Qantas 787

[flying1977]

Just finished reading on smh.com.au that QF may defer 787 deliveries due to the economic downturn. I have travelled a number of flights in the past week and noticed they didn't seem to be as full as previously and the QC lounges didn't seem to have the usual number of people in them.

Odds on Qantas to defer 787 deliveries

I am sure deferring these would have a impact on Jetstars aggressive expantion plans and QFs.

 

[Nigelinoz]

Nothing really surprising there,I thought Alan Joyce had already effectively flagged that as an option in an interview with Business Spectator only recently when he said-

The capital raising was one part of a wide-ranging strategy which includes also a capital management piece which has us deferring all capital expenditure on things like IT projects that have longer term paybacks and capital expenditure on refreshing Qantas lounges. We also have been managing the flexibility within the fleet and we’re keeping an eye on how conditions actually continue because we do have a lot of fleet flexibility dependent on those conditions. For example, the 787s are now so delayed that we in our contract could walk away from each of those aircraft, the first 15, as they come up on a month by month basis over the next year or so and that could reduce capital expenditure significantly

.
https://www.businessspectator.com.a...213-P82D5?OpenDocument&src=is&cat=aviation-al

 

[oz_mark]

One would hope that by the time they arrive on the current schedule, we are through the worst of the downturn!

I guess it depends on when they want to start phasing the 767's out (which even now, is several years away), while on the other hand avoiding any of the early 787 production which may have weight etc issues that can be resolved in later aircraft,

 

[Jeffrey O'Neill]

i suppose it will boil down to the price of oil. The 787 should provide a lower cost base, and will most likely be similar to the A380 in terms of being able to charge a premium for it.

THe 787 has been something I've been looking forward to flying on. Hope Jetstar gets a few at least :mrgreen:

 

[Evan]

I would much prefer to spend an extra year on the A330's and B767's if walking away from the first frames means that the ones actually delivered are better units. Problem is any weight issues etc and actual performance cant be determined until the thing actually takes to the air ! Remember the A380 was over weight but met its performance expectations and even plus some.
I am not sure actually where QF in in the queue, its first are after the first 20 but cant be much later down the list than that i would think.

I wonder at what time do they need to commit or pass on a frame ? i am not sure how the customer specific fit will work in the 787 but i believe that will all be rather similar config unlike say a very customised A380.

 

[markh]

Which is first airline to get the 787's ?

 

[Nigelinoz]

The latest I heard was that the Japanese airline A.N.A would get the first
but of course that may have changed/change in the future.

 

[opusman]

Which is first airline to get the 787's ?

According to Wikipedia, ANA in Q1 2010.

 

[Warks]

How can we wait any longer for this?
Boeing's New Airplane
It says the plane is 'humidified' to reduce dehydration and jetlag.
Is that also the same for the A380 or is that unique to the 787?

 

[Jeffrey O'Neill]

i believe the 787 will have approx 35% humidity compared to the normal 5%

this is possible due to the fuselage being made of carbon composite materials and therefore not prone to oxidising like the standard aluminium frame is.

the A380 will not have a higher humidity level.

boeing has done some trials and found the higher humidity helps to reduce the affects of jet lag.

 

[straitman]

boeing has done some trials and found the higher humidity helps to reduce the affects of jet lag.

..... and the Boeing spin doctors have enhanced that information into becoming a selling point.

 

[moa999]

In the current economic climate I would be hopeful that QF actually gets the early deliveries to replace the ageing domestic 767s, and JQ gets theres as economic conditions get better.

 

[medhead]

..... and the Boeing spin doctors have enhanced that information into becoming a selling point.

and it is quite old spin, I'm sure I read all about that last year sometime.

 

[Flying Fox]

In the current economic climate I would be hopeful that QF actually gets the early deliveries to replace the ageing domestic 767s, and JQ gets theres as economic conditions get better.

I'd agree with this. Remove the older & less economical planes and get the new ones in ready for an upswing in the economy. Afterall, the first delivery won't be in 2009.

 

[oz_mark]

In the current economic climate I would be hopeful that QF actually gets the early deliveries to replace the ageing domestic 767s, and JQ gets theres as economic conditions get better.

Except the current plan is for JQ to get theirs, and QF to get them after that!

 

[Jeffrey O'Neill]

Except the current plan is for JQ to get theirs, and QF to get them after that!

with the slow down maybe they will decide JQ doesn't need them to expand to Europe and they might get deployed in a way to retire the less fuel efficient planes.

i don't care how they bring them in...just bring them in :mrgreen:

yes, Airbus & Boeing have conned me with the whole brining back the romance of air travel. with half a valium you can even have it back in good old whY class

 

[simongr]

Have these birds actually flown yet?

Just hoping with these delays that Boeing dont make the same mistake that Airbus did and leave certain components lieing around for years so that they deteriorate internally causing problems when they actually get installed...

 

[oz_mark]

Have these birds actually flown yet?

Not yet - and I believe they are targetting June at the moment (think I read something in the news last week about this)

 

[NM]

Have these birds actually flown yet?

not yet, and still a few months away by the current schedule.

 

[dot]

For those that want to keep abreast of the 787 progress, I recommend reading Flightblogger - John Ostrower - he often posts about the progress of the 787 (and A380 programme for that matter)