QantasLink

QantasLink is a full-service, regional brand of Australian flag carrier Qantas and is an affiliate member of the Oneworld airline alliance. As of 2024, QantasLink provides over 2,000 flights each week to 61 metropolitan and regional destinations across Australia, as well as short-haul international services to New Zealand, Singapore, the Solomon Islands and East Timor.

History
QantasLink's origins as a single brand for Qantas' regional airline subsidiaries go back to October 1993, when Qantas acquired Australian Airlink Pty Ltd and its fleet from parent company National Jet Systems, which up to that point had been operating flights on major regional routes for Australian Airlines. The Australian Airlink name remained and the fleet was repainted in Qantas livery, and National Jet Systems was subsequently contracted by Qantas to operate Australian Airlink aircraft.

Prior to 2002, Qantas' various subsidiaries operated under their own names, eventually adopting the Australian Airlines, and later, Qantas liveries. In 2002 a common brand was created, encompassing AirLink (a franchise, operated by National Jet Systems), Sunstate Airlines, Eastern Australia Airlines, and Southern Australia Airlines; Southern Australia has since ceased operations.

For a short while, QantasLink took over some of Qantas' non-trunk routes, such as Sydney – Sunshine Coast, using Boeing 717s that were inherited after Qantas acquired Impulse Airlines. QantasLink ceased operating some of these routes after Qantas formed low-cost subsidiary Jetstar Airways, transferring the Boeing 717 aircraft and routes to the new airline. In 2005/06, eight of the 717s were returned to QantasLink following Jetstar's acquisition of Airbus A320 aircraft, with the 717s to be operated in Western Australia, Northern Territory and far north Queensland by National Jet Systems.

On 31 July 2015, Network Aviation was rebranded to QantasLink. This was announced by Qantas with the unveiling of a Fokker 100 in QantasLink colours.

In January 2018, Network Aviation confirmed it would lease two Airbus A320s from Jetstar Airways for flights to and from Perth as part of the QantasLink brand. Network Aviation has steadily increased its use of ex-Jetstar Airbus A320s with a current fleet of 15.

On 20 May 2020, Qantas announced the purchase of Cobham Australia's National Jet Systems subsidiary which had operated the Boeing 717-200 on behalf of QantasLink for 15 years, bringing both employees and the fleet in-house.

On 4 February 2021, Qantas announced an initial 3 year deal with Alliance Airlines that they will be leasing 3 Embraer E190 with the option for up to 14 to operate on routes like Adelaide–Alice Springs, Darwin–Alice Springs, and Darwin–Adelaide. Qantas has steadily expanded upon its lease agreement and use of the aircraft, with the company currently agreed to operate 26 aircraft by April 2024, with 4 options remaining.

Current fleet
QantasLink flights, except those flown by the Embraer 190s, are operated by the individual airlines that make up the group – Eastern Australia Airlines, National Jet Systems, Network Aviation and Sunstate Airlines. All flights use QF IATA codes. Turboprop aircraft operate under the ICAO callsign QLK ("Q-LINK"). Until 5 January 2009, Eastern and Sunstate operated under their own callsigns. Network Aviation aircraft operate under their own callsign NWK ("NETLINK"). Boeing 717s operate under the callsign QJE ("Q-JET").

, QantasLink operates the following aircraft:

Former fleet
QantasLink previously operated the following types:
 * BAe 146-100
 * BAe 146-200
 * BAe 146-300
 * De Havilland Canada Dash 8-100
 * Short 360

Fleet development
QantasLink increased capacity by replacing many of its smaller Dash 8-100 and Q200 aircraft with Q400s. QantasLink pursued this deal despite landing gear problems with Q400 aircraft by some airlines. This problem also saw a grounding of the Q400s by QantasLink, though all were deemed safe and returned to service.

As part of its further expansion, QantasLink entered the South Australian market in December 2005, with flights from Adelaide to Port Lincoln and Kangaroo Island. Interstate flights were also introduced between Kangaroo Island and Melbourne. Due to low passenger loads, these services ceased operation at the end of June 2006, however QantasLink announced a resumption of Melbourne to Kangaroo Island from December 2017 alongside opening up Adelaide to Kangaroo Island flights. On 8 December 2009, QantasLink announced that it would re-enter the Adelaide to Port Lincoln market from February 2010, using Q400 aircraft flying 23 return services a week.

Since 2005, QantasLink 717 services in Western Australia, Queensland, New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory, Northern Territory and Tasmania have been contracted to National Jet Systems, using the QantasLink brand. The hubs for QantasLink under the contract are in Perth, Cairns, Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra, and Hobart.

Qantas replaced its daily Melbourne-Launceston mainline service with a three times daily QantasLink Dash 8 service from 1 August 2006. This has now been increased to a four times daily service, supplemented in peak service periods by QantasLink 717 services.

In May 2008, QantasLink announced that it would order nine 717s. Tamworth would be the first New South Wales regional airport to be serviced by the Q400, commencing in mid-August 2008.

On 29 March 2010, QantasLink and the Qantas Group announced that it would start the first international QantasLink route, from Cairns to Port Moresby, utilising Q400 aircraft already based in Cairns. The service commenced in July 2010. A QantasLink spokesperson stated that "the airline would not turn into a fully fledged international airline, but could operate international routes in the future".

On 18 December 2014, QantasLink announced that it would add Whyalla, South Australia, to its network, with double daily flights to commence on 13 April 2015. The route is serviced by the 50-seat Q300. In July 2015, Network Aviation was absorbed into the Qantas Link brand. In November 2014, QantasLink became the first airline to fly to the newly opened Toowoomba Wellcamp Airport, establishing direct Q400 services to Sydney. In February 2016 as a result of strong demand, QantasLink increased weekly services by two flights to fifteen weekly returns.

In July 2016, Alliance Airlines delivered the first of three additional Fokker 100s, with two more delivered by the end of the year.

In July 2018, Network aviation acquired two Airbus A320s from Jetstar (Another Qantas Group Subsidiary) for use within Western Australia.

In May 2020, Qantas bought National Jet Systems and brought the Boeing 717 crew and fleet in-house. In August 2020, National Jet systems closed the Perth and Cairns bases of their operation, with Western Australian operations to be taken over by Network Aviation.

In December 2021, Qantas announced an initial order for 20 Airbus A220-300 with additional purchase options to replace its Boeing 717. On the 29th of June, Qantas announced it was exercising 9 purchase right options for the A220-300 aircraft, taking the total number of A220-300s on firm order to 29, which will begin arriving from late 2023 to 2027.

In February 2023, Qantas announced an order for 5 mid-life Airbus A319s aircraft to increase short term capacity and support the growth of the resource sector in Western Australia for delivery from 2024

On 25 June 2024, Qantas announced an order for 14 mid-life Dash 8-400 (Q400) aircraft to begin phasing out the Q200 and Q300 aircraft. The first expected to arrive into the Qantaslink fleet from the end of 2024, bringing the Q400 fleet to 45, with a single aircraft type providing increased reliability and reducing complexity and cost for the group. Vanessa Hudson, Qantas Group CEO, added how the new mid-life aircraft will "provide certainty to the regions over the next decade while we work with aircraft manufacturers and other suppliers on electric or battery powered aircraft that are the right size and range for our network.”

Destinations

 * QantasLink destinations served by Alliance Airlines:


 * Australia
 * Australian Capital Territory
 * Canberra – Canberra Airport
 * New South Wales
 * Albury – Albury Airport
 * Newcastle – Newcastle Airport
 * Sydney – Sydney Airport
 * Northern Territory
 * Alice Springs – Alice Springs Airport
 * Darwin – Darwin International Airport Hub
 * Yulara – Ayres Rock Airport
 * Queensland
 * Brisbane – Brisbane Airport Hub
 * Cairns – Cairns Airport
 * Emerald – Emerald Airport
 * Gladstone – Gladstone Airport
 * Hamilton Island – Hamilton Island Airport
 * Mackay – Mackay Airport
 * Mount Isa – Mount Isa Airport
 * Proserpine – Whitsunday Coast Airport
 * Rockhampton – Rockhampton Airport
 * Townsville – Townsville Airport
 * South Australia
 * Adelaide – Adelaide Airport Hub
 * Tasmania
 * Hobart – Hobart Airport
 * Victoria
 * Melbourne – Melbourne Airport
 * East Timor
 * Dili – Presidente Nicolau Lobato International Airport
 * New Zealand
 * Wellington – Wellington Airport (ends 26 October 2024)
 * Singapore
 * Singapore – Changi Airport (begins 9 December 2024)
 * Solomon Islands
 * Honiara – Honiara International Airport


 * QantasLink destinations served by Eastern Australia Airlines:


 * Australian Capital Territory
 * Canberra – Canberra Airport
 * New South Wales
 * Albury – Albury Airport
 * Broken Hill – Broken Hill Airport
 * Lord Howe Island – Lord Howe Island Airport
 * Merimbula – Merimbula Airport
 * Moree – Moree Airport
 * Orange – Orange Airport
 * Sydney – Sydney Airport Hub
 * Wagga Wagga – Wagga Wagga Airport
 * South Australia
 * Adelaide – Adelaide Airport Hub
 * Kingscote – Kingscote Airport
 * Mount Gambier – Mount Gambier Airport
 * Port Lincoln – Port Lincoln Airport
 * Whyalla – Whyalla Airport
 * Tasmania
 * Burnie – Burnie Airport
 * Devonport – Devonport Airport
 * Launceston – Launceston Airport
 * Victoria
 * Bendigo – Bendigo Airport
 * Melbourne – Melbourne Airport Hub
 * Mildura – Mildura Airport


 * QantasLink destinations served by Sunstate Airlines:


 * Australian Capital Territory
 * Canberra – Canberra Airport
 * New South Wales
 * Albury – Albury Airport
 * Armidale – Armidale Airport
 * Ballina – Ballina Byron Gateway Airport
 * Coffs Harbour – Coffs Harbour Airport
 * Cooma – Cooma–Snowy Mountains Airport (seasonal)
 * Dubbo – Dubbo City Airport
 * Griffith – Griffith Airport
 * Newcastle – Newcastle Airport
 * Orange – Orange Airport
 * Port Macquarie – Port Macquarie Airport
 * Sydney – Sydney Airport Hub
 * Tamworth – Tamworth Airport
 * Queensland
 * Barcaldine – Barcaldine Airport
 * Blackall – Blackall Airport
 * Brisbane – Brisbane Airport Hub
 * Bundaberg – Bundaberg Airport
 * Cairns – Cairns Airport Hub
 * Cloncurry – Cloncurry Airport
 * Emerald – Emerald Airport
 * Gladstone – Gladstone Airport
 * Hervey Bay – Hervey Bay Airport
 * Horn Island – Horn Island Airport
 * Longreach – Longreach Airport
 * Mackay – Mackay Airport
 * Miles – Miles Airport
 * Moranbah – Moranbah Airport
 * Mount Isa – Mount Isa Airport
 * Rockhampton – Rockhampton Airport
 * Toowoomba – Toowoomba Wellcamp Airport
 * Townsville – Townsville Airport
 * Weipa – Weipa Airport
 * Victoria
 * Mildura – Mildura Airport


 * QantasLink destinations served by National Jet Systems


 * Australian Capital Territory
 * Canberra – Canberra Airport Hub
 * New South Wales
 * Coffs Harbour – Coffs Harbour Airport
 * Sydney – Sydney Airport Hub
 * Queensland
 * Brisbane – Brisbane Airport Hub
 * Victoria
 * Melbourne – Melbourne Airport Hub
 * Tasmania
 * Hobart – Hobart Airport Hub
 * Launceston – Launceston Airport


 * QantasLink destinations served by Network Aviation:


 * Northern Territory
 * Darwin – Darwin International Airport
 * Western Australia
 * Broome – Broome International Airport
 * Exmouth – Learmonth Airport
 * Geraldton – Geraldton Airport
 * Kalgoorlie – Kalgoorlie-Boulder Airport
 * Karratha – Karratha Airport
 * Newman – Newman Airport
 * Onslow – Onslow Airport
 * Paraburdoo – Paraburdoo Airport
 * Perth – Perth Airport Hub
 * Port Hedland – Port Hedland International Airport

Incidents

 * On 29 May 2003, Qantas Flight 1737, a domestic flight from Melbourne to Launceston operated by a QantasLink Boeing 717 registered VH-NXN, was subject to an attempted hijacking.