A330s out of life

[eastwest101]

This is also what I had heard - nothing to do with cycles etc

Maybe it would be parts availability or even complete engine inventory? As I understand it engines (or their components) run out of hours and need to be replaced/serviced/overhauled as part of a planned maintenance thing that would not be a surprise, but there would be the additional complexity of unplanned events like birdstrike damage that could take an engine out of service all of a sudden. I would imagine that once any airline is out of parts or indeed engines then it becomes impossible to outsource the work by flying an aircraft overseas to catch up on fleet availability and the aircraft is out of service and engineless so then it becomes a matter of pulling engines out and shipping them to external workshops - if the external shops have the spare capacity - and if the external shops have the parts. If not - you're stuffed.

Not that this is any excuse for a board that was totally captured by its CEO, and was asleep at the wheel when it came to fleet planning. Converting A330s to freighters, and taking 2 A380s out of service has proven to be and epic own goal for Qantas, they are only a funtional airline now because of decisions made pre-Joyce with them opportunistically took in a whole bunch of B737s post 9/11, took some A330s as the A380's delivery delays and got lucky with their early B789 deliveries, and snuck through and bought 20% of Alliance while the ACCC were still asleep at home in their Covid lockdown pajamas.

 

[jb747]

I’ve heard the parked A330s are due to lack of engine parts - minimal spare parts inventory now so long lead time for replacement parts.

That was the original story. I got the comments re cycles from an internal forum, though QF isn't good at keeping staff up to date on anything.

But, if you simultaneously have some aircraft with engine issues, and also some with high cycles, then there's an obvious source of a few engines, and I guess you can blame whichever cause makes you look less guilty.

Back in 767 days, there were engines that stayed installed for huge numbers...25,000 hours or so. They don't all manage that of course, but it's impressive for even a few. You certainly don't plan on it though.

 

[jrfsp]

That was the original story. I got the comments re cycles from an internal forum, though QF isn't good at keeping staff up to date on anything.

But, if you simultaneously have some aircraft with engine issues, and also some with high cycles, then there's an obvious source of a few engines, and I guess you can blame whichever cause makes you look less guilty.

Back in 767 days, there were engines that stayed installed for huge numbers...25,000 hours or so. They don't all manage that of course, but it's impressive for even a few. You certainly don't plan on it though.

I wouldn’t have thought cycles would be an issue for the -300s given they have been mostly on longer haul flying but certainly the older -200s have been worked hard lots of domestic cycles.

 

[markis10]

Something is impacting Japan changes for QF, could get very embarrassing

 

[jrfsp]

Something is impacting Japan changes for QF, could get very embarrassing

Cue the E190 with refuelling in CNS & GUM?

 

[Quickstatus]

Comac anyone?(though no wide body yet)

 

[markis10]

Cue the E190 with refuelling in CNS & GUM?

Cannot codeshare into HND, those ex VA A330s might have come in handy

 

[elanshin]

Something is impacting Japan changes for QF, could get very embarrassing

You know the 321XLR can reach tokyo as per QF's own slides....

 

[markis10]

You know the 321XLR can reach tokyo as per QF's own slides....
View attachment 435933

Yep, about as likely to be popular as a max, and availability will be constrained for awhile

 

[elanshin]

Yep, about as likely to be popular as a max, and availability will be constrained for awhile

But seriously, couldnt QF push through the 380 once the next one is fully back onto MEL - SIN long term and free up more 330s - unless there even more about to get grounded.

 

[arrow]

But seriously, couldnt QF push through the 380 once the next one is fully back onto MEL - SIN long term and free up more 330s - unless there even more about to get grounded.

That would be the game changer for QF. Not sure why they haven’t done it yet

 

[Saab34]

I assume the days of A330s on domestic will be coming to an end?

Can’t see any A330s on CNS this dry season.

 

[jrfsp]

I assume the days of A330s on domestic will be coming to an end?

Can’t see any A330s on CNS this dry season.

Not that rotations left on domestic but even then the domestic config A330s arnt suitable for longer intl flight (Japan for instance)

 

[Saab34]

Domestic configuration shouldn’t be used on International! Embarrassing and just, well embarrassing.

 

[Himeno]

But seriously, couldnt QF push through the 380 once the next one is fully back onto MEL - SIN long term and free up more 330s - unless there even more about to get grounded.

Put an A380 on SYD-HND. 10pm HND arrival, midnight departure.

 

[Lucass]

QF should have ordered a330neo, I know it wouldn't have made the fleet as streamlined as the 787 order but the 330neo would have had much quicker deliveries and still has an excellent range (well over 13,000km so can reach many of their existing international routes.) 787s and a350s as 330 replacements are too far away.

 

[frodo]

You know the 321XLR can reach tokyo as per QF's own slides....
View attachment 435933

The one thing that stood out to me in that picture is that they spelt Phnom Penh wrong.

 

[Franky]

The one thing that stood out to me in that picture is that they spelt Phnom Penh wrong.

Without wanting to put the boot in, what else would you expect??

 

[arrow]

Put an A380 on SYD-HND. 10pm HND arrival, midnight departure.

Yep! Same rationale for MEL - SIN, quick turnaround

 

[Himeno]

Yep! Same rationale for MEL - SIN, quick turnaround

Also accommodates the rules for A380 use at HND and factors in the overnight stoppage of public transport.