Skytrans to Operate Lord Howe Island Route from March 2026 - Take over from Qantaslink

[markis10]

Qantas has sold their fleet of Dash 8 200/300 with Skytrans dry leasing from the new owner

Skytrans (QN, Cairns) will dry-lease one DHC-8-Q200 and two DHC-8-200s from Canadian lessor Avmax Aircraft Leasing. The lessor will acquire the aircraft together with one DHC-8-300 and fifteen DHC-8-Q300s from Qantas Group.

All 19 turboprops were operated by Eastern Australia Airlines under the QantasLink banner.

Avmax says the first DHC-8-200 sale had successfully closed. VH-TQG (msn 430) was reregistered to Skytrans on April 5, 2025. However, the Q300 transaction is still at the letter of intent stage. The lessor hopes to move forward with the transaction shortly.

In June 2024, Qantas said it would discontinue operating these aircraft, replacing them with DHC-8-Q400s.

Skytrans recently inked an agreement with Qantas and the New South Wales state government to take over the Sydney-Lord Howe Island route, which Qantas serviced with the smaller Dash 8 aircraft. The takeover is occurring incrementally over 2025.

“We anticipate delivery of the last aircraft by the end of 2025 and are currently in discussions with multiple operators for sale or lease opportunities," said Avmax CEO Steve Hankirk.

Australia's Skytrans to dry-lease Q200s sold by Qantas

Skytrans (QN, Cairns) will dry-lease one DHC-8-Q200 and two DHC-8-200s from Canadian lessor Avmax Aircraft Leasing. The lessor will acquire the aircraft together...

www.ch-aviation.com

 

[jpp42]

Qantas still says "operated by Eastern Australian Airlines" for all flights I checked into Nov/Dec this year - when is this transition now expected to take place? Will this result in a change of flight number/reticketing for existing ticketholders?

 

[markis10]

Qantas still says "operated by Eastern Australian Airlines" for all flights I checked into Nov/Dec this year - when is this transition now expected to take place? Will this result in a change of flight number/reticketing for existing ticketholders?

First post of the thread gives you the plan - 2026 is the changeover.

 

[jpp42]

First post of the thread gives you the plan - 2026 is the changeover.

Oops, I read that as March 2025 and thought it was delayed, sorry folks.

 

[henrus]

I flew back from Lord Howe yesterday. Ground and onboard experience is Qantas but the aircraft is in an all white livery and the crew are Skytrans.

I had a chat to the crew both ways and it seems they’ve relocated some of their Cairns staff to Sydney whilst also hiring some local Sydney staff who’ve worked at other carriers.