Air TransportQantasLink eyes 14 mid-life E190 jets to replace Fokker 100s
QantasLink has chosen the Embraer E190 as its preferred aircraft to replace its aging fleet of Fokker 100 jets.
According to the subsidiary of Australia’s largest carrier, 14 mid-life aircraft will be sought on the market for acquisition and the goal is to receive the first of them by the end of 2026.
The Qantas group has entrusted the E-Jets with the task of operating regional flights for some years, through an agreement with Alliance Airlines.
QantasLink, however, chose the Airbus A220 for its own fleet, where it replaced the Boeing 717.
The 14 E190s will be transferred to another subsidiary, Network Aviation, based in Perth, Western Australia. It will also receive four Airbus A320s that were previously flown by JetStar and allow the same number of older F100s to be retired.
“This fleet renewal represents a significant investment in the future of our regional aviation capabilities, and our commitment to serving the critical resources sector and regional communities in Western Australia,” said Rachel Yangoyan, CEO of QantasLink.
The E190 is a proven platform that operates across Australia today and will deliver improved operational efficiency and reliability, while also creating opportunities for our people in the West.”
With 100 seats, Network Aviation’s 14 Fokker 100s have an average of 32 years in service, but one of them, registration VH-NHO, is already approaching 35 years in service, having debuted in 1990 with USAir (now part of American Airlines).
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