QANTAS took delivery of their first batch of four A330-200s in 2002 and early 2003
for domestic CityFlyer services. These operations require fast turnaround times for
which these -201 series models were unsuitable. The aircraft were therefore transferred
to JetStar to launch their longhaul operations in 2006 and 2007.
Delivery of the second batch of aircraft began in late 2007 and for the first time
the A330-200 appeared in the International fleet. There are currently four International
machines, VH-EBG, VH-EBH, VH-EBI and VH-EBL.
Initial International turns saw the aircraft re-initiate non-stop Sydney - Mumbai
services, then move onto the Chinese routes to Beijing and Shanghai and for a time
operate the then Melbourne - Auckland - Los Angeles through service. For a period
through 2008 and early 2009 the International configured aircraft were at somewhat
of a loose end and were regular performers on domestic operations. However from May
2010 a new diagram sees the aircraft working Sydney - Auckland - Los Angeles - New
York JFK, with a once per week working between Sydney and Tokyo. This still leaves
room for the International aircraft to show on Domestic duties between Sydney and
Perth and as substitutes for A330-300 aircraft on International routes..
As well as the International aircraft, two new A330-200s (VH-EBJ/K) were delivered
in Domestic configuration. These were for the trans-Continental Melbourne - Perth
and Sydney - Perth sectors. Initially these were delivered with Business Class in
a 2-2-2 configuration but were subsequently changed to 2-3-2 and are thus internally
identical to the JetStar aircraft, though with cloth rather than leather trimmed
seats. These aircraft have both subsequently left the QANTAS fleet to join JetStar.
In December 2009 a further Domestic aircraft, VH-EBM, was delivered to QANTAS with
a new domestic configuration featuring Audio Video On Demand in both classes and
a new Business Class seat in a 2-2-2 configuration. VH-EBN, identical to VH-EBM,
arrived in February 2010.
The arrival of VH-EBO in November 2010 heralded another new Domestic configuration,
this time using Recaro seats in Business Class in 2-3-2 configuration. The arrival
of this aircraft saw VH-EBJ leave the QANTAS fleet on 23/11/2010. VH-EBP arrived
in December 2010 in identical configuration to VH-EBO. However in May 2011 workspace
tables were fitted over the centre seats of the row of three seats in the Business
Class cabins effectively making a 2-2-2 configuration.
