Have had another look at the Copa Fleet. There were 15 aircraft in total with the 4th youngest 19000165 (HP-1566CMP) now with Ego Airways as I-EGOA. My thoughts are if it was available for Alliance it would have been VH-UYU following the pattern. I think U is the one to miss out.

19000016 - UYC
19000034 - UYE
19000053 - UYI
19000056 - UYJ
19000089 - UYK
19000095 - UYN
19000100 - UYP
19000126 - UYR

My thoughts only, any comments.

N916QQ landing BNE earlier today.:)

https://www.flickr.com/photos/794876...in/dateposted/

Nice shot, LLoyd.

Thanks Greg-Cheers.

Alliance commenced operating QLink services today with their E190 fleet

From what I've seen, these are the first Qlink services for each aircraft. There flights are either completed and/or scheduled

UYB QF1950, Adelaide to Darwin
UYO QF1958, Darwin to Alice Springs
UYW QF1956, Adeliade to Alice Springs
UYY QF1960, Darwin to Alice Springs
UYZ QF1954, Adelaide to Alice Springs

QANTAS has stated in its E190 based in Adelaide media release that, "the aircraft will be painted in QantasLink livery..."

Will this result in the five current E190s now in service with QANTAS being repainted, including UYB in its unique Defence colour scheme, or will future E190 deliveries from Copa or American be painted in QLink livery prior to delivery, or after delivery, and be substituted for the current five? It would seem a waste to paint the current aircraft in the Alliance scheme prior to delivery and then repaint them as QLink only months later. Maybe N916QQ will be the first to be repainted as it was delivered in all white colours.

Any thoughts on this?

Also, the five E190s have entered service with QLink in a 10J/84Y seating configuration according to QANTAS Source.

Of the 14 x ex-Copa birds

BNE 6x(VH)
BNE 1x(N)
PTY 2x(57,64)
CJO 5X(59,60,61,62,65)

Only half of the ex-Copa birds (7 x 94Pax) have been delivered. The QFLink livery has been known publicly for some time. I expect that a number of the remaining seven (and N916QQ) will be delivered in all white livery and painted locally or arrive in QLink livery. They will swap out the existing aircraft as new aircraft in QLink livery become available.

Paint here or in SJO will depend on the cost. From memory both Wagga & Townsville have repainted aircraft in QLink livery.

Thanks for your input, Greg. The QANTAS media release went on to say that:

Interesting - a three year deal with Alliance, eight E190s activated and up to 14 aircraft in the deal. The 14 just happens to be the number of E190s that Alliance is taking from Copa.

I have seen the seating map for the E.190's, rather strange with Row 1 having 1 seat only on Port side and no seats on the Starboard side. Rows 2-4 are 1 and 2. Then there are 21 Rows of 2 - 2 Total 10J/84Y

PlaneSpotters.net is now showing QantasLink as having one Embraer pending delivery - 19000016 N916QQ and will be registered VH-UYC.

So I guess it won't be all white for long :)