Fleet development
Throughout the mid 2000s, QantasLink increased capacity by replacing many of its smaller Dash 8-100 and Q200 aircraft with Q400s. QantasLink continued to acquire the Q400 despite landing gear problems experienced by other airlines during this period. This problem also saw a grounding of five Q400s during August 2010, though all were deemed safe and returned to service.[31]
From 2005, QantasLink 717 services in Western Australia, Queensland, New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory, Northern Territory and Tasmania were 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.
In December 2005, as part of its further expansion, QantasLink entered the South Australian market 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, services to Kangaroo Island ceased operation at the end of June 2006.[32]
On 1 August 2006, Qantas replaced its daily Melbourne-Launceston mainline service with a three times daily QantasLink Dash 8 service. 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 mid-life 717s.
In mid August 2008, it was announced that Tamworth would be the first New South Wales regional airport to be serviced by the Q400.[33]
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.[34]
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".[35]
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.[36]
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.[37]
In July 2016, Alliance Airlines delivered the first of three additional Fokker 100s, with two more delivered by the end of the year.[38]
In December 2017, QantasLink announced a resumption of flights from both Melbourne and Adelaide to Kangaroo Island after a 11 year hiatus.[32]
In January 2018, Network Aviation confirmed it would transfer two Airbus A320s from Jetstar Airways for flights to and from Perth as part of the QantasLink brand.[39][40] Network Aviation has steadily increased its use of ex-Jetstar Airbus A320s with a current fleet of 15.
In December 2021, Qantas announced an initial order for 20 Airbus A220-300 aircraft with additional purchase options to replace its Boeing 717.[41] On 29 June, Qantas announced it was exercising 9 purchase right options for the A220-300, taking the total number of A220-300s on firm order to 29, which will begin arriving from late 2023 to 2027.[42]
In February 2023, Qantas announced an order for 5 mid-life Airbus A319 aircraft to increase short term capacity and support the growth of the resource sector in Western Australia for delivery from 2024.[43] Qantas announced in February 2024, following a strong performance in the resources sector that 4 additional A319 aircraft had been purchased, bringing the total to 9.[44]
On 25 June 2024, Qantas announced an order for 14 mid-life Dash 8-400 (Q400) aircraft to begin phasing out the Q200 and Q300 aircraft.[24] The first Q400 is expected to arrive into the QantasLink fleet from the end of 2024, bringing the Q400 fleet to 45, with a single aircraft type providing increased reliability and reducing complexity and cost for the group. Vanessa Hudson, Qantas Group CEO, added how the new mid-life aircraft will "provide certainty to the regions over the next decade while we work with aircraft manufacturers and other suppliers on electric or battery powered aircraft that are the right size and range for our network."[24]
In October 2024, QantasLink planned the last commercial flight for the Boeing 717 on 26 October from Sydney to Canberra as QF1511, with the flight met with a fan-fair for both customers, media and crew after 20 years of the aircraft operating for the Qantas Group in Australia.[45] However due to a shortage of aircraft around the network, the last 717, VH-YQW, got an unexpected re-activation. The aircraft flew between Perth and Paraburdoo from the 6th to 26 November,[46] Sydney to Hobart on select days until 11 December[47] and lastly Melbourne and Canberra on select days until 29 December. The aircraft was retired on 30 December 2024, being ferried from Canberra to Brisbane. The aircraft was donated to the Qantas Group Engineering Academy to be used as a training aid.[48]
On 28 October 2024, QantasLink and Skytrans announced a partnership for the operation of Lord Howe Island flights. This would see QantasLink's three De Haviland Canada Dash 8-200 acquired by Skytrans[49] for them to carry out these operations until March 2030. These flights will be code-shared by Qantas, with the flights to operate out of Qantas Terminal 3 at Sydney Airport.[50]
On 16 May 2025, QantasLink operated its last flight with the Q200, it flew between Lord Howe Island and Sydney as QF2265.[51] All of the Q200 aircraft are now registered with Skytrans,[52] however the Qantas flight number will continue to be used on the Lord Howe Island route until the end of the route license transition period on 25 February 2026.[50]
On 25 June 2025, QantasLink announced that the Embraer E190 was selected as the preferred replacement for the Fokker 100 fleet, up to 14 aircraft will be sourced for targeted delivery beginning at the end of 2026. The retirement of the Fokker 100 will begin early with the arrival of four Airbus A320 aircraft from defunct Jetstar Asia.[29]
On 8 August 2025, QantasLink operated its last flight with the Q300, it flew between Tamworth and Sydney as QF2003.[53] To commemorative the retirement of the Q300, QantasLink operated QLK300, a celebratory flight for staff and crew, where the aircraft completed a scenic flight around Sydney and the Harbour Bridge.[54] Following this flight, Eastern Australia Airlines is no longer the registered operator of any aircraft on behalf of Qantas,[55] with all regional turboprop flights operated by Sunstate Airlines Q400 aircraft.
On 19 January 2026, Qantaslink announced it had sourced the first 3 Embraer E190 aircraft for delivery by the end of 2026. The carrier reaffirmed its plans to source up to 14 aircraft for the gradually replacement of the Fokker 100 aircraft. The airline also announced cabin upgrades for the A320 aircraft and WI-FI installation across A319 and A320 fleet.[20]
