Qantas brings forward final Boeing 767 flight, waives change fees

By Chris C., October 9 2014
Qantas brings forward final Boeing 767 flight, waives change fees

UPDATE | Qantas' final Boeing 767 flight from Melbourne to Sydney on December 27 will no longer run as the 8pm QF490 service, having been brought forward to the 5pm QF452 flight.

The three-hour change will make for more of a razzle-dazzle arrival into Sydney in the summer daylight hours at 6.25pm, including a water cannon salute to honour the Boeing 767, its crew and passengers as the aircraft approaches the Qantas terminal gates for the last time.

Given that a large number of aviation enthusiasts had already booked QF490 with the specific intention of travelling on the Boeing 767's farewell flight, Qantas is thoughtfully allowing QF490 passengers to rebook onto QF452 at no charge.

In addition, a Qantas spokesperson advised Australian Business Traveller that Qantas flights booked from other cities to Melbourne to connect to the Boeing 767's last hurrah – along with onward flights from Sydney – can also be changed at no cost in conjunction with a swap to QF452 "if their agenda was to be part of Qantas' last commercial Boeing 767 flight."

Those free flight changes can be made until October 19 2014 by calling Qantas on 13 13 13.

PREVIOUS | It’s ‘final call’ for the Boeing 767 fleet as Qantas maps out a retirement plan for its nine remaining aged jets, which are being put out to pasture by the year’s end.

A Qantas spokesperson confirmed to Australian Business Traveller that QF490 from Melbourne to Sydney on December 27 2014 will be the airline’s last Boeing 767 passenger flight – a fitting send-off for an aircraft that spends most of its time zipping in between the two business capitals.

That’s up to nine months earlier than originally planned and comes as the airline attempts to stem the flowing tide of red ink though an accelerated ‘Qantas transformation program’.

Qantas’ Boeing 767s have already disappeared from international service, with Honolulu (Hawaii) – the last remaining offshore Boeing 767 destination – having switched to newer and more fuel-efficient Airbus A330s from September 14.

The 767 fleet underwent multi-million dollar refurbishments just two years ago, including new charcoal leather seats in business class and iPads for use as inflight entertainment via the wireless Q Streaming system:

Q Streaming can now also be found on selected Boeing 717 flights to Canberra and Hobart, and from next year, on Qantas’ older Boeing 737 aircraft as well.

Hitching one last ride on the Boeing 767

While the Red Roo’s final Boeing 767 flight will run from Melbourne to Sydney, residents in other cities still have one last chance to score a ride on the big bird.

Subject to last-minute aircraft swaps, the Boeing 767s will do an informal ‘Australian tour’ – covering every mainland capital city before disappearing from Australian skies.

Here’s your last chance to fly on the jet by route:

  • Sydney-Adelaide-Sydney: November 3, QF741 & QF752
  • Brisbane-Perth: November 17, QF651
  • Perth-Canberra: November 17, QF718
  • Melbourne-Canberra-Melbourne: November 30, QF822 & QF821
  • Brisbane-Adelaide-Brisbane: December 9, QF663 & QF656
  • Brisbane-Melbourne: December 9, QF635
  • Melbourne-Adelaide-Melbourne: December 17, QF683 & QF686
  • Melbourne-Brisbane: December 25, QF636
  • Brisbane-Darwin-Brisbane: December 26, QF824 & QF825
  • Sydney-Brisbane-Sydney: December 27, QF508 & QF517
  • Sydney-Melbourne-Sydney: December 27, QF447 & QF490

If you’re flying on Qantas’ Boeing 767s through December, also check out our business class review from Sydney to Brisbane.

Read: Qantas Boeing 767 business class review

Follow Australian Business Traveller on Twitter: we're @AusBT

Chris C.

Chris is a a former contributor to Executive Traveller.

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

17 Aug 2012

Total posts 2207

Looks like QF421 SYD-MEL on 29/11/14 is going to be my last ever QF 767 run (bar substitution).

Thai Airways International - Royal Orchid Plus

15 Jan 2013

Total posts 468

Sydney to Bali was my second time internationally on a Qantas 767 in 2000.I'll miss the old girl.It's hard to believe with the exception of a handful of A330 services dometically we are going back to the before wide body era existed days in some ways.

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

27 Feb 2014

Total posts 7

I flew on one of the first Qantas 767 flights from Wellington to Sydney in 1985.  I sitll have a commemorative bottle of port from the flight. 

 

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

29 Jun 2013

Total posts 366

Sorry to see the 767 go it was my favourite airline of the past .it was was intruduced when flying was still an experience and people dressed up to fly.

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

30 Jun 2012

Total posts 40

I'm on the "last" 767 flight (QF490) on the 27th Dec, just hoping there isn't a last minute aicraft change as i upgraded to J too...  Gonna miss these workhorses! 

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer - Chairmans Lounge

01 Sep 2011

Total posts 414

not me, happy to see the back end of them. waste of time and money upgrading their seats. should have been retired ages ago.

QFF Gold QC gold

26 Nov 2012

Total posts 56

Does anyone know if QF are replacing every 767 with a 330 or will we fly in more 737 aircraft?

AJW
AJW

16 Nov 2011

Total posts 595

More 737's, with some A330's for good meassure.

Thai Airways International - Royal Orchid Plus

15 Jan 2013

Total posts 468

This will be interesting to see.Looking at some old TAA introducing the Airbus ads from the eighties telling us the big difference between airlines and planes got me thinking.We are almost with the exception of the E190's back to the days of both carriers having a domestic identical fleet.

31 Jan 2013

Total posts 43

Yes, doubly so, with Qantas/Virgin dominated by the B737 and Jetstar/Tiger dominted by the A320. Odd isn't it  that both 'groups' ordered Boeing for the premium airline and Airbus for the cut price airline? Does that say something about the aircraft themselves?

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

17 Aug 2012

Total posts 2207

No, it's only a legacy thing. Essentially, QF inherited a large domestic fleet of 737 Classics, and initially VA operated Classics too. JQ and TT were started up anew, so they bought A320s for whatever reason was in vogue at the time, and now stick with them while the full-service carriers stick with their 737 lineage.

It's a lot more complex than this, of course, but the key point is that it has nothing to do with the 737 being more 'premium' than the A320.

AJW
AJW

16 Nov 2011

Total posts 595

Should also point out that in early September 2001 rumors said that Qantas had actually placed an order or letter of intent for A320 aircraft to replace 737 classics for domestic operations but hadn't annouced it.

But of course two things happened in September 2001, one was the collapse of Ansett that required Qantas to bring forward airraft orders urgently and of course 9/11 and the down turn in US air travel that made large numbers of (American Airlines) 738's available for imediate purchase.

The end result was Qantas ended up with 738's rather quickly to fill their capacity gap and subsiquent orders just made sense. Again the rumor mill had it that the A320's that are now with Jetstar are the ones that Qantas had ordered back in 2001.

Now you never know with Qantas group holding so many A320 NEO orders we may still yet see A320's in Qantas colours.

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

30 Jun 2012

Total posts 40

There are/were 31 767's including the seven ex BA aircraft (VH-ZXA-G) and the Freighter aircraft (VH-EFR).

There will be 30 A330's once the final four are handed back from JQ (though two aircraft are to be retuned to their lessors in 2015/16) 

Even though there will be the same amount of A330's replacing 767's, I think most aircraft will serve the SYD-MEL-BNE-PER routes rather than the SYD-MEL-BNE triangle! Also i believe only certain gates at SYD/MEL/BNE can accept the A330!

So it looks like more 737-800 flying for those who live on the east coast :(

17 Feb 2012

Total posts 121

Just read Steve Creedy's piece in The Australian today who said the last flight is on November 27 and that (must be wrong) 'the 767's are to be replaced by Airbus A320-200's to move across to Qantas'.   Steve is usually on the money - but this time he appears to have slipped up...

31 Jan 2013

Total posts 43

Unless he's heard something that nobody else has then thats definitely wrong. As an agent I have access to Amadeus which is the same system QF uses. In Dec they still show B767s. In Jan its nothing but a mix of 737s and A330s. No way an airline would operate a mix of A320's and 737's. Double the training. Double the spares inventory. Double many costs. Oh, hang on a mo'. This is Qantas managemtn we're talking about. Hmmmm.

AJW
AJW

16 Nov 2011

Total posts 595

Obviously a typo, should be A330-200's. Which is has been happening for a while. Clearly.

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer - Chairmans Lounge

01 Sep 2011

Total posts 414

More than happy to see the termination of this noisy plane.

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

13 Sep 2011

Total posts 181

I agree, there is a lot of fondness for these aircraft but have always thought they were really nasty to fly on. I expect a lot of red arrows for sharing my opinion but I will not mourn their passing.

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer - Chairmans Lounge

01 Sep 2011

Total posts 414

we can stand together then :)

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

10 May 2014

Total posts 112

I am on QF 443 SYD-MEL on the 27 Dec and it is listed as a 767

24 Apr 2012

Total posts 2447

Looks like that'll be your last Qantas 767 flight! The list above shows the last B767 flights by route – there are a fair few between Melbourne and Sydney that day.

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer - Chairmans Lounge

01 Sep 2011

Total posts 414

just took an 767 from JFK to CDG on AA. Plane past its use by date ... and most definiteley the cabin crew.

Virgin Australia - Platinum

21 Dec 2012

Total posts 86

Anyone know where they are going? Would any other airline buy them and make use of the new seating?

AJW
AJW

16 Nov 2011

Total posts 595

What new seating? The Qantas refurbs just had new seat covers and some wood like trim added in J.

22 Jun 2013

Total posts 1

They are going to Canadian airline Westjet I think, so in that sense the refurb was not a waste.

AJW
AJW

16 Nov 2011

Total posts 595

Think you will find they are getting 4 of them. Besides the refurb was hardly a waste, it was basically seat coverings to extend the product for a little while longer. No doubt the cost has been recouped, even with the fleet going 9 months earlier than planned.

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

29 Jul 2013

Total posts 204

I'll miss the old girls, having crossed the country thousands of times in the B767's there's a special place in my heart for this aircraft. I certainly don't look forward to the cramped confines of the B737 :-(

DK
DK

30 May 2011

Total posts 37

once wished that QF installed winglets like NZ did. Flew on the 767 from SYD-BNE right after the industrial lockout and have to say it was in a very neat condition. The roaring engine power on take off was amazing. 

Hate this plane, happy to see it go. 

17 Feb 2012

Total posts 121

Give me a 767 over a 737 anyday - great the widebody aircraft and extra space.... Looks like they won't be directly replacing each one of them with the A330.  Pity.

Thai Airways International - Royal Orchid Plus

15 Jan 2013

Total posts 468

I loved the wide body space of the 767's.Chances are if you travelling on your own and the plane wasn't full you got a whole row to yourself.

10 Mar 2011

Total posts 526

Slightly sorry to see the 767 go. Much as it is now considered old... it was still a great plane in its day. I also always preferred it to the 737's between Sydney and Melbourne!

15 Feb 2013

Total posts 163

It's sad to see them go, but it is probably time as they are getting a bit long in the tooth.

Wonder if there's going to be a sale on ebay for a bunch of used iPads?

AJW
AJW

16 Nov 2011

Total posts 595

As previously annouced by Qantas they will go to the early 738's.

In fact this article amuses me that it mentions the cost of the refurb, when most of it was the IFE system, which is basically a bolt in module and the IPads that can now be moved to the 738's. I suspect Qantas knew they were going to move them elsewhere after the 767's were retired when they first purchased them.

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

30 Jun 2012

Total posts 40

Actually the earlier 738's (VH-VXA to VZE) when refurbished will have a BYOD IFE system just like VA's BYOD IFE... 

https://www.executivetraveller.com/qantas-boeing-737s-to-get-extra-seats-wireless-q-streaming

12 Jun 2013

Total posts 735

Stupid question: why is Qantas often called the Red Roo, when the roo is quite clearly white?

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

16 Jun 2011

Total posts 70

Names stick. Take a look at the retro livery ( https://www.executivetraveller.com/qantas-to-unveil-retro-livery-on-boeing-737 ). It once was red.

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

10 May 2014

Total posts 112

Looks like my SYD-MEL flight on the 27th may now be the second last revenue flight?!?!

25 Sep 2013

Total posts 1245

OK?!?!

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

10 May 2014

Total posts 112

Bugger, QF have changed our flight to a 738, I was hoping for one last go on the 767...

Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards

05 Jan 2012

Total posts 335

When they were in operation: when will they replace these crappy old timers??

Now they are giving them the boot: such a shame to see the good old workhorse retire.

27 Nov 2014

Total posts 1

I am trying to see that the SYD - MEL - SYD flights are the last QF 767 flights... i cannot find the last flight QF 452 anywhere ??

can you confirm that this will be the last 767 flight ??


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