Plane spotting by the river

Yesterday, my family and I visited New Farm Park, just outside the city, because my daughter wanted to take her dog for a long walk. After arriving, we strolled along the waterfront toward Teneriffe for a refreshing drink. I brought my camera along, knowing I’d catch close-up departures from 19 Right and distant ones from 19 Left.

SINGAPORE AIRLINES AIRBUS A350-941 9V-SHP (MSN 436)
SQ256 OFF TO SINGAPORE (SIN) 5 YEARS

JETSTAR BOEING 787-8 VH-VKB (MSN 36228)
JQ9 OFF TO TOKYO (NRT) 12 YEARS

VIRGIN AUSTRALIA BOEING 737-MAX 8 VH-8VG (MSN 67037)
VA447 OFF TO DARWIN (DRW) 3 MONTHS

SOLOMON AIRLINES AIRBUS A320-232 H4-SIB (MSN 2445)
IE715 OFF TO MUNDA (MUA) 20 YEARS

AIR CANADA BOEING 787-9 C-FNOI (MSN 35268)
AC36 OFF TO VANCOUVER (YVR) 10 YEARS

CHINA SOUTHERN AIRBUS A350-941 B-30C0 (MSN 357)
CZ382 OFF TO GUANGZHOU (CAN) 6 YEARS

ALLIANCE EMBRAER E190AR VH-A2K (MSN 19000040)
QF1824 OFF TO MACKAY (MKY) 19 YEARS
FLYING FOR QANTAS 

UNITED AIRLINES BOEING 777-222 N797UA (MSN 26294)
UA97 OFF TO SAN FRANCISCO (SFO) 28 YEARS

QANTAS AIRBUS A330-303 VH-QPF (MSN 595)
QF61 OFF TO TOKYO (NRT) 22 YEARS

SKYTRANS AUSTRALIA AIRBUS A319-112 VH-L7A (MSN 1179)
SX2614 OFF TO DARWIN (DRW) 23 YEARS

CHINA EASTERN AIRBUS A330-243 B-5938 (MSN 1479)
MU716 OFF TO SHANGHAI (PVG) 12 YEARS

ALLIANCE AIRLINES FOKKER 70 VH-JFE (MSN 11545)
VA1239 OFF TO ROCKHAMPTON (ROK) 30 YEARS

AIR NEW ZEALAND BOEING 787-9 ZK-NZR (MSN 65088)
NZ81 OVERFLYING BRISBANE FROM AUCKLAND TO HONG KONG

QANTAS AIRBUS A330-202 VH-EBJ (MSN 940)
QF51 OFF TO SINGAPORE (SIN) 17 YEARS

PHILIPPINE AIRLINES AIRBUS A321-271N RP-C9930 (MSN 8117)
PR222 OFF TO MANILA (MNL) 7 YEARS 

JETSTAR BOEING 787-8 VH-VKD (MSN 36229)
JQ23 OFF TO OSAKA (KIX) 12 YEARS

QANTASLINK EMBRAER E190AR VH-UZF (MSN 19000166) 
QLK357 OFF TO HONIARA (HIR) 18 YEARS

ANZAC DAY 2026

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning,

We will remember them.

LEST WE FORGET

Anzac Day is a National Day of Remembrance in Australia and New Zealand that broadly commemorates all Australians and New Zealanders "who served and died in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations" and "the contribution and suffering of all those who have served". Observed on the 25th of April each year, Anzac Day was originally devised to honor the members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) who fought at Gallipoli against the Ottoman Empire during World War I. (1914–1918) Anzac Day is also observed in the Cook Islands, Niue, Pitcairn Islands, and Tonga, and previously was a national holiday in Papua New Guinea and Samoa. Anzac Day marks the anniversary of the first campaign that led to major casualties for Australian and New Zealand forces during the First World War. 

The acronym ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, whose soldiers were known as Anzacs. Anzac Day remains one of the most important national occasions of both Australia and New Zealand a rare instance of two sovereign countries not only sharing the same Remembrance Day but making reference to both countries in its name. When war broke out in 1914, Australia and New Zealand had been dominions of the British Empire for thirteen and seven years respectively. World War One was one of the deadliest conflicts in the history of the human race, in which over 16 million people died. The total number of both civilian and military casualties is estimated at around 37 million people. The war killed almost 7 million civilians and 10 million military personnel. Two out of three soldiers died in battle; the rest died due to infections or disease. The Spanish flu also killed a lot of people in prisoner camps.

For Australia
The First World War remains the costliest conflict in terms of deaths and casualties. From a population of fewer than five million, 416,809 men enlisted, of whom more than 60,000 were killed and 156,000 wounded, gassed, or taken prisoner.

For New Zealand
The First World War was one of the most significant events of the 20th Century and had a seismic impact on New Zealand society. Just under ten percent of their then population of 1.1 million served overseas, of which more than 18,000 died. There were also over 40,000 hospitalisations due to injury or illness. Nearly every New Zealand family was affected by the impact of the war.

The Red Poppy

The red poppy has become a symbol of war remembrance the world over. People in many countries wear the poppy to remember those who died in war or are serving in the armed forces. In many countries, the poppy is worn on Armistice Day (11th of November), but in Australia and New Zealand it is most commonly seen on Anzac Day, 25th of April.

In Flanders fields
The red or Flanders poppy has been linked with battlefield deaths since the Great War (1914–18). It was one of the first plants to grow and bloom on battlefields in the Belgian region of Flanders. The connection was made most famously by a Canadian medical officer, Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae, in his poem, ‘In Flanders fields’.

On this ANZAC Day, we pause to honor the bravery, sacrifice, and unwavering spirit of our veterans— past and present.

Thank you for your service, your courage, and the freedoms you have safeguarded for future generations. We remember those who gave their lives and those who returned forever changed.

Your legacy lives on in our hearts and continues to inspire unity, resilience, and gratitude across Australia and New Zealand.

                            LEST WE FORGET

All photos taken from the internet and story taken from different websites.

Qatar resumes Adelaide flights

QATAR BOEING 777-3DZ A7-BEG (MSN 60333)

Showing renewed confidence in the Australian market, Qatar Airways will resume flights to Adelaide in mid-June 2026. The seasonal Adelaide (ADL/YPAD) to Doha (DOH/OTHH) route will run daily from the 16th of June to the 14th of September 2026, using the airline’s Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.

Flight QR915 will depart Adelaide at 10pm and arrive in Doha at 5am the next day. The return flight, QR914, will leave the Doha at 8pm and arrive in Adelaide at 3.30pm the following day.

The Adelaide-Doha route was halted soon after hostilities broke out between the United States and Iran in late February, with other Australian routes also grounded because of the war. 

Qatar Airways’ return to Adelaide marks the next step in the airline’s journey back to full capacity in Australia. The national carrier kicked things off in early April with three weekly flights from Melbourne and Perth, followed by the resumption of three weekly Sydney services on the 10th of April.

Qatar says it plans to resume flights to Brisbane on the 16th of May, with four flights per week.

Canberra to Doha is the only Aussie route yet to resume for the carrier.

Virgin Australia cuts more flights

Just a week after announcing an additional one per cent cut in domestic capacity, Virgin Australia has revealed plans to further reduce its schedule by around 10 flights per week.

With fuel costs climbing, the airline says it’s making more changes to its network. The carrier explains that the cuts are meant to align supply with shifting demand.

“These changes are designed to ensure Virgin Australia is flying where demand is strongest and on routes that are commercially viable, while maintaining our commitment to regional communities,” Virgin Australia said in a statement.

The first route to be cut is the seasonal Brisbane (BNE/YBBN) to Alice Springs (ASP/YBAS) service, which will be “suspended indefinitely” starting the 14th of July 2026.

The Adelaide (ADL/YPAD) to Cairns (CNS/YBCS) route will follow on the 1st of August 2026. Impacted guests on both routes will be reaccommodated – via Adelaide for the Alice Springs service, and via Brisbane, Sydney or Melbourne for the Cairns service.

Elsewhere, Virgin will shorten its seasonal Sydney (SYD/YSSY) - Darwin (DRW/YPDN) route to run from the 22nd of June to the 25th of October 2026, with affected guests reaccommodated on the same day via Brisbane or Melbourne. The route will resume in March 2027.

The Melbourne (MEL/YMML) - Ayers Rock (AYQ/YAYE) service will see three flights shrink to two per week from the 20th of August 2026, with impacted flyers rebooked via Brisbane or Melbourne within one to two days of travel.

“We recognise these changes will impact our guests, and all affected customers will be contacted directly and offered reaccommodation on the next available Virgin Australia service, which in most cases will be on the same day,” the airline stated. 

They went on to say; “A range of alternative options is also available, including alternate Virgin Australia flight options, a travel credit, or a refund.

“Demand remains strong across the rest of the Virgin Australia network, and we continue to focus on delivering great value fares to Australians.” 

Emirates and Qatar Airways have reduced A380 services on seven routes

Emirates and Qatar Airways have withdrawn their Airbus A380 services from a total of seven routes as the conflict in Iran continues to disrupt Gulf carrier networks. 

These changes have added to earlier disruptions, with Qatar Airways grounding its entire A380 fleet for April and May. Emirates has also cut its A380 flights by a third compared to last year, partly due to ongoing cabin reconfiguration work on its superjumbos.

EMIRATES AIRBUS A380-861 E6-EEK (MSN 132)

In May, Emirates will suspend A380 flights from Dubai (DXB/OMDB) to Copenhagen (CPH/EKCH), Glasgow (GLA/EGPF), Osaka Kansai (KIX/RJBB), and Prague (PRG/LKPR). For now, only that month is affected, but the suspension will likely carry over into June.

Replacement aircraft differ by route. The Boeing 777-300ER will handle three of the four routes: a 328-seat version for Osaka, a 332-seat version for Glasgow, and a 360-seat version for Prague. All three feature four classes. Copenhagen is the exception. Emirates will deploy its three-class, 298-seat Airbus A350-900, the airline’s lowest-capacity widebody.

QATAR AIRWAYS AIRBUS A380-861 A7-APG (MSN 193)

Qatar Airways faces deeper cuts. With no A380 flights in April or May, the latest changes affect June through August.

The airline has removed superjumbo services from Doha (DOH/OTHH) to Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG/LFPG), Singapore (SIN/WSSS), and Sydney (SYD/YSSY). The 517-seat A380 is currently scheduled to return on these routes from the 16th of September.

The updated lineup includes the 354-seat Boeing 777-300ER for Paris CDG, while Singapore will have a mix of the 283-seat A350-900 and the 327-seat A350-1000. Sydney will be served by the 327-seat A350-1000. Qatar Airways will keep flying the A380 to London Heathrow (LHR/EGLL) starting on the 16th of June, but now with twice-daily flights instead of once, running through July and August. 

Spotting from home and Brisbane Airport

Here are some photos that were taken on Friday from my home and then Saturday morning at the airport. 

I raced out early on Saturday because I wanted to see the Malaysian Airlines sporting the Manchester United livery. 

From home

AERO VODOCHODY L-39 VH-SIC (MSN 433144) 42 YEARS
NORTH AMERICAN P-51D MUSTANG VH-FST (MSN 45-11526)

INTERAIR CESSNA 172M SKYHAWK VH-DWE (MSN 17264267) 52 YEARS

FIJI AIRWAYS BOEING 737 MAX 8 DQ-FAD (MSN 64308)
FJ921 ARRIVING FROM NADI (NAN) 7 YEARS

VIRGIN AUSTRALIA BOEING 737-8FE VH-YFW (MSN 41037)
VA1211 ARRIVING FROM CANBERRA (CBR) 9 YEARS

AMERICAN CHAMPION SUPER DECATHLON VH-NQX (MSN 1016-2006) 20 YEARS

BASAIR PIPER SEMINOLE VH-BJC (MSN 4496409) 9 YEARS

BEECH 58 BARON VH-WRT (MSN TH-1664) 34 YEARS

CESSNA 172R SKYHAWK VH-AST (MSN 17280202) 29 YEARS

From the airport

GULF AIRCRAFT CESSNA CARAVAN VH-PYO (MSN 208B5595)

QANTAS AIRBUS A330-202 VH-EBK (MSN 945)
QF52 ARRIVING FROM SINGAPORE (SIN) 17 YEARS

CHINA SOUTHERN AIRBUS A350-941 B-308T (MSN 318)
CZ381 ARRIVING FROM GUANGZHOU (CAN) 6 YEARS

VIRGIN AUSTRALIA BOEING 737-7K2 VH-NBV (MSN 39446)
VA1207 ARRIVING FROM CANBERRA (CBR) 14 YEARS

VIRGIN AUSTRALIA BOEING 737-8FE VH-YFW (MSN 41037)
VA382 ARRIVING FROM TOWNSVILLE (TSV) 9YEARS

JETSTAR AIRBUS A320-232 VH-YXS (MSN 5732)
JQ929 ARRIVING FROM CAIRNS (CNS) 12 YEARS

QANTAS AIRBUS A330-303 VH-QPH (695)
QF62 ARRIVING FROM TOKYO (NRT) 20 YEARS

MALAYSIA AIRLINES AIRBUS A330-323 9M-MTL (MSN 1395)
MH135 ARRIVING FROM KUALA LUMPUR (KUL) 13 YEARS

QANTAS BOEING 737-838 VH-XZQ (MSN 44227)
QF706 OFF TO CAIRNS (CNS) 10 YEARS

AIR NEW ZEALAND AIRBUS A321-271NX ZK-NNH (MSN 12513)
NZ141 ARRIVING FROM AUCKLAND (AKL) 11 MONTHS

JETSTAR AIRBUS A321-251NX VH-OFV (MSN 11301)
JQ813 OFF TO SYDNEY (SYD) 2 YEARS

QANTAS BOEING 787-9 VH-ZNG (MSN 
QF119 OFF TO AUCKLAND (AKL) 7 YEARS

CHINA EASTERN AIRBUS A330-243 B-6537 (MSN 1262)
MU715 ARRIVING FROM SHANGHAI (PVG) 14 YEARS

QANTAS AIRBUS A330-202 VH-EBD (MSN 313)
QF54 ARRIVING FROM SINGAPORE (SIN) 23 YEARS

SOLOMON AIRLINES AIRBUS A320-232 H4-SIB (MSN 2445)
IE701 OFF TO HONIARA (HIR) 20 YEARS

QANTASLINK DASH 8 Q400 VH-LQG (MSN 4376)
QLK320D OFF TO BUNDABERG (BDB) 14 YEARS

VIRGIN AUSTRALIA BOEING 737 MAX 8 VH-8IA (MSN 65045)
VA387 OFF TO TOWNSVILLE (TSV) 2 YEARS

SOLOMON AIRLINES AIRBUS A320-232 H4-SAL (MSN 5566)
IE726 OFF TO LUGANVILLE (SON) 13 YEARS

REX SAAB 340B VH-ZLO (MSN 340B-382)
ZL9911 OFF TO COFFS HARBOUR (CFS) 30 YEARS

NAURU AIRLINES BOEING 737-3U3 VH-ONU (MSN 28732)
ON406 OFF TO HONIARA (HIR) 28 YEARS

KOREAN AIR BOEING 787-9 HL7207 (MSN 34816)
KE408 ARRIVING FROM SEOUL (ICN) 7 YEARS

AIR NEW ZEALAND AIRBUS A321-271NX ZK-NND (MSN 8629)
NZ272 OFF TO WELLINGTON (WLG) 7 YEARS

SINGAPORE AIRLINES AIRBUS A350-941 9V-SHJ (MSN 328)
SQ256 OFF TO SINGAPORE (SIN) 6 YEARS

JETSTAR BOEING 787-8 VH-VKL (MSN 36238)
JQ9 OFF TO TOKYO (NRT) 10 YEARS