Stephen Cleary, executive manager Qantas Freight.

Qantas Freight will begin a new Boeing 767 freighter operation between Australia and New Zealand on 15 June 2009, subject to regulatory approval.

This would enable the company to retain wide-body freight capacity on the route following the introduction of the Qantas Group's new trans-Tasman passenger schedule.

According to Stephen Cleary, executive manager Qantas Freight, the B767-200 freighter would be wet-leased from global carrier Air Transport International (ATI) and would operate Sydney - Auckland - Christchurch - Sydney overnight on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays under flight numbers QF7523 and QF7524.

"The aircraft will have a payload of approximately 42 tonnes and will also be made available for charter work and weekend rotations when demand exists," he says.