E190 jets over the next three years as part of fleet simplification and cost reduction efforts.

Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce said recently the airline was looking to buy the 717s it currently had on lease as those leases expired and was on the lookout for further acquisitions in what was a scarce market.

“We’ve been out there hunting for more,” Joyce told reporters in early June.

“They are a great aircraft. If there was a possibility of getting a few more of them, we’d be keen on them.”

Meanwhile, Qantas said it planned to grow its Perth-Singapore offering to double-daily, up from 10 times a week currently, between December and February. The oneworld alliance member was also returning to Bali with seasonal flights from Sydney for a second year.

“The changes are made possible by reductions in domestic capacity, particularly in some regional resources markets, and efficient aircraft utilisation, which has freed up flying time within Qantas’s Boeing 737 fleet,” Qantas said in a statement.

The start of Brisbane-Port Moresby flights would also result in the end of Cairns-Port Moresby services operated by QantasLink Q400 turboprops. Qantas said the change to Brisbane would “better serve the business market”. However, Qantas will continue to place its QF airline code on all of Air Niugini’s Australia-Papua New Guinea flights, including from Port Moresby to Cairns, Brisbane and Sydney.

Also, Qantas said it would add a sixth weekly flight between Sydney and Manila, up from five times a week currently, between December and January. The route is served with Airbus A330 widebodies.

http://australianaviation.com.au/2016/07/qantas-expands-717-domestic-network/

lloyd fox
13th August 2016, 08:40 AM
BNE-ADL 717'S are loaded in now with 7 a week each way.

MarkR
13th August 2016, 09:32 AM
BNE-ADL 717'S are loaded in now with 7 a week each way.

I was quite surprised to see how low the load was on Mondays BNE ADL, not surprised they are reducing capacity on that OMG first flight of the day.

Max C
13th August 2016, 09:55 AM
BNE-TSV now 3-4 717s a day.
All the BNE-ISA flts will be 717.

Also talk of another 5 717s to come. ETA unknown.

Greg Hyde
13th August 2016, 12:31 PM
Max,

VOLOTEA have 19 and they are in the processing of replacing the B717's with A319's.

QF and DL may have to fight over the B717's

https://www.planespotters.net/production-list/search?fleet=Volotea-Airlines&manufacturer=Boeing&type=717&fleetStatus=current

Rowan McKeever
13th August 2016, 12:47 PM
It may also just be 5x more of the Y125 fleet being reconfigured to J12Y98.

The BNE-ADL schedules currently only go out to 26 March 2017 with B717s, oddly enough.

Routes Online published the proposed BNE-POM schedule yesterday, too.

Max C
13th August 2016, 01:38 PM
Additional frames is the talk at this stage. Also more current 717s to get J class if the market is there.

MarkR
13th August 2016, 02:50 PM
The BNE-ADL schedules currently only go out to 26 March 2017 with B717s, oddly enough.

Routes Online published the proposed BNE-POM schedule yesterday, too.

Quite normal for airlines to use the summer/winter changeover via DST to put a line in the sand for schedules, 26 being the week before.

Rowan McKeever
13th August 2016, 02:56 PM
No, I know. I didn't think QF was usually one of them, though, particularly mainline domestic.

Greg Hyde
15th August 2016, 02:06 PM
Another F100 added to register, VH-NPU/11502 on 09/08.

I expect that it will be heading West for Network/Qlink

I hope the rego doesn't reflect the cabin air quality

Robert.M
22nd August 2016, 11:27 AM
VH-NHO currently on it way to WGA for paint (XSP-PHE-ASP-WGA)

Zac M
31st August 2016, 06:34 PM
VH-NXI is due to re-enter service tomorrow as QF1510 CBR-SYD post heavy maintenance and reconfig. NXR will be entering the hanger after operating QF1553 tonight.

Max C
23rd September 2016, 10:53 PM
F100 VH-NHZ is on its way to PER as SXI1639.

Greg Hyde
24th September 2016, 12:22 PM
From Skyliners

Fokker 100 11515 VH-NHZ Alliance Airlines delivery 23sep16 BTS-TZX-AAN ex OE-LVD

Greg Hyde
26th September 2016, 05:46 PM
NHZ arrived in Perth this arvo

Max C
15th October 2016, 06:30 AM
NXR back in service today after J-Class refit.

There doesn't appear to be plans to refit any more at this stage.

Greg Hyde
15th October 2016, 11:32 AM
Any news when NHZ is due to enter service ?

Max C
5th November 2016, 06:37 AM
NPU is on its way to PER, should be there in the next few days.

Greg Hyde
5th November 2016, 03:44 PM
thanks Max

NPU is flight SXI1640 and has made it too Al Ain (AAN).

Did they have time to paint it in the new QF livery ?

Greg Hyde
8th November 2016, 01:17 PM
NPU arrived in Perth yesterday still in the old QFLink livery.

Add another one to the "Too Paint" list

http://aegwaspotters.blogspot.com.au/2016/11/qantas-link-alliance-airlines-fokker.html

Michael R
12th November 2016, 03:17 PM
Does anyone know which Qlink aircraft may actually be the first to wear the new livery. Rumor on the ramp was it may be VH-TQX but I stress it was rumored.

Max C
18th November 2016, 03:16 PM
Network are now using Flight Number Callsigns. NWK#### is the ADS-B ident.

Max C
30th November 2016, 01:19 PM
QantasLink have announced that BNE-ZBL (Thangool) flights will end as of Feb 1 2017.

Aircraft to be redeployed onto other East coast flights.

Greg Hyde
30th November 2016, 01:42 PM
Any news on VH-YQU which was damaged during the storm in Brisbane on 13/11 ?

Zac M
30th November 2016, 01:59 PM
Why do you need to post that question in two different threads?

As for ZBL....is that a service under contract to the QLD government? If so I would assume there would be a ternder process already under way?

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

Rowan McKeever
30th November 2016, 03:06 PM
ZBL not a regulated air route. Surprised me, I thought it might've been. Twin-towns of around 6,500 - 7,000 people and seems like mining was/is the main industry.

MarkR
30th November 2016, 04:08 PM
ZBL not a regulated air route. Surprised me, I thought it might've been. Twin-towns of around 6,500 - 7,000 people and seems like mining was/is the main industry.

Too close to Rocky and Gladstone I suspect.

Rowan McKeever
30th November 2016, 04:10 PM
Too close to Rocky and Gladstone I suspect.

Agreed!

Greg Hyde
30th November 2016, 04:24 PM
ZBL is a mining/rural town similar to Emerald.

Most residents do business in Rocky (177 km) or Gladstone (142km) which equates to a 1.5 - 2hr drive.

After living in the area for some years, locals would rarely go to Brissie except for the Ecca (Royal Bris Show), Hospital/Specialist, Yearly shopping trip, Picking kids up at Boarding School ...

Unless there is a specific FIFO charter, I can't see the demand

Max C
4th April 2017, 12:06 AM
TQK was due to arrive back in BNE today but has been delayed due to SBW not havimg left yet due to weather on NLK.

Dennis McLean
6th April 2017, 07:23 AM
SBW finally departed for AKL on 5 April. BNE 12.06pm, NLK 15.48/16.49, AKL 20.05. At the moment TQK is currently 25 min from Napier having departed AKL at 08.47am, due at 09.47am.

Max C
8th April 2017, 06:36 AM
YQU was scheduled to ferry to TSV today for paint touch up.

Max C
13th April 2017, 07:55 PM
Still in the (now old) QantasLink scheme.

https://www.facebook.com/CapricornPlaneSpotting/posts/786351184865448