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

[esseeeayeenn]

Aside from Japan and the US domestic widebody flying isn't much of a thing anywhere. Those places have huge populations in comparison

Aside from Australia and the US, 5 hour domestic flights aren't much of a thing anywhere.
Unless you count flights between metropolitan France and La Réunion as domestic.
And Australia is unique in having cities separated by thousands of kilometres of nothing at all.
Even in the US, millions of people live in the so-called flyover states.
These factors limit the relevance and usefulness of such comparisons.

 

[Quickstatus]

Thanksfully BA will be starting soon and first out of MEL on a OW airline remains an option.

Note that the demise of QF A380 from MeL just means there is no F class.

QF still operates international out of MEL

Unless you are planning to fly First Class, there is no significant change.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

Note that the demise of QF A380 from MeL just means there is no F class.

QF still operates international out of MEL

Unless you are planning to fly First Class, there is no significant change.

This implies that the much touted benefits of the A380 such as the lounge and self-service area are not in fact significant.
I think being able to leave your seat and wander around and sit somewhere else for a while is a significant benefit.
Notwithstanding the fact that on a QF A380 the lounge is using leftover space rather than being a really pleasant social venue as on EK or EY A380s.

 

[Quickstatus]

This implies that the much touted benefits of the A380 such as the lounge and self-service area are not in fact significant.

No, no implication.
The QF A380 "touted benefits" are now irrelevant as the QF A380 is no longer operating from MEL. Whether they were significant is now a historical discussion

I think the only A380 service ex MEL is the double daily EK MEL-DXB

BA/SQ/QR/AY/TK are not operating the A380 to MEL either.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

Aside from Australia and the US, 5 hour domestic flights aren't much of a thing anywhere.
Unless you count flights between metropolitan France and La Réunion as domestic.
And Australia is unique in having cities separated by thousands of kilometres of nothing at all.
Even in the US, millions of people live in the so-called flyover states.
These factors limit the relevance and usefulness of such comparisons.

I actually don't get your point sorry. Aircraft like the A321neo and 737 max are designed for 5 hour domestic flights.

No, no implication.
The QF A380 "touted benefits" are now irrelevant as the QF A380 is no longer operating from MEL. Whether they were significant is now a historical discussion

I think the only A380 service ex MEL is the double daily EK MEL-DXB

BA/SQ/QR/AY/TK are not operating the A380 to MEL either.

Everyone flying on SQ228 each day would disagree with you

 

[Aussie_flyer]

With the plans to bring forward getting rid of the QF A380s it would seem unlikely they would come back to Melbourne for long if at all. Though if QF can’t get new planes as quickly as they currently expect they may have to revise their plans. I would really love to do MEL-LHR on the QF A380 the whole way again, but that now seems extremely unlikely to ever happen again.

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

 

[Quickstatus]

Everyone flying on SQ228 each day would disagree with you

Ah thanks. Missed that

 

[esseeeayeenn]

I actually don't get your point sorry. Aircraft like the A321neo and 737 max are designed for 5 hour domestic flights.

Everyone flying on SQ228 each day would disagree with you

(1) If the A321s with business suites ever fly to or from PER they might be suitable replacements. I am not paying QFD J fares to sit in a recliner that is a PE hard product.
(2) I don't want to fly on a Boeing death trap.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

No, no implication.
The QF A380 "touted benefits" are now irrelevant as the QF A380 is no longer operating from MEL. Whether they were significant is now a historical discussion.

Noted,

Unless you are planning to fly First Class, there is no significant change.