A special post from CQ Plane Spotting as Qantas Airways operated its last 'classic' Boeing B737 passenger service on
Sunday 23 February, with B737-400 aircraft VH-TJS and VH-TJX operating their final flights into Melbourne before retirement.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1jprMwXqDjL4ei4TGrtEKYosuP4WCS9cfnU4xZvyWD2bgUV8jl90LehxKIR1Dp9vh6MogJHhT2gJxYIx5zbwSshK-i3jLRX8skHAGRuKSYB2HTt-vgXhWTWANjII-Sk951a-NsCnj8VE/s1600/2006-10-02+BNE+(30).JPG) |
VH-TJX departs Brisbane Airport in 2006 |
VH-TJX 'Stawell' operated as QF815 from Canberra to Melbourne, while VH-TJS 'Jabiru' operated as QF819 from Canberra to Melbourne, marking the final flight for the 'classic' B737s of Qantas Airways / Australian Airlines.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMFvJbsvrWi9xe1M3huYwBya5j5l_OOPgIhRHsAYA-qVyi0N4JREq0MTjHd8HU_zilt7UWL2FYWQIvVgAOzBe83X8jhiMbalG1i8ReWocy8Pb1_uZuLa2MPf0bLCEtTqgXlJPTo2slruw/s1600/2006-10-19+BNE+(1).JPG) |
VH-TJS at Brisbane Airport in 2006 |
The CFM56-powered B737 classic was introduced into Australia with Australian Airlines, which took delivery of the smaller B737-300 - VH-TAG - in August 1986. Later that month Ansett too took delivery of its first B737-300 - VH-CZA. The first Australian Airlines B737-400 - VH-TJE - was delivered in December 1988.
Both the B737-300 and B737-400 became a mainstay of the Qantas domestic fleet following the Qantas-Australian Airlines merger in 1992-93. VH-TJS was in fact the last 737-400 to be delivered in Australian Airlines colours. During the 1990s and early 2000s, Qantas B737-300s and B737-400s were a daily sight in Central Queensland, operating daily flights into Rockhampton, Mackay, Proserpine and Hamilton Island Airports.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJm4EC9HfeuxkvWUfI9vZC4VTeQGyJdI37yfrkjTX1Yzz9f3Mer0pJ88vdhFoVApkvQXGis5gOGrl-n1OJzT-7LaCLhDK99NfkQQtP5PsD-hROduHakM_zbv24-U4hD41oS-lsFS6nrY4/s1600/2004-10-00+ROK+REGO+TEXT+&+REVISED+TITLES.jpg) |
VH-TJQ departs Rockhampton Airport in 2004 |
While Qantas now operates more than 60 'Next Generation' B737-800s, the 'classic' B737 continues to ply its trade in Australia for Qantas as a freighter, with four B737-300Fs remaining in service with Qantas Freight. In addition, Nauru’s Our Airline has three B737-300s registered in Australia. There are also B737-300 and B737-400 passenger and freight aircraft which also common sights at Australian airports, and occasionally Central Queensland Airports.
As shown below, the retired Qantas B737-400s have ended up stored at Victorville in the United States of America (USA).
Certainly a sad day.
Additional information sourced from
Australian Aviation.