End of an era for QANTAS

      Qantas bids farewell to its final Boeing 767 Freighter

Today marks the end of an era for Qantas as it bids farewell to its last operational Boeing 767 aircraft, concluding nearly four decades of service. The Australian airline announced on Instagram that the final 767 in its fleet, registered VH-EFR, is set to be decommissioned.

QF7526 departed Hong Kong (HKG/VHHH) at 21.41 bound for Sydney (SYD/YSSY) and after a quick eight hour twenty-eight-minute flight, it touched down on runway 16R at 8.35 a.m. 

Qantas ceased using Boeing 767s for passenger flights in 2014, having operated a total of 41 since 1985. The fleet has transported 168 million passengers across 927,000 flights, as per the airline's records.

VH-EFR, which is just over 18 years old, was incorporated into the Qantas fleet in 2011, previously serving as a cargo plane for Japan's All Nippon Airways (ANA). Under Qantas ownership, it was managed by Express Freighters Australia, flying for Qantas Freight.

With the introduction of Airbus A321F and A330F planes to Qantas Freight, the airline is preparing to retire its older 737-300 and 737-400 models. The current fleet of the freight division includes five A321s, two A330s, three BAe-146s, and two 737s, with plans to phase out the remaining Boeing 737 cargo planes later this year.

Some major points for the Qantas 767

Boeing 767-381F.  VH-EFR 33510 / 939.
(Was also registered as: JA-603F; N324MY.)

• This aircraft was ordered new by Mercury Aircraft Leasing, Tokyo, Japan
• Powered by General Electric CF6-80C2B6 engines
• Rolled off the Boeing production line at Everett (Paine Field) - 8th of January 2006
• Entered onto the Japanese Aircraft Register as JA-603F - January 2006
• Registered to Mercury Aircraft Leasing, Tokyo, Japan
• Leased to All Nippon Airways as the registered operator
• First flown as JA-603F - on the 19th of January 2006
• Departed Everett on the delivery flight to Japan as ANA9397 - 14th of February 2006
• Returned to lessor at the end of the lease - November 2010
• Cancelled from the Japanese Aircraft Register - February 2011
• Entered onto the United States Aircraft Register as N324MY -3rd of February 2011
• Registered to Wells Fargo Bank Northwest National Trustee, Salt Lake City
• Cancelled from the United States Aircraft Register - 4th of February 2011
• Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-EFR - on the 7th of February 2011
• Registered to Mercury Airline Ltd, Tokyo, Japan
• Leased to Qantas Airways Ltd, Sydney as the registered operator
• The aircraft will be operated by Express Freighter Australia (Qantas freight subsidiary)
• Ferried Singapore - Sydney (Kingsford Smith) as QF7572 - 12th of February 2011
• The aircraft was operated in the basic Qantas livery with Qantas Freight titles and an 'all-red' tail
• Operated its first revenue service Sydney - Auckland as QF7525 - 6th of March 2011
• Registered to Mercury Aircraft Limited, Tokyo, Japan - 30th of April 2013
• Leased to Express Freighters Australia Pty Ltd, Sydney as the registered operator
• Registered to Qantas Airways Ltd, Sydney - 6th of June 2013
• Leased to Express Freighters Australia Pty Ltd, Sydney as the registered operator
• It was repainted during maintenance with new titles and the 'Qantas' tail logo
• Ferried Singapore (Paya Lebar) - Sydney (Kingsford Smith) as QF7530 - 13th of January 2014
• Returned to service Sydney (Kingsford Smith) - Auckland as QF7523 - 13th of January 2014
• Flew its last operational flight Hong Kong to Sydney- 18th May 2024

For nearly 40 years, Qantas operated the Boeing 767 for both passenger and freight services.