188 new aircraft for Qantas

[flying1977]

Qantas just announced it has ordered 188 new aircraft. 188 is an impressive total. It's good to see that QF are not idling by waiting to see what comes of the A380. This aggressive order and strategy seems to be the way forward, fight fire with fire.

Virgin will need to increase their fleet size if they want to be seen as serious competition.


About Qantas - Newsroom

 

[littl_flier]

Wow, this is definitely a big order for QF that will help put them in the right direction.

Interestingly, one of the big "plusses" for the APA deal was to have greater access to capital to fund new aircraft. They seem to have sweet talked someone.

This order is definitely a move in the right direction for the retirement of the 733's and some of the older 734's. (thank goodness) With the Dreamliners, 73H's and A380's on order, it's great news for QF and surely we might even see some new routes? Does it also put to bed the thoughts that QF will only keep CityFlyer services and move the "other" services to JQ?

Mr Dixon said the B737-800s would all have the latest inflight entertainment technology

I wonder if this might mean PTV's and AVOD on domestic sectors in a response to DJ's Live to Air PTV.

 

[Shano]

I wonder if this might mean PTV's and AVOD on domestic sectors in a response to DJ's Live to Air PTV.

Nah, just LCD TV's in the Y cabin...

 

[oz_mark]

Interesting that thay have gone for both Airbus and Boeing aircraft. I had read that they were looking at consolidating to one type.

 

[JohnK]

Good news.

Expect that fuel surcharges will decrease as the new aircraft will burn up to 25% less fuel per seat but then airfares will increase to compensate for the purchase of new aircraft and the decrease in fuel surcharges.

 

[duffshot]

Expect that fuel surcharges will decrease as the new aircraft will burn up to 25% less fuel per seat

That's the funniest thing I have read in a long time John.

 

[oz_mark]

Interestingly, one of the big "plusses" for the APA deal was to have greater access to capital to fund new aircraft. They seem to have sweet talked someone.

I can't see anywhere in here where it says exactly how these aircraft will be funded, although I suspect that some form of leasing is involved somewhere.

 

[Commuter]

I hope they'll have enough crew to fly them, or they'll need to be UAVs

 

[codash1099]

What a shame they're sticking with the 737. I'd rate this as the most uncomfortable aircraft I've flown in.

 

[codash1099]

I can't see anywhere in here where it says exactly how these aircraft will be funded, although I suspect that some form of leasing is involved somewhere.

Flight Group indicates a mix of buy and lease.

 

[NM]

At least that should mean the end of the 734 fleet over the next few years.

 

[Evan]

Only logical you would assume that the 733's and 734's will be sold (maybe some more conversions to freighters), also logical that QF would want to continue to fly a type(s) they already operate.

Both Boeing and Airbus have indicated there is no new single isle planes planned in the short/medium term although one of the US airlines did approach Boeing about the possability and they said not before 2012.

QF must have more planes on order than just about any airline i would think....

A320/A321 - 68 aircraft, plus 40 options and purchase rights
B737-800 - 7 to be delivered in 2008
B737-800 - 31 aircraft and 49 options and purchase rights
A332 - 6 ordered, 2008
B787 - 65 orders, 20 options, 30 rights
A380 - 20 orders, 4 options (did they also pick up more options ?)
Q400 - 3 for 2007/2008 delivery
Q400 - 12 orders, 24 rights

So that would be about 13 news jets in 2008, and some 180 odd orders in the next say 5-8 years !!!

Over 20 news jets a year into the fleet for either replacments of capacity expansion. Impressive, says something about how they see the future of passanger travel, also they may be able to sell planes/orders/slots etc to the US airlines if it all gets ugly.

E

 

[NM]

QF must have more planes on order than just about any airline i would think....

I don't think there would many others with more. EK used to continually towards the top of the list, but I thik QF would be in front of them now. Maybe EK still wins on total number f seats on order, but QF would be in front in terms of hulls.

 

[SeaWolf]

Interesting that thay have gone for both Airbus and Boeing aircraft. I had read that they were looking at consolidating to one type.

In a sense, they still are. The Airbus 320s are going to JetStar which is already using that type and the Boeing 737s are going to QANTAS who are already using that type.

 

[oz_mark]

In a sense, they still are. The Airbus 320s are going to JetStar which is already using that type and the Boeing 737s are going to QANTAS who are already using that type.

True, but I had read somewhere they were looking at consolidating across the group.

 

[Evan]

Must also remember the QF is not even that "old" (Although some may dis-agree). When you look at the US airlines that have almost no or few orders and a fleet of the same age as QF or older and ageing by the day, The age of the US fleets must be close to the calendar year.

QF = 11 years
AA = 14.5 year
UA = 13.3 year

Just a sample from checking airfleets.net

E

 

[NM]

Must also remember the QF is not even that "old" (Although some may dis-agree). When you look at the US airlines that have almost no or few orders and a fleet of the same age as QF or older and ageing by the day, The age of the US fleets must be close to the calendar year.

QF = 11 years
AA = 14.5 year
UA = 13.3 year

Just a sample from checking airfleets.net

E

Many of the US carriers are in a difficult situation right now. They need to be upgrading their short-haul narrow-body fleets (such as AA's MD80s), but want to wait for the 737/A320 replacement to get maximum value from a new generation with the hopes of a further 25% fuel efficiency gain.

But the manufacturers are not willing to start on their narrow-body next generation designs until the engine manufacturer can deliver the engine improvements needed to make it worthwhile. Neither Boeing or Airbus is willing to act now and then find the other gets a significant efficiency advantage by waiting just a little longer for even better technology. Whatever they build next will define their narrow-body product for probably the next 20 years so its very imortan to both manufacturers that they get it right.

They really seem to be waiting for the promised geared turbofan engines as the basis of the engine efficiency gains needed to warrant the new aircraft type.

And the US airlines are in the same situation as the aircraf manufacturers. None is willing to make a significant investment in a fleet replacement only to find their competitors wait a little longer and then have a significant cost advantage over them for the next 15-20 years.

Couple that with the financial state of the airlines following the cut-throat competition and the lack of free market to weed out the ineffective players (i.e. Chapter 11 provisions meaning non go the way of the likes of Ansett), and the ability and willingness to risk their gamble with their financial futures has created a problem that is only going to get worse before it gets better.

 

[straitman]

What a shame they're sticking with the 737. I'd rate this as the most uncomfortable aircraft I've flown in.

codash1099,

Where is the B737 any different to the A320 in this regard :?:

 

[JohnK]

What a shame they're sticking with the 737. I'd rate this as the most uncomfortable aircraft I've flown in.

I think the 737 is OK and it is a good decision sticking with it. The A320 is OK but is there any alternative to the 737 you would have chosen?

I had 6 flights on 737s in New Zealand last week including a WLG-SYD flight and all flights were comfortable.

 

[Flying Fox]

Question - What does the 73H designation refer to?

I have heard of 737NG (Next Generation) which I believes refers to 737-600's,700's, 800's & 900's but not the 73H.