Former Jetstar Airways Airbus A320s VH-VQS & VH-VQU Join QantasLink / Network Aviation in Western Australia

It’s been interesting to note that in recent months, a pair of Jetstar Airways Airbus A320 aircraft have left the fleet and been 'transferred' to operate in Western Australia with fellow Qantas subsidiary Network Aviation. The A320s look to be primarily be used on Network Aviation’s Fly-in Fly-out (FIFO) charter flight routes.

The first A320 to be withdrawn from Jetstar service was VH-VQS (MSN 2515) which was originally delivered to Jetstar in 2005.

VH-VQS operated its last flight on Wednesday 31 January. It was then ferried to Singapore (Seletar) the next day for re-fit and painting into the new Qantas / QantasLink 'silver roo' colour scheme.  It became the first Airbus A320 to acquire the new Qantas 'Silver Roo' livery and QantasLink titles.  VH-VQS was also named 'Kangaroo Paw'.

VH-VQS then returned to Australia at Perth Airport on Saturday 24 February - as pictured below.

VH-VQS looked to enter service with QantasLink / Network Aviation on Thursday 22 March when it operated as QFA6686 from Perth to Newman.

The other A320 to be withdrawn was VH-VQU (MSN 2455) which was also originally delivered to Jetstar in 2005.

It operated its final service for Jetstar on Saturday 17 March and then headed to Singapore for re-fit and re-painting the next day.  It became the second Airbus A320 to acquire the new Qantas ‘Silver Roo’ livery and QantasLink titles.  VH-VQU was also named 'River Red Gum'.

VH-VQU arrived into Perth on Friday 13 April and subsequently entered service with QantasLink / Network Aviation on Thursday 26 April when it operated as as QF2642 from Perth to Karratha.  It is pictured above arriving into Perth on Sunday 29 April.

Network Aviation will operate the Airbus A320 in a 180-seat all-economy configuration on intra-Western Australia charter services.  They complement the airline's fleet of 17 Fokker F-100 jets.

Network Aviation (Network) is a West Australian based company that has been providing air charter services since 1998.  Over the last 20 years Network Aviation has grown significantly, and in 2011 became a wholly owned subsidiary of the Qantas Group. 

Network operates the Airbus A320-200 and has largest fleet of Fokker 100’s at Perth Airport operating over 300 weekly flights to destinations throughout WA and beyond.  Network caters for the resources industry Fly-in, Fly-out (FIFO), regular airline services on behalf of Qantas, corporate charter and routine or emergency freight.

Website:  https://www.networkaviation.com.au/

Sincere thanks to AviationWA team members David Eyre, Keith Anderson and Clyde Lannan for their generous assistance in compiling this post!

Photos taken by Keith Anderson and Clyde Lannan  ©