Qantas Whittles Q300 Fleet Down to Six

Published: March 10, 2025.

Eastern Australia Airlines has whittled its DHC-8-Q300 fleet down to six planes as parent entity Qantas prepares to retire the type, along with two DHC-8-200s and one Q200.

VH-SBG (msn 575) was withdrawn from service on January 28 after operating a Devonport (DPO) – Melbourne (MEL) and subsequently ferried to Tamworth (TMW), where it remains. VH-TQD (msn 598) operated its final flight on February 11 between Melbourne and Canberra (CBR) before also ferrying to Tamworth. VH-TQK (msn 600) flew its last revenue service on February 24 between Tamworth and Sydney (SYD) before returning to Tamworth for parking.

Eastern Australia Airlines operates the DHC-8-Q300, DHC-8-200, and DHC-8-Q200 aircraft on behalf of Qantas, which operates them as QantasLink flights. Sunstate Airlines, also wholly owned by Qantas, operates the Q400 fleet. Last year, Qantas said it would retire the Eastern Australia aircraft after buying 14 mid-life Q400s from WestJet Encore. The first of those planes has arrived.

Eastern Australia Airlines continues to operate six Q300s for Qantas – VH-SBI (msn 605), VH-SBJ (msn 578), VH-SBV (msn 595), VH-SBW (msn 599), VH-SCE (msn 602), and VH-TQM (msn 604). FlightRadar24 shows all six are still flying.

The smaller -200s and Q200s exclusively operate on the Sydney – Lord Howe Island (LDH) run. The island’s short runway prevents bigger aircraft from safely landing and taking off. Skytrans will take over these flights once Qantas withdraws its aircraft from service.

Photo: Bidgee via Wikimedia Commons