QantasLink’s first Embraer E190, VH-E9A, has landed in Perth, marking a major milestone in the airline’s fleet renewal program for its Western Australian resources charter operations.
The aircraft undertook a 20-hour journey from Norwich in the United Kingdom, with stops in Bulgaria, Tajikistan, India, Malaysia and Broome before touching down in Perth this morning.
The 100-seat jet is the first of up to 14 mid-life E190s that will progressively replace QantasLink’s F100 fleet, offering improved reliability, fuel efficiency and customer comfort. The first E190 will enter commercial service from January 2027.
Each E190 will undergo a cabin refresh before entering service. Wi-Fi will be installed on every aircraft so customers can stream content on their own device via the upgraded Qantas Entertainment App, alongside new, more spacious seats featuring adjustable headrests, USB-A/C charging and personal device holders. The aircraft will also offer Qantas Economy Plus, giving customers more legroom, priority boarding and priority access to overhead baggage space.
The E190 rollout will also create development opportunities for staff, with approximately 70 pilots, crew and engineers set to receive a combined 18,000 hours of training by the end of the year to operate and maintain the initial fleet. More than 600 pilots, crew and engineers could ultimately be trained as the E190 fleet reaches scale.
The E190 investment forms part of QantasLink’s broader upgrade of its Western Australian fleet – 19 Perth-based A320s are being fitted with Wi-Fi and undergoing seat and cabin upgrades, with the first due for completion by the end of October.
The first F100 joined Network Aviation’s fleet in 2008, before the airline became part of QantasLink in 2011. The F100s – each named after a Western Australian destination – now operate around 120 charter and passenger services per week to more than 25 destinations across regional WA.
The E190 fleet will continue that naming tradition, with the first aircraft, VH-E9A, to be named Exmouth.
Chief operating officer and regional general manager Network Aviation Australia Trevor Worgan said the E190’s arrival marked the beginning of an exciting new chapter.
“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,” Worgan said.
He said the aircraft represented a step change in customer experience for the more than three million journeys expected to benefit each year, with more comfortable seating, onboard Wi-Fi, USB charging and the introduction of Qantas Economy Plus.
“They’re also quieter, more fuel efficient and can fly further than the F100, opening up new opportunities for our customers,” Worgan said, adding that the E190 introduction was also an investment in local skills, with pilots, cabin crew and engineers undertaking specialist training to support the fleet in Western Australia.
