QANTAS will operate its last ever Boeing 737-400 flight on 23 February 2014 from Canberra to Melbourne Tullamarine. This represents the end of era in Australian Aviation history, particularly the significance and ties it has with Trans-Australia Airlines (TAA) and the original Australian Airlines.

Australian Airlines (TAA) placed an initial order for nine 737-400s to complement its 737-300 fleet on 28 July 1988. The first aircraft, registered as VH-TJE and named “Kookaburra” arrived on 17 March 1990. The first 737 aircraft to appear in QANTAS colours and the first narrow body jet since the 707 was registration VH-TJT named “Kingfisher” and arrived brand new on 30 October 1993. Australian Airlines and QANTAS officially merged the next day on 31 October 1993.

The 737s including the dash 300 series have proven to be a workhorse of the domestic fleet. The Australian Airlines/TAA legacy for the 737-400s is still evident with the fact they carry Boeing’s customer code “76” thus even the ones delivered new to QANTAS from TJT onwards were always designated as 737-476 rather than QANTAS’ customer code of “38”. Even the registration series of “TJ” carries the “T-Jet” legacy of Trans-Australia Airlines.

QANTAS 737-476 reg VH-TJX seen at Sydney airport. Picture by Aero Icarus.

The final 737-476 flight is scheduled to be operated by VH-TJS which was delivered on 16 April 1993 and named Jaibaru. The last sector will be flight QANTAS QF819 on 23 February departing Canberra at 17:10 arriving in Melbourne Tullamarine at 18:20. The 737-400s would have provided Australian/QANTAS just short of 24 years of reliable and safe service. Obviously with the newer next generation 737-800s which have replaced the classics it is not economically sound to continue operating the 737-400s. However, from a purely nostalgic and sentimental perspective, the airliner enthusiast in us will miss them dearly. Farewell 737-476!