The need for increased Domestic capacity saw QANTAS take seven Rolls-Royce powered
767-300s from British Airways which had become surplus to requirements in London
due to traffic lost to the Channel Tunnel. Due to their different internal specifications,
including different galleys these machines have been restricted to the Domestic network
since their arrival. Although there is anecdotal evidence that one of the machines
operated a Perth - Tokyo service as a late substitute in 2002.
The -338 series aircraft ordered by QANTAS can be distinguished externally from the
BA ordered series -336 aircraft by the doors. The -336 series have large doors fore
and aft of the wings which are lacking on the -338 series, the -338 series instead
having two over wing exit windows.
The need for additional capacity following the collapse of Ansett Airlines and the
need for North American carriers to cut capacity in the aftermath of 9/11 saw several
Air Canada aircraft operating for QANTAS on trans-Tasman routes in 2002 on a wet-lease
basis.
From 2002-2006 five of the fleet, VH-OGI, VH-OGJ, VH-OGK, VH-OGL and VH-OGP were
seconded to new subsidiary Australian Airlines which operated mainly tourist routes
from Sydney, Cairns and Perth to Japan and Indonesia. These routes subsequently passed
to JetStar and the aircraft returned to QANTAS mainline service.
Airbus A330-300 aircraft began arriving in the QANTAS fleet in 2003 and this saw
the 767s withdrawn from several International routes and transferred to Domestic
service.
Currently QANTAS operates 767-300s in three configurations. Thirteen of the QANTAS
ordered -338 series aircraft operate in Domestic configuration with 30 Millennium
seats in Business Class in a 2-2-2 configuration and 224 Economy Class seats in 2-3-2
configuration. The seven former BA 336 series aircraft similarly operate with 30
Millennium seats in Business Class but a reduced capacity of 214 Economy Class seats
due to the different galley layout. The remaining four 338 series aircraft remain
in International configuration with 25 Dreamtime Business Class seats in a 1-2-2
configuration and 204 in Economy. The International configuration aircraft operate
the Sydney - Honolulu and Sydney - Noumea routes. As these routes do not require
all four aircraft these aircraft appear regularly on domestic flights.
QANTAS intended to replace the 767-300 with new 787 Dreamliner aircraft with the
first deliveries due in 2009. The first 787s will now arrive in 2012 and go to JetStar,
eventually allowing the JetStar A330-200s to return to the QANTAS fleet. At that
point large scale 767 withdrawals will commence with the former British Airways machines
expected to be the first to depart. Five of QANTAS’ older machines have been withdrawn;
in September 2009 VH-OGD became the first QANTAS 767-300 to be depart, followed in
December 2009 by VH-OGA and by VH-OGC in February 2010. The withdrawn aircraft were
all moved to Victorville in California, flying non-stop from Sydney and are expected
to go for freighter conversion. VH-OGB flew her last sector on 17th June 2011 as
QF464 Melbourne - Sydney with VH-OGF following on 1st September 2011 operating QF764
Adelaide - Sydney as her final fllight.
