A380 NEW ROUTES

[A380 MAN]

With Qantas bringing the A380 back out. It's time to brainstorm new locations you all think would be possible or want to see
I personally want to see
SYD-MSP
SYD-MUC
SYD-CDG
BNE-IAD
BNE-LHR
BNE-MEX
MEL-DEN
MEL-FRA
Yes I know it's wild but this is just a post for everyone to have fun with and dream I mean I think BNE could access North American locations due to its location in Australia

 

[markis10]

Qantas A380 utilisation is at its maximum already, cannot see any new routes in the future given MRO delays and the fact 1 of 2 to come back seems to have issues suggesting its future is coke cans.

 

[moa999]

Qantas is currently operating 7 A380s of 10.

With 1 in short-term maintenance - currently OQI at Dresden DRS.
And 1 in longer maintenance checks - currently OQL at AUH which is getting a refurb, and due out mid-2025
And 1 still under return to service OQC at AUH (with some rumours about wing spar issues), not due back until 2026.

The return of OQL will essentially enable the return of the SYD-DFW service scheduled for August 2025.

So the only new route QF would be able to add is probably a single one in 2026.

The bigger change is going to start occuring from mid-2026. And that's what happens as the Airbus A350s get delivered. Once Qantas has the full complement of A350s (likely late 2020s) then A380 routes will need to change (particularly at LHR where QF will seemingly operate daily A350s from SYD, MEL and PER, with possibly a single SYD-SIN-LHR A380)

 

[Basalt]

I'll bite...I'd be thinking maximizing their use by using them on seasonal routes, starting with MEL-CTS for December to April

 

[Cheatah]

The bigger change is going to start occuring from mid-2026. And that's what happens as the Airbus A350s get delivered. Once Qantas has the full complement of A350s (likely late 2020s) then A380 routes will need to change (particularly at LHR where QF will seemingly operate daily A350s from SYD, MEL and PER, with possibly a single SYD-SIN-LHR A380)

I do wonder if they'll continue sending A380s via SIN once the first Sunrise flight commences. Do they have the demand?

Most of the higher fare F and J classes will move to the Sunrise flights so I'm not sure if it'll be worth it to send a A380 with lower paying F/J passengers along with a lot of Y pax.

They have 4 slot pairs at Heathrow, I think they may move the SIN>LHR flights to a 787 initially, and see what happens as that may still be too much capacity.

 

[Saab34]

I somewhat think it would be wise to keep the spare capacity available.

The fleet doesn’t have long to run, around 7-8 years and it’s all over. Before we know it the whole fleet will be gone. They certainly won’t be investing in large scale fixes as the time approaches, so engineering issues will likely grow as they approach end of life.

 

[sap1l]

Do they have the demand?

Theoretically the SIN leg also collects pax that only have a 1-stop option to LHR and would rather transit internationally (e.g. BNE-SIN-LHR). I don’t know if this makes up enough demand, but I think there will still be non-sunrise demand.

I guess the other question is if there are any better routes for the A380? Probably better to run a full load of cheap F/J than to run a 60% load somewhere else because there’s too much supply.

 

[Cheatah]

Good question. Prehaps with daily 380 flights to LAX from SYD and MEL, along with JNB and maybe HND and HKG. Maybe DFW as well. These could sustain the 380 fleet but the question arises if Sunrise starts to JFK from MEL and SYD would QF need as much capacity to DFW and LAX!