ALL QF's 330's to get lay flat Business seating - Including Domestic

[drpurpleturtle]

Heard from another forum that VH-EBJ has been weighed and released from the hanger and should be flying *soon (next day or so).

 

[wenglock.mok]

Heard from another forum that VH-EBJ has been weighed and released from the hanger and should be flying *soon (next day or so).

It is going back into service in the next hour or so on the QF597 BNE-PER.

Apparently, VH-EBN will take its place in the hangar next (but this is not confirmed).

 

[moa999]

And VH-EBJ is on its way, so now three A330-200s in service

 

[moa999]

And to update the tracker.. Quickest -200 refurb to date, presumably helped by having only two aircraft in the hanger since QPC left.
Would expect QPB to be out within the week based on this progress.
Does appear EBN has gone into the hanger having arrived as QF650 (will assume it is for refurb)
EBA has also been doing SYD-MEL runs over the past few days, interrupting its normal East-West routed.

----

Updated based on Qantas Source posts / FR24 data

-- Current aircraft in Brisbane maintenance
VH-QPB 330-300 In 16/2 (fresh from SIN repaint) (likely out mid-end-April). In conjunction with C8 check.
VH-EBN 330-200 In 17/4

-- Refurbished aircraft in service - TOTAL = 5
VH-EBV 330-200 - 1mth 15days - In 16/11 Out 31/12
VH-QPA 330-300 - 2mth 13days - In 3/11 Out 16/1
VH-EBA 330-200 - 1mth 12days - In 1/1 Out 13/2
VH-QPC 330-300 - 2mth 6days - In 17/1 Out 23/3
VH-EBJ 330-200 - 1mth 4days - In 14/3 Out 17/4 (fresh from SIN repaint from JQ from 27/2-13/3)

-- In Singapore for painting (presumably) -300s only (all the -200s are already New Roo apart from the JQ aircraft)
None

-- Reported as next
VH-EBS (quite some time ago)
VH-QPD (painted at SIN 15/3-30/3)

-- International routes --
Mostly the following - not guaranteed on all days
QF35/36 MEL/SIN
QF81/82 SYD/SIN
QF51/52 BNE/SIN
QF29/30 MEL/HKG

-- Domestic Routes --
Running very varied routes (including occasionally Golden triangle). Most frequent on (based on last week)
SYD-PER - 575, 583
PER-SYD - 568, 580
MEL-PER - 481, 485
PER-MEL - 648, 802
Some BNE/PER services have been run

 

[moa999]

And thanks to a tipoff by a FFA member,

VH-QPB is back in the air.
Currently flying as QF6100 presumably as a test flight according to FR24.

VH-QPD (which given its recent repaint is the next likely 330-300 refurb candidate) has just departed as QF51 BNE-SYD.
Subject to the test going well would exped QPD to return as QF52, then swap with QPB.

--===--

I would also note that while all of the above tracker is public information, it has taken some time to put together, and I have always credited my sources... nuff said.

 

[drpurpleturtle]

Many thanks for keeping us up to date with such detailed information moa999!

 

[drpurpleturtle]

It seems that QPB is due to operate either QF51 or QF97 today as both flights show the new J configuration! (Based on EF searches) Those lucky pax

QPD is currently inbound on QF52 and should enter the hangar afterwards.

 

[QFFHntrGthr]

Yes, and as an first mentioned in #1162 and since confirmed on Qantas Source, EBN is the latest 332 in maint since 17 Apr. Looking good for the target 8 332s, 7 333s by year end.

 

[baggyred]

The re-fit time of the planes is interesting.

I wouldn't have thought the 300s would take double the time - i assume they must be doing other aircraft maintenance at the same time


Also to not the 200s are getting progressively quicker - no doubt as the maintenance crew get used to the work - it becomes more second nature!

I was scheduled on a new bird in July however i have reverted to an old J* bird now... here's hoping for a late switch

 

[mannej]

The re-fit time of the planes is interesting.

I wouldn't have thought the 300s would take double the time - i assume they must be doing other aircraft maintenance at the same time


Also to not the 200s are getting progressively quicker - no doubt as the maintenance crew get used to the work - it becomes more second nature!

I was scheduled on a new bird in July however i have reverted to an old J* bird now... here's hoping for a late switch

Remember the -300's are getting a full refit in Y, where was the -200's are getting a refurbishment only.

 

[moa999]

The earliest -300s are all having a c-check at the same time (this may change down the track).

That said they are also having new Y seats with Panasonic IFE installed (replacing older seats with Rockwell Collins)

The -200s do not get Y seats replaaced. Those with Panasonic IFE (eg EBV keep it), those without IFE or with Rockwell Collins (eg EBA, EBJ) get iPads

 

[drpurpleturtle]

QPB is due to operate QF51 in about 30mins. QPD has entered the hangar.

 

[moa999]

So to update the tracker.
Removing the likely flights until we get more data on the patterns with three aircraft in service, with BNE getting a lot of love atm

----

Updated based on Qantas Source posts / FR24 data

-- Current aircraft in Brisbane maintenance
VH-QPD 330-300 In 23/4

-- Refurbished aircraft in service - TOTAL = 6 (3 A330-200s, 3 A330-300s)
VH-EBV 330-200 - 1mth 15days - In 16/11 Out 31/12
VH-QPA 330-300 - 2mth 13days - In 3/11 Out 16/1, C8 check
VH-EBA 330-200 - 1mth 12days - In 1/1 Out 13/2
VH-QPC 330-300 - 2mth 6days - In 17/1 Out 23/3, C8 check
VH-EBJ 330-200 - 1mth 3days - In 14/3 Out 17/4 (fresh from SIN repaint from JQ from 27/2-13/3)
VH-QPB 330-300 - 2mth 7 days - In 16/2 Out 23/4 (fresh from SIN repaint, C8 check)

330-300s - 28J/ 269Y, J Panasonic ex3 16" IFE, Y Panasonic exLite 11" IFE
330-200s - 28J/ 243Y, J Panasonic ex3 16" IFE, Y Panasonic 9" IFE (EBM-EBV), 8" iPadMini (EBA-EBL)

-- In Singapore for painting (presumably) -300s only (all the -200s are already New Roo apart from the JQ aircraft)
None

-- Reported as next
VH-EBS (quite some time ago)

Edit per below

 

[drpurpleturtle]

EBN was just in for a quick maintenance check it's currently operating QF650, which leaves the hangar empty.

Also heard that QPE is due to position to SIN for a repaint tomorrow.

 

[bunkeight]

The -200s do not get Y seats replaaced. Those with Panasonic IFE (eg EBV keep it), those without IFE or with Rockwell Collins (eg EBA, EBJ) get iPads

EBA-EBJ (minus EBG-I and L) are actually getting their seats replaced with those from the -300s. The seats on the -300 were of a higher spec (comfort-wise?). It may have something to do with the USB power requirement for the iPads as these seats previously had in seat IFE (that's just a guess though). These seats (minus the IFE monitor) also provide room for the iPad to be stowed inflight (it's an actual bracket - as opposed to fabric that you hand the iPad from).

 

[Mr_Orange]

EBA-EBJ (minus EBG-I and L) are actually getting their seats replaced with those from the -300s. The seats on the -300 were of a higher spec (comfort-wise?). It may have something to do with the USB power requirement for the iPads as these seats previously had in seat IFE (that's just a guess though). These seats (minus the IFE monitor) also provide room for the iPad to be stowed inflight (it's an actual bracket - as opposed to fabric that you hand the iPad from).

This is a good development. Thanks for sharing.

 

[moa999]

EBA-EBJ (minus EBG-I and L) are actually getting their seats replaced with those from the -300s. The seats on the -300 were of a higher spec (comfort-wise?).

Interesting - guess it means a complex scheduling for shifting seats.
Any update on what is the latest on which two aircraft (inc the three remaining with JQ) will not get refurbed and leave the fleet.

 

[mannej]

Apart from the obvious (IFE), I don't recall too much difference between the older 332 seats and the 333 seats.

You learn something new every day!

 

[Dmac6345]

Apart from the obvious (IFE), I don't recall too much difference between the older 332 seats and the 333 seats.

You learn something new every day!

The 333 seats IMO were a lot more comfortable with more padding.
IFE was terrible, but better seats.

 

[Awesom Andy]

Interesting - guess it means a complex scheduling for shifting seats.
Any update on what is the latest on which two aircraft (inc the three remaining with JQ) will not get refurbed and leave the fleet.

Or they could refurb those 2 as well, have them doing SYD-HKG similar to 81/82 and 5/6 doing SYD-SIN, and retire the 744. Just thinking out loud here, of course - it probably won't happen.