Qantas A380 refurbishment news and updates

[aus_flyer]

If they get enough A380 back in service for MEL-LAX daily, will that release a 787 to put back on SYD-HND?

I’d love to see MEL-SIN back with A380. I think daily MEL-LAX seems highly unlikely given poor loads to US.

 

[madrooster]

SYD-JNB-SYD is closer to a 31hr block, so probably need another aircraft back by the end of the month

The bigger picture is more important - you only need 7 aircraft to operate QF1/2/11/12/63/64.

The schedule is actually quite loose as there's enough slack for all 7 aircraft to have a 24 hour block in the LAX hangar every fortnight or so. There is also some flexibility in SYD where they will have an aircraft sitting spare due to QF63/64 not being daily, so there is capacity to swap the aircraft between 'runs' in SYD, whilst sending them through the hangar for lighter maintenace works at LAX.

Here is a quick and dirty for a random week in October...

 

[mrflyby]

Impressive effort @madrooster .

In that case Mel - Sin might get back on there.

 

[cpatters]

OQI still needs to get a repaint at somestage!

 

[madrooster]

In that case Mel - Sin might get back on there.

Not without another aircraft back. MEL-SIN requires 1 airframe. It can rotate with QF93/94 on the days that it is an A388 so that it can cycle to the rest of the network.

 

[HockeyMonkey]

Not without another aircraft back. MEL-SIN requires 1 airframe. It can rotate with QF93/94 on the days that it is an A388 so that it can cycle to the rest of the network.

Could daily MEL-SIN and MEL-LAX be covered by 2 additional A380’s (total of 9) or would it require all 10?

 

[madrooster]

Could daily MEL-SIN and MEL-LAX be covered by 2 additional A380’s (total of 9) or would it require all 10?

If QF was to run their fleet tight without much buffer, which we all know is a bad idea... it might just fit with 9, but ideally it needs to be 10. I suspect with SIN they want the frequency... not a single big aircraft.

 

[elanshin]

If QF was to run their fleet tight without much buffer, which we all know is a bad idea... it might just fit with 9, but ideally it needs to be 10. I suspect with SIN they want the frequency... not a single big aircraft.

But would it make sense to try and free up 330's that the SIN slot current takes up as some of the 330s start hitting the refurb.

 

[HockeyMonkey]

If QF was to run their fleet tight without much buffer, which we all know is a bad idea... it might just fit with 9, but ideally it needs to be 10. I suspect with SIN they want the frequency... not a single big aircraft.

They could swap in a 787 from the LAX route to offer Y+ on MEL-SIN. A good step up from the current A330.

 

[madrooster]

But would it make sense to try and free up 330's that the SIN slot current takes up as some of the 330s start hitting the refurb.

A B789 is possibly more sensible. QF63/64 going to an A388 means that some B789s will be freed up.

 

[elanshin]

Incidentally - I wonder if OQC and OQL will come back with wifi domes built in. They're the two getting major overhauls iirc and we're starting to reach the point where the int'l fleet (including the 380s) are supposed to get the wifi domes.

 

[theonewhojumps]

If QF was to run their fleet tight without much buffer, which we all know is a bad idea... it might just fit with 9, but ideally it needs to be 10. I suspect with SIN they want the frequency... not a single big aircraft.

So when the 8th aircraft comes back, it’s either daily MEL-SIN or MEL-LAX, not both right? The reason I say 8th aircraft is that 2 of the A380s are still to be reconfigured seat wise, and who knows how long that could take.

 

[elanshin]

So when the 8th aircraft comes back, it’s either daily MEL-SIN or MEL-LAX, not both right? The reason I say 8th aircraft is that 2 of the A380s are still to be reconfigured seat wise, and who knows how long that could take.

It can't be both and I dont think we have any reasonable visibility on when an 8th plane will be back. Remember that it is entirely possible that OQK (one that doesnt need major overhaul) comes back and another 380 flies into AUH for maintenance too.

 

[moa999]

where the int'l fleet (including the 380s) are supposed to get the wifi domes.

Albeit Viasat is still to announce the launch provider for the APAC satellite (F3). Still expected to be 2024 at last press release. And the Euro satellite (F2) is now into 2025 launch... On the slight positive the degraded America's satellite is reportedly now being used for commercial services.

 

[OATEK]

I see the issue with bringing back A380s on MEL_SIN, is what you do with the extra pax when you get there. Still only one daily flight out of SIN to UK, no QF flights to EU (like FRA back in the day). Not sure the holiday/business market in SIN is big enough to justify the extra A380. perhaps @madrooster has a view?

 

[SYD]

I see the issue with bringing back A380s on MEL_SIN, is what you do with the extra pax when you get there. Still only one daily flight out of SIN to UK, no QF flights to EU (like FRA back in the day). Not sure the holiday/business market in SIN is big enough to justify the extra A380. perhaps @madrooster has a view?

There are codeshares on AF/KL/AY (others?) both for QF code and those partner airlines on the QF to/from Oz.

Edit:
MU, FJ, BA, JL, 6E…

Also a lot of QF codes on 3K flights into Asia - of course!

 

[TheInsider]

Incidentally - I wonder if OQC and OQL will come back with wifi domes built in. They're the two getting major overhauls iirc and we're starting to reach the point where the int'l fleet (including the 380s) are supposed to get the wifi domes.

OQC isn't even going to be looked at until mid next year in AUH

 

[jrfsp]

I see the issue with bringing back A380s on MEL_SIN, is what you do with the extra pax when you get there. Still only one daily flight out of SIN to UK, no QF flights to EU (like FRA back in the day). Not sure the holiday/business market in SIN is big enough to justify the extra A380. perhaps @madrooster has a view?

The issue with adding capacity to SIN is the intra-asia connections only work from QF35 and the European flights have a much better connection from QF37.

 

[D747]

OQC isn't even going to be looked at until mid next year in AUH

Why would that be, and how do you know? Please share with us the entire plan for the A380 fleet regarding maintenance. Why has this taken so long and when will all 10 be in service? I only ask because this is my favourite type to fly on and the more routes that reliably have A380s, the more I'll fly Qantas.

 

[TheInsider]

Why would that be, and how do you know? Please share with us the entire plan for the A380 fleet regarding maintenance. Why has this taken so long and when will all 10 be in service? I only ask because this is my favourite type to fly on and the more routes that reliably have A380s, the more I'll fly Qantas.

All I know is they are doing a 12-year check and that will commence mid next year. This is from my engineering friends.
Also still minimal engineering support in AUH where other airlines are getting prioritised.