Photo: Wesley Poxon
N88ZL is a historic Boeing 707-330B (MSN 18928 / Line 457) owned by Lowa Ltd / Lowa Corporation.
Built in 1965 and originally delivered to Lufthansa, it later converted into a VIP executive layout, became famous for private music-tour and celebrity charters, and received quiet-engine hushkits
Flyingphotos / Lisboa
After its final flight across Australia a QantasLink Fokker F100 jet aircraft has touched down at Shellharbour Airport where it will begin a new chapter at the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS).
The recently retired 100-seat aircraft has been donated by QantasLink to HARS where it will join its collection of aircraft as a public exhibit.
VH-NPU “Meekatharra” is the second aircraft to be donated to HARS, with another QantasLink F100 donated to its Parkes Museum in February.
Meekatharra will sit alongside Qantas’ first Boeing 747- 400, VH-OJA that was donated by Qantas in 2015. City of Canberra arrived at HARS following26 years of service and is one of the museum's most visited attractions.
QantasLink’s fleet of F100s are being gradually replaced with Embraer E190 aircraft to improve reliability, fuel efficiency and customer comfort. The first E190 is expected to arrive in Perth next month.
Meekatharra began flying for QantasLink in December 2016 and was the final F100 to be added to the fleet. The aircraft has flown more than 11,250 hours for QantasLink, carrying around a million passengers across regional Western Australia and as a critical support of the resource industry.
Comments from QantasLink CEO Mark Dal Pra:
“Meekatharra played an important role connecting regional communities across Western Australia for close to a decade, and we’re thrilled it will now be preserved by HARS for the future generations of aviation enthusiasts.
“HARS has become a natural home for some of our retired aircraft, helping keep important parts of Australian aviation history alive.
“As we farewell the F100 and prepare to welcome new aircraft into the fleet, we're grateful to the volunteers who will ensure its story continues to be shared.”
Comments from HARS President and Chief Pilot Bob De La Hunty:
“We're honoured that QantasLink has entrusted HARS with another important piece of Australian aviation history.
“Joining Qantas' first Boeing 747-400, and the former Qantas Boeing 707-138, Meekatharra will help tell the story of the aircraft that connected regional communities and supported industry across Western Australia.
“Our volunteers are passionate about keeping these stories alive and giving visitors the opportunity to experience these remarkable aircraft up close.”
Comments from Shellharbour Mayor, Chris Homer:
"We're proud to welcome another significant aircraft to HARS here in Shellharbour, strengthening our city's reputation as one of Australia's premier destinations for aviation history.
"This F100 served communities across Western Australia for many years, and it's fitting that its next chapter will be at HARS, where it will continue connecting people through education, tourism and the preservation of Australia's aviation heritage.
"HARS continues to attract visitors from across the country, and every new addition to its collection helps share the stories of Australian aviation with future generations while supporting local tourism and our visitor economy."
Fast Facts:
• VH-NPU joined the QantasLink fleet in 2016 and prior to that it flew for American Airlines and Austrian Airlines.
• Nine million kilometres and 7,543 flights flown for QantasLink
• The F100 aircraft have connected communities across Western Australia, including Kalgoorlie, Newman and Paraburdoo.
• QantasLink’s WA network operates over 600 flights per week to more than 25 destinations across regional Western Australia and to Darwin, Newcastle, Hobart, Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands.
• Its current Western Australian fleet includes 40 aircraft including Fokker 100, Airbus A319 and Airbus A320.
• The donation follows a QantasLink F100 donation to HARS Parkes in February 2026.
• HARS Albion Park is already home to Qantas' first Boeing 747-400, VH-OJA, donated in 2015.
Qantas
Sun d’Or (Israel) plans to resume Tel Aviv – Verona route from 25 October 2026, with B737-800.
Mahan Air (Iran) plans flights from Tehran to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City by early September 2026, with B777-200ER and later A340.
Himalaya Airlines (China) plans Kathmandu – Hangzhou flights on 09 September 2026, with A320 aircraft.
Delta Air Lines (US) will launch nonstop flights between Austin and Paris on 27 March 2027.
Air Arabia DMM (Saudi Arabia) plans to commence operations in 3Q 2026 out of Damman, with A320 family aircraft. Plans include 45 aircraft and 80 routes.
Aeroflot (Russia) plans to resume Moscow Sheremetyevo – Abu Dhabi route on 01 October 2026, with B737-800.
Wizz Air (Hungary) plans to station one A321neo at Brasov from mid December 2026, and add four international routes to Barcelona, Madrid, Chisinau and Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden.
Neos (Italy) plans Milan Malpensa – Cozumel – Cancun – Milan Malpensa service from 24 December 2026, with B787-9.
LEAV Aviation (Germany) is launching the Cologne/Bonn – Aleppo route on 17 August 2026, with A320.
Etihad (UAE) announced a new seasonal service between Abu Dhabi and Gothenburg, starting 17 December 2026, with A321LR.
Emirates (UAE) plans flights from Dubai to Kinshasa on 03 February 2027, with B777-300ER.Air
Serbia plans to launch routes from Nis to Malta and Vienna on 25 October 2026, with A319 and ATR72.
Uganda Airlines will launch daily flights to Kigali from 18 November with CRJ900, and four weekly flights to Accra, beginning 27 October 2026 with wet leased B737-800.
Saudia plans to resume flights from Riyadh to Moscow in September 2026
SAS (Sweden) now plans Copenhagen – Mumbai route on 10 August 2026, with A330-300.
Pakistan International Airlines now plans to resume Islamabad – Beijing Capital route on 26 October 2026, with B777-300ER.
Nok Air (Thailand) plans to resume international services, from Bangkok Don Mueang to Hyderabad on 14 October 2026, with B737-800.
Neos (Italy) plans to resume seasonal Rome Fiumicino – Dubai al Maktoum route in winter 2026/27 from 19 December 2026, with B737.
CH Aviation
Horizon Sun Charters intends to acquire three NOEMI aircraft, with options for two additional aircraft, as NOEMI strengthens its position in Southeast Asia.
NOEMI Aerospace has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Philippine seaplane operator Horizon Sun Charters (HSC) for three NOEMI amphibious aircraft, with options for two additional aircraft.
The agreement marks NOEMI's entry into the Philippines, an archipelago of 7,641 islands and a natural environment for amphibious aviation. Many of the country's coastal resorts and island communities are separated by relatively short distances, yet require combinations of air, road and boat transport to reach.
Electric or hybrid seaplanes offer a new alternative: direct connections between cities, airports, coastal communities and resorts without requiring conventional airport infrastructure at both ends.
For NOEMI, the Philippines represents another step in building its position in Southeast Asia, which the company sees as one of the world's most promising regions for the development of seaplane operations.
"The geography of the Philippines makes a very strong case for seaplanes," said Eric Lithun, Founder and CEO of NOEMI Aerospace. "With more than 7,600 islands, short distances and a strong ambition to develop its tourism industry, The Philippines offers exactly the kind of environment NOEMI is being designed for. This agreement strengthens our position in Southeast Asia and provides further confirmation of the commercial potential for electric amphibious aviation in the region."
Horizon Sun Charters provides private seaplane services in Palawan, connecting destinations including El Nido, Coron and other coastal and island locations. Its development plans focus on improving direct access to resorts and remote destinations, reducing dependence on lengthy road and ferry transfers.
Under the MoU, NOEMI and HSC will explore the technical, financial and regulatory requirements for introducing the aircraft in the Philippines, as well as potential routes and operational integration. HSC intends to acquire three aircraft, with options for a further two.
“We believe NOEMI is very well suited to the future of seaplane operations in the Philippines,” said Raymond Schwab, Founder and Captain of Horizon Sun Charters. “With the hybrid version, we see the flexibility to operate a wide range of missions and serve the entire market. The ability to connect coastal resorts and island destinations directly and efficiently fits perfectly with our vision for a new generation of premium island access. NOEMI gives us an aircraft designed specifically for the kind of operations we want to build.”
The Philippines has significant potential for seaplane connectivity but today has limited operations compared with established seaplane markets. Palawan illustrates the opportunity particularly well: direct amphibious flights can bypass multiple transfers and provide access closer to remote resorts and island destinations.
The model has already been proven in other markets. In the Maldives, seaplanes have become an integral part of the tourism infrastructure, connecting international arrivals directly with island resorts and helping support a high-value tourism economy. Southeast Asia offers similar opportunities across archipelagic markets, where distances are relatively short and conventional airport infrastructure is limited or expensive to develop.
With the HSC agreement, NOEMI's commercial pipeline now grows across operators and markets worldwide.
NOEMI's first aircraft is being developed as a fully electric amphibious aircraft for regional passenger transport, with the ability to operate from both water and conventional runways. Designed to carry nine passengers and one or two pilots, the platform can also be adapted for hybrid-electric or conventional fuel-based propulsion. Entry into service is targeted for 2030.
