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

[maroonone]

I understand most of the PER 717 are Economy only. Okay if replacing Q400 routes but increased likelihood onBNE -CNS etc

 

[MyAustralia]

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

——
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

Great. Love the 717. Great for MEL. Aso Q300

 

[p--and--t]

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.

Another off thread fact, of 156 x 717s built, 148 are still in service. Qantaslink operates 20 of them.

 

[jakeseven7]

I understand most of the PER 717 are Economy only. Okay if replacing Q400 routes but increased likelihood onBNE -CNS etc

It will be really interesting to see what the travel surge is going to be when the eastern states open up, and how QF respond to it...

It is looking very likely the eastern states (maybe Tas?) will all be open pre-Xmas in some capacity and I can only imagine the demand they will see if the restrictions are not too onerous..... we might see some very interesting (and exciting for AFF members) use of QF equipment over the period.

Can you imagine the pre-Xmas rush if they did open up liberally? It is going to be HUGE.

 

[woodborer]

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.

Doesn't help with PBO, but expect to see more QantasLink A320s.

 

[Seat0B]

I've always preferred the B717 to the Dash 8 for travelling between CBR-SYD and have also actively avoided booking the CBR-MEL flights that were on the Dash 8 - when we had the twin luxury of being allowed to fly that route, and having a choice of flights!!

 

[Hvr]

but expect to see more QantasLink A320s.

So is it possible that a QLink A320 pilot might be paid differently to a QF A320 pilot?

Would the planes be interchangeable between QLink and QF if urgently required on other routes?

 

[moa999]

So is it possible that a QLink A320 pilot might be paid differently to a QF A320 pilot?

What QF A320 pilots?
To a QF 737 pilot, I suspect Yes

 

[kookaburra75]

I've always preferred the B717 to the Dash 8 for travelling between CBR-SYD and have also actively avoided booking the CBR-MEL flights that were on the Dash 8 - when we had the twin luxury of being allowed to fly that route, and having a choice of flights!!

I find the one hour mark is the limit for me sitting in a Dash 8. CBR-SYD is good on the Dash 8 as it's quicker to get on and off than a jet (unless you have to use the bus near Gate 1), and as you can put your hand luggage into the back, there's no issues with finding space up top. The 1h10m flight from CBR-MEL is just ok, especially as I could get out of Melbourne at 6.30pm rather than waiting until 7.40pm. However, 2h CBR-BNE is that bridge too far.

But I do like the B717's. I remember when Impulse introduced them - that had that new plane/car smell about them.

 

[OZDUCK]

Do the B717's feel much different from the DC9's? Obviously much newer seating etc but how about legroom, noise etc?

 

[jakeseven7]

But I do like the B717's. I remember when Impulse introduced them - that had that new plane/car smell about them.

It is one plane where sitting at the back is more fun (Take off angle)

 

[kookaburra75]

It is one plane where sitting at the back is more fun (Take off angle)

I know. On my first flight from Sydney to Brisbane on the B717 I was in the front row, but then like you would do on a roller coaster, I grabbed a rear seat for the flight back from Brisbane to Sydney

 

[hossein_au]

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.

Same here. I especially like 717s in J, as they are some of the quietest planes around...

 

[mrmerc500]

The 717 fleet has been a mainstream scene amongst WA FIFO operations, has no doubt been a favourite for regulars with the 2:3 configuration even though they don’t have entertainment.

With the relocation of the WA 717 fleet to the East Coast, it wont be as simple with it being in the mix of the business class 717 version.

Be interesting to see what routes are taken over by the F100 & 737, here is a snap shot of the Alice springs flight that operates weekends only.

As others have said, with WA continuing to go strong, QF is reducing its 737 on the east coast.

 

[themaiz]

Is there any likelihood that B717s would run on Qantaslink between SYD and WTB? That would be nice... and presumably quicker.

 

[Mattg]

Is there any likelihood that B717s would run on Qantaslink between SYD and WTB? That would be nice... and presumably quicker.

I don’t see any reason that this would happen.

 

[justinbrett]

717s would go well on a MEL-NTL-BNE route, especially with the closure of the JQ NTL base. NTL has a lot of government and industrial (mining) pax so wasn’t really a leisure route.

 

[BNEFlyer]

I know. On my first flight from Sydney to Brisbane on the B717 I was in the front row, but then like you would do on a roller coaster, I grabbed a rear seat for the flight back from Brisbane to Sydney

Did my first 717 flight on Monday, CNS-BNE. Was in row 5 and the takeoff angle was awesome. As a tall person I loved the legroom, and the seat width was good too.

 

[jakeseven7]

Did my first 717 flight on Monday, CNS-BNE. Was in row 5 and the takeoff angle was awesome. As a tall person I loved the legroom, and the seat width was good too.

The 717 is the only plane I have actively selected rear of plane seating to get the maximum impact of the takeoff angle

 

[BD1959]

717s would go well on a MEL-NTL-BNE route, especially with the closure of the JQ NTL base. NTL has a lot of government and industrial (mining) pax so wasn’t really a leisure route.

MEL-NTL-MEL used to be a regular JQ 717 route when they took the birds from Impulse ... where I first experienced (and learned to love) them ... the JQ experience, not so!!

Regards,

BD