747 Trans Tasman

[harvyk]

Hi all...

Just out of interest, how many trans tasman flights (From BNE \ SYD \ MEL to AKL) operate now using a 747? (any carriers)

I've found a few 747 TT's with AirNZ from BNE \ MEL to AKL and a single QF 747 TT (QF15, but only on Wednesday the 17th of Feb 09), but do people know of any other regular or semi regular 747 trans tasman flights?

(Yes I miss the old QF25 \ QF26)...

 

[Travel Guru]

Looking in Galileo, I can't see any regular 744 services on QF.

QF15 is also operating BNE-AKL on 2 Dec. 09

TG

 

[Mal]

I think AirNZ is the only one. (There would be some freighters ... but that isn't really a passenger aircraft!)

QF15 shouldn't stop in AKL - perhaps it's stopping to pick up a tour group or some other necessary stopover on that date.

Perhaps QF25/QF26 will eventually go back to being a 747... but assuming the savings they are making on that flight by having it operated as a 737, I doubt it.

Then of course there is Emirates with their A380 and various other planes (but no 747), Argentina Aerolineas/Lan with their A340s, Jetstar and Pacific Blue with their mix of 737's and A320s.

I think that rounds out all the carriers !

 

[NM]

There was a NZ 744 at BNE this morning ready to operate to AKL.

 

[harvyk]

Thanks for that TG... Can you tell me if there is some method to the madness which NZ uses their 744's? or does it appear to be slotted in when ever they feel like it?

 

[NM]

Thanks for that TG... Can you tell me if there is some method to the madness which NZ uses their 744's? or does it appear to be slotted in when ever they feel like it?

In the current schedule, its only on Sundays that the 744 operates AKL-BNE-AKL. Other days are a mix of 772, 763 and A320 (generally 2 flights a day) for NZ.

 

[serfty]

Thanks for that TG... Can you tell me if there is some method to the madness which NZ uses their 744's? or does it appear to be slotted in when ever they feel like it?

In the current schedule, its only on Sundays that the 744 operates AKL-BNE-AKL. Other days are a mix of 772, 763 and A320 (generally 2 flights a day) for NZ.

...and this can vary day to day, week to week.

AirNZ use their 772's and 774's for Trans-pacific (744's for LAX-LHR).

These are generally scheduled arrive into AKL from North America by 8am and they do not return until after 7pm in the evenings.

Rather than have them sit around all day, these aircraft are often used TT to SYD/MEL/BNE. As to scheduling them TT this varies greatly depending on parameters such as airframe cycles etc.

 

[docjames]

Does air pacific fly it's 747 NAN-AKL? You could always do SYD-NAN-AKL. Sure, it is further, but still, compared to the crazy routings others come up with around here....

 

[harvyk]

Does air pacific fly it's 747 NAN-AKL? You could always do SYD-NAN-AKL. Sure, it is further, but still, compared to the crazy routings others come up with around here....

They do, but it would also mean an o'nighter in Nadi... They do seem fairly consistant with flying the 744's...