On October 26, 2024, the Qantas Group announced the completion of its last commercial Boeing 717 flight, flying from Sydney to Canberra as QF1511. The Boeing 717-200 registered VH-YQS was operated by National Jet Systems, an Australian airline operating on behalf of regional carrier QantasLink.
After operating more than 15,000 flights for the airline, the aircraft left the fleet and was flown to Victorville (VCV). From there it will spend the rest of its life in the desert, and will most likely face the wrath of scrappers.
However it seems Qantas isn’t done with the 717s just yet, at least for another few days. Users on X (formerly Twitter) noted another QantasLink 717 re-entering service, operating a single round trip flight between Perth (PER) and Paraburdoo (PBO).
Flying as QF1264 and QF1265, this morning rotation is being operated by another frame registered VH-YQW. If you’re still interested in adding the 717 to you bucket list, book quickly as it looks like the carrier will only operate them until November 20, 2024. Be prepared to spend a bit more as these tickets are going for AUD 1,059 (about USD 690) versus just AUD 444 (USD 289) on flights operated by the Fokker 100s or A319s.
Mining charter?
Credit: Calistemon/Wikimedia | CC BY-SA 3.0 UnportedWith no official comment from Qantas, there are two running theories as to why this aircraft type was brought back. Some speculate that the singe flight is a charter to support workers getting to and from the Paraburdoo iron ore mines.
Supporting fleet shortage?
Credit: Qantas GroupWith the 717s gone, National Jet Systems has been left with a bit of a void as they’ve only taken on four of their 25 Airbus A220 replacements. Network Aviation, another QantasLink operator, is also awaiting delivery of four more Airbus A319-100s to complement the five already in service.
Some have even gone so far as to speculate that A220 crew member training schedules were not completed in the expected time frame, resulting in the 717 being brought back as a temporary stop gap.
Only two more 717 operators
Once QantasLink officially phases out its 717s, Hawaiian Airlines and Delta Air Lines will be the last two carriers globally to operate the aging type. Hawaiian currently operates 19 frames, using them solely for inter-island operations.
However Hawaiian is also looking at replacing their T-tail fleet by the end of 2025, but has not announced a suitable replacement yet. Maybe A220s? MAX 8s?
Delta also operates quite a few, with 88 still in service, but also plans on phasing them out by 2025 as they take on more Airbus A220-100s and -300s.
Featured image: Qantas Group
