QantasLink centralises 717 maintenance facilities to Melbourne, rejigs fleet bases in preparation for border openings

[jakeseven7]

Good news for Melbourne, not so much for WA and QLD in regards of jobs.

Looks like MEL will get some new 717 routes when borders open soon, plus a few Q300 routes as well in the rejig

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QantasLink centralises 717 maintenance facilities to Melbourne

Qantas’ regional brand is to close its Boeing 717 bases in Queensland and Western Australia and instead centralise its operations in Melbourne.

QantasLink’s move will cost more than 160 local jobs but create 100 new positions in the Victorian capital

Following the base closures, eight Boeing 717 aircraft will be relocated from Perth to Brisbane, while six will operate out of Melbourne – where there were previously no 717s servicing routes.

Melbourne operations will also include up to three Q300 turboprops, while three larger Q400 turboprops will be moved from Melbourne to Sydney and Brisbane.

“While border changes and lockdowns mean we can’t operate between most states right now, these restrictions will eventually lift,” Qantas said. “When they do, we need to be ready to respond quickly to customer demand in the face of leaner competitors.

QantasLink axes Cairns and Perth B717 bases

Q-Link will close two of its Boeing 717 bases, one in Queensland and the other in Western Australia, and instead centralise its operations in Melbourne.

australianaviation.com.au

 

[Daver6]

Does this mean 737s then for all WA regional routes given there are no turboprops based in PER and no mention of any moving here? That would be a plus in terms of at least having J on all routes then.

 

[kookaburra75]

That should be interesting. Next June we're booked Cairns-Brisbane and it's showing as a B717, most likely go to a B737 now.

Currently from Canberra there are B717's to Brisbane and back, so so maybe they'll go MEL-CBR-BNE and back?

 

[Mattg]

Reading into this, is Qantas looking to replace 737s with 717s on more routes to/from MEL (as it's expecting lower demand in that market for the foreseeable future)?

I guess we'll be seeing more 717s on routes like MEL-HBA, MEL-CBR and possibly even MEL-ADL in the near future if that's the case.

 

[jakeseven7]

Does this mean 737s then for all WA regional routes given there are no turboprops based in PER and no mention of any moving here? That would be a plus in terms of at least having J on all routes then.

WA also has the entire QFLink Network Aviation fleet to play around with to supplement any 737 flying.

 

[moa999]

And Network is reportedly getting another 5 320s from JQ and 3K

 

[eastwest101]

Just noticed this and apparently a lot of old JQ A320s going to WA is the long term plan that has become more short term and urgent thanks to Covid-19, so they are replacing the B717 and F110 WA fleet to an A320/B737 and F100 fleet for the parts of the operation that are busy and working, and making money (regional long range WA). As the Australian Aviation article says removing 14 B717s from their PER base and distributing 8 of them to BNE (makes sense for intra-QLD routes) and 6 to MEL (makes no sense at all given MEL is in lock down, but presumably will service TAS and some SE Australia routes when flying resumes). I didn't know that Cairns was a B717 crew or a B717 maintenence base so its not really clear what is happening there, I suspect that CNS is a Q400 base.

Moving the Dash-8-300s into Melbourne and moving the larger Dash-8-Q400s to SYD and BNE at least makes sense from a capacity and logistics point of view. This have some of the typical hallmarks of JQ over-capitalisation and fleet rationalisation (deftly lumping another part of the Qantas business with some tired and worn out ex-JQ aircraft), keeping as much of QF mainline and QFi division on jobseeker support as possible, and reducing the cost base and some cost cutting within QF Link dressed up as the typical Qantas PR and spin.

 

[jb747]

I don't think I'd see this as good news for the east coast. It basically means a reduction in 737 services, and just as likely an equivalent reduction in the job numbers.

 

[Seat0B]

Qantas’ regional brand is to close its Boeing 717 bases in Queensland and Western Australia and instead centralise its operations in Melbourne.

??Payback for the border closures in those states??

 

[oz_mark]

??Payback for the border closures in those states??

My guess would be they are looking to use larger aircraft for regional WA.

 

[OZDUCK]

My guess would be they are looking to use larger aircraft for regional WA.

i would also assume that is the reason as internal flights in W.A have been very busy and apparently profitable.

 

[drron]

Maybe a 717 into LST?

 

[jakeseven7]

Maybe a 717 into LST?

Well the 4-5x daily Q400's are jammed normally (pre-COVID), they were due for an up-gauge.... but suspect that is on the back burner thanks COVID!

 

[exceladdict]

Long term will be interesting to see how this impacts frequencies on WA routes, may see some consolidation.

 

[Daver6]

Long term will be interesting to see how this impacts frequencies on WA routes, may see some consolidation.

I was wondering if they'd do some milk-run type routes. Perth-Geraldton-Exmouth type thing.

 

[Captain Halliday]

I didn't know that Cairns was a B717 crew or a B717 maintenence base so its not really clear what is happening there, I suspect that CNS is a Q400 base.

CNS was a 717/Q400/Q300 base. The Q300’s are going from CNS.

Once the 717s go, it’ll just be a Q-400 base.

 

[astrosly]

I like the 717 and prefer to fly in one over a 737 or DH8. The seat has the same legroom as the DH8 which is more than the 737 but without the open propeller noise. Flew ARM-CBR-MEL all on a DH8-400 early June and would have been thrilled to have been on a 717.

 

[jakeseven7]

I like the 717 and prefer to fly in one over a 737 or DH8. The seat has the same legroom as the DH8 which is more than the 737 but without the open propeller noise. Flew ARM-CBR-MEL all on a DH8-400 early June and would have been thrilled to have been on a 717.

Honestly and people will laugh at me but I agree with you re: 717 over the 737 of both QF and VA!

I also love the Q400 over a 737, it feels like 'real' flying and are more spacious than the boring 737 of QF/VA.

The Q300/200's can be a little noisy but the Q400 doesn't bother me actually, don't notice it.

 

[Cognac]

I like the 717 and prefer to fly in one over a 737 or DH8. The seat has the same legroom as the DH8 which is more than the 737 but without the open propeller noise. Flew ARM-CBR-MEL all on a DH8-400 early June and would have been thrilled to have been on a 717.

Had my first flight in a 717 BNE-CNS-BNE earlier this year. Was very impressed.

Back on topic, internal routes in WA are going strong. The FIFO stuff never really stopped, and now that we can't really get out there's a lot of residents booking trips locally to make up for it. Myself included. But that seems a little short-term. I don't know if the intra-WA routes had been growing enough prior to COVID to warrant the change. My guess would be yes, otherwise QF would have to do another whole bunch of shuffling once things settled down again.

 

[Turbo-g]

Interesting point is the 717 was good for some of the WA inland FIFO sites but places like PBO can't handle the 737, and with the heat coming again the performance is compromised in most Pilbara locations. Are they going to poverty pack the newbies? Always laughed at people grabbing the headphones for the entertainment on the 717.