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

A 'new' Qantas Airways aircraft has made its first visit to Hamilton Island Airport on Tuesday 22 January with Boeing B737-800 VH-VZJ noted operating into Hamilton Island Airport on the scheduled QFA866/867 service from and back to Sydney.

VH-VZJ in 'Silver Roo' colours approaching Brisbane late last year  (File photo)

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

Soon after its arrival into Melbourne in February 2011, ZK-ZQE was noted wearing the name 'William Pickering'.  It then ferried from Melbourne to Auckland and the next day it entered service and operated its first Qantas Jetconnect revenue service from Auckland to Melbourne (Tullamarine) as QFA132 on Monday 21 February 2011.

ZK-ZQE approaching Brisbane Airport in 2014  (File photo)

ZK-ZQE operated its final service for Qantas Jetconnect on Thursday 10 May last year 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-VZJ, with Qantas as the registered operator.

VH-VZJ approaching Adelaide Airport in August 2018  (File photo)

VH-VZJ now wears the name 'Bowral'.

VH-VZJ entered service with Qantas on Wednesday 30 May.

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

Photos taken by Brandon Giacomin and Tony Haynes  ©