New Qantas 767-200F freighter service

[Steve Jones]

Not sure if this has been reported here yet?

QANTAS Freighter is starting a Trans-Tasman service on the Sydney - Auckland - Christchurch - Sydney route, using B767-200F leased from Air Transport Int'l (ATI)

QF7523 SYD2210 - 0340+1AKL 76F x567
QF7524 AKL0500 - 0620CHC0720 - 1005SYD 76F x167

Looks like a new a/c to be seen regularly in SYD.

[William Bradley]

Any idea when, and will the plane be in Qantas or ATI titles?

[lloyd fox]

15 june 1st flight.

I assume ATI c/s.

[Mike W]

Much like the Atlas 744F's one would assume...

[Greg Wood]

Great to see it in QF colours, but most likely will retain ATI livery.
Greg

[Todd Hendry]

At the moment it is in QF colours but it is a 767-300ER crewed by Australian QF crews.I know it isn't a freighter and I know you all know these facts. But I thought I would make a point. It's a shame that non Australians will operate these flights. Sorry to be a bit political about this everyone.

[Craig Murray]

Agree Todd, and didn't Qantas dispose of some 767-200's not so long ago? Could the airline have converted one or two of the better aircraft to freighter configuration and formed Qantas Cargo? Even now some of the 767-300's would surely be canidates for such a start up? Or is there still "no money in freight" according to management?

I note that ATI operate two B767-200 Freighters.

N748AX built in 1983 for Delta.
N761CX built in 1985 for American.

No doubt having a new aircraft to photograph in the region is a great thing from an enthusiasts perspective but I'd like to perhaps expand on this debate by putting forth the question:

Could Qantas Cargo work?

I am aware that there is a global downturn in air cargo just now however there is almost certainly no doubt that things will come good again in the not too distant future, maybe now is the time to pick up a couple of surplus freighters and give it a go? Our geographical isolation from the rest of the world all but ensures we have some degree of reliance on air freight.

[Gerard M]

Originally Posted by Todd Hendry

At the moment it is in QF colours but it is a 767-300ER crewed by Australian QF crews.I know it isn't a freighter and I know you all know these facts. But I thought I would make a point. It's a shame that non Australians will operate these flights. Sorry to be a bit political about this everyone.

Sorry, i'm a bit confused. Is this one your talking about Todd the new service thats going to be operated by ATI or that the current freight run is a QF767 and its going to change to the ATI serivce with ATI 767 and crew?

I actually am looking forward to seeing it if it does come in ATI colours. They're quite a good combination of colours.

[Craig Murray]

Gerard, it's not a "new" service per se it is replacing flying currently undertaken by passenger configured Boeing 767-300's with their guts jam packed with freight and operated by Qantas crews. I believe Todd's point is that this arrangement takes this flying away from these crews and gives it to foreign operators and crews and is possibly as a result of the airlines desire to dispose (??) of a couple of 767's.

I've always wanted to do the impossible and spend a night on the QF freighter service to NZ and back. I guess the impossible just became more impossible if that's possible

[Torin Wilson]

Of the 2 767's Craig mentioned, 1 is in ATI colours and the other ABX and both are meant to operate it.