QFLink/Network A319 Arrivals
 

Qlink/Network first A319-132 VH-8NP was added to the register on 5/1/24.

It is reportedly named "Kings Park" and can't be too far from arriving in Perth.

QANTASLink, A319 VH-8NP, ex Spirit Airlines N504NK has flown LCQ-OAK and is about to depart OAK for HNL as SXI2377 on delivery.

QantasLink's VH-8NP
Network Aviation is taking delivery of VH-8NP "Karajini" (msn 2470) today. This QantasLink-liveried A319-132 is flying from LCQ to PER, via OAK, HNL, ... is being ferried by Southern Cross International as SXI2377. This is the first of three second-hand A319s to be leased by Network Aviation from Gryphon Aviation Leasing, and operated for QantasLink.

https://hnlrarebirds.blogspot.com/20...ks-vh-8np.html

Note: Name

QANTASLink, A319 VH-8NP is scheduled to fly HNL-MAJ-CNS and then presumably to PER.

Looks like VH-8NP/SXI2377 has yet to depart from Majuro after arriving on the 10/01/24 ?

Any info ?

https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/vh-8np#

According to Flightaware, QANTASLink A319 VH-8NP, is scheduled to depart MAJ for CNS at 13:10 AEDT today with an expected arrival time of 17:03 local EST. I'm not aware of the reason for the extended time in MAJ.

QANTASLink A319 VH-8NP, according to Flightaware has an expected landing time in CNS now of 17:52, departure to PER at 18:45 with arrival there at 21:21 (local times).

QANTASLink A319 VH-8NP arrived in PER last night at 22:19 local time after an eight day ferry from Northern Florida, with a three day break in MAJ.

Qantas Link 1Q24 A319 Operations

Published at 1000GMT 17JAN24

Qantas Link from late-January 2024 plans to launch Airbus A319 aircraft operation, operated by Network Aviation. The all-Economy Class 150-seater aircraft is scheduled to operate following routes.

Perth – Broome eff 31JAN24 1-2 weekly (4 weekly from 16MAR24)
Perth – Geraldton eff 29JAN24 1 weekly (2 from 15MAR24)
Perth – Kalgoorlie eff 31JAN24 1-2 weekly (3 from 20MAR24)
Perth – Karratha eff 29JAN24 3-4 weekly
Perth – Newman eff 02FEB24 1-2 weekly (3 from 21MAR24)
Perth – Port Hedland eff 30JAN24 Various frequencies

Current A319 schedule listing is available until 30MAR24 inclusive.

QantasLink Welcomes ex-Spirit A319s Into Fleet

QantasLink has taken delivery of its first of three Airbus A319 jets, which will be based in Perth. The 18-year-old aircraft previously flew for Spirit Airlines, a low-cost carrier in the United States.

The first QantasLink Airbus A319 (registration: VH-8NP) touched down in Perth earlier this week, having flown in from Florida via California, Hawaii, the Marshall Islands and Cairns. The other two A319s are expected to arrive soon.

This is the first time QantasLink has used Airbus A319s. The planes will be operated by Network Aviation, which has already been operating Airbus A320s in QantasLink colours since 2018.

The new QantasLink A319 cabin layout

Qantas is making some cabin modifications before putting its Airbus A319s into service, including by removing the wider “Big Front Seats” installed by Spirit Airlines into the first few rows.

The QantasLink Airbus A319s will have 150 Economy Class seats, in a 3-3 layout over 25 rows. The plane won’t have wi-fi, in-seat power or a Business Class cabin, but Q-Streaming entertainment will be available.

According to the Qantas website, the seat pitch on this aircraft type will be 28 inches. This is less legroom than Qantas offers on its Boeing 737-800s.

The inaugural QantasLink A319 passenger flight is currently scheduled as QF1612 from Perth to Geraldton, departing at 7.15 am on Monday 29 January 2024.

QantasLink will use its Airbus A319s on selected flights from Perth to Geraldton, Broome, Kalgoorlie, Karratha, Port Hedland and Newman.

Qantas announced in February 2023 that it would add five mid-life Airbus A319 and A320 aircraft to its fleet based in Western Australia “to support the growth of the resources market”. The airline also cited delays to the delivery of other new aircraft as a reason for acquiring these second-hand aircraft.

Once QantasLink receives its delayed aircraft, it will decide whether to retain or retire the Airbus A319s and additional A320s based on the market conditions at the time.

https://www.australianfrequentflyer....s-airbus-a319/

8NP was expected to enter service this morning, but failed to appear

First four regos, 8NP,Q,R,S,Z


Seat Map

https://www.qantas.com/au/en/qantas-...irbus-319.html

According to a post on West Australian Airport Spotters, the first flight has been pushed back to Tuesday 1100 departure to KGI.

QF/NWK must be of paid next to nothing to acquire these A319’s as the frames either side of the ones that have been acquired and most of this early Spirit N50xNK batch have been or are listed as ‘to be scrapped’. The use of the term ‘midlife’ amuses me.

The QF fanbois and Marketing peeps will try and justify it by saying they are being acquired for low utilisation work and minimal hours.

QF a supposedly premium airline now flying ULCC aircraft.

Also a 28 inch pitch is pretty brutal for intra WA flights which you pay a pretty penny for.

Lufthansa, British Airways, Air France, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, and more all have A319s older than QantasLink. None of the A319s they will receive are more than 20 years old, and the oldest one is still over a decade younger than their newest Fokker 100. It's quite a stretch to call these A319s "ULCC aircraft".

A ULCC aircraft isn't a ULCC aircraft by virtue of its age (indeed most ULCCs favour regular fleet renewal because aircraft require more maintenance and have inferior dispatch reliability as a rule). These are effectively a ULCC aircraft by way of their seat count which is the maximum permissible for an A319 with only 6 emergency exits. Their redeeming feature might be the streaming entertainment but I suspect in this day and age that's neither here nor there for many people and especially a plane load of seasoned FIFO workers.

I do agree with you though Lauren that age isn't everything, that there are plenty of airlines with older A319s than these, and that for the average non-avgeek they have to be an improvement on the F100s.

I don't think Qantas' comment about 'midlife A320 family' is that outrageous, really - I haven't looked at the others but 8NP has spent almost 2.5 of its 18.8 years in storage and is joining QantasLink for low utilisation work, so has plenty of useful life left in her.

My use of the term ULCC was in reference to the airline these A319’s have been acquired from, Spirit. They are in the same ULCC basket as the likes of Ryanair and Allegiant.

QF/Network had a problem, how long would the mining boom last ?

There competitors (QQ,VARA,REX) were flying "newer" airframes.

So to stay in the market (cost efficient, "newer" frames) they had to "upgrade to something". A319 was a good fit for the flights that don't fill an A320 and minimum crew retraining.

I've read that they may only be around for 5 years until they work out where the WA charter market is heading. It it is a good fit they may get more frames.

From my previous post, they are expecting 4 frames at this time.

Four frames sharing 5 regos

Thanks for correction Mark, 5 frames, (Keep an eye on those A220 s/n)

8NP entered service this afternoon,NWK6235, Perth to Kalgoorlie

8NQ is expected to arrive in early April.

VH-8NQ has departed Lake-City for Oakland as SXI2423.

VH-8NQ was added to the VH-Reg on 18/04/2024

Has now completed its next leg to HNL.

Now coming via APW and BNE this time.

Currently en route to APW, due into BNE at 16:49L

8NQ now scheduled to depart BNE at 10.05 due in PER at 12.57 today

Off sun pic sadly

https://www.flickr.com/photos/794876...posted-public/

Her name is "Kings Park" if you can't zoom Lloyd's pic.

VH-8NQ entered service today with NWK1614/15 with PER-GET-PER.

N506NK/2490 which is expected to become VH-8NS exited the paint shop last week in QLink livery.

From reports

VH-8NR is ex. N505NK/2485
VH-8NS is ex. N506NK/2490

VH-8NR/02485 was added to the VH-reg yesterday (11/06).

We should expect it shortly