Inside the Archive #11 | The Boeing 717

In December 2023, Qantas welcomed its first Airbus A220. VH-X4A’s arrival marked the start of the Flying Kangaroo’s landmark fleet renewal program that will see its ageing Boeing 737s and 717s replaced by next-generation, fuel-efficient Airbus aircraft. In total, the national carrier has committed to at least 29 A220s and 20 larger A321XLRs – though it has the option to buy hundreds more. The A220, in particular, is a huge upgrade over its predecessor because it can fly non-stop between any two points in the country, opening up domestic and international short-haul routes previously impossible on a smaller aircraft.

Yet that shouldn’t detract from the impact of the 717, which helped Qantas establish a vice-like grip over the domestic market. At the end of last year, the aircraft type had completed more than 29,000 flights and carried more than 1.6 million customers across both Jetstar and QantasLink. The very first registered – VH-IMP, ‘Blue Mountains’, shot above by Paul Sadler – was a standout star.