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| Founded | 1989 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AOC # | CASA.TAAOC.0213 | ||||||
| Hubs | |||||||
| Frequent-flyer program | Qantas Frequent Flyer | ||||||
| Alliance | Oneworld (affiliate) | ||||||
| Fleet size | 11 [1] | ||||||
| Destinations | 22 | ||||||
| Parent company | Qantas | ||||||
| Headquarters | Adelaide, Australia [2] | ||||||
National Jet Systems, formerly Cobham Aviation Services Australia - Airline Services, is an Australian regional airline based at Adelaide Airport, operating regular scheduled services as part of the QantasLink brand. [2]
National Jet Systems was established in 1989 and started operations on 1 July 1990. Initial flights commenced in 1991 on behalf of Australian Airlines, mainly to tourist destinations in northern Australia, operating a fleet of four British Aerospace 146-100 aircraft under Australian’s Airlink brand.[ citation needed ]
In 1992, Australian Airlines was acquired by Qantas, and the aircraft operated by National Jet on behalf of Airlink were repainted in a modified Qantas livery. [3] The fleet was expanded in 1993 with the addition of three leased BAe 146-200 aircraft and two chartered BAe 146-300 aircraft, which commenced operations in 1994 from Brisbane and Cairns, respectively. [4]
In 1994, National Jet Express was established as a subsidiary to operate charter and scheduled services using National Jet's own branding, as well as freighter aircraft on behalf of Australian Air Express. [5] Another subsidiary, Surveillance Australia, was also awarded the Australian Coastwatch contract to operate fixed-wing aerial surveillance aircraft and patrols in the Australian Exclusive Economic Zone (AEEZ). [6] [7] [8]
In 1999, National Jet Systems, including National Jet Express and Surveillance Australia, were acquired by Cobham for £24.5 million. [9]
In 2002, Qantas launched QantasLink as a single brand for their regional airline subsidiaries and operations, and the livery on aircraft operated for QantasLink was updated to reflect the new name. [10]
In 2005, the airline commenced operating ex-Jetstar Boeing 717-200 aircraft on behalf of QantasLink [11] in Western Australia, and transferred the remaining BAe 146 fleet to its National Jet Express subsidiary. All eight 717s formerly operated by Jetstar were transferred to National Jet Systems by October 2007. [12]
In March 2007, the Boeing 717 operations agreement was renewed, and included an expansion of the fleet from eight to eleven aircraft. National Jet also commenced a program with Qantas and Rolls-Royce to upgrade the aircraft to the 'High Gross Weight' specification, which increased their thrust from 18,500lbs to 21,000lbs per engine, and was aimed at improving passenger-carrying performance in hot conditions. [13]
In 2009, National Jet Systems was rebranded Cobham Aviation Services Australia - Airline Services to align its branding with the broader Cobham Group and to differentiate its role from that of National Jet Express.[ citation needed ]
In 2011, the contract for operation of Boeing 717 aircraft on behalf of QantasLink was extended until 2018. Valued at $AUD500 million, the extension also increased the size of the B717 fleet from 11 to 13 aircraft, and expanded operations into Queensland. [14]
In 2013, an additional five Boeing 717 jets were acquired to support flights from Canberra to Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney. [15]
In April 2015, the company ceased performing heavy maintenance on the QantasLink Boeing 717 fleet as a result of the work moving in-house to Qantas. [16]
In July 2016, the contract for operation of Boeing 717 aircraft on behalf of QantasLink was renewed for a further 10 years. The value of the contract was stated as being $AUD1.2 billion. [17]
In January 2020, it was included in the takeover of Cobham by Advent International. [18] In May 2020 Qantas purchased the National Jet Systems division, with National Jet Express and Surveillance Australia remaining under Cobham ownership. The transition to Qantas ownership was completed in July 2020. [19] In August 2020 the bases at Cairns Airport and Perth Airport were closed. [20]
National Jet Systems serves the following destinations on behalf of QantasLink. [21] [22]
As of January 2023 the National Jet Systems fleet consists of the following aircraft: [23] [ better source needed ]
| Aircraft | In service | On order | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airbus A220-300 | 2 | 27 | Operated on behalf of QantasLink |
| Boeing 717-200 | 9 [24] | — | Operated on behalf of QantasLink |
| Total | 11 | 27 |
National Jet Systems previously also operated the following aircraft types:[ citation needed ]
Qantas Airways Limited is the flag carrier of Australia. It is the largest airline by fleet size, international flights, and international destinations in Australia and Oceania. Qantas is the world's third-oldest continuously operating airline, being founded in November 1920. Qantas is a founding member of the Oneworld airline alliance.
Australian Airlines was a full-service airline based in Australia, servicing Australian and Asian destinations between 2002 and 2006. It was an all-economy, full-service international leisure carrier, and was a wholly owned subsidiary of Qantas. Its main base was at Cairns International Airport, with a secondary hub at Sydney Airport.
Jetstar Airways Pty Ltd, operating as Jetstar, is an Australian low-cost airline headquartered in Melbourne. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Qantas, created in response to the threat posed by the airline Virgin Blue. Jetstar is part of Qantas' two brand strategy of having Qantas Airways for the premium full-service market and Jetstar for the low-cost market. As of 2015, Jetstar carries 8.5% of all passengers travelling in and out of Australia.
Gold Coast Airport is an international Australian airport located at the southern end of the Gold Coast and approximately 90 km (56 mi) south of Brisbane, within the South East Queensland agglomeration. The entrance to the airport is situated in the suburb of Bilinga near Coolangatta. The main runway itself cuts through the state borders of Queensland and New South Wales. During summer, these states are in two different time zones. The Gold Coast Airport operates on Queensland Time.
]
National Jet Express is an Australian charter airline and aviation services provider with its headquarters in Perth, Western Australia.
Australian airExpress was a logistics company based in Melbourne, Australia. It operated freight-only services within Australia using aircraft operated by Express Freighters Australia, National Jet Systems and Pel-Air; and a fleet of land vehicles. Its main base was Melbourne Airport. Australian airExpress was absorbed into Qantas Freight in February 2013.
QantasLink is a full-service, regional brand of Australian flag carrier Qantas and is an affiliate member of the Oneworld airline alliance. As of 2024, QantasLink provides over 2,000 flights each week to over 50 metropolitan and regional destinations across Australia, as well as short-haul international services to New Zealand, Singapore, the Solomon Islands and East Timor.
Ayers Rock Airport is situated near Yulara, around 463 km (288 mi) away from Alice Springs, Northern Territory, and 20 minutes drive from Uluru / Ayers Rock itself. An average of just under 300,000 passengers pass through this airport each year.
Ozjet Airlines Pty Ltd was a scheduled and charter airline with its head office in Tullamarine, Melbourne Australia operating within Australasia from Melbourne Airport, Sydney Airport and Perth Airport. In 2008 the airline was sold to HeavyLift Cargo Airlines, and on 20 May 2009 it suspended its last remaining operations from Perth. In June 2009, OzJet was purchased by the Strategic Group. With the insolvency of Strategic Airlines on 17 February 2012 also OzJet ceased all operations.
Townsville Airport is a major Australian regional airport that services the city of Townsville, Queensland. The airport is also known as Townsville International Airport, and Garbutt Airport, a reference to its location in the Townsville suburb of Garbutt. Townsville Airport is serviced by major Australian domestic and regional airlines, and in 2011/12 handled 1.7 million passengers making it the 11th busiest airport in Australia.
Sunstate Airlines is a subsidiary of Qantas which operates regional flights under the QantasLink banner throughout Queensland, and between Brisbane and Canberra. Its head office is in Mascot, New South Wales, Australia.
Jetconnect Ltd. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Qantas with its head office located in Auckland, New Zealand. Originally established in July 2002 as a New Zealand–based airline, the company stopped operating as an airline in 2018 but continues to employ pilots and cabin crew based at Auckland and Wellington airports. Crew employed by Jetconnect operate Qantas flights on trans-tasman services between Australia and New Zealand, with cabin crew also operating on Qantas long-haul flights alongside Australian-based crew.
Newcastle Airport is an international airport in Williamtown, New South Wales. It is located 15 kilometres; 9.2 miles (8 NM) north of Newcastle in Port Stephens. It is the 13th busiest airport in Australia, handling over 1.25 million passengers in the year ended 30 June 2017, an increase of 6.6% on the previous year. The airport occupies a 28 ha (69-acre) site on the southern border of RAAF Base Williamtown.
Gladstone Airport is an airport serving Gladstone, a city in the Australian state of Queensland. It is located in the suburb of Clinton, about 10 km (6.2 mi) from the town's centre, off Aerodrome Road.
Geraldton Airport is an airport located 6 nautical miles east of Geraldton, Western Australia, in Moonyoonooka along the Geraldton – Mount Magnet Road.
Surveillance Australia Pty Ltd is an Australian aviation company. It is primarily engaged in servicing the Australian Border Force Coastwatch contract, flying surveillance patrols within the Australian Exclusive Economic Zone (AEEZ).
Express Freighters Australia is a cargo airline based in Sydney, Australia. It was established in August 2006 and is wholly owned by Qantas Freight, a subsidiary of Qantas.
Qantas is Australia's largest airline. Qantas was founded in Winton, Queensland, on 16 November 1920 as Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services Limited by Paul McGinness, Sir Hudson Fysh and Sir Fergus McMaster, the latter of whom was chairman. Arthur Baird was employed as a chief aircraft engineer. McGinness left QANTAS for other interests, and Hudson Fysh remained with the company as General Manager & Managing Director. He retired as Sir Hudson Fysh KBE DFC, Chairman of QANTAS in 1966.
Qantas operates a fleet of Airbus A330, Airbus A380, Boeing 737 and Boeing 787 making a total of 125 aircraft. This list excludes subsidiaries Jetstar, QantasLink and Qantas Freight.
Media related to National Jet Systems at Wikimedia Commons
