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The captain of the last ever Ansett passenger flight has described the event as the end of an era.
Geoff McDonald captained flight AN 152, which arrived at Sydney Airport at 8.45am (NZDT) filled mostly with journalists capturing the end of an era in Australia's aviation history.
Captain McDonald said it was a sad day for all Ansett staff, who were now faced with an uncertain future.
"When I joined the company I said I'd reached the pinnacle of my career and we thought that this was a job for life and a job that we would only leave when we were ready to retire," he said.
"The last thing I expected was to end my career 12 years earlier than was planned."
About 50 Ansett workers and onlookers farewelled the plane from Perth at 4.50am.
It also received the traditional airport salute of water sprayed from fire engines as it taxied onto the tarmac, as the last post played.
The plane will return to Melbourne carrying only staff, where it will join dozens of other Ansett planes in storage.
Meanwhile, a few weary Ansett workers have met the last ever passenger flight into Melbourne.
Flight AN 170 from Perth landed in Melbourne on time at 7.45am.
Several Ansett workers who had partied at the Melbourne terminal through the night as part of a series of wakes around the country waved passengers off the flight.
The captain of the flight, Mark Littley, said the last 24 hours had been emotional and he had not had time to contemplate his future.
"I was just commenting to my first officer, `This is the last time we're going to be talking to Perth approach' and `This is the last time we're going to the talking to Melbourne approach', and things like that," he said.
"I don't think it's really hit me at this point ... maybe in 24 or 48 hours when I actually get up and think well, hell, I'm not going to be able to go flying now, particularly for this airline."
Passengers said there was a party atmosphere on board the plane despite the obvious sadness of the crew.
The crew was to fly the plane to Melbourne.
© AAP
