Garuda Indonesia Boeing B777-300 PK-GIF & Royal Brunei Boeing B787-8 Dreamliner V8-DLE Back at Rockhampton Airport Again!

In the very wee small hours of Friday 8 September, both heavy jets from the previous day returned to Rockhampton Airport, completing another pair of charter flights in support of the Singapore Armed Forces Exercise Wallaby 2023 (XWB23).

Royal Brunei Airlines Boeing B787-8 Dreamliner V8-DLE was first to arrive from Singapore's Changi Airport, this time as RBA4273.

After unloading a full flight of personnel and equipment, it departed back to Singapore but as RBA4283.

UPDATE!  In the darkness very early on Saturday 9 September, V8-DLE returned to Rockhampton Airport one final time, this as RBA4274 once again from Singapore.  It then departed to Brunei as RBA4274.

While the Garuda Indonesia Boeing B777-3U3(ER) PK-GIF flew back into Rockhampton Airport on Friday morning, also from Singapore's Changi Airport, but as GIA7760.  

As shown, it was parked on Taxiway Juliette and was unloaded and services there, rather than being forced to wait for a Gate on the parking apron.

Once it too had unloaded a full flight and was serviced, including taking on several tankers full of fuel, PK-GIF departed Rockhampton Airport for Jakarta as GIA7761.

Information suggests that this is the end of the first 'wave' of charter flights with the next wave due to take place in around three weeks' time.  Word is again it will feature Royal Brunei Airlines and Garuda Indonesia operating the flights with perhaps a one-off visit by a Qantas Airways aircraft!

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Sincere thanks to the local plane spotters for taking the time to capture and send through these great photos of a couple of great visitors to Rockhampton Airport.

Photos taken by John Lee  ©