New 717 routes

[Greggsy]

After a few months of waiting, QF has announced the dates the 'new' 717s will start to operate on.

QantasLink expands across Queensland, jets into Rockhampton, Gladstone and Mackay and adds capacity to nine key destinations

Brisbane, 31 January 2012QantasLink today announced a significant boost to services throughout Queensland.QantasLink will launch Boeing 717 services to Rockhampton and Gladstone on 15 March and Mackay on 26 March 2012 following the addition of the B717 aircraft into its fleet.QantasLink was recently voted the world’s best regional airline by prestigious aviation journal Air Transport World.QantasLink Executive Manager Narendra Kumar said he was very pleased to announce that QantasLink would be jetting off to three booming Queensland destinations.“The introduction of QantasLink’s two new B717 aircraft in Queensland will deliver an increase of over 200,000 seats per year in Queensland,” Mr Kumar said.“QantasLink’s new 115-seat B717 services will offer customers faster flight times and more seats at peak times by complementing existing aircraft on these routes.”By mid year, the QantasLink B717 services will result in:
- 1,674 additional seats per week to Gladstone which will see QantasLink provide more than 9,100 seats per week on the route.
- 806 additional seats on QantasLink services increasing seats offered by the Qantas Group between Brisbane and Mackay to 13,884 per week (operated by both Jetstar and QantasLink).
- 598 additional seats to Rockhampton, offering over 8,400 seats per week.QantasLink has also today announced it will introduce new Q300 and Q400 aircraft services across several key Queensland destinations including:
- Increased flights to Emerald from 76 to 84 flights per week resulting in an additional 592 seats.
- Roma will have an additional two flights per week which will offer QantasLink customers 244 extra seats.
- Four extra flights will operate to Bundaberg creating 200 more seats.QantasLink also recently added new services and upgraded capacity between:
- Cairns and Weipa taking the number of services per week to 34.
- Upgraded two Wednesday services between Cairns and Horn Island and Townsville and Cloncurry/Mt Isa to a Q400 74 seat aircraft.
- A twice weekly service has also been added on the Townsville and Moranbah route.

Given the 717s are ex-impulse airline planes that went on to start Jetstar, they are hardly new. Still, a jet service to these destinations will be a welcome change. Personally, I hope they pick Moranbah as the next stop (but that's being totally selfish).

Greg. ​

 

[markis10]

Given the 717s are ex-impulse airline planes that went on to start Jetstar, they are hardly new. Still, a jet service to these destinations will be a welcome change. Personally, I hope they pick Moranbah as the next stop (but that's being totally selfish).

Greg.
​

I believe they are new to QF and Australia birds, only 5 of the current 9 are ex Impluse birds! Possibly they grabbed two from AirTran which have most of the production run in service.

 

[LiamR]

I was secretly hoping they did some OOL flights. Guess that isn't happening just yet.

 

[samh004]

I was secretly hoping they did some OOL flights. Guess that isn't happening just yet.

Give it time, it’s not yet 2018

 

[anat0l]

Well that explains the signage at BNE D the other day, viz. QantasLink now uses the lower level gates (1-3) as well as some upper level gates (can't remember where they were pointed; possibly at the Common User concourse).

Kind of interesting that QF is upgauging to 717s on these routes. I wonder what will happen to the other Q400s (Dash 8s more generally) that used to fly these. Or, are these new flights in addition to the Q400 flights?

Interesting to note that QF's aim seems to be to hit early and hard on the capacity. Once DJ's full fleet is refitted with J (except for Skywest ATRs), that's going to raise the question of quality vs quantity.

Some of these places I thought could barely accommodate jets, although GLT was recently upgraded for the purposes of the recent GLT flights by Air Australia (nee Strategic) with A320s.

I'm not so sure about faster flying times; well, more specifically, I see the savings as being in the vicinity of 10-20 minutes. I guess that's significant enough.

Interestingly if there are jets now flying to some of these destinations then wouldn't the airports necessarily have to be upgraded for security screening (previously unnecessary for an airport which only serves turboprops?). Also, all these new flights plus bigger aircraft will certainly have noise implications at some of these airports. Hope the residents don't mind.

Overall, interesting developments. No doubt spurred on by the extractive industries in the areas.

 

[markis10]

Kind of interesting that QF is upgauging to 717s on these routes. I wonder what will happen to the other Q400s (Dash 8s more generally) that used to fly these. Or, are these new flights in addition to the Q400 flights?

Interesting to note that QF's aim seems to be to hit early and hard on the capacity. Once DJ's full fleet is refitted with J (except for Skywest ATRs), that's going to raise the question of quality vs quantity.

Not too much is new, they are essentially replacing the F100s they ahve been using with more utilisation into GLT, on th ROK leg the F100s save 15 mins so they are faster. GLT is certainly a lesson in the benefits of competition, having gone from expensive propjets at random times to numerous jets and propjets for $65 a flight.

 

[Greggsy]

I like the F100s so I'm hoping the 717 will be just as good.

Greg.


Sent from my iPhone using Aust Freq Fly app

 

[markis10]

1A is almost the best seat in the QF fleet for any Y cabin, cannot touch the bulkhead with your feet!

 

[Wunala Dreaming]

Effective 14APR12 the 717-200s will commence operating Saturday Brisbane-Alice Springs-Brisbane flights replacing the 737-800. This results in the loss of a Business Cabin on Saturday services, however the 737-800 will continue to operate services on Sunday, offering both a Business and Economy cabin.

No doubt this is to rotate the 717s through ASP and on to Perth.

 

[file51]

Whilst on the topic of 717's...

Something that has me a little miffed.

Why would a QF 717 (with newer paint scheme (think new roo)) be parked at Miami International Airport???

It was at the AAR hangars (I am sure it was AAR) on Sat 25th Feb & Fri 2nd Mar (midway along runway 8L which we arrived on)

 

[TheInsider]

probably on it's way to Australia, via everywhere.

 

[file51]

probably on it's way to Australia, via everywhere.

Interesting MR that would make… MIA>SYD (all stops)

 

[markis10]

Whilst on the topic of 717's...

Something that has me a little miffed.

Why would a QF 717 (with newer paint scheme (think new roo)) be parked at Miami International Airport???

It was at the AAR hangars (I am sure it was AAR) on Sat 25th Feb & Fri 2nd Mar (midway along runway 8L which we arrived on)

Ex Mexicana Bird heading down under, F source noted it last month:

[h=2]23rd February 2012 - QANTASLink Boeing 717-200 VH-NXR Prepares for Delivery.[/h] QANTASLink Boeing 717-2BL VH-NXR has been unveiled at Miami as it is prepared for delivery to Australia. The aircraft was delivered to Midwest Airlines in 2003 and subsequently operated for MexicanaClick.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

I like the F100s so I'm hoping the 717 will be just as good.

Greg.

Better IMHO - it absolutely hammers!

Well that explains the signage at BNE D the other day, viz. QantasLink now uses the lower level gates (1-3) as well as some upper level gates (can't remember where they were pointed; possibly at the Common User concourse).

Kind of interesting that QF is upgauging to 717s on these routes. I wonder what will happen to the other Q400s (Dash 8s more generally) that used to fly these. Or, are these new flights in addition to the Q400 flights?

Interesting to note that QF's aim seems to be to hit early and hard on the capacity. Once DJ's full fleet is refitted with J (except for Skywest ATRs), that's going to raise the question of quality vs quantity.

Some of these places I thought could barely accommodate jets, although GLT was recently upgraded for the purposes of the recent GLT flights by Air Australia (nee Strategic) with A320s.

I'm not so sure about faster flying times; well, more specifically, I see the savings as being in the vicinity of 10-20 minutes. I guess that's significant enough.

Interestingly if there are jets now flying to some of these destinations then wouldn't the airports necessarily have to be upgraded for security screening (previously unnecessary for an airport which only serves turboprops?). Also, all these new flights plus bigger aircraft will certainly have noise implications at some of these airports. Hope the residents don't mind.

Overall, interesting developments. No doubt spurred on by the extractive industries in the areas.

All jet departures effective 02 Feb 2012 for QLink now use gates 26-38 at the CUS (Common User Satellite) where JQ A320's & QQ F100's depart from. Qlink Dash8 flights still depart from the ground floor gates 1 - 3. If your boarding pass has a comment "operated by Sunsate" it will be gates 1 -3. F100 flights operated by Alliance for QF ie QF flight number currently have a boarding pass comment "operated by Alliance" which means gates 26 - 38.

Note sure what the boarding pass comment will say for the B717 services however they will definitely depart from gates 26 - 38 at the CUS.

The F100's will return to Alliance & will no longer operate flights on behalf of QLink so B717's will replace these jet services that flew to ROK & MKY plus now the addition of GLT.

All jet ports ROK/MKY/GLT have security screening which will mean pax connecting to mainline flights on QF will no longer have to go through security again at BNE so can remain airside. Ditto for connections on DJ, JQ & TT although if you don't have a boarding pass you may have to go back downstairs to checkin.

On the first route proving flight to GLT traffic slowed down to a crawl when passers by saw a QF jet for the first time & both locals & airport workers like refuellers, firies etc were very enthusiastic about receiving the new a/c.

Inaugural passenger flight to GLT at 1400 today is sold out.

 

[markis10]

FWIW the second 717 arrived (was at Miami) and new services commenced last Monday, along with new DJ frequencies to GLT

 

[ozhighflyer]

I like the F100s so I'm hoping the 717 will be just as good.

Greg.


Sent from my iPhone using Aust Freq Fly app

Out of interest,
How do you find the 717s as compared with the Alliance F100s?

 

[Greggsy]

Out of interest,
How do you find the 717s as compared with the Alliance F100s?

I actually prefer the F100s. The seating is a bit older but much more comfortable IMHO, especially compared to the new B717 sardine tin seating plan.

 

[eastwest101]

Yep - seems like more seat pitch in the F100's compared to the B717s (the new sardine can config or older config).

* well the 100 seat F100s that I have flown in anyway......