Sunday, December 9, 2018

Recently Re-registered Qantas Airways Boeing B737-800 VH-VZI (ex ZK-ZQD) Pops into Hamilton Island Airport

A 'new' Qantas Airways aircraft has made its first visit to Hamilton Island Airport over the weekend after recently being re-registered and re-entering service with the airline.

On Saturday 8 December, Qantas Boeing B737-800 VH-VZI was noted operating into Hamilton Island Airport on the scheduled QFA870/871 service from and back to Melbourne (Tullamarine).

VH-VZI in 'Silver Roo' colours at Sydney earlier this month  (File photo)

The B737-800 was originally ordered by Qantas late in 2010 and was rolled off the Boeing production line in early 2011.  The planned registration marking of VH-VZI was not taken up and instead it entered the New Zealand aircraft register as ZK-ZQD with Jetconnect Ltd in Auckland, New Zealand.

Soon after its arrival into Melbourne in February 2011, ZK-ZQD was noted wearing the name 'Sir Edmund Hilary'.  Soon after, it entered service and operated its first Qantas Jetconnect revenue service from Melbourne (Tullamarine) to Auckland as QFA25 on Tuesday 8 February 2011.

ZK-ZQD landing at Brisbane Airport in 2016  (File photo)

ZK-ZQD operated its final service for Qantas Jetconnect on Thursday 23 August when it arrived into Brisbane from Auckland as QFA120.  The aircraft was subsequently cancelled from the New Zealand aircraft register and was then placed on the Australian aircraft register as VH-VZI, with Qantas as the registered operator.

VH-VZI at Adelaide Airport in October  (File photo)

VH-VZI now wears the name 'Ballina'.

VH-VZI entered service with Qantas on Thursday 13 September.

Of interest, VH-VZI was re-painted into the new 'Silver Roo' colour scheme in Townsville during October.

Photos taken by Simon Coates and Tony Haynes  ©

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