 | |||||||
| |||||||
| Founded | 1989 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AOC # | CASA.AOC.0007 | ||||||
| Operating bases | |||||||
| Frequent-flyer program | Qantas Frequent Flyer | ||||||
| Alliance | Oneworld (affiliate) | ||||||
| Fleet size | 5 [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 airExpress. [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 its 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.[ citation needed ]
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. [12]
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. [13]
In 2013, an additional five Boeing 717 jets were acquired to support flights from Canberra to Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney. [14]
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. [15]
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. [16]
In January 2020, it was included in the takeover of Cobham by Advent International. [17] 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. [18] In August 2020 the bases at Cairns Airport and Perth Airport were closed. [19]
National Jet Systems serves the following destinations on behalf of QantasLink. [20] [21]
As of November 2024, the National Jet Systems fleet consists of the following aircraft: [1] [ better source needed ]
| Aircraft | In Service | Orders | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airbus A220-300 | 5 [1] | 24 | operated on behalf of QantasLink |
| Boeing 717-200 | 1 [24] | — | operated on behalf of QantasLink |
| Total | 6 | 24 |
National Jet Systems previously also operated the following aircraft: [1]
Air Vanuatu is an airline with its head office in Air Vanuatu House, Port Vila, Vanuatu. It is Vanuatu's national flag carrier, formerly operating to Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia and points in the South Pacific. Its main base is Bauerfield International Airport, Port Vila. In May 2024 operations ceased with the airline placed into liquidation by the Government of Vanuatu. Limited domestic services resumed in August 2024.
Ansett Australia, originally Ansett Airways, was a major Australian airline group based in Melbourne, Victoria. The company operated domestically within Australia, and from the 1990s, to destinations in Asia. Following 65 years of operation, the airline went into administration in 2001 following a financial collapse and subsequent liquidation in 2002, subject to a deed of company arrangement. Ansett’s last flight touched down on 5 March 2002.
The British Aerospace 146 is a short-haul and regional airliner that was manufactured in the United Kingdom by British Aerospace, later part of BAE Systems. Production ran from 1983 until 2001. Avro International Aerospace manufactured an improved version known as the Avro RJ. Production for the Avro RJ version began in 1992. Later on, a further-improved version with new engines, the Avro RJX, was announced in 1997, but only two prototypes and one production aircraft were built before production ceased in 2001. With 387 aircraft produced, the Avro RJ/BAe 146 is the most successful British civil jet airliner program.
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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.
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