Qantas Project Sunrise goes ahead, 12 new A350-1000s ordered

[Mwenenzi]

I'm excited for any new route, any new aircraft. Flying to London direct has always been a dream - I remember my late grandfather who was a QF 707 pilot tell me about the 747-400ER delivery that flew LHR-SYD non stop, me as a young boy was absolutely fascinated by that - and now I have the prospect of flying it as a pax.

That's the aircraft that is now at HARS - Albion Park. OJA. I flew with Dave Massey-Greene (who was the actual Captain of that flight) a number of times. It took a lot of planning, a special high density fuel, and in preview of the current issues, they left the luggage behind.

Off topic (but a long haul QF flight)

David Massey-Green | This Day in Aviation

VH-OJA Boeing 747-438

history of qantas airways boeing 747-438 vh-oja.

www.aussieairliners.org

 

[downgraded]

I agree - AFF does seem to have changed from pre-covid. Compared to "that other forum", which I don't use often - it's chalk & cheese.

I'm excited for any new route, any new aircraft. Flying to London direct has always been a dream - I remember my late grandfather who was a QF 707 pilot tell me about the 747-400ER delivery that flew LHR-SYD non stop, me as a young boy was absolutely fascinated by that - and now I have the prospect of flying it as a pax.

Does the media release of QF's Perth-London change to an A350 imply that QF9 will end up being a "direct" MEL-SYD flight rather than a "non-stop" Project Sunrise flight from MEL?

 

[justinbrett]

Does the media release of QF's Perth-London change to an A350 imply that QF9 will end up being a "direct" MEL-SYD flight rather than a "non-stop" Project Sunrise flight from MEL?

No.

 

[downgraded]

No.

Perhaps I should rephrase that, though the answer is probably the same....
Does the media release of QF's Perth-London change to an A350 imply that QF9 will end up being a "direct" MEL-LHR flight rather than a "non-stop" Project Sunrise flight from MEL?

 

[justinbrett]

Perhaps I should rephrase that, though the answer is probably the same....
Does the media release of QF's Perth-London change to an A350 imply that QF9 will end up being a "direct" MEL-LHR flight rather than a "non-stop" Project Sunrise flight from MEL?

I knew what you meant, and no - the whole point is a non-stop flight. I'm not sure where you got that impression (though obviously SYD will launch first).

 

[downtheback]

Perhaps I should rephrase that, though the answer is probably the same....
Does the media release of QF's Perth-London change to an A350 imply that QF9 will end up being a "direct" MEL-LHR flight rather than a "non-stop" Project Sunrise flight from MEL?

It sounds like all of MEL, SYD, BNE and PER will get non-stop flights to LHR. Whether via SIN continues is yet to be seen as that would require another slot pair.

 

[lovestotravel]

Saddest past of the A350 order is it means pilots and crew have agreed to the new conditions of lower pay

 

[justinbrett]

It sounds like all of MEL, SYD, BNE and PER will get non-stop flights to LHR. Whether via SIN continues is yet to be seen as that would require another slot pair.

QF has said it wants to continue both the PER and SIN routes - so one can assume the gold plated solution is SYD & MEL - LHR on A350, PER-LHR on 787 and BNE-SIN-LHR on 787.

If not Singapore, then could combine to BNE-PER-LHR on 787.

I guess the thing to remember is they're replacing what was 2x A380s with much smaller aircraft - so the four routes above will deliver almost the same number of seats as those 2x A380s.

 

[Cheatah]

Perth - LHR will get the A350 according to an article on AustBT the other day

With Syd, Mel and Per having daily(?) A350 flights thats 6 aircraft, leaving 4 for Syd/Mel - JFK and a couple more for spares and prehaps another route (BNE - DFW?)

 

[jrfsp]

Perth - LHR will get the A350 according to an article on AustBT the other day

With Syd, Mel and Per having daily(?) A350 flights thats 6 aircraft, leaving 4 for Syd/Mel - JFK and a couple more for spares and prehaps another route (BNE - DFW?)

It all depends on A380 retirement really. There will probably be a further A350 order down the line.

Id expect LHR to go all A350 eventually, probably SYD-DFW too.

 

[NM]

Slots at LHR may limit the number of A350 and 787 flights QF can operate there. One of teh major reasons for the A380 on the LHS services was that they could carry more people with fewer LHR slots, and use SIN/DXB as a cross-over point for passengers going through different Australian ports. ULH operations with smaller capacities changes the picture when it comes to slots at places like LHR.

 

[justinbrett]

Slots at LHR may limit the number of A350 and 787 flights QF can operate there. One of teh major reasons for the A380 on the LHS services was that they could carry more people with fewer LHR slots, and use SIN/DXB as a cross-over point for passengers going through different Australian ports. ULH operations with smaller capacities changes the picture when it comes to slots at places like LHR.

I'm fairly certain QF owns four slot pairs, two are on lease to BA.

 

[NM]

I'm fairly certain QF owns four slot pairs, two are on lease to BA.

So four possibly might be:

SYD-LHR-SYD (A350)
MEL-LHR-MEL (A350)
PER-LRH-PER (787 or A350)
SYD-SIN-LHR (A380) (with connections from BNE, ADL etc.)

 

[justinbrett]

So four possibly might be:

SYD-LHR-SYD (A350)
MEL-LHR-MEL (A350)
PER-LRH-PER (787 or A350)
SYD-SIN-LHR (A380) (with connections from BNE, ADL etc.)

If it were me:

SYD-LHR (A350)
MEL-LHR (A350)
ADL-PER-LHR (A350)
BNE-SIN-LHR (787 to SIN then A380 to LHR; a reverse of what used to happen with JFK where the flight number was on the SYD flight but the aircraft came from BNE)

 

[jb747]

If it were me:

BNE-SIN-LHR (787 to SIN then A380 to LHR; a reverse of what used to happen with JFK where the flight number was on the SYD flight but the aircraft came from BNE)

How are you getting the 380 to Singapore?

 

[justinbrett]

How are you getting the 380 to Singapore?

QF81 SYD-SIN.

Probably should have mentioned that.

 

[jpp42]

How are you getting the 380 to Singapore?

Maybe it can be based there, operated by Jetstar Asia? Ha.

 

[drron]

Maybe it can be based there, operated by Jetstar Asia? Ha.

With 850 Y seats.

 

[justinbrett]

With 850 Y seats.

Well sure, if you want to go for low density.

 

[OATEK]

How are you getting the 380 to Singapore?

I though at one stage we had an A380 doing SIN-LHR-SIN rotations?