David Eyre

Cathay Pacific switches Perth – Hong Kong services to Boeing 777-300ER from Airbus A350

B-KQU Boeing 777-367ER of Cathay Pacific Airways at Perth Airport, Western Australia - 31 October 2023. **Change of type - Boeing 777-300ER replacing Airbus A350-900/1000 on Hong Kong - Perth services** Flight CX171 from Hong Kong on approach to runway 21 at 10:37pm. The Boeing 777-300ER replaces the Airbus A350 previously used on this service. Photo © Nick Stubbs-Ross

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Airline Services

Cathay Pacific switches Perth – Hong Kong services to Boeing 777-300ER from Airbus A350

David Eyre 31 October 2023

Cathay Pacific today (31 October 2023) commenced using Boeing 777-300ER aircraft on Hong Kong / Perth services (CX171 / CX170), with B-KQU operating the first one tonight. Previously, Cathay...

ZK-NZE Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner of Air New Zealand in special all black livery, at Perth Airport - 29 October 2023. Air New Zealand resumed operating Auckland services using its own aircraft from today. ZK-NZE is seen departing as NZ176 to Auckland on 29 October. To enable Air New Zealand to build capacity while bringing other stored aircraft back online after the COVID-19 pandemic, the airline had wet-leased (aircraft plus crew) Airbus A330-243 aircraft from Spanish airline Wamos Air from 15 November 2022 to 28 October 2023. Wamos Air A330-200 EC-NCK was flown to New Zealand on 10 November 2022 and entered service on the Perth route from 15 November 2022, operating daily as NZ173 from Auckland and departing as NZ174. It operated its final Perth-Auckland service on 27 April 2023 and was replaced by EC-NBN until 28 October 2023. Photo © John Slabbert

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Air New Zealand resumes Boeing 787 Auckland – Perth services, replacing leased Wamos Air A330

David Eyre 29 October 2023

Air New Zealand re-introduced their own Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft onto Auckland – Perth services as of today, 29 October 2023, with the all-black ZK-NZE operating. Airbus A330-200 aircraft...

ANA resumes Tokyo – Perth services

JA893A Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner of ANA, at Perth Airport, Western Australia - 29 October 2023. **Resumption of passenger services to Perth by ANA today** Flight NH881 at bay 153, Terminal 1, after arriving from Tokyo-Narita at 7:49pm. It departed as NH882 at 10:31pm. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, ANA suspended Perth services, with their final passenger service on 30 March 2020 (they operated some freight services in January 2021). They have now resumed daily services. Photo © John Slabbert

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ANA resumes Tokyo – Perth services

David Eyre 29 October 2023

ANA (All Nippon Airways) resumed services today (29 October 2023) between Tokyo-Narita and Perth. ANA had suspended Perth services on 30 March 2020 due to travel restrictions imposed during...

Firefighting aircraft in Western Australia: October 2023 – April 2024

N1073W/HELITAK 671 Bell 214B-1 BigLifter of McDermott Aviation, at Warradale Park, Landsdale, Western Australia - 29 January 2022. Drawing water from the lake, while fighting a bushfire to the west of Tonkin Highway in Bullsbrook. Operated on firefighting duties in the summer fire season, for the Western Australian Government under the Department of Fire and Emergency Services. Fitted with a 2,700-Litre Isolair 'Tsunami' belly tank. Photo © David Eyre.

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Interesting movements

Firefighting aircraft in Western Australia: October 2023 – April 2024

David Eyre 15 October 2023

Updated photos and information on firefighting aircraft in Western Australia for the fire season October 2023 – April 2024.

Philippine Airlines direct Manila – Perth services commences

RP-C9936 Airbus A321-271N of Philippine Airlines, at Perth Airport, Western Australia - 27 March 2023. **First direct service between Manila and Perth and first visit by Philippine Airlines A321NEO.** Flight PR223 from Manila, taxying in at 6:42am with fire crews providing a water cannon welcome. Photo © David Eyre.

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Philippine Airlines direct Manila – Perth services commences

David Eyre 27 March 2023

27 March 2023 Philippine Airlines first direct service between Manila and Perth commenced today, with the first service receiving the traditional water cannon welcome from Perth Airport Rescue and...

German Air Force Airbus A400M visits Perth

54+37 Airbus A400M-180 (MSN 113) of LTG 62 (German: Lufttransportgeschwader 62 = Air Transport Wing 62) of the Luftwaffe (German Air Force), at Perth Airport, Western Australia - 6 March 2023. On approach to runway 24 at 4:44pm as 'GERMAN AIR FORCE 062', arriving from Avalon, Victoria after participating in the Australian International Air Show 2023. The aircraft departed on 8 March 2023 to Subang, Malaysia, again using the callsign 'GERMAN AIR FORCE 062'. Photo © David Eyre.

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German Air Force Airbus A400M visits Perth

David Eyre 8 March 2023

8 March 2023 A rare visitor today was a German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Airbus A400M-180 Atlas transport aircraft, serial 54+37 (MSN 113) of LTG 62 (German: Lufttransportgeschwader 62 =...

EC-MQM Airbus A340-313X of Plus Ultra, named 'Santa María Portugalete', at Perth Airport, Western Australia - 3 February 2023. First visit. Charter flight for the World Marathon Challenge 2023. PUE942 from Madrid via Cape Town landing on runway 03 at 2:01pm. Was originally scheduled to arrive the previous day. Departed Perth at 6:40am the next day as PUE943 to Dubai World Central. Built in 2001, MSN 399, ex F-GNII Air France, delivered to Plus Ultra from June 2017. Photo © David Eyre.

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Interesting movements

Plus Ultra (Spain) Airbus A340-300 visits Perth on charter for World Marathon Challenge 2023.

David Eyre 3 February 2023

3 February 2023 A rare visitor to Perth today was EC-MQM Airbus A340-313X of Plus Ultra, named ‘Santa María Portugalete’, on a charter flight for the World Marathon Challenge...

63-8879 Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker of 6th Air Refuelling Wing, US Air Force, at Perth Airport, Western Australia - 26 January 2023. 'BOLT 01' taxying in at 3:24pm. Based at MacDill AFB, Florida, USA. Originally delivered to the USAF as a KC-135A on 31 July 1964 and converted to KC-135R in February 1993. Arrived with another KC-135R 57-1483 'KNIGHT 01' from the 92nd Air Refuelling Wing, based at Fairchild AFB, Washington State, USA. The two aircraft circumnavigated the Southern Hemisphere in an endurance mission covering roughly 20,000 miles over seven days, to demonstrate their global reach capability. They flew MacDill Air Force Base (Florida, USA) - Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) - Cape Town (South Africa) - Perth. They departed on 27 January 2023 to Christchurch (New Zealand), then on 28 January to Papeete (Tahiti). 57-1483 then flew direct to Fairchild AFB in Washington State, USA, while 63-8879 instead flew to MacDill AFB. Photo © David Eyre

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US Air Force Boeing KC-135R Stratotankers visit Perth Airport on world circumnavigation exercise

David Eyre 26 January 2023

26 January 2023 A pair of US Air Force Boeing KC-135R Statotankers passed through Perth Airport on 26-27 January 2023 as part of an exercise to demonstrate their global...

A7-APG Airbus A380-861 of Qatar Airways at Perth Airport, Western Australia - 6 December 2022. **Resumption of Qatar Airways A380 on Doha - Perth route**. Replacing the previous daily Boeing 777-300ER, the A380 has returned to Perth services for the first time since 31 March 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic restricted travel. Flight QR900 from Doha is seen here about to land on runway 21 at Perth at sunset. Photo © Nick Stubbs-Ross

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Qatar Airways replaces Boeing 777-300ER with Airbus A380 on Doha – Perth services

David Eyre 6 December 2022

From today (6 December 2022), Qatar Airways has replaced the previous daily Boeing 777-300ER aircraft used on Doha – Perth services with the Airbus A380. A7-APG operated the QR900...

Wamos Air A330 leased by Air New Zealand for Perth services

EC-NCK Airbus A330-243 of Wamos Air, leased to Air New Zealand, at Perth Airport - 15 November 2022. First visit to Perth. Arriving on runway 03 as flight NZ173 from Auckland. This aircraft was wet-leased (aircraft plus crew) from Spanish airline Wamos Air to enable Air New Zealand to build capacity, while bringing other stored aircraft back online after the COVID-19 pandemic. EC-NCK was flown to New Zealand on 10 November 2022 and entered service on the Perth route from 15 November 2022, operating daily as NZ173 from Auckland and departing as NZ174. EC-NCK operated its final Perth-Auckland service on 27 April 2023 and was replaced by EC-NBN until 28 October 2023, when Air New Zealand resumed its own Boeing 787 service on the route. Photo © Max Schimpf

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Wamos Air A330 leased by Air New Zealand for Perth services

David Eyre 15 November 2022

An Airbus A330-200 aircraft has been wet-leased (aircraft plus crew) from Spanish airline Wamos Air since 15 November 2022, to enable Air New Zealand to build capacity while bringing...

AirAsia X resumes Kuala Lumpur – Perth services

9M-XXQ Airbus A330-343X of AirAsia X, over the northern suburbs of Perth, Western Australia - 4 November 2022. **Resumption of scheduled passenger services from Kuala Lumpur by AirAsia X** The previous regular scheduled passenger service by AirAsia X was on 20 March 2020, when they ceased due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic (though three freight services were operated in January 2021). Flight D7 236 from Kuala Lumpur seen here heading east to approach Perth Airport's runway 21 at 7:38am. Photo © David Eyre

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Airline Services

AirAsia X resumes Kuala Lumpur – Perth services

David Eyre 4 November 2022

AirAsia X today resumed scheduled passenger services between Kuala Lumpur and Perth, with Airbus A330-300 9M-XXQ operating flight D7236 from Kuala Lumpur this morning, returning as D7 237. The...

Air Mauritius resumes Mauritius – Perth services

3B-NBU Airbus A330-941neo of Air Mauritius, named 'Aapravasi Ghat', over the northern suburbs of Perth, Western Australia – 20 November 2022. Flight MK440 from Mauritius, heading northeast to join the approach to Perth Airport's runway 21 at 8:53am. Photo © David Eyre.

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Air Mauritius resumes Mauritius – Perth services

David Eyre 2 November 2022

Air Mauritius today (2 November 2022) resumed services from Mauritius, with Airbus A330-900neo 3B-NBU operating flight MK440 / MK441. The airline had operated twice per week between Perth and...

Emirates resumes A380 on Dubai – Perth services

A6-EEO Airbus A380-861 of Emirates at Perth Airport, Western Australia – 1 November 2022. Landing on runway 21 as flight EK420 from Dubai at 5:09pm. Photo © David Eyre.

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Emirates resumes A380 on Dubai – Perth services

David Eyre 1 November 2022

Emirates today (1 November 2022) switched back to the Airbus A380 on the EK420 / EK421 Dubai – Perth services, upgrading from the previous Boeing 777-300ER. Emirates A380-861 A6-EEO...

Leonardo AW139 to replace Bell 412EP Emergency Rescue Helicopters

Artist impression of the Leonardo AW139 rescue helicopter over Perth. Image courtesy of CHC - Dietmar Rabich.

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WA Aviation News

Leonardo AW139 to replace Bell 412EP Emergency Rescue Helicopters

David Eyre 1 June 2022

Rome, 01 June 2022: Leonardo announced that CHC Australia has ordered three new Leonardo AW139 helicopters, under contract to the State of Western Australia, for Western Australia’s Emergency Rescue...

New $10 million heliport for Royal Perth Hospital

Artist impression of the new $10 million heliport at Royal Perth Hospital (RPH).

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New $10 million heliport for Royal Perth Hospital

David Eyre 26 May 2022

Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson and Emergency Services Minister Stephen Dawson today opened Royal Perth Hospital’s (RPH) new 788 square metre $10 million heliport. The new heliport will allow the...

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