This whole discussion misses one important question. The flying was transferred from a 737 to a 717 due to cost savings. Is the updated thrust required to do the job properly part of the new cost and how much cheaper is it really?
Who de- ices it in winter and who pays for it? Like everything in Qantas the true costs are a blurred paradigm of smoke and mirrors. We shut down the APU on turnaround to save fuel but the 717 doesn't cause Qantas picks up the tab. Why aren't Qlink pilots flying the 717 instead of Cobham. Surely it would be cheaper and offer career progression. Or here is something novel. Why can't some pilots from mainline fly the thing for free! Yep they're getting paid to do bugger all at the moment. Bucket loads of F/O's with 10,000 jet hours wanting a left seat. Go figure!