First Qantas A220 revealed

[jrfsp]

Flying out of Hobart, whenever its Qantas, its nearly always QantasLink. And I'm perfectly happy with that/them. I'm really looking forward to the A220s as I slide my backside back into QF (QFL) upholstery.

But I do join your wonder why they keep the distinction up. I know there is ownership and licencing history but can't see it. Unless (as you speculated) - its cost. Maybe QantasLink employees have historically been on poorer wage agreements and it suits the company to keep it up?

QLink are on substantially less than mainline counterparts and unlike airlines in the US/Europe there are no scope clauses for QF hence more and more flying being taken over by lower cost subsidiaries

 

[justinbrett]

QantasLink is primarily a regional airline, it makes a lot of sense to have a separate subsidiary for the small regional aircraft that operate out of regional ports. This is SOP accross the globe.

It does get into a grey area when you have these regional jets that double as a small mainline jet, I guess you have to pick one.

With the current pilot shortage people are getting hired straight into mainline, but in regular times the pipeline is pretty standard - do your time on GA, then move up to regional, then move up to mainline. I have family in regional QLD so have done a lot of flying on QLink, and they definitely maintain a distinct culture that is separate to mainline - in a very positive way - I don't want that to change. I find the same on American Eagle vs mainline AA.

 

[oz_mark]

QLink operate A320s as well. Not just little regional jets

 

[MooTime]

Going against the grain on this thread, but I really not a fan of the half metal tube in this green dot design.
Green not my fav colour, yes still have some child in me where colours matter.

Just a personal preference or not so in this case.
Love the retro QF designs, what that's only on a couple planes right?. I do love the olden days as I tell my young son.

Is there anything QF can do other than retro or aboriginal art just out of interest. Did they do a rainbow one for that issue? I don't recall. They could really get creative, but too much losses the appeal as been said.

Note: ignore the silly haters. Oxygen thieves or more so keyboard warriors.

 

[jakeseven7]

That is one spectacular livery. Have to hand it to Qantas for that one.

Airbus put out a video, even looks good at night:

Look at this post on Facebook Log in to Facebook

 

[RichardMEL]

Just a personal preference or not so in this case.
Love the retro QF designs, what that's only on a couple planes right?. I do love the olden days as I tell my young son.

Is there anything QF can do other than retro or aboriginal art just out of interest. Did they do a rainbow one for that issue? I don't recall. They could really get creative, but too much losses the appeal as been said.

Well there is the 100th anniversary 787. I think that one is quite nice with the logos of the past and while still red and white in the main is still very striking.

Also, as you mentioned, the two "Retro Roo" 737's are nice designs.

As for the "rainbow" (pride I assume you mean) thing - pretty sure that's just been decals and never a special livery per se (happy to be corrected on this though).

Most of the other "special" schemes have also been with decals - socceroos come to mind for example, not to mention the very recent contraversial "yes" campaign ones

 

[justinbrett]

QLink operate A320s as well. Not just little regional jets

But it does operate those as regional jets (and largely to serve the mining industry). There’s only one route which isn’t intrastate WA, which is PER-DRW which is the exception.

 

[jrfsp]

But it does operate those as regional jets (and largely to serve the mining industry). There’s only one route which isn’t intrastate WA, which is PER-DRW which is the exception.

A “regional jet” is generally defined as a jet with less than 100 seats, not an A320.
No issue with A320s being used on mining flights but not RPT flights.
A lot of the A320 routes were previously served by mainline 737s but have been replaced by cheaper QLink crew.

 

[pauly7]

Airbus put out a video, even looks good at night:

Look at this post on Facebook Log in to Facebook

Thanks, didn’t see this one until now. Airbus will be PRing this one hard I’m sure.

Also - after 5 interesting pages looks like the rabids have appeared finally

 

[jb747]

It does get into a grey area when you have these regional jets that double as a small mainline jet, I guess you have to pick one.

It's simply an ongoing attack on the mainline staff. Alan may be gone, but his management style remains.

 

[Quickstatus]

A “regional jet” is generally defined as a jet with less than 100 seats, not an A320.

But practically nearly all of Australia can be defined as Regional Australia.

From a Work visa point of view any part of Australia that is not Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane is classified as "Regional". There are a several regional routes that can support more than 100 seats.

 

[jrfsp]

But practically nearly all of Australia can be defined as Regional Australia.

From a Work visa point of view any part of Australia that is not Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane is classified as "Regional". There are a several regional routes that can support more than 100 seats.

Yes but in definition of pilot scope clauses it’s the size of the aircraft not the destination that matters

 

[Quickstatus]

pilot scope clauses

that does not mean a regional airline can't introduce a larger jet.

 

[jrfsp]

that does not mean a regional airline can't introduce a larger jet.

In most parts of the world that’s exactly what it means
Contracts limit the size of aircraft that can be flown by regional subsidiaries

 

[Quickstatus]

Contracts limit the size of aircraft that can be flown by regional subsidiaries

My point is different - that a regional route in Australia (basically most of australia) is not necessarily limited to a 100 seater or less "regional jet".

 

[JessicaTam]

[mod hat]
Enough of the 'what is regional' back and forth please.
[/mod hat]

 

[justinbrett]

A “regional jet” is generally defined as a jet with less than 100 seats, not an A320.
No issue with A320s being used on mining flights but not RPT flights.
A lot of the A320 routes were previously served by mainline 737s but have been replaced by cheaper QLink crew.

The whole reason they got the A320s was for those mining contracts, due to the better performance of A320s on these routes vs 737s. Post covid, expanding them was an easy solution to increasing domestic capacity across the network.

Now, if when QF mainline receive their A320s, and QLK are still operating A320s, then there's definitely a problem.

 

[jakeseven7]

Thanks, didn’t see this one until now. Airbus will be PRing this one hard I’m sure.

Also - after 5 interesting pages looks like the rabids have appeared finally

Any intel on first flight date? We know the planned route…

 

[elanshin]

Any intel on first flight date? We know the planned route…

I'm sure we'll hear about it. It's even on QF's main page right now (2nd banner after Pacific sale).

Interesting to read that it's Airbus' most complex livery to date.

 

[elanshin]

I also just realised that since the a220 will come wifi equipped, it'll bring wifi to these routes that hasn't had it before.