Jetstar’s transition to an all Boeing 787-8 long-haul fleet is almost complete after the low-cost carrier’s 11th and final Dreamliner on firm order entered revenue service over the weekend.
The aircraft, VH-VKL, operated its first commercial flight on Saturday as JQ37 from Sydney to Bali, with the 787 departing Kingsford Smith at 1820 local time.
The entry of into service of VH-VKL will shortly be followed by the withdrawal of VH-EBE, which is the last Airbus A330-200 remaining in the Jetstar fleet.
The Airline Route website reported earlier in September Jetstar’s final A330 service will be a Melbourne-Honolulu-Brisbane rotation, with JQ6 scheduled to touch down in the Queensland capital at 1625 on September 25.
The A330-200 will then be prepared to enter service with Jetstar parent Qantas.
VH-VKL was the last 787-8 for Jetstar on firm order. Jetstar operates the 787 to Asia (Bali, Bangkok, Osaka Kansai, Phuket, Singapore and Tokyo Narita) and Honolulu from various points in Australia.
Qantas announced at its 2014/15 full year results that deferred orders for three more 787-8s that were due to be delivered to Jetstar had been converted to 787-9s for Qantas.
While there are no more firm 787 orders for Jetstar, the Qantas Group does have 15 787 remaining options, which have firm delivery dates and a fixed price, and 30 remaining 787 purchase rights, which have a fixed price but no firm delivery date, that can be exercised between now and 2024/25 that could be allocated to either Qantas or Jetstar.
