Jake Nelson

VH-X4A arrived in the northern NSW leisure destination at 6:38pm on Sunday as flight QF1298. The A220s are enabling Qantas to resume five weekly flights between Melbourne and Coffs Harbour, up from a temporary reduction to two weekly flights in June.

The seasonal service is the second American Airlines route currently operating into Australia alongside Sydney to Los Angeles, and will start at five flights per week before ramping up to daily services from December to the end of March.

Toll, owned by Japan Post, already operates helicopter air ambulance services for NSW and the ACT, with the confirmation of the previously-rumoured acquisition adding NSW and Victoria’s fixed-wing services to its stable.

Skytrans will fly Dash 8 Q200s from Sydney to Lord Howe starting in February 2026 as QantasLink phases out its own Q200s, the only aircraft in the Qantas fleet capable of landing on the island’s short runway.

Flight QF1511 from Sydney touched down in Canberra at 6:08pm on Saturday aboard the 20-year-old aircraft VH-YQS. QantasLink was one of the world’s last three commercial operators of the 717, which it has now phased out in favour of its new Airbus A220-300 fleet.

The revelation has presented a dilemma for Rex’s administrator as it tries to save the airline on the grounds that its flights are “essential” regional services. It also suggests airlines and businesses could be waiting for Rex to be formally wound up before making a move.