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

A 'new' Qantas Airways aircraft has made its first visit to Hamilton Island Airport on Friday 14 December, less than a month after recently being re-registered and re-entering service with the airline.  Qantas Boeing B737-800 VH-VZQ was noted operating into Hamilton Island Airport on the scheduled QFA870/871 service from and back to Melbourne (Tullamarine).

VH-VZQ arriving at Adelaide Airport a day after entering service  (File photo)

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

Soon after its arrival into Melbourne in August 2011, ZK-ZQH was noted wearing the name 'Charles Upham'.  Soon after, it entered service and operated its first Qantas Jetconnect revenue service from Melbourne (Tullamarine) to Auckland as QFA25 on Wednesday 24 August 2011.

ZK-ZQH at Sydney Airport in 2014  (File photo)

ZK-ZQH operated its final service for Qantas Jetconnect on Friday 9 November 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-VZQ, with Qantas as the registered operator.

VH-VZQ now wears the name 'Belconnen'.

VH-VZQ entered service with Qantas on Wednesday 28 November.

All photos taken by Tony Haynes  ©