QantasLink takes delivery of first Airbus A320

24 February 2018 © David Eyre

QantasLink (Network Aviation) today took delivery of the first of an initial two Airbus A320 aircraft, previously owned by Jetstar.

VH-VQS (MSN 2515) was originally delivered to Jetstar in 2005. On 1 February 2018, it was delivered in Jetstar livery as flight JQ8993 Melbourne – Darwin – Seletar (Singapore), where it was repainted in QantasLink livery.

The aircraft is now named ‘Kangaroo Paw’, after the flower which is native to the south west of Western Australia and wears full QantasLink livery, including QantasLink titles on the belly and a flying kangaroo logo on the inside of the wingtip fence. Using Jetstar flight number JQ8996, VH-VQS arrived in Perth direct from Seletar (Singapore) at 4:37pm today.

The A320s will be used by Qantas Group subsidiary Network Aviation on intrastate Western Australian Fly-In, Fly Out (FIFO) resources charter flights, replacing some Qantas mainline Boeing 737-800s, which will be used on other Qantas routes.

Network Aviation will operate the Airbus A320 in a 180-seat all-economy configuration on intra-Western Australia charter services, replacing some Qantas mainline Boeing 737-800s, which have 174 seats (12 business, 162 economy). Together with the A320’s better performance in hot weather, the aircraft can carry many more passengers than the 737, allowing resources companies to save money through a reduced number of flights.

A second ex-Jetstar A320, VH-VQU, is also due to be transferred to QantasLink (Network Aviation). The two A320s should enter service with Network Aviation from April 2018.

Network Aviation was previously a charter operator, but following its acquisition by Qantas in February 2011, began flying regular public transport (RPT) services in WA and expanded its fleet to 17 Fokker 100s, plus the A320 delivered today.