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Qantas's fourth Boeing 787-9 to feature indigenous livery

written by Gerard Frawley | January 18, 2018

A file image of Qantas Boeing 747-300 VH-EBU Nalanji Dreaming. (Australian Aviation)
A file image of Qantas Boeing 747-300 VH-EBU Nalanji Dreaming. (Australian Aviation)

Qantas’s says its fourth Boeing 787-9 will celebrate Australia’s indigenous peoples with a yet-to-be-revealed special livery.
The aircraft, registration VH-ZND, is due to arrive from the Boeing final assembly line in Everett, Washington State, in early March 2018 and be welcomed into the fleet at a special arrival event in Alice Springs.
Further, it will be second aircraft in the current Qantas fleet to feature Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture.
“The unique livery reflects the long, rich history of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and is in keeping with the airline’s commitment to championing reconciliation and promoting the best of Australia to the world,” Qantas said on Thursday.
The four 787-9s will operate a Los Angeles-Melbourne-Perth-London Heathrow routing, allowing Qantas to offer regular scheduled passenger nonstop flights between Australia and Europe for the first time. The two 787-9s already delivered have enabled the start of Melbourne-Los Angeles flights with the next generation Boeing widebody.
Qantas has had five aircraft painted with an Indigenous livery – two Boeing 747-400s, one Boeing 747-300 and two 737s – designed in partnership with the Balarinji design studio.
The only one currently in service is Boeing 737-800 VH-XZJ, Mendoowoorrji, which Qantas said was was inspired by Paddy Bedford’s painting ‘Medicine Pocket’ and “captures the essence of Mendoowoorrji, Bedford’s mother’s country in the East Kimberley region of Western Australia”.
Previously, Wunala Dreaming featured on two Boeing 747-400s (VH-OJB from 1994-2003 and VH-OEJ from 2003–2011). The artwork inspired by the Yanyuwa people from the Gulf of Carpentaria and a celebration of the “reproduction of all living things in the continuing harmony of nature’s seasons”.
Meanwhile, Nalanji Dreaming was on 747-300 VH-EBU from 1995 until the aircraft was retired in 2005 and Yananyi Dreaming was on 737-800 VH-VXB in 2002.
Here is a look at some of the previous Qantas aircraft with indigenous liveries.
An ARFF monitor cross for Qantas Boeing 737-800 VH-XZJ Mendoowoorrji. (Seth Jaworski)
An ARFF monitor cross for Qantas Boeing 737-800 VH-XZJ Mendoowoorrji. (Seth Jaworski)

A file image of Qantas Boeing 747-400ER VH-OEJ Wunala Dreaming. (Seth Jaworski)
A file image of Qantas Boeing 747-400ER VH-OEJ Wunala Dreaming. (Seth Jaworski)

Qantas Boeing 747-300 VH-EBU Nalanji Dreaming. (Australian Aviation)
Qantas Boeing 747-300 VH-EBU Nalanji Dreaming. (Australian Aviation)

Qantas Boeing 737-800 VH-VXB Yananyi Dreaming takes off from Perth Airport. (Qantas)
Qantas Boeing 737-800 VH-VXB Yananyi Dreaming takes off from Perth Airport. (Qantas)

 

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Comments (12)

  • Lechuga

    says:

    I hoped for this, I think it would look beautiful, I guess that means it’ll be named “Dreamtime”

  • Craigy

    says:

    Agree Lechuga, Dreamtime sounds like an appropriate name.
    Story needs editing. Qantas will be using the four on a LAX/SFO-MEL-PTH-LHR routing later in 2018

  • Teddy

    says:

    @AA
    Your article discusses Yananyi Dreaming as a B733 but the picture and caption shows a B738? Has this B738 been prematurely retired or returned to a lessor?

    • australianaviation.com.au

      says:

      Hi @Teddy,
      Yananyi Dreaming was indeed featured on a Boeing 737-800. The story has been updated. Apologies for the error.

  • Ray

    says:

    Nice to see another special livery, For information, the Wunala Dreaming livery has been worn by two B747s VH-OEJ and originally by OJB (a RR powered aircraft)

  • Philip

    says:

    it says 2x 747-400 (OJB &OEJ) and 1x 737-300, I am guessing this was meant to say 747-300 (EBU)??

    • australianaviation.com.au

      says:

      Hi @Philip. Yes it should. Apologies for the error. The story has been updated.

  • Marc

    says:

    What about a ‘tell him he’s dreamin’ version?

  • Marcus

    says:

    I remember being in Bangkok’s Don Maung airport back in the 90s when Wunala Dreaming landed and everyone in sight suddenly turned to look at the runway, I could hear people say “Qantas’. It felt so awesome!!

  • Ben

    says:

    @ Teddy, VXB is still with the company as of last year, but now wears the updated standard livery.

  • Teddy

    says:

    @ Ben
    Shame to have a beautiful paint job painted over – particularly just to have it return to standard livery.

  • John Reid

    says:

    Marcus – I had a similar “Wow! Qantas!” moment in Rome, which was for a time served by Nalanji Dreaming (I think after the SPs Hekyll and Jekyll were retired). aah, back in the day when our national carrier served several European ports….

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