Qantas A380 refurbishment news and updates

[Uncharted6264]

November is a long way away, every chance of a tail swap between now and then. 787/330 is of course the only way to avoid the old bird(s)

It's about 25 days out at this point and my gut instinct is that it won't change, I have watched a few of these and I don't remember seeing a change once it was positively set to the old bird. But - I really hope I'm wrong.

 

[moa999]

Report on airliners.net that VH-OQH back in service after some time spent in PUS (Busan Korea), presumably for a repaint.

Don't think this thread had realised it was out.
OQA, OQC and OQJ (edit) remain to AUH.

 

[cpatters]

Report on airliners.net that VH-OQH back in service after some time spent in PUS (Busan Korea), presumably for a repaint.

Don't think this thread had realised it was out.
OQA, OQC and OQI remain to AUH.

I think you mean OQJ as OQI is currently in service

 

[moa999]

Correct on above.
OQA, OQC and OQJ remain in AUH.

Also OQI is now the only A380 left in the old livery, ignoring the two in VCV.

 

[KSC]

Correct on above.
OQA, OQC and OQJ remain in AUH.

Also OQI is now the only A380 left in the old livery, ignoring the two in VCV.

Does anyone know when the A380 refurb will be completed?

 

[moa999]

Does anyone know when the A380 refurb will be completed?

That's the point of this thread. Qantas have never released a timeline.

At this point I'd expect some of the AUH aircraft might come back over the Dec/ Jan period when international demand is at its highest

And unrefurbed OQL will probably remain flying until late Jan, early Feb.

 

[elanshin]

That's the point of this thread. Qantas have never released a timeline.

At this point I'd expect some of the AUH aircraft might come back over the Dec/ Jan period when international demand is at its highest

And unrefurbed OQL will probably remain flying until late Jan, early Feb.

Wouldn't we have seen a timetable adjustment if this was actually the case?
I'd hamper a guess that the new qf63/64 will be an indication of when we'll see them back.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Well, Etihad still haven't (I believe) reintroduced A6-APJ in to service. Perhaps once that is, then there will be some spare capacity at their facility in AUH to then work on the Qantas aircraft...

 

[moa999]

OQK has positioned to DRS.
Possibly to compete the refurb. OQK still had old IFE controllers in F for example..

Rather crazy re-reading the discussion from early 2020 in this thread

 

[moa999]

Poster on airliners states that OQK getting a gear change at DRS.

Also that one of the three at AUH will undergo a test flight I the next few days and return direct to SYD on 16 Nov.

 

[moa999]

Comments section here.. crazy.

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid02aziL4PzGvtuS8scL3Jw6R4LV9Pga4kbJpxVUz9eCaF4cV5YY4yGjTigidFis2nm7l&id=100079620962815

 

[moa999]

And looks like it's OQJ returning. Did a test flight overnight.

VH-OQJ Flight Tracking and History - FlightAware

Track VH-OQJ flight from Abu Dhabi Int'l to Sydney

www.flightaware.com

 

[moa999]

And OQJ is on its way back to Sydney.

VH-OQJ Flight Tracking and History - FlightAware

Track VH-OQJ flight from Abu Dhabi Int'l to Sydney

www.flightaware.com

 

[elanshin]

Assuming its operationally ready, could mean that it slots in to rotation allowing the others to do minor maintenancs.

 

[Franky]

Assuming its operationally ready, could mean that it slots in to rotation allowing the others to do minor maintenancs.

We wish…

 

[FlyingKangaroo]

Opened my app today to find that QF 12 (LAX-SYD) which I'd booked in March for next Thursday has switched to a 2-2-2 in J, so that obviously means VH-OQL has been slotted on for that flight.

Was not impressed, but pleasantly surprised that after an hour wait to the call centre (weather has understandably been bad this week on the East Coast) and simply asking nicely if they could change it given the change, the agent moved me to the flight the next day without a fuss. Apparently a previous schedule change from 22:30 on the original ticket to QF 11's revised time of 20:25 worked in my favour allowing them to make the change despite there not being classic reward availability showing on the flight the next day.

I have an inbound flight into LA on another ticket that was already making me a bit nervous with the shorter connection after QF 11 was brought forward, so I'll just spend the night in LA. The agent also proactively noted I could claim compensation for the extra costs within the policy. Not holding my breath that I'll get it, but I've never actually explored LA, so I'll seize the random moment and give it a shot.

 

[mrsterryn]

Opened my app today to find that QF 12 (LAX-SYD) which I'd booked in March for next Thursday has switched to a 2-2-2 in J, so that obviously means VH-OQL has been slotted on for that flight.

Does this mean that QF11 and QF12 are going to be the rotation for a while for VH OOL? I am catching QF11 a few days later

 

[FlyingKangaroo]

Does this mean that QF11 and QF12 are going to be the rotation for a while for VH OOL? I am catching QF11 a few days later

So far in November it’s flown QF 11/12 on November: 26, 21, 19, 14, 12, 10, 3.

Not ideal, and seems quite random. Will still be holding my breath I’m afraid. Just bizarre to me that this aircraft is still in the rotation especially on this route.

 

[mrsterryn]

Thanks @FlyingKangaroo I shall keep a close eye out. If it is this one I will be moving to the middle aisle of J

 

[downgraded]

So far in November it’s flown QF 11/12 on November: 26, 21, 19, 14, 12, 10, 3.

Not ideal, and seems quite random. Will still be holding my breath I’m afraid. Just bizarre to me that this aircraft is still in the rotation especially on this route.

I've lost the reference but another site I came across suggested that between maintenance and refurbs active QF A380s are few in number at the moment.