First Qantas 787-9 flight to Johannesburg

[Mattg]

The first ever Qantas 787-9 flight to South Africa took place this week, with VH-ZND operating as QF63 SYD-JNB on Wednesday. The flight time was 13h 20m and looking at the flight path, EDTO/ETOPS doesn't seem to have been an issue.

Live Flight Tracker - Real-Time Flight Tracker Map | Flightradar24

The world’s most popular flight tracker. Track planes in real-time on our flight tracker map and get up-to-date flight status & airport information.

www.flightradar24.com

The aircraft is returning to Australia as a government charter repatriation flight this evening as QF114. It appears to be flying from Johannesburg to Perth.

Following the retirment of the 747s, the SYD-JNB route is due to become a year-round Boeing 787-9 service whenever it eventually resumes.

 

[moa999]

Good to see without any formal announcement of ETOPS

 

[Rangalad]

The first ever Qantas 787-9 flight to South Africa took place this week, with VH-ZND operating as QF63 SYD-JNB on Wednesday. The flight time was 13h 20m and looking at the flight path, EDTO/ETOPS doesn't seem to have been an issue.

View attachment 233498

Live Flight Tracker - Real-Time Flight Tracker Map | Flightradar24

The world’s most popular flight tracker. Track planes in real-time on our flight tracker map and get up-to-date flight status & airport information.

www.flightradar24.com

The aircraft is returning to Australia as a government charter repatriation flight this evening as QF114. It appears to be flying from Johannesburg to Perth.

Following the retirment of the 747s, the SYD-JNB route is due to become a year-round Boeing 787-9 service whenever it eventually resumes.

IIRC Qantas operated a 787 MEL/JNB mid year.

 

[oz_mark]

IIRC Qantas operated a 787 MEL/JNB mid year.

Correct - QF7025 on 28 April.

 

[jb747]

I asked one of my 787 flying friends about ETOPs and he said that he hadn’t heard anything. But, the normal information systems within the airline are also not working, so who knows.

In any event, even though it used the QF63 flight number, I’d expect that it was operated under the rules for charter or private operations, and that could well give you a different outcome.

 

[Mattg]

IIRC Qantas operated a 787 MEL/JNB mid year.

Oops, I forgot about that! Yes, you are correct. My bad.

I guess this makes this the second one. Although, I suppose Wednesday’s QF63 was the first 789 flight to JNB for which tickets were available for sale to the general public.

 

[milehighclub]

It was mentioned in a town hall that the flight had the appropriate ETOPS approval.