End of an Era? QF ends A380 operations ex MEL 24 October 2026

[dajop]

To be fair to QF when I was travelling a fair bit out of MEL in the noughties IIRC there was basically 3 daily services (other than NZ) - a single SIN/LHR service a single HKG/LHR service, a single LAX service (some times a second service but not daily). There also used to be BKK service but that went away in the early noughties. Now they fly 2x SIN, HKG, CGK, DPS, NRT, LAX and DFW. Supplemented by “group” services (JQ) to SIN, DPS, HKT, BKK, SGN and CMB. Easy to forget where they came from.

For me still not a fan, particularly without day flights from Asia to MEL !

 

[TheCollecter]

To be fair I would only label the 737MAX family as death traps.
For very widely known reasons.

Agree… it’s just something one of my kids likes to say. As a rusted on 747 fanboi I grew up loving Boeing

 

[esseeeayeenn]

To be fair to QF when I was travelling a fair bit out of MEL in the noughties IIRC there was basically 3 daily services (other than NZ) - a single SIN/LHR service a single HKG/LHR service, a single LAX service (some times a second service but not daily). There also used to be BKK service but that went away in the early noughties. Now they fly 2x SIN, HKG, CGK, DPS, NRT, LAX and DFW. Supplemented by “group” services (JQ) to SIN, DPS, HKT, BKK, SGN and CMB. Easy to forget where they came from.

For me still not a fan, particularly without day flights from Asia to MEL !

Fair points.
However I don't buy into this "group" concept.
QF & JQ are different airlines, catering to different markets.
That is a deliberate corporate strategy.
When I am looking for flights I only look at QF, then other OW airlines, then EY because the experience is amazing or AF if I am in France.
I would never look at JQ precisely because they are selling a product which they have deliberately pitched to a different type of customer.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

Agree… it’s just something one of my kids likes to say. As a rusted on 747 fanboi I grew up loving Boeing

We are on the same page.
In 2017 I took my son on a trip to Vanuatu.
On the return I deliberately booked us on BNE-SYD-PER because it gave us the chance to experience business upstairs on a 747 BNE-SYD.
I later had 4 flights on 747s on two trips SYD-SCL but it remains his only 747 experience.

 

[dajop]

Fair points.
However I don't buy into this "group" concept.
QF & JQ are different airlines, catering to different markets.
That is a deliberate corporate strategy.
When I am looking for flights I only look at QF, then other OW airlines, then EY because the experience is amazing or AF if I am in France.
I would never look at JQ precisely because they are selling a product which they have deliberately pitched to a different type of customer.

OK even if you take out JQ, QF itself has never served MEL internationally (excluding NZ) as much it has now.

But if talking about Qantas Airways Limited you need to include JQ - which still works for many people, even though not for all of us individually.

IMHO people seem to overreacting to the lack of A380 and lack of F as they did when MEL lacked a LHR through service on a single flight number (which was still doable with a single stop in SIN changing planes there.).

 

[AIRwin]

Now they fly 2x SIN, HKG, CGK, DPS, NRT, LAX and DFW.

And DEL (seasonal?)

 

[drron]

The fact that they closed Paya Lebar as a commercial airport when they opened Changi just underlines my point.

Except for important guests such as Air Force One and similar for other distinguished guests. The only one that recently went through Changi was the North Korean leader but he did send his private jet to Playa Lebar.
I was just pointing out it is not the lack of space that prevents another commercial airport. Besides they will just keep making more land.

 

[TheCollecter]

Airlines review there plans continually. There's no certainty it won't be back

The A380 ain't Arnie - it won't be back

 

[Quickstatus]

Just as a matter of accuracy AF operates international flights out of at least 7 French airports.

Off topic

Sorry, nothing to do with a thread that is about MEL Losing its last regular QF A380 service and with that QF F class out of MEL

AF got rid of their entire fleet of A380 several years ago
And only operates F on some BOEING 777 and then only out of CDG.

 

[Saab34]

I was thinking even when the metro is up and running, it’s still going to be a 1.15-1.30min trip into the city. I think this I will always hold back the airport with future ambitions around being any serious competitor with Mascot.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

I was thinking even when the metro is up and running, it’s still going to be a 1.15-1.30min trip into the city. I think this I will always hold back the airport with future ambitions around being any serious competitor with Mascot.

Might replace Mascot eventually. Can use the airport precinct for other things.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

It will never replace Mascot.

Hate to break it to you, mate, but people actually have friends, family, and business in Western Sydney. I flew into WSI over the weekend to see friends in Liverpool