Skytrans to Operate Lord Howe Island Route from March 2026 - Take over from Qantaslink

[markis10]

Qantas has sold their fleet of Dash 8 200/300 with Skytrans dry leasing from the new owner

Skytrans (QN, Cairns) will dry-lease one DHC-8-Q200 and two DHC-8-200s from Canadian lessor Avmax Aircraft Leasing. The lessor will acquire the aircraft together with one DHC-8-300 and fifteen DHC-8-Q300s from Qantas Group.

All 19 turboprops were operated by Eastern Australia Airlines under the QantasLink banner.

Avmax says the first DHC-8-200 sale had successfully closed. VH-TQG (msn 430) was reregistered to Skytrans on April 5, 2025. However, the Q300 transaction is still at the letter of intent stage. The lessor hopes to move forward with the transaction shortly.

In June 2024, Qantas said it would discontinue operating these aircraft, replacing them with DHC-8-Q400s.

Skytrans recently inked an agreement with Qantas and the New South Wales state government to take over the Sydney-Lord Howe Island route, which Qantas serviced with the smaller Dash 8 aircraft. The takeover is occurring incrementally over 2025.

“We anticipate delivery of the last aircraft by the end of 2025 and are currently in discussions with multiple operators for sale or lease opportunities," said Avmax CEO Steve Hankirk.

Australia's Skytrans to dry-lease Q200s sold by Qantas

Skytrans (QN, Cairns) will dry-lease one DHC-8-Q200 and two DHC-8-200s from Canadian lessor Avmax Aircraft Leasing. The lessor will acquire the aircraft together...

www.ch-aviation.com

 

[jpp42]

Qantas still says "operated by Eastern Australian Airlines" for all flights I checked into Nov/Dec this year - when is this transition now expected to take place? Will this result in a change of flight number/reticketing for existing ticketholders?

 

[markis10]

Qantas still says "operated by Eastern Australian Airlines" for all flights I checked into Nov/Dec this year - when is this transition now expected to take place? Will this result in a change of flight number/reticketing for existing ticketholders?

First post of the thread gives you the plan - 2026 is the changeover.

 

[jpp42]

First post of the thread gives you the plan - 2026 is the changeover.

Oops, I read that as March 2025 and thought it was delayed, sorry folks.

 

[henrus]

I flew back from Lord Howe yesterday. Ground and onboard experience is Qantas but the aircraft is in an all white livery and the crew are Skytrans.

I had a chat to the crew both ways and it seems they’ve relocated some of their Cairns staff to Sydney whilst also hiring some local Sydney staff who’ve worked at other carriers.

 

[moa999]

From airliners.net

final QantasLink flight to LDH operated today. QF2264 departed with a big celebration held in the old Heritage Centre above T3.

QF2265 will shortly arrive back into SYD where the aircraft will then be prepared for paint and handover to Skytrans later this month.

****a QantasLink recovery flight tomorrow could still occur.

All flights still seem to be under the normal QF flight numbers on the QF website, just with operated by Skytrans.

 

[Mattg]

From airliners.net



All flights still seem to be under the normal QF flight numbers on the QF website, just with operated by Skytrans.

https://www.facebook.com/lordhoweisland/posts/pfbid0fbAs4AhzHma2iEjir6USEW49M4eRD4BUiAh1zbkHwZQbwA6dySDEMJj8LjDa2xmpl

 

[ksthommo]

ABC Article
Emotions run high as new transport era begins on remote island

 

[jpp42]

ABC Article
Emotions run high as new transport era begins on remote island

"Recently the final Qantas-branded and crewed plane touched down on Lord Howe Island's tiny airstrip."

Is that accurate? I thought it was a gradual transition period?

 

[jase05]

"Recently the final Qantas-branded and crewed plane touched down on Lord Howe Island's tiny airstrip."

Is that accurate? I thought it was a gradual transition period?

Yeah, I thought they didn’t take ot on completely until early next year

 

[thebmw]

Yeah, I thought they didn’t take ot on completely until early next year

Next year it becomes an actual Sky trans service, that Qantas will just have a codeshare on. (And maybe some form of interline etc as well?)

Currently, it's operated by Skytrans for Qantas, just like Alliance operates the E190 flights.

 

[docjames]

What life is left in the remaining DHC8-200s? Surely this is getting close to limitation?

LDH still hasn't solved the "what next" issue, even with the change in operator.

 

[markis10]

What life is left in the remaining DHC8-200s? Surely this is getting close to limitation?

Skytrans already operate the oldest DHC8-100s in the world, would not be worried about the 200s, some of which are 40 yr old ex QF birds

 

[henrus]

Is that accurate? I thought it was a gradual transition period?

All of the Dash 8 200s are now operated by Skytrans under their AOC. This was the last flight operated by QantasLink under their own AOC (well that of Eastern Airlines).

Between now and end of the transition period QF still manage the bookings (flights still sold only as QF flight numbers), provide the catering, operate check in etc then next year it'll switch fully over to Skytrans.

 

[henrus]

An interesting thing I just spotted that the old QF dash 8's have been purchased by Avmax (a canadian leasing company). They are then leasing them back to Skytrans to operate the LDH flights.

There was an early article shared above which didn't make sense mentioning 1x Q300 and 15 Q300s but this link makes it clear that all three Q200s have been purchased and leased back.

Avmax Announces Strategic Aircraft Acquisitions from Qantas and Enhancement of Long-Term Partnership with Skytrans

Avmax is pleased to announce a landmark transaction with Qantas, further strengthening its regional aircraft leasing portfolio. As part of this agreement, Avmax has finalized the purchase of 19 Dash 8 Series aircraft, including 3 Dash 8-Q200s and 16 Dash 8-Q300s. The first Dash 8-200 sale under...

www.avmax.com