Bye Bye QF734s and its 3 x 763 to go

[markis10]

No surprise really, given the 738s being delivered, although the mention of three 763s going is news given the assumption that the body advertised was one of the two:

Qantas to cut ageing Boeing fleet

QANTAS is putting up for sale 21 ageing Boeing 737-400 aircraft, known as the workhorse of the skies, as it cuts flights due to the uncertain demand for travel.
While the sale is a sign of the dire short-term outlook, it will give Qantas a timely boost to its bottom line, with industry estimates that the aircraft could fetch up to $20 million each.

Not sure I would spend $20M on a 20 year old plane.

 

[anat0l]

I wonder who QF possibly thinks will buy their planes that are that old?

Except for other airlines which already have such old aircraft, but even that's not reasonable.

"For Sale: Much Beloved 737-400, Served for very long time, old but still humming, good working condition, available for test drive":?:

Do 737-400s make practical freighter aircraft, and even then why buy some really old ones?

 

[markis10]

Maybe Comair will buy them to replace half their fleet which is comprised of ex QF 733s?

Do 737-400s make practical freighter aircraft, and even then why buy some really old ones?

Have you looked at the freight aircraft that are having a daytime snooze at BNE, both Toll and AAE operate 737s as freight, I am sure a 734 will be better than a 733!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:VH-XML.JPG

 

[munitalP]

Bummer - I like the 734's and prefer the rattly old 767's over 330's any day...

 

[Mal]

Bummer - I like the 734's and prefer the rattly old 767's over 330's any day...

I'm curious why. Why is a 734 better than say a 73H? And likewise, what is the reason for preferring a ratty old 767 over an Airbus A330?

 

[samh004]

I'm curious why. Why is a 734 better than say a 73H? And likewise, what is the reason for preferring a ratty old 767 over an Airbus A330?

I would imagine the reason for disliking the A330 is the same as quite a few, they don't trust Airbus, after the strange accidents.

I agree though that the 734's aren't that bad. I was recently in 1F, prepared myself for the worst, but quite liked it.

 

[anat0l]

I'm curious why. Why is a 734 better than say a 73H? And likewise, what is the reason for preferring a ratty old 767 over an Airbus A330?

734s you have a better chance of netting a good legroom seat compared to 738 in Y. (J is another matter).

Also, in a 734 if you can get rows 4 or 5, the leg room is consistent and seats slightly more comfy. Otherwise the other rows you get the slimmer standard Y seats; varying comfort. On a 738 it's row 4 for best leg room, row 6 to middle exit row for OK and row 5 and aft half of aircraft for worse.

Can't explain the latter one. Might have something to do with the new seats.

 

[munitalP]

I'm curious why. Why is a 734 better than say a 73H? And likewise, what is the reason for preferring a ratty old 767 over an Airbus A330?

anat0l pretty much summed my reasons for the 734 - also because the aircraft is smaller, and less cramped & I know there's only ~18-28 additional seats on a 738...

734s you have a better chance of netting a good legroom seat compared to 738 in Y. (J is another matter).

Also, in a 734 if you can get rows 4 or 5, the leg room is consistent and seats slightly more comfy. Otherwise the other rows you get the slimmer standard Y seats; varying comfort. On a 738 it's row 4 for best leg room, row 6 to middle exit row for OK and row 5 and aft half of aircraft for worse.

Can't explain the latter one. Might have something to do with the new seats.

767 vs A330 - Im just not a fan of Airbus period. Until 2004 or 2005 I purposely never flew on an Airbus and hadn't flown on an Airbus. It wasn't till QF did a sneaky AC switch on a MEL/PER flight on me that I actually boarded one. I guess the 767 is just a good ol' workhorse that over millions of hours flown, has proven itself as a reliable safe aircraft. It could be also that I don't like the French after blowing up the Rainbow Warrior!

 

[Andyzx]

Also a big fan of the workhourse 767 and waiting on its replacement workhorse 787. But also like the A330 as an aircraft but as just pointed out, remember the Rainbow Warrior so i think I will leave them alone for a long while.

Anyone know the config / type / numbers of the 3 767 and other 2 last week:?:

 

[yohy?!]

I for one will enjoy the passing of the 763s - these tend to be the loudest planes that pass over my home on final approach at SYD, don't appreciate the Sat/Sun morning early arrivals particularly!

 

[Groundfeeder]

Also, in a 734 if you can get rows 4 or 5, the leg room is consistent and seats slightly more comfy.

My experience has been that the extra legroom went back to row 6 and that the centre seats were generally blocked for status pax.
All gone now for the squeezy 738.

 

[anat0l]

My experience has been that the extra legroom went back to row 6 and that the centre seats were generally blocked for status pax.
All gone now for the squeezy 738.

I was unsure about row 6, so I left it out. But you're probably right (six rows of J for the CBR flights needed by the pollies).

Middle block is a hit and miss and applies equally to the 738s. Most people, unless given no choice, wouldn't really want to sit in {4,5,6}{B,E} on a 734, unless you are quite skinny indeed.

 

[oz_mark]

News have really got their finger on the pulse:

From January:

JTR has been listed for sale, and available from March (IIRC) if you want to buy one.

Qantas have indicated that they will be selling up to 21 734's from March, but I don't know what the timeframe for those disposals is. I would imagine that it will match new 738's coming into the fleet.

 

[harvyk]

I'm the same, I'll miss the 734's in Y I preferred them over the 738's... (a 734 in J wasn't anything special)...

IMO the 738's don't seem to have as much legroom in them in Y, given I'm fairly tall, even a 1 cm difference is enough for me to notice...

3 less 767's is a bit of a bummer... I will always chose to fly a 767 over a 737 if the option exists... (although there are other planes which I'd pick over a 767)

 

[ChrisCunard]

Qantas to sell ageing Boeing 737s

Australia's Qantas to offload ageing Boeing 737s

Looks like new 73H with AVOD will become a more regular sight!

 

[anat0l]

Re: Qantas to sell ageing Boeing 737s

Australia's Qantas to offload ageing Boeing 737s

Looks like new 73H with AVOD will become a more regular sight!

That would be nice (in principle; I don't watch much TV, period), but I wouldn't get too excited too soon.

I also wouldn't be excited that QF can somehow sell all of these 734s...

 

[Sprucegoose]

Bummer - I like the 734's and prefer the rattly old 767's over 330's any day...

I am with you sir. I was brought up with the 400's !!!!

 

[markis10]

I am with you sir. I was brought up with the 400's !!!!

Wonder what that says about me, having been brought up with the 200s :mrgreen:

 

[V1213]

There isn't really much news in this - it's not like they're selling all 21 734s now. All that seems to be noteworthy is that they may sell them directly as the 73Hs arrive, without holding onto as many (any?) to grow the fleet.

Either way, the only thing I enjoy on the 734s is the wheel used for IFE volume control - it's so much more customisable than the preset volume increments on the 73Hs. One increment is too loud and the next one down is too quiet, it's annoying.
I guess my last few 734 flights smelling like someone has had a really bad time in the loo on the previous flight hasn't really endeared them to me as an aircraft type either...

 

[Tassie Devil]

I love the old 767's and will always select one to travel on to Perth, Melbourne or Sydney and return to Brisbane if i can, rather than a 737.