QF A380 in SYD, where was it going two days early?

[Febs]

Hi all,

Flying into SYD today I thought I caught a glimpse of Nancy-Bird Walton. Drove right past it on the DOM-INT shuttle bus and sure enough - it was the A380 I'd seen in MEL on Monday (just before its inaugural flight).

I know its first SYD flight is on Fri (24th), so I figured maybe it was up here a few days early...though I was confused as to why the aerobridges would be attached already.

Then, just after an SQ A380 took off, the QF A380 backed out and was towed out to the runway. Didn't see it takeoff, but I presume that's what it was about to do.

Where was it off to? A mate who works for QF says it flew MEL-SYD this morning with no pax...but where was it off to this arvo? Just curious.

Cheers,
- Febs.

 

[Febs]

Ha, timing. My mate just replied and said it was parked in a hangar tonight...so I guess it wasn't actually taking off, just heading to the hangar. Certainly looked like it was about to takeoff!

(Aerobridges were connected to let the crew off earlier in the morning...so it must have sat at that gate for hours! I saw it there around 4:30pm.)

Cheers,
- Febs.

 

[Bundy Bear]

An A380 doing a Melbourne - Sydney run without passengers; what a waste.

 

[Febs]

An A380 doing a Melbourne - Sydney run without passengers; what a waste.

Tell me about it!
Apparently crew get qualified on it based on sectors, not mileage...so SYD-MEL and MEL-LAX both provide the same level of qualifying travel!

Cheers,
- Febs.

 

[milehighclub]

After each SYD-LAX-SYD or MEL-LAX-MEL it ferries to either SYD or MEL empty for the next flight.

 

[serfty]

That will be the case until the next 388 comes into service in early January.

I guess it's was in the hangars to the north of T3 getting it's post operational long haul grease and oil change ...

 

[JohnK]

After each SYD-LAX-SYD or MEL-LAX-MEL it ferries to either SYD or MEL empty for the next flight.

Is QF likely to schedule domestic flights from the international terminal on the A380 in the future?

 

[oz_mark]

Is QF likely to schedule domestic flights on the A380 in the future?

I don't think there are too many domestic gates set up for it. So I would think not any time soon, but when they are aged creaky things who knows.

 

[JohnK]

I don't think there are too many domestic gates set up for it. So I would think not any time soon, but when they are aged creaky things who knows.

I should have mentioned domestic flights from the international terminal. If QF is going to reposition the A380 from MEL-SYD and SYD-MEL empty it may well be worthwhile to try and sell airfares for the trip.

 

[Skyring]

I should have mentioned domestic flights from the international terminal. If QF is going to reposition the A380 from MEL-SYD and SYD-MEL empty it may well be worthwhile to try and sell airfares for the trip.

Maybe they will, once they have enough cabin crew trained up. It seems such a waste to have one leg in three empty.

Mind you, running a 380 MEL-SYD or vv would certainly strip out the passengers from the regular flights on the days it happened!

 

[ANstar]

It flew Monday MEL-LAX-MEL and then on Wednesday did MEL-LAX-SYD to then ops SYD-LAX today.

So it seems they are now utilising it more - however it hasn't been published - presumably to avoid disappointment if it is out of service. I presume this is also why there were nod omestic flights being offered as they planned to be doing this from the start if all went well.

 

[NM]

I think they would struggle to provide the usual CityFlyer service on a full A380 op between SYD and MEL. I think the repositioning op is temporary until they receive enough aircraft to operate MEL and SYD ops daily. So I have no expectation that a domestic flight will be scheduled any time soon on the A380.

 

[ejb]

I think they would struggle to provide the usual CityFlyer service on a full A380 op between SYD and MEL. I think the repositioning op is temporary until they receive enough aircraft to operate MEL and SYD ops daily. So I have no expectation that a domestic flight will be scheduled any time soon on the A380.

When do QF receive their next A388?

O/T: Why is it called a A380-800 when it is the first A380, should it not have been a A380-100

ejb

 

[oz_mark]

O/T: Why is it called a A380-800 when it is the first A380, should it not have been a A380-100

You could also ask why the 787 is starting out at 787-8?

 

[straitman]

When do QF receive their next A388?

O/T: Why is it called a A380-800 when it is the first A380, should it not have been a A380-100

ejb

You could also ask why the 787 is starting out at 787-8?

Obviously the same answer to both questions :!:

 

[JohnK]

Obviously the same answer to both questions :!:

I didn't think the answer was that obvious.

 

[serfty]

When do QF receive their next A388?

Dec 12th, then 27th; neither scheduled to be operational until Jan 7th ...

 

[NM]

When do QF receive their next A388?

O/T: Why is it called a A380-800 when it is the first A380, should it not have been a A380-100

ejb

The -100 numbering scheme is just so 20th century .

I also believe marketing to the Chinese was considered better if they started at 8, being a positive and lucky number in Chinese culture. Hence also the A380 skipping a few tens after the A310, 320, 330 and 340.

 

[ejb]

You could also ask why the 787 is starting out at 787-8?

When it arrives I may well ask that question.

ejb

 

[JohnK]

Hence also the A380 skipping a few tens after the A310, 320, 330 and 340.

You forgot to mention the A350 XWB which is still under development or has this been scrapped?