Upgraded plane receives Pilbara name

A QantasLink plane part of a company aircraft repainting program has been named for a Pilbara location.

Fokker 100 plane registration number VH-NHQ was officially named “Karratha” after it received a newly painted Qantas logo and branding last week.

QantasLink has been using the repainting project as an opportunity to name its aircraft after regional Australian towns and cities, with most of the fleet currently unnamed.

It is the second consecutive plane to win itself a Pilbara name after the first aircraft part of the progarm was christened “Paraburdoo”.

A QantasLink spokeswoman said the company was proud to have updated another plane.

“Customers and plane-spotters should keep an eye out for the repainted aircraft, registration VH-NHQ, now named ‘Karratha’”, she said.

“Naming our regional fleet after regional cities and communities is a great opportunity to encourage travellers to explore more of Australia.”

The repainted Karratha plane will go back into circulation with the Qantas regional network this week.

The Qantas and QantasLink aircraft repainting project began last October and is part of a program to update its aircraft by the company’s centenary in 2020.