One of the tired old Boeing 767s Qantas business passengers have to endure on the Citylink routes is to be removed from Australian service.

U.S. cargo operator Air Transport Services Group has confirmed it has purchased a Boeing 767-300 from Qantas Airways for conversion into a freight plane.

ATSG said it anticipates that CAM will take delivery of its fifth 767-300 aircraft from Qantas in the fourth quarter, and schedule it for conversion from passenger to standard freighter configuration by mid-year 2012. CAM owns four other Boeing 767-300 aircraft and 36 Boeing 767-200 aircraft, all of which are in service as standard freighters or undergoing conversion from passenger to freighter configuration.

Joe Hete, President and CEO of ATSG, said, "This additional 767-300ER aircraft extends our leading global position in the medium wide-body freighter market. Our 14 years of experience operating and maintaining 767s around the world, including the expertise of our veteran 767 flight crews and maintenance personnel, make us the preferred source of 767 freighter airlift for customers seeking a comprehensive solution for missions best suited to the 767's unique performance and fuel-efficiency advantages." 

Qantas' collection of Boeing 767s are amongst the oldest of its fleet. While the airline is acquiring new passenger aircraft these are usually being put into service with its low cost Jetstar subsidiary. Some Jetstar planes have been earmarked for handing down to Qantas after reconfiguration, including Airbus A330s, a logical replacement for the Boeing 767s. But this process is likely to take some time.