Qantas Bids Farewell to Final Boeing 767 Freighter

The airline has operated the type for nearly four decades in both passenger and cargo configurations.

A Qantas Boeing 767 freighter aircraft (Photo: Aero Icarus from Zürich, Switzerland, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons)

[ Planes ]May 17, 2024 9:42 am ET

By Ryan Ewing

Qantas is saying farewell to its last operating Boeing 767 aircraft after nearly 40 years of flying the aircraft type. In an Instagram post on Friday, the Australian carrier said its last remaining 767 aircraft – registered as VH-EFR – will soon exit the fleet.

The airline retired its last passenger-carrying Boeing 767s in 2014 after operating up to 41 aircraft since 1985. According to Qantas, its 767 fleet carried 168 million passengers on 927,000 flights over the years.

Per Cirium Ascend Fleet Analyzer data, VH-EFR is just over 18 years old, joining the Qantas fleet in 2011 after flying cargo for Japan’s All Nippon Airways (ANA). While owned by Qantas, it was operated by Express Freighters Australia under the Qantas Freight brand.

As Airbus A321F and A330F aircraft enter the Qantas Freight operation, the airline plans to also phase out its aging 737-300 and 737-400 aircraft. Currently, the freight subsidiary’s fleet includes five A321s, two A330s, three BAe-146s, and two 737s. The airline says it plans to retire the remaining Boeing 737 freighters later this year.

VH-EFR is set to arrive in Sydney around 7:30 a.m. local time on Saturday after its last scheduled flight from Hong Kong.

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Ryan Ewing

Ryan founded AirlineGeeks.com back in February 2013 and has amassed considerable experience in the aviation sector. His work has been featured in several publications and news outlets, including CNN, WJLA, CNET, and Business Insider. During his time in the industry, he's worked in roles pertaining to airport/airline operations while holding a B.S. in Air Transportation Management from Arizona State University along with an MBA. Ryan has experience in several facets of the industry from behind the yoke of a Cessna 172 to interviewing airline industry executives. Ryan works for AirlineGeeks' owner FLYING Media, spearheading coverage in the commercial aviation space.

Follow Ryan

Author

Ryan Ewing

Ryan founded AirlineGeeks.com back in February 2013 and has amassed considerable experience in the aviation sector. His work has been featured in several publications and news outlets, including CNN, WJLA, CNET, and Business Insider. During his time in the industry, he's worked in roles pertaining to airport/airline operations while holding a B.S. in Air Transportation Management from Arizona State University along with an MBA. Ryan has experience in several facets of the industry from behind the yoke of a Cessna 172 to interviewing airline industry executives. Ryan works for AirlineGeeks' owner FLYING Media, spearheading coverage in the commercial aviation space.
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