The Future for the Qantas 747

[philflyer]

With all the excitement of the A380 taking off from Melbourne this week I noticed yesterday afternoon a Qantas 747-400 looming large over the departure hall at domestic gate 11 at Tullamarine. I was quite surprised to see it sitting there. I took a look around and couldn't see any signs of where it was headed to.
Does anyone know if 747-400s have already been redeployed on domestic routes?
Maybe they will replace the older 747-300s heading to Perth? I guess they could be used on the new Buenos Aries route too.

 

[Mal]

Qantas upgraded some of their PER flights to 744's IIRC.

The 744 will be around for quite a while yet on many different routes. IIRC, they're not due for retirement for another 10 years or so?

 

[NM]

With an A330 receiving some interior fitout repairs and a 744 still on the ground in MNL, QF has to deploy aircraft as they are available for different services. They have been using some 743 aircraft to replace A330 flights between PER-SIN and BNE-SIN. So I am not surprised that the occasional 744 is doing some domestic runs to PER.

There has not been any permanent shift of any 744s to domestic services.

 

[Mal]

There has not been any permanent shift of any 744s to domestic services.

Indeed! I was thinking of the conversion of flights from 747-300 to Airbus A330-200 services.

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[Flashback]

Which I've been more than happy with, given the ones I've been on have had Skybeds and AV(i)OD.

I was able to watch Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas on my last flight, and that's a big :!::!: in my books!

Edit: to clarify, that is the A332.

 

[ejb]

Which I've been more than happy with, given the ones I've been on have had Skybeds and AV(i)OD.

I was able to watch Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas on my last flight, and that's a big :!::!: in my books!

Edit: to clarify, that is the A332.

I think it would have been a A333 as they have the Skybeds and AVOD but I think the A332 only have standard Dom seating in J and no PTV.

ejb

 

[Flashback]

You would think so (I also mentioned this to the FA), however it had the new interior and the safety instruction cards had A330-200 on them.

 

[Shano]

This site is a great reference for QF fleet info.

Currently lists 3 international and 2 domestic config A330-200 operating in the QF fleet.

 

[oz_mark]

This site is a great reference for QF fleet info.

Currently lists 3 international and 2 domestic config A330-200 operating in the QF fleet.

The 3 international A332's are used basically where the A333 does not have enough legs (A333 being a longer, heavier plane). The have AVOD, skybeds etc.

The 2 domestic A332's are used mostly on the SYD/MEL - PER sector, largely replacing the 743's.

 

[Flashback]

I've had the Int. A332 on SYD-PER; luck I guess, or repositioning flight ?

 

[oz_mark]

I've had the Int. A332 on SYD-PER; luck I guess, or repositioning flight ?

Luck I guess - there are only 2 dom A332's so if one goes tech hard to replace with another dom A332!

 

[ejb]

You would think so (I also mentioned this to the FA), however it had the new interior and the safety instruction cards had A330-200 on them.

I stand corrected

I always choose the 6.10am flight SYD-PER on Monday mornings as this is operated by a A333 with the Skybeds and AVOD.

Great way to get another 4 hours sleep before working in Perth.

I am however looking forward to a few 744's doing the SYD-PER run when the A380 takes over their runs.

ejb

 

[Flashback]

I stand corrected

I always choose the 6.10am flight SYD-PER on Monday mornings as this is operated by a A333 with the Skybeds and AVOD.

Great way to get another 4 hours sleep before working in Perth.

I am however looking forward to a few 744's doing the SYD-PER run when the A380 takes over their runs.

ejb

That's the exact flight I was on, except it was a Tuesday. Just luck I guess, one is not to complain :!:

 

[oz_mark]

I am however looking forward to a few 744's doing the SYD-PER run when the A380 takes over their runs.

Aren't the 744's slated to go to work on some of the newer routes?

 

[ejb]

Aren't the 744's slated to go to work on some of the newer routes?

I am just assuming that they will have a few 744's doing the run when they retire the 743's which I believe is very soon.

ejb

 

[oz_mark]

I am just assuming that they will have a few 744's doing the run when they retire the 743's which I believe is very soon.

That's what the domestic 332's were for. Qantas have previously said that SYD-PER and MEL-PER would be scheduled using 332's and 767's (and there is, as you know, the odd positioning 333 flight). While 744's may appear, I would expect they would be the exception rather than the rule.

 

[NM]

That's what the domestic 332's were for. Qantas have previously said that SYD-PER and MEL-PER would be scheduled using 332's and 767's (and there is, as you know, the odd positioning 333 flight). While 744's may appear, I would expect they would be the exception rather than the rule.

Looking longer term, as the 763s go and 787s come on line, we may well see 744s back regularly on the trans-con services. Its not that long ago that SYD-CNS was regularly a 747, so anything is possible.

 

[serfty]

I am just assuming that they will have a few 744's doing the run when they retire the 743's which I believe is very soon.

ejb

The Ex QF JQi 332 were originally ordered for these trans-continental operations and indeed operated them for a while. (I remember flying PER-MEL on one in late '05).

Then Qantas had the idea of JQi and decided to reassign the 332's for their international operations.

This was a "temporary" measure pending the first JQi 787's arrival this year from Boeing - which did not happen.

The 743's were to be retired a year or so ago - due to these delays, Qantas have had to keep them flying.

 

[oz_mark]

Looking longer term, as the 763s go and 787s come on line, we may well see 744s back regularly on the trans-con services. Its not that long ago that SYD-CNS was regularly a 747, so anything is possible.

Indeed, anything is possible, and we may see A380's on domestic duty someday as well. Still, I don't think we will be seeing 744's regularly on the transcon's for the time being.

 

[JohnK]

The 744 will be around for quite a while yet on many different routes. IIRC, they're not due for retirement for another 10 years or so?

I am hoping the QF 744s are scheduled for international routes for at least the next 5-10 years. It would be nice to have a mid-morning SYD-SIN/BKK departure arriving mid afternoon but I am dreaming.