Baltimore FW282, which had been operated by the RAAF’s 454 Squadron and crewed by officers from Australia, New Zealand and the UK, was found last year in 61 metres of water by Greek technical diving group AegeanTec. The RAAF has now publicly confirmed the plane’s identity.

Speaking to media in Hamburg, Qantas CEO Vanessa Hudson confirmed that the Airbus planes, which will have extra fuel tanks to give them the range to reach London and New York from Australia’s east coast without refuelling, will arrive “at the end of 2026”.

Defence says the project is envisioned to fund up to $160 million into the local economy and create and sustain 80 highly skilled jobs across Adelaide.

The aircraft, which will replace Virgin Australia Regional Airlines’ (VARA) ageing Fokker 100s, will be laid out in a dual-class configuration with business and economy seats, as well as its extra-legroom Economy X product. The first of its eight E190-E2s has begun construction this month.