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Network Aviation becomes QantasLink

written by Chris Frame | July 31, 2015

The first Network Aviation Fokker 100 in QantasLink colours VH-NHY. (Qantas)
The first Network Aviation Fokker 100 in QantasLink colours, VH-NHY. (Qantas)

The first Network Aviation Fokker 100 to be repainted in QantasLink colours has been revealed as part of a fleet-wide rebranding of the Qantas Group’s Perth-based subsidiary.

Qantas on Friday confirmed Network’s entire fleet of 14 Fokker 100s would be repainted in QantasLink colours in the coming months, with all Network-services to be operated under the QantasLink brand.

It forms part of an ongoing consolidation of the Qantas offering across Western Australia, as a changing marketplace sees a reduction in FIFO flights and the shifting of capacity to regular public transport (RPT) services.

The move was foreshadowed in late 2014, Qantas announced plans to use Fokker 100 aircraft from its Network Aviation subsidiary to operate scheduled flights in Western Australia under the QantasLink brand.

And in March 2015, QantasLink Dash 8 Q400 flights were replaced by Network Aviation Fokker 100s on a number of key routes, including Geraldton and Exmouth.

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The 100-seat aircraft will retain an all-economy interior, with a refurbishment of the current décor to bring the aircraft inline with the standard Qantaslink on-board experience. Passengers will also notice cabin crew wearing standard Qantas uniform.

Network Aviation will continue to operate under its own air operator’s certificate (AOC). The move will see WA QantasLink flights operated by both Network Aviation and Cobham, which will continue to manage and operate the Boeing 717 fleet.

QantasLink chief executive officer John Gissing said the rebranding of the Fokker 100 aircraft was an important step for Network Aviation as a member of the broader Qantas Group.

“Network Aviation has been part of the Qantas Group since 2011, and repainting the F100 fleet with our QantasLink branding is the logical next step for the brand,” Gissing said in a statement on Friday.

The first repainted Fokker 100, VH-NHY, emerged from the Flying Colours Aviation paint shop in Townsville on Thursday afternoon. The aircraft then flew Townsville-Alice Springs-Perth that evening, according to flight tracking website FlightAware.

Network’s fleet has grown from eight aircraft to 14 since Qantas purchased the previously charter-only operator in 2011.

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Comments (16)

  • Qing Gü

    says:

    The fokker 100 looks nice in qantas colours

  • Mech

    says:

    Woah the F100 looks amazing in Qantas livery!

  • adammudhen

    says:

    “Oh look, a 717, no wait, it’s some other little Fokker that just looks like one”

  • Jack

    says:

    Wow it’s going to be a a lot more difficult to distinguish the F100 to the Boeing 717!

  • Bob

    says:

    They are still heaps of crap inside though.

  • peter

    says:

    These will be appearing on PER-BME in coming weeks. Just received email flight change from Qantas.Not sure this good for tourism in WA less seats than 717, and higher prices. Seems Virgin too gouging intrastate WA with old F100 A320 and 737-700 on RPT and charging top dollar and very downgraded in flight service.

  • LB

    says:

    Shiny white looks great, but isn’t the best for disguising “ramp rash” under the nose!

  • Greg

    says:

    It’s the battle of the updated 1960’s twinjets. DC-9(B717) vs F-28 (F100).
    Have times changed that much.

  • Aden O'keefe-Buckton

    says:

    I’m going to miss Network Aviation but I like the look of the QANTAS link Fokker 100 better than the Boeing 717

  • Aden O'keefe-Buckton

    says:

    I just noticed about half an hour ago that there is no QF21 (SYD-NRT tonight. It is now QF25 from SYD-HND!

  • Mike Parry

    says:

    I agree , it’s looks great in QF colours , we all knew it was only a matter of time , but didnt they just launch a new uniform in May ?

  • Nick

    says:

    Another iconic West Aussie bites the dust…. what next, Qantas Island?

  • Craigy

    says:

    They will operate under the Qantaslink brand but operate as Network Aviation just as the B717s are operated by Cobham. So the new uniform is still appropriate

  • Craigy

    says:

    @Nick. Iconic west Aussie? Network started operations in 1998 and at the time of acquisition by Qantas had a few E120s and F100s. Now it has 14 F100s under Qantas ownership and a future. I guess in WA the time to achieve iconic status is a lot less compared to the rest of the country

  • David Fix

    says:

    Will it ever fly them to Sydney?.

  • sean

    says:

    mmm. iconic westerns australian maybe! They started off a Cessna 310R, Cessna 441 and beechcraft 200. They didn’t start emb-120 or fokkers F-100. I have flew on both Cobham and Network over the past year and have found that Cobham are the most professional services out of both of them. If i was the Qantas Regional manager in WA. I would look at replacing the Network fokkers once they make a profit. It good to see Qantas final taken control slowly.

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