QantasLink's VH-YQS

Southern Cross International is ferrying QantasLink's 717-2BL, VH-YQS "Great Otway National Park" (c/n 55178, l/n 5128), from CBR to VCV, via APW and KOA, as SXI2472. Its stop today at KOA will be an overnighter.

According to our sources in Australia, this will be the last 717 to ferry out of Australia, as sister-ship, VH-YQW "Tassie Devil" (c/n 55194, l/n 5154) will remain in Down Under to be used by an engineering school.

55178's History:

Feb 2004: Delivered to Midwest Airlines as N916ME, under lease from Boeing Capital.

Jun 2009: Leased to MexicanaClick as XA-CLE.

Oct 2013: Leased to National Jet Systems to operate for QantasLink as VH-YQW.

___ 2019: Painted in the current livery, and named "Great Otway National Park".

Oct 2024: Flew the final QantasLink 717 revenue flight, then withdrawn from service.