Qantaslink to get more jets
 

Dear all, I am a new member and therefore making a post for the very first time ... so please be gentle:)

The rumour I came accross today was that apparently plans are in place for 2 to 4 more 717's in the early part of next year (that is first quarter).

This information was provided by relevant enough sources however, I also heard from guys getting back from the states (couple of months ago), that there are no more 717's sitting in the desert and as a result new jets are to be acquired from Boeing ... who apparently have a lenghty waiting list.

Has anyone heard anymore regarding this topic ? ? ?

Heard same last week. However the number was 3 within 6 months. Source was high up in Qlink/ airconnex management.

Any idea as for routes?

Canberra remains an ideal 717 destination and with an empty hangar here built for 717 maintenance, I contend that it is only a matter of time.

yes, i believe that is correct, qf announced an order for 6 additional of type around the end of august and they will come on line late this year/early next year i believe.

as for the routes they seem to be employing them on the secondary leisure markets, into cooly, rocky, hobart/launy etc.

it seems a foregone conclusion that when the 146's become history that the 717 will be the sole jet in the qflink fleet.

I beg to differ...
 

The 717 is a good ship but IMHO I think we will see the Embraer 170/175/190 in Oz eventually. With seating from 70-106 seats, the jungle jet family would give QF flexibility that the 106 seat 717 could not give alone. Whatever the case, the flying public will be the winner once the 146 is retired!

AA

yes airspeed, you may well be right and i would tend to agree that the 717 while being a real success may not be totally suited to ALL of qflinks routesespecially those across the top - cns-drw for example, where a smaller aircraft may be a better option.

will be interesting to see what happens regardless.

Folks, further to topend3's post - last week the CFO of QF (who's name escapes me) did the annual Geoff Dixon roadshows (as Geoff was sick ! ! !) and from all reports advised those who attended that the 737-800's will replace the 717 routes and the B146 routes will be replaced by the B717's.

I am not trying to stir the pot with the B146 guys but this is what I have been told and honestly do feel sympathetic to the chaps who may lose their jobs but, hope that they are integrated on the 717's. This may not be a bad result at all since Airconnex/Impulse employees now are entitled to QF staff travel as well as the profit share scheme.

Also Airspeed, there are no 717's with 106 seats. There is a combination between 117/115 old fleet and 102 (6) new fleet. However, as of next month all 717's will be either 117 or 115 seaters. Furthermore, I do agree that with the aforementioned plans ... the 717's may be too big for some of the old 146 routes ! ! !

Times will tell :eek:

I beg to differ.
 

A recent spate of wagers prompts me to offer a carton of Crownies that says the pax appeal of the Jungle Jet will not come close to that of the Fruitbat!

It will in some ways be akin to the KD's introduction of the CRJ, where the difference in cabin size was not all that welcome by the pax.

Well the rumours are there but having my finger on the pulse (excuse the pun), I have seen no evidence of anymore 717's turning up in the near future. If there is then it is maybe in the "possibility stage". If Pulse management know anymore than that, they are certainly keeping pretty quiet about it.:cool:

Just out of curiousity, can anyone tell me what the pay scales are like on the 717 fleet.

Dan K....
Last time I checked the 717 is larger than the 146. They also have 100% fresh air in the cabin, MUCH bigger overhead bins and are a lot newer than the 146s. Oh and they get you there quicker and don't break down as much. The new 717s also have a larger J cabin (not that it's used right now or maybe at all?) 34" pitch in Y, a very large coat cupboard, more toilets per passenger and a higher FA to pax ratio. Oh I I just do the coffee but I seem to remember something about the 717s not costing as much to operate as the 146??? Not to mention that some don't like the oil smell.....

Don't get me wrong I loved the Ansett 142's. They were great to fly on as a pax but the 146's time has come.

topend3....
Why would a 717 be too big for DRW-CNS when QF fill a 734 and a 143 (via GOV) every day?

I have also heard stories about further expansion early next year with the need for more crews. There might be a short wait for new aircraft due to the desert surplies being exhausted. Have heard about new routes into NT WA and QLD. Backspace the pay scales arent too bad which equals a comfy existance.
I am looking forward to getting stuck into those Darwin stubbies VERY shortly.

ditzyboy,

I think you will find Dan was talking about the passenger appeal of ERJ170. The RJ's from Embraer are know as "Junglejets" due to the fact they come from Brazil.

GAFA
 

You beat me to it.

Bet still stands. :D

Mel-Cfs!
 

Well, if this is the case, QF are certainly getting more creative. Will this be another route that gets dropped/reduced after a few months operation? Take a look at the history of "thin" 717 routes:

1) Syd-Mky - dropped (from 3/week)
2) Hba-Ool - dropped (from 2/week)
3) Adl-Ool - reduced from daily to weekend only
4) Syd-Rok - reduced from 4/week to 2/week (only to cycle
through the aircraft that operates the Bne-Rok services!)
5) Syd-Ppp - reduced from 4/week to 2/week (weekend only)
6) Syd-Tsv - reduced from 10/week to daily

Or will these routes be reintroduced???

In fact, the only sector (of the ones introduced when the batch of 6 717s arrived) that remains unchanged is Mel-Mcy (still daily).

Hobay, new routes west and North west will be the order of the day. I can taste that first Darwin stubbie already!!

I am looking forward to the Darwin posting as well dude, but I thinks it too early to confuse my desires what I think is likely to be happening as far as new routes.

If the top end was on the cards, it would have happened by now.........

Pullock Im an optimist. I want bigger beer bottles.

Dan K....
I apologise for my ignorance :) Yes you are probably right. But who cares what the customer thinks? QF don't! :)

Bring on any trip with a slip in DRW! I am so over LST and NTL trips!

Well, if QF are going to get more 717s, they won't come from the ex-TWA/AA batch. All the remaining stored aircraft in that batch have been spoken for by AirTran.