737-400F VH-XNH on approach to Melbourne on Sunday. (Brian Wilkes)
Qantas Freight has taken delivery of its first Boeing 737-400F freighter, with the one-time British Airways-operated aircraft arriving in Melbourne from the US on Sunday afternoon.
The 737, built as a 737-400 passenger aircraft in 1990, is due to join the Qantas Freight subfleet which delivers domestic mail, parcels and Express Post for Australia Post and its subsidiary StarTrack Express.
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Registered VH-XNH, the 737 has seen service with Air Europe, Dan-Air and British Airways. More recently it was operated by US charter operator Xtra Airways. After a period of storage it was converted to a freighter at Dothan, Alabama.
Like Qantas Freight’s existing 737-300F freighters, the 737-400F will be operated by Qantas’s Express Freighters Australia subsidiary.
Interestingly, the aircraft has been painted in the now superseded Qantas livery.
Why is Qantas Freight using the superseded flying roo on its tail?
Dave
says:
I read that a 747-400F, not 737 and got excited. Wonder what the extra capacity on the 400F is over the 300F.
Peter
says:
Yes would love to know why Qantas has reverted to the”New Roo” livery? Is the”silver”roo being dropped or was the 737F painting contract signed previously?
Lechuga
says:
Made in the 90’s. Thought QANTAS were getting rid of planes that have a higher operating cost. Or does that not count with Cargo planes?
Philip
says:
Why would they have not have used an ex Qantas 737-400
deano
says:
Agree totally Phillip although perhaps 737-800s would be the go as their 400s have all gone
At least they know the planes history
I also want to know why it was painted in the previous livery
I doubt it would have been painted before November last year
Corey
says:
Why not a 800NG with the new Split scimitar winglets which reduces fuel burn by a further 4% I believe? I don’t get why they use a 400 series when there is 800 series are for sale secondhand? What is the difference in the two types? Also, why hasn’t Qantas upgraded its other freighter aircraft such as replacing the 767s with A330s or 777s and the 747s with the newer 800Fs. Also wouldn’t it be cheaper to buy a small fleet of the new 737 8MAX and convert the older 800s to freighters?
Al
says:
Well for one, it matches all the other freighters in their the domestic fleet!
Chris
says:
Let’s just hope they have come to their senses and are keeping the 2007-Roo!
Craig
says:
The economics of running cargo aircraft is a lot different to passenger aircraft. The cost of ownership and operating costs are a lot lower which makes older aircraft suitable for cargo operations. The 400 has a similar flight deck to the 300s which massively reduces training required for dual endorsement. As for replacing the B767 with A33o aircraft, Qantas already utilises the A330s on night time freight operations. For example, on 8 May, A332 EBC did the MEL – BNE freight run.
AlanH
says:
Yawn! What’s the big deal? It’s just another very old RPT aircraft being converted to freight ops to see out its flying days. Hardly newsworthy stuff. As for using the old livery, well they wouldn’t want to steal the Dreamliners’ thunder by slapping it on an old freighter now would they?
Rob
says:
Saw it going in for paint at Victorville in March…….there were quite a few of those BA airframes about to be converted.
iscover
Radar
says:Why is Qantas Freight using the superseded flying roo on its tail?
Dave
says:I read that a 747-400F, not 737 and got excited. Wonder what the extra capacity on the 400F is over the 300F.
Peter
says:Yes would love to know why Qantas has reverted to the”New Roo” livery? Is the”silver”roo being dropped or was the 737F painting contract signed previously?
Lechuga
says:Made in the 90’s. Thought QANTAS were getting rid of planes that have a higher operating cost. Or does that not count with Cargo planes?
Philip
says:Why would they have not have used an ex Qantas 737-400
deano
says:Agree totally Phillip although perhaps 737-800s would be the go as their 400s have all gone
At least they know the planes history
Mitch Wood
says:I also want to know why it was painted in the previous livery
I doubt it would have been painted before November last year
Corey
says:Why not a 800NG with the new Split scimitar winglets which reduces fuel burn by a further 4% I believe? I don’t get why they use a 400 series when there is 800 series are for sale secondhand? What is the difference in the two types? Also, why hasn’t Qantas upgraded its other freighter aircraft such as replacing the 767s with A330s or 777s and the 747s with the newer 800Fs. Also wouldn’t it be cheaper to buy a small fleet of the new 737 8MAX and convert the older 800s to freighters?
Al
says:Well for one, it matches all the other freighters in their the domestic fleet!
Chris
says:Let’s just hope they have come to their senses and are keeping the 2007-Roo!
Craig
says:The economics of running cargo aircraft is a lot different to passenger aircraft. The cost of ownership and operating costs are a lot lower which makes older aircraft suitable for cargo operations. The 400 has a similar flight deck to the 300s which massively reduces training required for dual endorsement. As for replacing the B767 with A33o aircraft, Qantas already utilises the A330s on night time freight operations. For example, on 8 May, A332 EBC did the MEL – BNE freight run.
AlanH
says:Yawn! What’s the big deal? It’s just another very old RPT aircraft being converted to freight ops to see out its flying days. Hardly newsworthy stuff. As for using the old livery, well they wouldn’t want to steal the Dreamliners’ thunder by slapping it on an old freighter now would they?
Rob
says:Saw it going in for paint at Victorville in March…….there were quite a few of those BA airframes about to be converted.