Qantas and the A300?

[Jack B]

After the TAA merger, where did QF utilise their small fleet of A300's? Were they used entirely on domestic flights, and were the interiors upgraded/changed by Qantas?

[steve k]

Originally Posted by Jack Brownbill

After the TAA merger, where did QF utilise their small fleet of A300's? Were they used entirely on domestic flights, and were the interiors upgraded/changed by Qantas?

Just domestic i believe Jack, saw the odd one occasionally, here in ADL, mostly east coast service I recall!

[Nadia B-J]

I recall flying on a QF livery A300, Dec 1996 / Jan 1997 from Sydney to Melbourne return. It was great fun

[Robert S]

I did a SYD-BNE flight on a QF A300, also great fun.

[Ryan K]

I remember flying in the A300 between SYD and OOL. There may have been a time where I also flew between OOL and MEL. I'm fairly sure the interiors were upgraded from the Australian Airlines interior.

[Craig Sandford]

I remember a points flight SYD/MEL in one not long after QF took over TN. Booked the flight in J as back in those days, a J points flight was only 25% more points than one in Y. No surcharges to points flights back then either.

Really enjoyed turning left when boarding the plane. I don't get to do that often enough.

[Grahame Hutchison]

I searched the archive today and came up with the following images of the A300B4s in the early years at Trans Australia and Australian Airlines. Trans Australia became Australian in 1986 and Qantas took over Australian in September 1992 in preparation for the shutdown of Australian on 30th April 1996. VH-TAA entered the Australian register on 29th June 1981 and was delivered to Melbourne on 13th July 1981. After 17 years of service, VH-TAA completed its final revenue service on 13th August 1998. Unfortunately I have not been able to find any A300B4s in Qantas livery. Apologies for the first three images, they are scans directly from very old negatives.

After delivery to Melbourne on 13th July 1981, this was the first touchdown of VH-TAA at Mascot in July 1981


VH-TAA taxiing to the terminal after completing the first revenue flight from Melbourne to Sydney in early July 1981


VH-TAA taxiing to the terminal after completing the first revenue flight from Melbourne to Sydney in July 1981


VH-TAA taxiing to the terminal after completing the first revenue flight from Melbourne to Sydney in July 1981


VH-TAA climbing out from Runway 16R in August 1982


VH-TAB lined up for a departure on Runway 25 on 9th September 1983


VH-TAC in Australian livery taxiing to the terminal on 30th July 1988


VH-TAD braking with reverse thrust on Runway 16R in August 1982. Note the high security fence we would often sit on to photograph.


VH-TAD flaring during a Runway 25 arrival on 18th November 1982


VH-TAD taxiing to the terminal on 7th October 1985

[steve k]

Brilliant to see these again, thank you, very nostalgic indeed !!

[Matt D]

A little off topic but still A300 - a couple of the old Compass A300's are still plying the skies of the Europe daily for Monarch.

I came across one of them when passing through Gatwick recently, G-MONR (ex VH-YMJ). G-MONS (ex VH-YMK) is the other and they've both massive number of cycles over the years. This time of year they're on the Gatwick/Manchester to Egypt route.

A rushed snap through glass below

[Robert S]

Looks awesome in Australian colours. Damn I miss that livery.