Company:QantasLink

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Short description: Australian regional airline

QantasLink
QantasLink logo.svg
IATA ICAO Callsign
QF QLK[lower-alpha 1]
QJE[lower-alpha 2]
NWK[lower-alpha 3]
QFA[lower-alpha 4] 		Q-LINK
Q-JET
NET-LINK
QANTAS
Founded2002; 22 years ago (2002)
Operating bases
  • Adelaide Airport
  • Brisbane Airport
  • Cairns Airport
  • Canberra Airport
  • Hobart Airport
  • Melbourne Airport
  • Perth Airport
  • Sydney Airport
Frequent-flyer programQantas Frequent Flyer
AllianceOneworld (affiliate)
Fleet size96
Destinations61
Parent companyQantas
HeadquartersSydney, New South Wales, Australia
Websitewww.qantaslink.com.au

QantasLink is the regional brand of Australian flag carrier Qantas and is an affiliate member of the Oneworld airline alliance. As of 2023, QantasLink provides over 2,000 flights each week to over 50 metropolitan and regional destinations across Australia, as well as short-haul international services to New Zealand, the Solomon Islands and East Timor.[1]

History

QantasLink's origins as a single brand for Qantas' regional airline subsidiaries go back to October 1993, when Qantas acquired Australian Airlink Pty Ltd and its fleet from parent company National Jet Systems,[2] which up to that point had been operating flights on major regional routes for Australian Airlines. The Australian Airlink name remained and the fleet was repainted in Qantas livery, and National Jet Systems was subsequently contracted by Qantas to operate Australian Airlink aircraft.

Prior to 2002, Qantas' various subsidiaries operated under their own names, eventually adopting the Australian Airlines, and later, Qantas liveries. In 2002 a common brand was created, encompassing AirLink (a franchise, operated by National Jet Systems), Sunstate Airlines, Eastern Australia Airlines, and Southern Australia Airlines; Southern Australia has since ceased operations.

For a short while, QantasLink took over some of Qantas' non-trunk routes, such as Sydney - Sunshine Coast, using Boeing 717s that were inherited after Qantas acquired Impulse Airlines. QantasLink ceased operating some of these routes after Qantas formed low-cost subsidiary Jetstar Airways, transferring the Boeing 717 aircraft and routes to the new airline. In 2005/06, eight of the 717s were returned to QantasLink following Jetstar's acquisition of Airbus A320 aircraft, with the 717s to be operated in Western Australia, Northern Territory and far north Queensland by National Jet Systems.

On 31 July 2015, Network Aviation was rebranded to QantasLink. This was announced by Qantas with the unveiling of a Fokker 100 in QantasLink colours.[3]

In January 2018, Network Aviation confirmed it would lease two Airbus A320s from Jetstar Airways for flights to and from Perth as part of the QantasLink brand.[4] Network Aviation has steadily increased it's use of ex-Jetstar Airbus A320s with a current fleet of 15.

On 20 May 2020, Qantas announced the purchase of Cobham Australia's National Jet Systems subsidiary which had operated the Boeing 717-200 on behalf of QantasLink for 15 years, bringing both employees and the fleet in-house.[5][6]

On 4 February 2021, Qantas announced an initial 3 year deal with Alliance Airlines that they will be leasing 3 Embraer E190 with the option for up to 14 to operate on routes like Adelaide-Alice Springs, Darwin-Alice Springs, and Darwin-Adelaide.[7] Qantas has steadily expanded upon it's lease agreement and use of the aircraft, with the company currently agreed to operate 26 aircraft by April 2024, with 4 options remaining.

Fleet

Current fleet

QantasLink flights, except those flown by the Embraer 190s, are operated by the individual airlines that make up the group - Eastern Australia Airlines, National Jet Systems, Network Aviation and Sunstate Airlines. All flights use QF IATA codes. Turboprop aircraft operate under the ICAO callsign QLK ("Q-LINK"). Until 5 January 2009, Eastern and Sunstate operated under their own callsigns. Network Aviation aircraft operate under their own callsign NWK ("NETLINK"). Boeing 717s operate under the callsign QJE ("Q-JET").

(As of January 2024), QantasLink operates the following aircraft:[8]

QantasLink fleet
Aircraft In Service Orders Passengers Operator Notes
J Y Total
Airbus A220-300 2 27 10 127 137[9] National Jet Systems Deliveries began in December 2023.[9][10]
Airbus A319-100 1[11] 4 — 150 150[12] Network Aviation Former Spirit Airlines aircraft.
Airbus A320-200 15 — — 180 180[13] Former Jetstar aircraft.
Boeing 717-200 10 — 12 98 110[14] National Jet Systems To be retired and replaced by Airbus A220-300 from late 2023.[15][16]
— 125 125[17]
De Havilland Canada Dash 8-200 3 — — 36 36[18] Eastern Australia Airlines
De Havilland Canada Dash 8-300 16 — — 50 50[19] 5 formerly flew with Jetstar.
De Havilland Canada Dash 8-Q400 31 — — 74 74[20] Sunstate Airlines
Fokker 100 18 — — 100 100[21] Network Aviation
Total 96 31

Former fleet

QantasLink previously operated the following types:[22][23]

Gallery

Fleet development

QantasLink increased capacity by replacing many of its smaller Dash 8-100 and Q200 aircraft with Q400s. QantasLink pursued this deal despite landing gear problems with Q400 aircraft by some airlines. This problem also saw a grounding of the Q400s by QantasLink, though all were deemed safe and returned to service.

As part of its further expansion, QantasLink entered the South Australian market in December 2005, with flights from Adelaide to Port Lincoln and Kangaroo Island. Interstate flights were also introduced between Kangaroo Island and Melbourne. Due to low passenger loads, these services ceased operation at the end of June 2006, however QantasLink announced a resumption of Melbourne to Kangaroo Island from December 2017 alongside opening up Adelaide to Kangaroo Island flights.[24] On 8 December 2009, QantasLink announced that it would re-enter the Adelaide to Port Lincoln market from February 2010, using Q400 aircraft flying 23 return services a week.[25]

Since 2005, QantasLink 717 services in Western Australia, Queensland, New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory, Northern Territory and Tasmania have been contracted to National Jet Systems, using the QantasLink brand. The hubs for QantasLink under the contract are in Perth, Cairns, Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra, and Hobart.

Qantas replaced its daily Melbourne-Launceston mainline service with a three times daily QantasLink Dash 8 service from 1 August 2006. This has now been increased to a four times daily service, supplemented in peak service periods by QantasLink 717 services.

In May 2008, QantasLink announced that it would order nine 717s. Tamworth would be the first New South Wales regional airport to be serviced by the Q400, commencing in mid-August 2008.[26]

On 29 March 2010, QantasLink and the Qantas Group announced that it would start the first international QantasLink route, from Cairns to Port Moresby, utilising Q400 aircraft already based in Cairns. The service commenced in July 2010. A QantasLink spokesperson stated that "the airline would not turn into a fully fledged international airline, but could operate international routes in the future".[27]

On 18 December 2014, QantasLink announced that it would add Whyalla, South Australia, to its network, with double daily flights to commence on 13 April 2015. The route is serviced by the 50-seat Q300.[28] In July 2015, Network Aviation was absorbed into the Qantas Link brand.[29] In November 2014, QantasLink became the first airline to fly to the newly opened Toowoomba Wellcamp Airport, establishing direct Q400 services to Sydney. In February 2016 as a result of strong demand, QantasLink increased weekly services by two flights to fifteen weekly returns.[30]

In July 2016, Alliance Airlines delivered the first of three additional Fokker 100s, with two more delivered by the end of the year.[31]

In July 2018, Network aviation acquired two Airbus A320s from Jetstar (Another Qantas Group Subsidiary) for use within Western Australia.[32]

In May 2020, Qantas bought National Jet Systems and brought the Boeing 717 crew and fleet in-house. In August 2020, National Jet systems closed the Perth and Cairns bases of their operation, with Western Australian operations to be taken over by Network Aviation.[33]

In December 2021, Qantas announced an initial order for 20 Airbus A220-300 with additional purchase options to replace its Boeing 717.[34] On the 29th of June, Qantas announced it was exercising 9 purchase right options for the A220-300 aircraft, taking the total number of A220-300s on firm order to 29, which will begin arriving from late 2023 to 2027.[35]

In February 2023, Qantas announced an order for 5 mid-life Airbus A319s aircraft to increase short term capacity and support the growth of the resource sector in Western Australia for delivery from 2024[36]

Destinations

QantasLink destinations served by Alliance Airlines
  • Australia
    • Australian Capital Territory
    • New South Wales
      • Newcastle – Newcastle Airport[37]
      • Sydney – Sydney Airport
    • Northern Territory
      • Alice Springs – Alice Springs Airport
      • Darwin – Darwin International Airport Hub[38]
    • Queensland
      • Cairns – Cairns Airport
      • Gold Coast – Gold Coast Airport
      • Townsville – Townsville Airport
      • Sunshine Coast – Sunshine Coast Airport
    • South Australia
    • Tasmania
      • Hobart – Hobart Airport
    • Victoria
  • East Timor
    • Dili – Presidente Nicolau Lobato International Airport
  • New Zealand
  • Singapore
  • Solomon Islands
    • Honiara – Honiara International Airport
QantasLink destinations served by Eastern Australia Airlines
  • Australian Capital Territory
  • New South Wales
    • Albury – Albury Airport
    • Armidale – Armidale Airport
    • Ballina – Ballina Byron Gateway Airport[41]
    • Broken Hill – Broken Hill Airport[42]
    • Coffs Harbour – Coffs Harbour Airport
    • Dubbo – Dubbo City Regional Airport
    • Griffith – Griffith Airport
    • Lord Howe Island – Lord Howe Island Airport
    • Merimbula – Merimbula Airport
    • Moree – Moree Airport
    • Orange – Orange Airport[41]
    • Port Macquarie – Port Macquarie Airport
    • Sydney – Sydney Airport Hub
    • Tamworth – Tamworth Airport
    • Wagga Wagga – Wagga Wagga Airport
  • Queensland
    • Brisbane – Brisbane Airport Hub
    • Hervey Bay – Hervey Bay Airport
    • Toowoomba – Toowoomba Wellcamp Airport[43]
  • South Australia
  • Tasmania
    • Burnie – Burnie Airport
    • Devonport – Devonport Airport
    • Launceston – Launceston Airport
  • Victoria
    • Bendigo – Bendigo Airport[44]
    • Melbourne – Melbourne Airport Hub
    • Mildura – Mildura Airport
QantasLink destinations served by Sunstate Airlines
  • Australian Capital Territory
  • New South Wales
    • Albury – Albury Airport
    • Cooma – Cooma–Snowy Mountains Airport (seasonal)
    • Newcastle – Newcastle Airport
    • Sydney – Sydney Airport Hub
  • Queensland
    • Barcaldine – Barcaldine Airport
    • Blackall – Blackall Airport
    • Brisbane – Brisbane Airport Hub
    • Bundaberg – Bundaberg Airport
    • Cairns – Cairns Airport Hub
    • Cloncurry – Cloncurry Airport
    • Emerald – Emerald Airport
    • Gladstone – Gladstone Airport
    • Hamilton Island – Great Barrier Reef Airport
    • Hervey Bay – Hervey Bay Airport
    • Horn Island – Horn Island Airport
    • Longreach – Longreach Airport
    • Mackay – Mackay Airport
    • Moranbah – Moranbah Airport
    • Mount Isa – Mount Isa Airport
    • Proserpine – Proserpine Airport
    • Rockhampton – Rockhampton Airport
    • Toowoomba – Toowoomba Wellcamp Airport
    • Townsville – Townsville Airport
    • Weipa – Weipa Airport
QantasLink destinations served by National Jet Systems
  • Australian Capital Territory
  • New South Wales
    • Coffs Harbour – Coffs Harbour Airport
    • Sydney – Sydney Airport Hub
  • Northern Territory
    • Alice Springs – Alice Springs Airport
    • Ayers Rock – Ayers Rock Airport
    • Darwin – Darwin International Airport
  • Queensland
    • Cairns – Cairns Airport
    • Brisbane – Brisbane Airport Hub
    • Mackay – Mackay Airport
    • Rockhampton – Rockhampton Airport
    • Gold Coast – Gold Coast Airport
    • Sunshine Coast – Sunshine Coast Airport
    • Townsville – Townsville Airport
  • South Australia
  • Victoria
  • Tasmania
    • Hobart – Hobart Airport Hub
    • Launceston – Launceston Airport
QantasLink destinations served by Network Aviation

Incidents

  • On 29 May 2003, Qantas Flight 1737, a domestic flight from Melbourne to Launceston operated by a QantasLink Boeing 717 registered VH-NXN, was subject to an attempted hijacking.[46]

See also

Footnotes

Notes

1. ^ QantasLink flights operated by National Jet Systems use the call-sign "QJET", with the ICAO code QJE. All flights continue to operate under the IATA code QF.

2. ^ QantasLink flights operated by Network Aviation do not use an ICAO code and utilise the aircraft registration as a callsign.

  1. ↑ On flights operated by Eastern Australia Airlines and Sunstate Airlines
  2. ↑ On flights operated by National Jet Systems
  3. ↑ On flights operated by Network Aviation
  4. ↑ On flights operated by Alliance Airlines

References

  1. ↑ "QANTAS Fact File". Qantas. September 2010. http://www.qantas.com.au/infodetail/about/FactFiles.pdf. 
  2. ↑ "VH-NJC BAe 146-100A Australia". http://www.aussieairliners.org/bae146/vh-njc/vhnjc.html. 
  3. ↑ "Network Aviation becomes QantasLink | Australian Aviation". 31 July 2015. http://australianaviation.com.au/2015/07/network-aviation-becomes-qantaslink/. 
  4. ↑ "QantasLink to operate Airbus A320 aircraft". 16 January 2018. http://www.airlinehubbuzz.com/qantaslink-operate-airbus-a320-aircraft/. 
  5. ↑ "Qantas brings regional fleet back in-house" (in en). 2020-05-20. https://www.afr.com/companies/transport/qantas-brings-regional-fleet-back-in-house-20200520-p54uup. 
  6. ↑ Cobham Aviation Services Australia (2020-05-20). "Qantas Group B717s update". https://www.cobham.com.au/news/news-media-releases/qantas-group-b717s-update/. 
  7. ↑ "Qantas ups domestic capacity with Alliance E190 deal" (in en-AU). 2021-02-04. https://australianaviation.com.au/?p=89494. 
  8. ↑ CASA civil aircraft register search , using "Eastern Australia Airlines", "Network Aviation" and "Sunstate Airlines" as keyword search parameters; and "717-200" as Aircraft Model search parameter. Search conducted 9 May 2019. Included in the results are five Eastern Australia Dash 8-300s operated on behalf of Jetstar in New Zealand.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Qantas A220 guide: order, delivery, seats and routes [2023 - Executive Traveller"] (in en). 2023-07-12. https://www.executivetraveller.com/news/qantas-reveals-first-a220-routes. 
  10. ↑ "Qantas Group takes delivery of its first A220". https://www.airbus.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2023-12-qantas-group-takes-delivery-of-its-first-a220. 
  11. ↑ "VH-8NP | Airbus A319-132 | QantasLink (Network Aviation) | Jamie West" (in en). https://www.jetphotos.com/photo/11189045. "Delivery flight to Australia for this ex-Spirit Airlines Airbus A319-132 (former tail N503NK) now going to QantasLink. Flight SXI2377 (LCQ-OAK)." 
  12. ↑ Graham, Matt (2024-01-17). "QantasLink Welcomes ex-Spirit A319s Into Fleet" (in en-US). https://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/qantaslink-welcomes-airbus-a319/. 
  13. ↑ "Airbus A320-200 | Qantas". https://www.qantas.com/au/en/qantas-experience/onboard/seat-maps/airbus-320-200.html. 
  14. ↑ "Qantaslink Seat Map Boeing 717-200 12 Business 98 Economy". http://www.qantas.com/infodetail/flying/inTheAir/ourAircraft/717-12J98Y.pdf. 
  15. ↑ "QANTAS Group Announces Major Aircraft Order to Shape Its Future". 2 May 2022. https://www.qantasnewsroom.com.au/media-releases/qantas-group-announces-major-aircraft-order-to-shape-its-future/. 
  16. ↑ "Qantas switches to Airbus to replace domestic fleet" (in en-GB). 2021-12-16. https://www.dw.com/en/qantas-switches-to-airbus-to-replace-domestic-fleet/a-60139871. 
  17. ↑ "Qantaslink Seat Map Boeing 717-200 125 Economy". http://www.qantas.com/infodetail/flying/inTheAir/ourAircraft/717-125Y.pdf. 
  18. ↑ "Qantaslink Seat Map Dash 8 Q200 36 Economy". http://www.qantas.com/infodetail/flying/inTheAir/ourAircraft/dash8200.pdf. 
  19. ↑ "Qantaslink Seat Map Dash 8 Q300 50 Economy". http://www.qantas.com/infodetail/flying/inTheAir/ourAircraft/dash8300.pdf. 
  20. ↑ "Qantaslink Seat Map Dash 8 Q400 74 Economy". http://www.qantas.com/infodetail/flying/inTheAir/ourAircraft/dash8Q400.pdf. 
  21. ↑ "Qantaslink Seat Map Fokker 100 100 Economy". http://www.qantas.com/infodetail/flying/inTheAir/ourAircraft/F100A-100Y.pdf. 
  22. ↑ "Qantas website". 1997-02-09. http://www.qantas.com.au/. 
  23. ↑ "Qantas Airways". 2002-07-19. http://www.qantas.com.au/info/flying/inTheAir/ourAircraft/shorts_360_300. 
  24. ↑ "Qantas to offer direct flights to Kangaroo Island in tourism boost". 5 June 2017. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-06-05/qantas-to-fly-direct-to-kangaroo-island-from-melbourne/8589502. 
  25. ↑ "The Advertiser - Latest Adelaide and South Australia News - The Advertiser". http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,26458007-2682,00.html. 
  26. ↑ "Bigger is better: Qantas introduces 72 seater". Northern Daily Leader. http://tamworth.yourguide.com.au/news/local/news/general/bigger-is-better-qantas-introduces-72-seater/772243.aspx. 
  27. ↑ Creedy, Steve (19 March 2010). "QantasLink seeks openings for young fleet". The Australian. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/aviation/qantaslink-seeks-openings-for-young-fleet/story-e6frg95x-1225842480368. 
  28. ↑ "QANTASLINK ADDS WHYALLA TO ITS MAP". www.qantasnewsroom.com.au (Press release). Archived from the original on 23 July 2015. Retrieved 1 August 2015.
  29. ↑ "Network Aviation becomes QantasLink". http://australianaviation.com.au/2015/07/network-aviation-becomes-qantaslink/. 
  30. ↑ "QantasLink boosts Toowoomba service with two extra flights - Australian Aviation". http://australianaviation.com.au/2016/02/qantaslink-boosts-toowoomba-service-with-two-extra-flights/. 
  31. ↑ "Alliance delivers Fokker 100 to QantasLink". Australian Aviation. 13 July 2016. http://australianaviation.com.au/2016/07/alliance-delivers-fokker-100-to-qantaslink/. 
  32. ↑ "Mixing the fleet - Network brings the A320 to QANTAS". Australian Aviation. 19 July 2018. https://australianaviation.com.au/2018/07/mixing-the-fleet-network-brings-the-a320-to-qantas/. 
  33. ↑ "Qantaslink Axes Cairns and Perth B717 Bases". Australian Aviation. 31 August 2020. https://australianaviation.com.au/2020/08/qantaslink-axes-cairns-and-perth-b717-bases/. 
  34. ↑ Flynn, David. "Airbus beats out Boeing: Qantas to order A321XLR, A220 jets (16 December 2021)" (in en). https://www.executivetraveller.com/news/qantas-airbus-a320neo-a321xlr-a220-boeing-737-max-order. 
  35. ↑ "Qantas finalises incremental order for nine A220s". 20 June 2023. https://www.airbus.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2023-06-qantas-finalises-incremental-order-for-nine-a220s. 
  36. ↑ "QANTAS GROUP UPDATES FLEET PLAN TO BOOST CAPACITY". 2023-02-23. https://www.qantasnewsroom.com.au/media-releases/qantas-group-updates-fleet-plan-to-boost-capacity/#_ftnref1. 
  37. ↑ From the barossa to hunter flights between Adelaide and Newcastle to take off qantasnewsroom.com.au
  38. ↑ Flights and jobs take off in the top end with new jet base in Darwin qantasnewsroom.com.au
  39. ↑ New routes qantasnewsroom.com.au
  40. ↑ Correspondent, Kok YufengTransport (17 January 2024). "Qantas to relaunch flights between Singapore and Darwin after 18-year hiatus" (in en). The Straits Times. https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/transport/qantas-to-relaunch-flights-between-singapore-and-darwin-after-18-year-hiatus. 
  41. ↑ 41.0 41.1 "From the beach to the bush". 1 July 2020. https://www.qantasnewsroom.com.au/media-releases/from-the-beach-to-the-bush-qantas-launches-two-new-nsw-routes/. 
  42. ↑ https://www.qantasnewsroom.com.au/media-releases/broken-hill-bound-flying-kangaroo-to-launch-new-flights-to-iconic-aussie-outback-town/ Broken Hill bound flying kangaroo to launch new flights to iconic Aussie outback town] qantasnewsroom.com.au
  43. ↑ "Airport Takes Flight With QANTAS Deal" (Press release). Qantas Airways Limited. 3 September 2014. Archived from the original on 4 March 2015.
  44. ↑ "New Qantas service to fly from Bendigo to Sydney six days a week". Bendigo Advertiser. 10 December 2018. https://www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au/story/5801619/new-qantas-service-to-fly-from-bendigo-to-sydney-six-days-a-week/?cs=80. 
  45. ↑ "Qantas Link 1Q24 A319 operations". AeroRoutes. 17 January 2024. https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/240117-qf1q24319. Retrieved 17 January 2024. 
  46. ↑ Peters, Luke. "19 Years Ago: The Failed Hijacking Of Qantas Flight 1737". https://simpleflying.com/qantas-flight-1737-failed-hijack-anniversary/. 

External links



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