Originally Posted by
WHBM
The Qantas SP was indeed originally said to be for serving Wellington. Qantas (international only then) was moving to an all-747 fleet, their last 707 ran Wellington, after which they chartered an Air New Zealand DC8 to cover their rigorously controlled 50% of flights on the route.
Boeing 707s never operated into or out of Wellington. Air New Zealand did operate the DC8 on Wellington services from the retirement of the Lockheed Electras until QANTAS introduced the 747SP to trans-Tasman flights into and out of Wellington. The introduction to service by both QANTAS and Air New Zealand of the Boing 767 saw the end of 747SPs on the Wellington route as the two airlines went their own separate ways and ended code-sharing on Wellington services.