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QantasLink Donates Retired Fokker 100 ‘Meekatharra’ to HARS

The gift secures a decade of regional Western Australia service for public display as QantasLink begins replacing its ageing F100s with Embraer E190s.

Overview

  • VH‑NPU, nicknamed Meekatharra, was handed to the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society and arrived at HARS’ Shellharbour site to become a public exhibit.
  • The aircraft logged about 11,250 flight hours, roughly nine million kilometres and 7,543 flights for QantasLink after joining the fleet in December 2016.
  • QantasLink says the jet connected more than 25 regional Western Australia destinations and supported FIFO and resource‑industry routes during its near‑decade of service.
  • The donation follows an earlier F100 given to HARS’ Parkes museum and comes as QantasLink phases out Fokker 100s in favour of mid‑life Embraer E190s and upgraded A320/A319s to boost reliability and fuel efficiency.
  • VH‑NPU’s arrival on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, preserves a vanishing aircraft type for visitors and volunteers to interpret the role of F100s in Australia’s regional air network.