QantasLink takes deliver of first E190

Qantas’ regional subsidiary QantasLink recently welcomed its first Embraer E190. The aircraft is part of the Australian carrier’s fleet renewal program for its Western Australia resources charter operation.

Registered as VH-E9A, the airline’s new E190 arrived at Perth on September 7 after a 20-hour delivery flight from Norwich, United Kingdom. Between Norwich and Perth, the aircraft made five stops in between including Sofia, Bulgaria; Dushanbe, Tajikistan; Kolkata, India; Johor Bahru, Malaysia; and Broome, Australia.

The first of a group of 14 E190s will replace the F100 aircraft currently used by Network Aviation for two decades since 2008, and remained a part of the fleet after becoming a part of QantasLink in 2011. The first E190 will enter commercial service from January 2027.

“The arrival of our first E190 marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter.,” said Network Aviation Australia Chief Operating Officer and Regional General Manager Trevor Worgan. “For almost 20 years, the F100 has played a vital role connecting regional Western Australia and supporting the resources sector, and now we're investing in the next generation of aircraft to serve our customers and communities for decades to come.”

Prior to joining the Network Aviation fleet, VH-E9A was first operated by Netherland-based KLM’s subsidiary KLM Cityhopper in February 2009 until February 2026. Within the year the aircraft was stored first in Warsaw and then Norwich.

After delivery, each of the E190s will undergo a cabin refresh which will include the installation of inflight Wi-Fi to enable content streaming on passengers’ mobile devices, spacious seats with adjustable headrests, and USB-A/C charging and personal device holders. Qantas Economy Plus seats will also be available on the E190.

According to Qantas, around 70 pilots, crew and engineers will get a combined 18,000 hours of training before the year’s end for the initial E190 operations and maintenance. Qantas aims to have more than 600 pilots, crew, and engineers supporting the E190 fleet operations.

QantasLink currently operates around 120 charter and passenger flight services a week to more than 25 destinations across regional Australia. Along with the E190s, 19 Perth-based A320s are being currently undergoing upgrades including the installation of Wi-Fi, and seat and cabin upgrades. The first refreshed Perth-based A320 will be done by the end of October.