Over a month after Qantas announced the “final day of 717 flying” for its Boeing 717 aircraft, one of the planes has made a surprise return to Tasmanian skies.
The aircraft, registered VH-YQW, in the QantasLink Tasmanian Devil livery has managed to avoid retirement – for now.
It startled local plane spotters late last week when it made the journey down to Hobart from Sydney, having just completed a brief post-retirement stint in Western Australia.
A Qantas spokesperson confirmed to Pulse the aircraft will be hanging around a little longer.
They said the plane “is continuing some commercial services” and would publicise a new “date for retirement” once it is set.
This means some passengers travelling on QF1503 from Sydney to Hobart and the return QF1522 flight in the coming days may end up on the 18-year-old plane instead of one of Qantas’ brand new A220s.
Sister aircraft VH-YQS flew the supposed “end of an era” flight between Launceston and Sydney and onto Canberra on its last day on October 26.
That plane is now parked in Victorville in the United States for scrapping.
