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QantasLink has marked the end of its turboprop fleet renewal with the inaugural flight of its final new Dash 8 Q400.
VH-84H “Rockhampton” touched down in its namesake city as QF2362 from Brisbane at 9:45am on Thursday. It is the 12th mid-life Q400 to arrive in Australia as part of the overhaul of QantasLink’s turboprop fleet, which has seen the Flying Kangaroo exit Q200 and Q300 operations.
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“It’s special to once again have an aircraft carry the name Rockhampton. Bringing this aircraft to its namesake on its first QantasLink flight is a fitting way to mark the completion of our turboprop fleet renewal,” said QantasLink CEO Mark Dal Pra.
“We’re getting great feedback from customers on the larger Q400s, with more seats, faster travel times and a more comfortable experience on board, all complemented by our dedicated crew.
“Regional Australia is at the heart of QantasLink. Completing this fleet renewal not only makes us the largest operator of these aircraft globally but also gives us greater flexibility to support regional flying and keep communities connected across the country.”
VH-84H is the second QantasLink aircraft to carry the “Rockhampton” name after VH-SBT, a Q300 that was retired last year.
“There’s something special about seeing an aircraft named Rockhampton touch down in its home city,” said Rockhampton Mayor Tony Williams.
“This plane reflects a commitment to regional communities, and the important role Rockhampton plays as a gateway to Central Queensland.”
With the renewal complete, QantasLink now operates 43 Q400s across its regional network, giving it the world’s largest Q400 fleet.
“The larger Q400s have nearly 50 per cent more seats than the smaller turboprops they replace and offer customers a more comfortable journey. They are also more than 30 per cent faster than the Q200 and Q300 aircraft, saving customers time when travelling to and from regional destinations,” Qantas said.
“The expanded Q400 fleet provides greater capacity and operational flexibility across the network, supporting QantasLink’s commitment to keeping regional communities connected.
“The Q300 fleet served QantasLink for 25 years, with aircraft named after Australian towns and locations. As part of the fleet renewal, those names have been transferred to the Q400 fleet, continuing to recognise regional communities across Australia.”
According to QantasLink, the carrier currently operates up to 28 return Q400 services each week connecting Rockhampton with Brisbane and Mackay.
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