QantasLink

QantasLink operates under the rigorous safety and service standards established by its parent company, Qantas, which maintains a reputation for a strong safety record. Airline Ratings assesses QantasLink with a 7/7 safety rating.

Regarding recent safety incidents, an event occurred on February 25, 2025, where a QantasLink Dash-8 aircraft departing from Mildura Airport mistakenly aligned with runway edge lights during takeoff, striking seven lights over a 400-meter stretch. The pilots subsequently corrected course and proceeded to Melbourne, where only minor damage to the turboprop was discovered upon landing. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) initiated an investigation, and both pilots involved were stood down. Further scrutiny revealed one pilot tested positive for an unprescribed medication. This incident is not isolated, as the ATSB is also examining three similar "misaligned take-off incidents" at Perth Airport within the preceding year.

Other notable incidents include:

• An attempted hijacking of a QantasLink Boeing 717 operating Qantas Flight 1737 on May 29, 2003, en route from Melbourne to Launceston.
• An "unusual odour on board" a Qantaslink/National Jet Systems Boeing 717-200 flight from Canberra to Melbourne on October 26, 2023.
• A QantasLink flight (QF1972) from Adelaide to Canberra was forced to make an emergency landing and return to Adelaide on November 11, 2025, due to smoke detected in the cockpit and cabin shortly after takeoff.

While QantasLink adheres to Qantas' high safety standards, and regulatory bodies like ATSB and CASA oversee aviation safety in Australia, specific regulatory certifications like IOSA are not explicitly detailed for QantasLink in the provided information.

The QantasLink fleet, comprising 107 aircraft, has an average age of 19.1 years as of March 2025. Some of its oldest aircraft include Fokker 100s, with an average age of 31.7 years, and some De Havilland Canada Dash 8-200s and 300s. The oldest individual Fokker 100 in the Qantas Group fleet is 34.7 years old. The airline's maintenance reputation is tied to Qantas' established standards. The ongoing retirement of older aircraft, such as the Boeing 717, and the introduction of newer Airbus A220-300s and Embraer E190s, reflects an ongoing fleet modernization effort.

Based on available data, QantasLink maintains a strong overall safety assessment, operating within the robust framework of Australian aviation regulations and its parent company's high safety protocols. While recent incidents involving misaligned takeoffs and smoke in the cabin are under investigation, they are being addressed by authorities and the airline. There are no specific safety awards or recognitions for QantasLink identified in the provided information.