Qantas Airways Re-Starts Mainline Services to Mackay Airport with TWO B737-800s - VH-VZZ & VH-XZL Both Visiting!

Another piece of history on Monday 22 June but at Mackay Airport with the 'resumption' of mainline services by Qantas Airways after around a 16 year absence.

Early on Monday, Boeing B737-800 VH-VZZ was spotted above as it approached Mackay Airport after flying up from Brisbane as QFA985.

VH-VZZ was due to depart back to Brisbane soon after but encountered a technical problem and remained until the early afternoon when it eventually departed Mackay Airport as QFA986 for Brisbane.

Fellow Qantas Boeing B737-800 VH-XZL also arrived into Mackay Airport, diverting in from Cairns as QFA711, and reportedly bringing an engineer to assist the other broken down aircraft.  After a quick turnaround, VH-XZL continued to Brisbane, again as QFA711.

Of interest, Qantas announced recently that it will operate into Mackay Airport each weekday with a mix of morning and afternoon arrivals.

Qantas branded aircraft haven't been seen on Regular Passenger Transport (RPT) flights at Mackay Airport for around 16 years with QantasLink Dash-8s and Boeing B717-200 aircraft operating flights on behalf of Qantas.  It is great to see actually Qantas aircraft in the Sugar City once again!

Sincere thanks to the local plane spotters for taking the time to capture and send through these great photos!

Photos taken by 'AC'  ©