12/27/2014: Qantas Retires Its Last Passenger Boeing 767

DALLAS — Today, in 2014, after 29 years of service, Qantas (QF) bid farewell to its last Boeing 767 aircraft. A 767-300ER, VH-OGL, named 'City of Wangaratta' operated the final flight, which took place between Melbourne (MEL) and Sydney (SYD).

This special flight was given the unique flight number QF767. Captain Mike Galvin and First Officer Kirrily Zupp were in command of the aircraft, and the cabin was filled with a total of 254 passengers.

Speaking at the time, QF Head of Flying Operations and Boeing 767 pilot Captain Mike Galvin said, "The 767 has been a staple in the Qantas fleet for more than two decades and is a favorite with both crew and customers. It's been an extremely reliable aircraft and has served Qantas and our customers very well over the years."

"While it's sad to say goodbye, it's time to retire the 767s, as we have been bringing in newer aircraft that are more advanced and fuel efficient. It's also part of reducing complexity in our fleet by reducing the number of different aircraft types we fly from 11 down to seven."

Qantas' First Wide-bodied Twin

Known as the "workhorse of the fleet," QF introduced the Boeing 767 in 1985. The airline initially received a -200ER (VH-EAJ) as its first 767 aircraft and deployed it on various routes, including Pacific, Asian, and busy domestic routes. Over time, QF operated a total of 41 767s, including both the -200 and -300ER variants.

Some of these aircraft were directly delivered from Boeing with General Electric CF6 engines, while others were acquired from British Airways (BA) with Rolls-Royce RB211 engines.

The retirement of the -200 began in 2003, and by October 2004, all had been phased out of the QF fleet. The ex-BA-300ERs were withdrawn in 2013. The CF6-powered 767s underwent upgrades in 2012, which included refreshed interiors and the introduction of the new 'QStreaming' in-flight entertainment system.

These upgraded aircraft were expected to remain in service until 2015. However, due to increased competition from Virgin Australia (VA) and rising fuel prices, QF decided to retire the 767s earlier than planned

During its time with QF, the Boeing 767 carried almost 168 million passengers on over 927,000 flights, flying more than 1.8 billion kilometers. The Airbus A330 and Boeing 737-800 replace QF's Boeing 767.

Featured image: A Boeing 767-338ER (VH-OGL) was honored with operating the final service.