The Boeing 717 has been a workhorse of Qantas’ domestic network since the flag carrier acquired Impulse Airlines back in 2001.

Once adorned with Impulse’s blue livery (complete with giant cockatoo on the tail fin) the 717 aircraft were initially moved into the QantasLink fleet to serve east coast commuters after the Qantas acquisition.

Early Memories

I vividly remember my first QantasLink 717 flight, flying to the Gold Coast from Sydney back in 2002. I recall the quiet cabin (if you are at the front ) due to the rear mounted engines – and the 2-3 economy layout that separates this type from the more common 3-3 setup in the Boeing 737s and Airbus A320s that ply Australian skies.

From 2004, the Boeing 717 fleet was transferred to Jetstar, and used by Qantas to kickstart what would become a highly successful low-cost carrier. Later Jetstar acquired Airbus A320s, which replaced the 717s allowing the smaller aircraft to return to the QantasLink operation, this time operated by National Jet.

This arrangement saw 717s flying for many years in both Western Australia as well as the east coast.

SUGGESTED READ: The history of the 717 in Australia and where the aircraft will go now.

East Coast Focus

In recent years, the 717 fleet has focused on east-coast flying, linking Canberra with Sydney and Melbourne, as well as being a regular sight in Tasmania. It was for these routes that a 12-seat business class cabin was added to the aircraft.

As QantasLink welcomes new, more efficient, and larger, A220 aircraft the 717s have gradually been withdrawn and this month, the type was retired.

One last trip

Just days before the airline made their final 717 boarding call, I flew on the venerable type between Sydney and Canberra.

The flight, QF1501 took place on 15 October 2024. It was a late afternoon hop between the harbour city and the nation’s capital. The aircraft allocated was VH-YQW, built in 2006. This plane is notable as it has worn a special Discover Tasmania livery for the past decade.

On this short flight, totalling just 55 minutes, I was travelling in business class, which is admittedly an unnecessary extravagance for such a short hop.

Nevertheless, I wanted to try out the premium product aboard one last time before the type retired (and guarantee early boarding to get a few final photos of the cabin).

Onboard

Boarding in Sydney was prompt and efficient, and I was the first traveller to step aboard. I was greeted at the door and directed to my seat 1A, which had ample leg room.

The small business cabin was laid out in a 2-2 configuration. My seat was comfortable, upholstered in a dark hue, with an adjustable head rest. There was a recline function, in-arm tray table, and universal power point at each seat.

I was impressed by how well the cabin presented as I stepped aboard, with the bulkheads, carpeting, wall dressings and windows all appearing newer than the aircraft’s 18-year vintage.

Upon sitting down, I noticed food left in my seat from previous flights, that jarred with the otherwise spotless condition of the cabin.

The business cabin was quiet on this flight, with just 4 of the 12 seats occupied. Despite this, there were no welcome drinks or any interaction with the cabin crew during the boarding process.

We pushed back at 18:30 and taxied out to runway 16R. The quietness of the cabin during taxi and take off reminded me of that first flight back in 2002. The 717 really did offer a quiet cabin, especially up the front!

Take off was spectacular with wonderful views of the parallel runway 16L. After take-off, the captain came over the public address system to let us know about the quick flight and expected arrival conditions in Canberra.

Food and Service

Despite being a short trip, we were offered a meal service. The cabin crew advised that due to the flight time, only one option was available. It was advertised as a Thai Prawn Curry and was served on a tray with a bread plate (but no bread), cutlery (which unfortunately was dirty and had to be replaced) and a teeny-tiny Lindt chocolate.

On closer inspection there was not a prawn in sight. Rather the dish was some kind of red meat. If I had to guess, I’d say it was lamb, but it was very spicy, and the rice was cold and quite sticky.

Drinks were also offered. It had been a long day, so I opted for a Scotch and Dry, as well as a water. The water was offered immediately by way of a small bottle. Unfortunately, there was no Ginger Ale in the foreword galley. By the time my drink arrived from the aft galley we were commencing our descent and glasses needed to be cleared away – so I only got a mouthful!

There were no inflight entertainment screens on the 717, though the aircraft was fitted with Q-streaming. On this flight, the system was not working – not the end of the world given it was only 55 minutes. I just enjoyed the view out of the window, but there was also the Qantas magazine available at each seat.

During the trip I checked out the cabin as well as the forward bathroom. The bathroom was kept clean and was less cramped than I expected – owing to it being aft of the forward door rather than forward (as found on the 737s and A320s) meaning there is way more space to stand up on the 717 – useful for when you’re tall like I am!

Parting thoughts

Landing in Canberra was smooth and before long we were at the gate where I was the first to disembark.

Even though the service and meal were not Qantas’ finest, I enjoyed my last trip on an Aussie 717. The aircraft is a great little workhorse, and it still offered a very comfortable ride, right up to the end of its career!

Note: Chris Frame flew on a self-funded business class ticket. Post-flight a complaint was logged with Qantas Customer Care about the quality of the meal and customer service aboard, and Chris was compensated by way of complementary frequent flyer points.