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The airline Qantas announced that it is accelerating the withdrawal of its Boeing 717 to give way to latest generation aircraft such as the Airbus A220.
The first Boeing 717 output (enrollment VH-NXI) occupies a special place in the modern history of Qantas Group, since it operated the first Jetstar flight between Melbourne and Launceston on the day the airline began flying in May 2004, also being the first of its kind registered and flying in Australia.
Boeings are retired 717
The aircraft has also flown on regional and domestic routes for QantasLink during the last 15 years. Total, has made more than 29.000 flights and has safely transported more than 1,6 millions of customers for both Qantas how to Jetstar over the decades.
Named Blue Mountains after the world heritage-listed national park in New South Wales, the plane will depart from Australia in mid-June before being sold to another major airline. It is the third of the 717 of the airline leaving the fleet and its range limits mean the trip to its new owner in North America will involve eight fuel stops, including Cebu, Sapporo y Anchorage.
The 20 Boeing 717 of QantasLink will be gradually replaced by 29 planes Airbus A220 fuel-efficient vehicles as part of the “Project Winton” fleet renewal program. The first plane A220 will arrive at the end of this year and the first of the 20 A321XLR will arrive at the end of 2024.
Fleet Renewal
The next-generation aircraft are part of a significant investment in fleet renewal that will see the Group receive a new aircraft every three weeks on average over the coming years.. The incoming plane will help Qantas and Jetstar to restore capacity and expand its network while reducing emissions and improving efficiency.
Latest Boeing 787 Qantas Dreamliner, Billabong, began flying on the airline's international network this month and two more Dreamliners will be delivered in the next three weeks. These additional aircraft allowed flights to resume Sydney-San Francisco and will support the launch of the Sydney to New York via Auckland next month. This will take the fleet 787-9 from Qantas to 14.
Jetstar also welcomed its seventh Airbus A321neo LR aircraft this month., what is a 50 percent quieter than the older A321s it replaces and consumes up to 20 percent less fuel. They are operating domestic services and flying between Australia and Bali. The airline will receive other 11 planes A321neo end of 2024.
Through a combination of new arrivals and waiting aircraft returning to service, Qantas Group has returned to around 100 percent of pre-COVID domestic flight levels and hopes to restore the 100 percent of international flights for March 2024.
Blue Mountains Boeing 717 – operations in Australia:
- 2000: first registered in Australia as VH-IMP. First commercial flight operated for Impulse Airlines.
- 2001 – 2004 – Transferred to operate QantasLink flights.
- 2004 – 2005 – Operated for Jetstar.
- 2006 – 2023 – Operated for QantasLink, registered as VH-NXI.
A220 in front of 717
- Seating: 25 percent more 110 a 137.
- Scope: 100% further away.
- fuel consumption: 28% less per seat.
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So sad, a great aircraft and what little remains of the McDonnell Douglas legacy, Let's hope they are not scrapped and survive longer., It's still a shame to see that with Ecuadorian Airlines half gone they won't come here but I hope they survive. Very good blog
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