Article: Single-Aisle Planes Are the Future of Qantas' Fleet

[elanshin]

But yeh back to the original article. It does seem a little clickbaity. The a330 likely will be replaced by something that's not from the current orders. Whether thats more b788, b789, a330neo, a359 or <new plane> is something we don't know yet.

I do expect some of the a330 routes will be taken up by the a321XLR (something like BNE > HND) but the main trunk routes will have plenty of demand to need widebodies.

 

[MelbFlyer]

I wouldn't be able to imagine flying to SE Asia from Melbourne in a narrowbody.

I flew on a 757-200 from EWR to SFO back in 2019 and it was pushing it for that 6hr flight.

 

[Lynda2475]

literally confused

Dont bite the usual suspect trying to cause an argument.

 

[Quickstatus]

But suggesting that Qantas will phase out lie flat seats on their mid range routes is neither factual nor backed by any of their statements or publicly available plans.

I'm surprised that anyone would hang their hat on what the future airline would look like based on currently available statements.

3 words live rent free in my head with respect to this airline: "Fairer and Simpler."

 

[TheInsider]

I'm surprised that anyone would hang their hat on what the future airline would look like based on currently available statements.

3 words live rent free in my head with respect to this airline: "Fairer and Simpler."

And most people new to this game wouldn't even know what that means anymore. This was approximately 10 years ago wasn't it?

 

[Sprucegoose]

And most people new to this game wouldn't even know what that means anymore. This was approximately 10 years ago wasn't it?

Almost

Qantas frequent flyer program 'daunting'

Qantas Airways may have marketed recent changes to its frequent flyer program as 'simpler, fairer', but in reality it added 'daunting complexity'.

www.smh.com.au

 

[justinbrett]

I'm surprised that anyone would hang their hat on what the future airline would look like based on currently available statements.

3 words live rent free in my head with respect to this airline: "Fairer and Simpler."

I've got three words for you.

Still In Business.

 

[Quickstatus]

This was approximately 10 years ago wasn't it?

And much of what the airline still does reminds me to this day of the truth of those 3 words

 

[SYD]

Almost

Qantas frequent flyer program 'daunting'

Qantas Airways may have marketed recent changes to its frequent flyer program as 'simpler, fairer', but in reality it added 'daunting complexity'.

www.smh.com.au

and more importantly “Simpler & Fairer” TM for those quoting it.

And most people new to this game wouldn't even know what that means anymore. This was approximately 10 years ago wasn't it?

But many of us here have long memories…

If they‘d just gave us bonus points/SCs for flying QF codes, everyone would have been happy. Halving SCs earn on OW partners was just meaner…and we still live with that today

Qantas Is Introducing Simpler (Not Really – Far More Complicated) & Fairer Flying Program (Partner Earnings Dramatically Cut)

Qantas is slashing the the number of points that you earn on discount economy fares and drastically lowers the number of SC’s (status credits) earned on partners.

loyaltylobby.com

 

[Peasant]

There's a bit of smoke and mirrors in QF's fleet planning. They do like to talk about the huge headline order of 299 Airbus narrowbodies, but the reality is that more than a decade after the original A321neo order was placed, they've still only received a handful of them. They also have very few on firm order between now and 2029.

The below slide is taken from QF's latest results presentation. You'll see that between FY25 and FY29, they're only going to receive 20 A321XLRs, which they've stated will be used to replace 20 of the oldest 737-800s which are already 21 years old. Presumably that means they'll do some of the domestic transcons and trans-tasman but they simply won't have enough of them to do flights into Asia until well into the 2030s, as they have 75 738s to replace. The A320/321 is sold out until 2029 anyway.

They have been very clear that there will be an RFP for an A330 replacement this year, so that should be treated separately. But with very large widebody orders from airlines like Air India and United, delivery slots are probably at least three years away for those, which means those early -200s and -300s will probably be 25 years old before replacements arrive.

We're going to have to get used to the Qantas fleet being very, very old.

 

[SYD]

Yep. “Orders” are usually Firm + Options. Often the other way around. QF had options for 20x A380s but only firmed up orders for 12. Which was still quite a few compared to the non EK/SQ operators.

 

[moa999]

like to talk about the huge headline order of 299 Airbus

We won't mention the before Joyce order for 100+ 787s.
Reality is it's probably only those 3-4yr plans you can rely upon.

And after that you've got a lot more expensive capex in more 350s, and the 330 replacement and more 737s.
Qantas needs to be making a lot of money in the next few years.

 

[MelbFlyer]

We're going to have to get used to the Qantas fleet being very, very old.

I guess it's a question of - old widebody vs a new narrowbody?

If the widebody was well maintained and the interior was also kept up to (relatively new) date, there's no question at all - widebody wins for medium to long haul travel.

 

[RooFlyer]

Unfortunately, in the future we'll be offered a long flight in business with recliners only.

I'm literally confused about what you're trying to claim. Are you saying they'll have lie flat or not?

OK, let me spell it out.

In view that Qantas has ordered/will buy a bunch of long range, narrow-bodied airplanes, I reckon some of them will have only recliner business class seats fitted and consequently, in the future, some long flights (for @Lynda2475 's benefit, never said 'LH' - long haul or 'ULH' - Ultra long haul ) will only have recliner seats in business.

To argue the contrary, one would have to know that either the planes referred to will either all be fitted with lie flat seats in business, or none of them will ever fly a long flight.

My saying Unfortunately, in the future we'll be offered a long flight in business with recliners only. was never meant to be contentious or even a hard criticism (more a regret). Its honestly not worth debating further.

Hopefully I've cleared that up. Now, can anyone clarify where the claim referred to below came from? 'Coz I'd see no basis for that claim too (viz A330s currently).

Given that QF (not Jetstar) currently offer lie flat beds in J on all LH and ULH routes, and that proposed newer aircraft also offer this, I see no basis for the claim that long flights will have recline only.

 

[NSun]

But yeh back to the original article. It does seem a little clickbaity. The a330 likely will be replaced by something that's not from the current orders. Whether thats more b788, b789, a330neo, a359 or <new plane> is something we don't know yet.

I do expect some of the a330 routes will be taken up by the a321XLR (something like BNE > HND) but the main trunk routes will have plenty of demand to need widebodies.

This is my take as well.

Yes we will see some international flying done by the A321XLR (both some existing routes and maybe some new ones, perhaps international flights out of Adelaide or Perth to South-East Asia). Although there will have to be some wide-bodies in the fleet given slot constraints and the need for cargo space. It is just that the only firm orders are for the 12 A350-1000s and any orders made are unlikely to be delivered until the latter half of this decade.

 

[Inlander]

Ive flown a couple times on Fiji Airs Max8 NAN-CXI- HNL its around 8,5 to 9 hours(close to 8 hrs in the air), and it was fine.

 

[pauly7]

Can really see the new owners of this site influence on headlines and articles now

 

[bakerbj]

The Qantas Group recently placed a huge order with Airbus that will see up to 311 new aircraft delivered to the company over the next decade. Of those, just 12 planes will be twin-aisle aircraft.

Single-Aisle Planes Are the Future of Medium to Long-Haul Flying

Of the 311 planes that the Qantas Group recently ordered, just 12 will be wide-body aircraft. Single-aisle jets are the way of the future.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

Well, won't it be fun to file down the aisle like cattle. be a bug er to miss your seat and try to get back. I assume there will still be front and back doors so you can meet in the middle!