Qantas 787

[Dennis McLean]

VH ZNF as QF6044 departed CPT at 20.41 SAST, Thursday, due in BNE at 16.00 today

[James Smith]

One of the items from yesterday's QANTAS media release on the restarting of international services was that QANTAS would take delivery of the three undelivered B789s currently in storage. The item read:

Qantas to take delivery of three 787-9s (new aircraft that have been in storage with Boeing) during FY23 to operate additional flights to key markets as demand increases.

This is planned, at this stage, for somewhere during the financial year from 1 July, 2022 to 30 June, 2023.

[Glenn R]

VH-ZNI has popped up on flight radar with a call sign of ASY-092.
Military charter?
Could it be going to the middle east?

[Peter C]

On its way to Al Minhad Airbase [NHD] for refugee transfer to Darwin.
FlightRadar24 has it as QF85 departing at 10 a.m. Same site also has another flight tomorrow and one on Monday.

[Glenn R]

Found it on flightaware.
Going to Dubai on behalf of the RAAF

Originally Posted by Glenn R

VH-ZNI has popped up on flight radar with a call sign of ASY-092.
Military charter?
Could it be going to the middle east?

[Peter C]

Exactly, as Flightaware states - to NHD [= Al Minhad Airbase], which is the military airfield all the RAAF flights (& NZAF) have been/are using for their transfers out of Kabul.

An interesting side effect of this crisis was watching ZNK transit the Middle East area yesterday en-route to Instanbul at 43000' and well clear of normal routes over Afghanistan.

With ZNH just completing a DRW-DEL-DRW rotation this morning, and ZNJ due to do one today, Howard Springs is going to fill up rapidly. ZNK is due back in Darwin late tomorrow, ZNA from London on Monday, then apparently ZNI will be back from Al Minhad on Tuesday - with no destination available at present, it may be going to Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide or Hobart instead.

Add in those additional repatriation flights announced on 26th by Qantas to Frankfurt (2), Vancouver and Johannesburg ... seems fortunate that ZNF is going to Brisbane rather than Darwin with its ? repatriation passengers from Cape Town.

[Dennis McLean]

I was told that the Springboks Rugby Union team were on ZNF ????????

[Peter C]

Seems more logical Denis, based on flight numbers. Thanks.

[Dennis McLean]

ZNF off today again at 10.05 as ASY94, BNE/NHD

[Montague S]

What's with QF 6016 from MEL-ANC nonstop? This is the second 787 to ANC in a few weeks.