Qantas marked the end of an era today with the departure of the first Boeing 717 registered in Australia. The aircraft was built in 1999 and arrived in Australia in April 2000, joining the fleet of Impulse Airlines.
Post the takeover of Impulse Airways the aircraft joined the QantasLink fleet in May 2001 before joining the Jetstar fleet, operating the new airline's first flight in May 2004.
The aircraft is the third Boeing 717 to leave the fleet and is due to leave Australia in mid-June before being sold to another major carrier. Qantas said that, because of the aircraft's limited range, it will have eight fuel stops on its journey to its new home in North America, including stops in the Philippines, Japan and Alaska.
All of QantasLink's twenty 717s are being replaced by 29 Airbus A220s as part of the Qantas Project Winton fleet renewal program. The first A220 is expected to arrive later this year, and then the first of 20 Airbus A321XLRs will follow in late 2024.
The departing 717 was given a farewell ceremony at Sydney airport where it was joined by two latest arrivals, Qantas Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner and a Jetstar A321neo.
Commenting on the occasion, Alan Joyce, CEO, Qantas said: “"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,” Joyce added.
The latest 787-9 joined the network this month, and another two 787s will be delivered over the next few weeks, bringing the Qantas fleet of Dreamliners to 14. The induction of these Dreamliners has allowed Qantas to resume Sydney-San Francisco flights, and they will support the launch of the Sydney to New York via Auckland route, starting in June.
Jetstar is building up its fleet of Airbus A321LRs, with seven in operation on domestic routes and internationally between Australia and Bali, Indonesia. Jetstar will receive another 11 A321LRs before the end of next year.
The Qantas Group is already receiving a new aircraft every three weeks (on average), and that will go on for the next few years. The group has received four new aircraft in 2023 and will induct another eight before the year ends.