Tasman Cargo Airlines has operated the final flight of an Australian registered Boeing 727, with the aircraft now to be replaced by a 757.
TCA operated the last 727 service from Auckland to Sydney and return to Auckland with 727-200F VH-DHE on the night of August 31, with the aircraft now retired. The 727’s retirement was forced by federal government changes in noise regulations which banned “marginally noise-compliant” older hushkitted aircraft from Australian airspace with effect from September 1.
In place of the 727, TCA is wet leasing 757-200 Freighter G‑BMRJ from DHL Air to operate a five times weekly (up from four with the 727) Auckland-Sydney-Auckland schedule over the next year ahead of TCA sourcing its own 757. The new aircraft will offer an additional 15 tonnes of freight capacity over the 727 and is also 25 per cent more fuel efficient.
The retirement and Tasman Cargo’s freigther operations will be covered in the October edition of Australian Aviation.
