airlines
First QantasLink Embraer E190 arrives to replace aging F100s
Photo: Bahnfrend / CC BY-SA 4.0 — via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0) · source
QantasLink has taken delivery of its first Embraer E190 in Perth, initiating the retirement of its legacy Fokker F100 fleet used for Western Australia charter operations. The carrier plans to integrate up to 14 mid-life E190s into commercial service starting in January 2027, bringing enhanced range and modernized cabins to the regional network. For local pilots and aviation professionals, this aircraft transition creates a significant training wave, with an initial 18,000 hours of instruction planned for crew and maintenance staff preparing for the new airframe.