Two QF A380s to be scrapped

[mbell1510]

The Australian reports the A332s will have some economy seats removed to able to be able to fly between Brisbane and LAX/SFO

"The A330s, which normally fly medium-haul routes for Qantas, were expected to undergo technical changes to extend their range across the Pacific, such as having some of the seats removed."

NoCookies | The Australian

www.theaustralian.com.au

 

[HS-TQE]

Obviously thinking leisure instead of the premium/business crowd will drive demand, especially from BNE. Makes sense to use the A332s as they have about 100 more economy seats.

Plus the J demand ex-BNE to LAX/SFO would traditionally be lower than SYD/MEL, although Y demand (both low and medium/high yield) would be higher.

Using the A332s (regardless if whether the Cabin is reconfigured or not) would right-size that with the higher Y capacity.

Edit: Well there you go, Article posted above me state that Cabins will be reconfigured with likely some Y seats and possibly a few J being removed.

 

[PineappleSkip]

Australian reports the A332s will have some economy seats removed to able to be able to fly between Brisbane and LAX/SFO

That and pen up demand sounds like no bargain airfares next year.

 

[milehighclub]

They are not removing any seats. The seats will be blocked out for cabin crew rest.

 

[QFflyermelbourne]

I imagine they might need to enlarge the galley on some aircraft and probably install a proper crew rest for a flight of that length. I'm trying to remember what the 4 skybed 1 "international" 330s had circa ten years when they used to fly AKL-LAX-JFK. My first trip to JFK on EBL. Everything old is new again....

 

[ANstar]

I imagine they might need to enlarge the galley on some aircraft and probably install a proper crew rest for a flight of that length. I'm trying to remember what the 4 skybed 1 "international" 330s had circa ten years when they used to fly AKL-LAX-JFK. My first trip to JFK on EBL. Everything old is new again....

No A330's have ever had crew rest - just pax seats blocked for crew use.

 

[milehighclub]

I imagine they might need to enlarge the galley on some aircraft and probably install a proper crew rest for a flight of that length

They are making zero alterations to that aircraft. They already installed a crew rest for the pilots last time to enable longer flights with 3 crew. As LAX/SFO will require 4, a business class seat will be blocked and curtained. As for the cabin crew, they will get the seats that are not used due to the weight restrictions. They will install at most some curtains to hide those seats.

 

[RAM]

Reference point - Hawaiian Airlines' A330s.

Often the last three rows (completely side to side not just the middle section) are zeroed out and the middle is used for crew rest while the sides are just to minimised adjacent noise.

Many of the Hawaiian Airlines crew do not 'enjoy' using those seats for rest periods - with some bringing their own 'yoga mats' to spread out in attempts to 'soften' the metal edges between the adjacent seats. Most watch a movie or two during their 'rest period' and plan on making up their sleep on the overnight in Sydney.

That was of course - all pre-CV.

Can work for SYD-HNL flight times but for the longef BNE-SFO etc - not sure Q crews would fare so well with longer flying times coupled with shorter overnighters.

 

[docjames]

500-600mi further than AKL-LAX (older config) so will be interesting to see what “upgrades” are required to MTOW and/or weight removal measures (or both) end up being needed. Or load limits (especially on the return leg).

Are the 330s ETDO/ETOPS 180 already?

 

[TheInsider]

500-600mi further than AKL-LAX (older config) so will be interesting to see what “upgrades” are required to MTOW and/or weight removal measures (or both) end up being needed. Or load limits (especially on the return leg).

Are the 330s ETDO/ETOPS 180 already?

No upgrades are needed, it's literally all and only paperwork changes.

 

[Peasant]

If QF are having to make changes to the configuration then these must almost be the most refurbished commercial airliners in modern history. Delivered in QF config, converted to JQ, reconverted to QF, installation of Business suites and updates to the Y upholstery then reconfigured again with 27J and an extra toilet. Now this.

Now I'm oversimplifying this of course as I expect they'll be using the later aircraft that are already in the 27J config, unless the old international Skybed aircraft already have the MTOW uplift tick on the paperwork.

 

[Peasant]

It's a terrible aircraft for domestic operations. Just leave it at that. My keyboard doesn't have enough keys to give all of the reasons!

I'd be very interested in reading about this @jb747 if you ever find yourself with some spare time on your hands!

 

[ajw373]

If QF are having to make changes to the configuration then these must almost be the most refurbished commercial airliners in modern history. Delivered in QF config, converted to JQ, reconverted to QF, installation of Business suites and updates to the Y upholstery then reconfigured again with 27J and an extra toilet. Now this.

Now I'm oversimplifying this of course as I expect they'll be using the later aircraft that are already in the 27J config, unless the old international Skybed aircraft already have the MTOW uplift tick on the paperwork.

I’d be reasonably sure only a subset of the A332 fleet will be used and they will be the ones with seat back IFE in Y, which never operated with Jetstar.

 

[Vic]

I'd be very interested in reading about this @jb747 if you ever find yourself with some spare time on your hands!

I would've thought the obvious ones would just about cover it:

1. load/unloading turn around time; a complete novice guess would be 3.5 to 4 hours for MEL/SYD return. Qantas used to run 16 737s on that route in 4 hours. Even allowing for the fact they'd cancel a decent number of those flights, you only need about 2.2x 737s in each direction to carry the same number of economy pax.
2. MTOW being higher than landing weight, so that fuel management would become non-trivial.
3. Demand on route. Are you going to fill a single aircraft consistently at 9 am with that many pax?
4. Related which routes? MEL SYD and CBR have the passenger density. But frequency will be much lower; is some one who wants to fly mel syd at 10:45 going to be happy to wait until midday? SYD-PER where flight time is more proportionate to a long loading time probably doesn't have the demand.
5. Gate space - basically would probably mean using international terminals, aside from say Adelaide. So more hassle for pax and longer time required.
6. Fuel burn, isn't the A380 designed for long cruise with minimal fuel usage in cruise? What's going to happen when going from say 2 TO/landings per day to 5 or maybe 6.

I'm not a pilot, I don't work in aviation. I'm most likely wrong

 

[NickCorr]

Well looks like someone is off to Abu Dhabi for a a bit of attention...

QF6021 (QFA6021) Qantas Flight Tracking and History 01-Sep-2021 (SYD / YSSY-AUH / OMAA) - FlightAware

Track Qantas (QF) #6021 flight from Sydney to Abu Dhabi Int'l

flightaware.com

 

[Must...Fly!]

Well looks like someone is off to Abu Dhabi for a a bit of attention...

QF6021 (QFA6021) Qantas Flight Tracking and History 01-Sep-2021 (SYD / YSSY-AUH / OMAA) - FlightAware

Track Qantas (QF) #6021 flight from Sydney to Abu Dhabi Int'l

flightaware.com

I wonder if that's got something to do with the military/Afghan situation. Not sure we've seen an A330 go for maintenance to AUH previously.

 

[ajw373]

I wonder if that's got something to do with the military/Afghan situation. Not sure we've seen an A330 go for maintenance to AUH previously.

If related to Afghanistan you would think it would be headed to Dubai rather that Abu Dhabi. I know they are not far apart but the military ops have been out of a base in Dubai.

Seeing as it’s a -200 and one of the ones with fixed seat IFE in Y if this has something to do with the range extension? I know people are saying it should be a paper only exercise to increase MTOW but could also involve some other mod.