Jetstars 717's

[jakeseven7]

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Jetstar today farewells the Boeing 717 aircraft, the integral launch fleet for its domestic, low fares operation
started in May 2004.

The fleet of fourteen125 seat configured B717 aircraft became part of history when on 25 May 2004,

Jetstar commenced one of the biggest first day launches of any airline throughout the world with services
to 14 ports and 86 return services.

From June 2004, Jetstar commenced a gradual phasing in of the larger Airbus A320 aircraft, seat
configured for 177 passengers which has been completed this month with the final B717 completing its
final voyage for Jetstar.


A fleet of B717s continue to be operated for the Qantas Group.



Does anyone know where the 717's have been redeployed? I thought I read somewhere that they have gone back to Qantaslink? I was a big fan of these jets, used to fly them all the time to Tassie from Syd and Mel under Qantaslink...​

 

[Yada Yada]

Does anyone know where the 717's have been redeployed? I thought I read somewhere that they have gone back to Qantaslink? I was a big fan of these jets, used to fly them all the time to Tassie from Syd and Mel under Qantaslink..

Thanks for the info. I wasn't aware this was happening.

I flew on these birds a few times SYD-TSV (direct) under QF colours before JQ began. They were very comfortable. I wonder where they will be redeployed?

 

[oz_mark]

Does anyone know where the 717's have been redeployed? I thought I read somewhere that they have gone back to Qantaslink? I was a big fan of these jets, used to fly them all the time to Tassie from Syd and Mel under Qantaslink...​

A bunch of them are flying around WA under the Qantaslink banner.

 

[jakeseven7]

All 12 of them in WA? I didn't realise it was such a hub! Are they used for the mine charters or something...?

I read somewhere, that QF plans along with the aggressive roll out of Jetstar overseas, to beef up Qantaslink (believe it has a lower cost base) domestically and I figured maybe the addition of the 12 717's and the new turboprops might be a part of this...

 

[oz_mark]

Not all 12 of them. Some are on the east coast. Generally where you used to find BaE146 aircraft, you will now find the 717.

 

[Commuter]

Probably National Jet Systems to be operated for QantasLink?

 

[jakeseven7]

Probably National Jet Systems to be operated for QantasLink?

Yep QF pitched it out and NJS won the 717's a while ago, adding to the couple of 146 and a couple of Dash's I think they have for QFlink now.

Which actually then makes sense that the 717's are mostly in WA, NT and SA because that is where NJS hubs (crew) are....

Wish there was an easy way of searching for their routes than guessing and checking on qantas.com...


JetPhotos.Net Aviation Photos: QantasLink (National Jet Systems)

 

[StevePER]

The National Jet route map shows flights operated for QantasLink. I also saw on the National Jet site that they are now operating 146s on PER-RVT (Ravensthorpe). I wouldn't have thought there was sufficient demand to warrant 12 flights a week though.

 

[jakeseven7]

The National Jet route map shows flights operated for QantasLink. I also saw on the National Jet site that they are now operating 146s on PER-RVT (Ravensthorpe). I wouldn't have thought there was sufficient demand to warrant 12 flights a week though.

Thanks for that, the map isn't the easiest to pick out the red/orange though!

I didn't realise that Jetstar as an entity actually pitched to operate the 717's for QFlink, which would have seen what everyone has predicted - Jetstar operating full service QF (well QF link) alot earlier than anyone thought.

NJS must have put in a bloody competitive tender to beat Jetstars cost base though, pretty interesting....

I'm actually trying to work out how I can get on a 717 for a bit of a joyflight, so trying to see what port closest to Syd they get.

 

[oz_mark]

NJS must have put in a bloody competitive tender to beat Jetstars cost base though, pretty interesting....

From memory, the decision was based on factors other than purely cost.

 

[NRMOZ]

I very much enjoyed the 717 when it flew under QF/ QFLink colours on the prior to Jet Star direct Syd - Rok route...

These days that flight is a Virgin direct, or via Brisbane effort... and has changed too much in recent times though the upgrade of ROK airport; currently underway may stablise flights for a time...

Isn't the 717 originally a Lockheed design inherited by Boeing and subsequently changed to what we now fly in? One sweet aircraft to fly in...

 

[jakeseven7]

From memory, the decision was based on factors other than purely cost.

Yes job losses were cited, but c'mon this is the airline industry, NJS would have had to still get pretty close on cost.

 

[oz_mark]

Yes job losses were cited, but c'mon this is the airline industry, NJS would have had to still get pretty close on cost.

Or, you could look at it from another direction. Maybe Jetstar were asked to bid in order to keep NJS competitive.

 

[Yada Yada]

Isn't the 717 originally a Lockheed design inherited by Boeing and subsequently changed to what we now fly in? One sweet aircraft to fly in...

It was a McDonnell Douglas MD-95 (same family as MD-80 and MD-90).
Airliners.net: Boeing 717

 

[NM]

It was a McDonnell Douglas MD-95 (same family as MD-80 and MD-90).
Airliners.net: Boeing 717

And started life in the 1960's as the Douglas DC9

 

[Groundfeeder]

And started life in the 1960's as the Douglas DC9

... and known alternatively as the DC9 GLX.

 

[coco50]

I agree with the comments that the 717 was a nice aircraft to fly on. I first flew on one in 2004 from SYD to NTL (QFLink), where this type originally operated under the VQ (Impulse Airlines) banner. That was a strange flight as taxiing to the southern end of 34 R nearly took as long as the flight. Flew on on last year from BNE to PPP return (JQ)to go to Airlie Beach for a chill out. On all 3 occasions, my wife and I sat in 1A and 1B.

I'm also pleased to know the history of the 717, because I always felt that it didn't look like a Boeing-designed aircraft.

 

[Wunala Dreaming]

Unfortunately at this stage there are no plans to transfer the idle ex-JQ 717s into the QantasLink fleet, located at both NTL and BNE. At this stage they are awaiting news on a possible purchase. There are only 8 717-200s operating services for QantasLink currently.

StevePER, that National Jet network map is so old and is no longer valid today. That aside, I'd love to see ADL-KGI-PER back

Do note, that from November/December QantasLink will be only operating 717s on intra-WA services. Around this time Kununurra gets the chop, and the final 2 BAe146-300s retire (143s service KNX, ZNE, KGI currently and QF use them on their charter flights to LER and WME).

I'm hoping the remaining ex-JQ 717s transfer to QantasLink soon, but at this stage, it's not going to happen.

Cheers

 

[jakeseven7]

Well 8 out of 12 ain't bad.

Will have to have a side trip when I'm in WA or FNQ next!

 

[azza_1992]

Not all 12 of them. Some are on the east coast. Generally where you used to find BaE146 aircraft, you will now find the 717.

QantasLink used to operate a BAE146 on the Mackay - Brisbane route. When they finished with the BAE146, an unmarked 717 was flying this route. Now after Jetstar's introduction, a Bombardier Q400 now flies this route for QantasLink. Just the simple fact of it being a propeller plane turns me off flying Qantas to Brisbane - Bring back the 717!