Network Aviation to operate some Qantas RPT services as Qantas reduces routes and capacity in Western Australia

30 May 2014 – Copyright David Eyre

Network Aviation, a Qantas Group airline, is to operate RPT (Regular Public Transport) services on behalf of Qantas, following Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) approval this week for Network to operate RPT flights.

Network will operate three flights per week with its 100-seat Fokker 100s on the Perth-Learmonth route, formerly operated by QantasLink with 125-seat Boeing 717s.

Qantas is reducing routes and capacity in Western Australia due to reducing passenger demand, perhaps brought on by a slowdown in the resources industry.

From 1 July 2014, Qantas is also eliminating services from Brisbane (1 per week), Melbourne (1 per week) and Sydney (2 per week) to Karratha, in addition to axing its Adelaide to Kalgoorlie services (2 per week). Qantas is reviewing other WA services, some of which may use smaller aircraft (e.g. QantasLink 717s replacing Qantas 737-800s), and others will cease.

Network Aviation Fokker 100 VH-NHK is the first in the Network fleet to have ‘A Qantas Group Airline’ titles added on the forward fuselage.