QANTAS takes A380s out of circulation [and reduces flights]

[Must...Fly!]

8 A380s to be grounded (two in scheduled MX leaves 2 flying), QF1/2 to run SYD PER LHR as a B787 temporarily, BNE ORD delayed.

 

[liamg]

QANTAS GROUP UPDATE ON CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE

Keep up to date with Qantas' latest news and information, media releases, articles, images and more with the Qantas News Room.

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SUMMARY OF QANTAS GROUP NETWORK CHANGES

Route	Change	Effective dates (until mid-Sept 2020)
Asia
Sydney-Tokyo (Haneda)	B747 replaced by smaller A330	30 March
Melbourne-Singapore	– 7 return flights per week cancelled (QF 37/38) – B787 replaced by larger A330 on 7 return flights per week (QF 35/36)	– 20 April – 4 May
North America
Brisbane-Chicago	Route launch postponed	Was to start 15 April
Brisbane-San Francisco	Route suspended (3 return flights per week)	18 April
Sydney-San Francisco	B787 replaced by larger B747	18 April
Melbourne-San Francisco	Route suspended (4 return flights per week)	18 April
Sydney-Dallas/Fort Worth	A380 replaced by smaller B787	20 April
Melbourne-Los Angeles	A380 replaced by smaller B787	1 June
Sydney-Vancouver	Seasonal service suspended (3 return flights per week)	June and July only
United Kingdom
Sydney-London (Heathrow)	– Flights to operate via Perth (instead of Singapore) then non-stop to London. – Perth-London to become double daily as a result. – A380 replaced by smaller B787	20 April
South America
Sydney-Santiago	Delaying planned B787 introduction and continuing with B747	1 August

Note: The suspension of the A380 and First Class from Singapore routes will see the Qantas First Lounge in Singapore close temporarily, with customers instead invited to use the adjacent Qantas Business Lounge.

Note: Qantas B787 has approx. 250 less seats than an A380.



Qantas – Extension of previously announced cancellations

(Until mid-Sept 2020 unless stated)

Route	Change
Sydney-Shanghai	Route continues to be suspended until at least mid-July (7 flights per week) (sole route to mainland China)
Sydney-Hong Kong	Reduced from 14 to 7 return flights per week
Melbourne-Hong Kong	Reduced from 7 to 4 return flights per week (1 additional cancellation per week from previously announced cuts)
Brisbane-Hong Kong	Reduced from 7 to 3 return flights per week (1 additional cancellation per week from previously announced cuts)

Note: Further capacity reductions will also be made on flights to Japan and New Zealand, with other Asian routes under evaluation.

 

[Melburnian1]

From the extensive Qantas media release re its flying cuts, Mr Joyce says 'we're asking our people to use their paid leave and, if they can, consider taking some unpaid leave given we're flying a lot less.' He prefaced that with ',..we want to avoid job losses wherever possible..'

This may leave the door open for redundancies, but the bit that's unclear to me is whether in time, staff will be forced rather than requested to go on unpaid leave.

 

[flyingfan]

Two things particularly interesting to AFF:
1) PER-LHR will be double daily
2) QF First lounge in SIN closed and pax directed to J lounge

 

[wannabeinvestmentbanker]

This is a significant change to operations all the way through to September!

Qantas is also scrapping the latest off-market buyback announced last month, saving another 150 million Australian dollars ($US98.8 million), but said it will still pay an interim dividend as planned on April 9.

Management bonuses for fiscal 2020 have been scrapped and Mr. Joyce will forgo his A$2.1 million salary for the remainder of the year, which runs to June 30. The airline is asking all staff to take paid or unpaid leave and bringing forward maintenance on aircraft to coincide with the cuts.

 

[Kangol]

So the only F service after these changes will be SYD-LAX on QF11?

 

[Melburnian1]

There must be thousands of passengers booked via SIN (including those with planned stopovers) who won't want to travel via PER.

How much of the rebooking processes can be automated, or does every booking require human intervention? If the latter, many staff will be exceedingly busy, even though it's not revenue generating for QFi.

Note also that (so far) cities like Manila have escaped deep cuts to schedules (JQi) or any cuts (QFi.) Of course, this may change.

 

[liamg]

Why do you say passengers won't want to travel via Perth? In this climate, with so much going on, if I really want to get to London, I'll take any flight available.

 

[bcworld]

if I really want to get to London, I'll take any flight available.

Specifically one that avoids a third country where you just don't know what entry, or even transit, restrictions will suddenly be put in place.

 

[Himeno]

Sydney-Tokyo (Haneda)

B747 replaced by smaller A330

30 March

well cough.
The other TYO routes are 330s as well? no 787s in there (yet)?

Yet again, this shows that the A330s should have gotten some W seats (2 rows would have been enough).

 

[Melburnian1]

Why do you say passengers won't want to travel via Perth? In this climate, with so much going on, if I really want to get to London, I'll take any flight available.

Because some may have planned to visit SIN to see relatives/business colleagues or take side trips.

 

[OATEK]

Qantas International network changes | Qantas

View information on our latest International network changes.

www.qantas.com

 

[moa999]

Because some may have planned to visit SIN to see relatives/business colleagues or take side trips.

I'd assume anyone showing a lengthy transit in Singapore will be given the option to drop it, or otherwise accommodated on BA for the second leg.

Think this also means that both SYD and MEL will only have a single A330 flight to SIN. (QF81/82 and 35/36 with 1/2 diverted and 37/38 cancelled)

Albeit not happening until 20 April, almost 6wks away.

Also interesting that QF has seemingly made this happen quickly with PER airport, despite the various other disagreements.

 

[GoldCanyon340]

Waiting to see how this affects my future bookings. I only have one in the current window of uncertainty. One of my last choices would be to fly on the Dreamliner via PER.

 

[FrankP]

Wow, reading thru this seems like it’s really going to hit their business. I’m hoping the current oil-pricing scenario might help them a bit. I think trimming the fat is the only thing they can do. Not just flights cancelled but whole routes cancelled and others put onto smaller planes. I hope it doesn’t impact customers too severely and that those impacted are able to stay patient and flexible. I’ve actually already cancelled 4 flights going through Sydney in the coming fortnight which I did not do lightly, but I’m self employed and simply cannot risk getting sick or being forced onto x-weeks home isolation. Given that I can’t actually assess the risk It was the only course open to me.

 

[moa999]

Oil price won't help too much immediately due to hedging.

But the greater issue is people simply aren't travelling - hence the reductions

 

[ajw373]

So if I read right the only A380 route is SYD-LAX? And also assume withdrawal of 747’s delayed for the time being. Maybe they will last into 2021.

 

[offshore171]

They going to park them out in the desert?

 

[ajw373]

It will be interesting to see if they a) will and b) can, use this to bring forward the refurb program. Elsewhere I see that 2/3rds the fleet will be parked so only 4 in service.

 

[Mike65]

Latest update:

Qantas slashes flights, grounds planes amid coronavirus slump

Just two of the airline's largest planes will remain in operation as the company announces a suite of changes.

7news.com.au