Interesting article re the 747

[cambriamarsh]

Interesting article re the Queen of the Skies

The slow death of the jumbo jet – where are they all now?

Seems BA has the most still flying passengers!

 

[moa999]

Pretty poor that it doesn't even mention the 747-8 of which Lufthansa (19), Korean (9) and Air China (7) are the only operators and could well still be flying into the 2040s

The likely last non-freight aircraft was delivered in late 2017

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Pretty poor that it doesn't even mention the 747-8 of which Lufthansa, Korean and Cathay are the biggest operators and could well still be flying into the 2040s

The likely last non-freight aircraft for delivered in 2017

Lol... by Cathay you mean Air China Touche!

The article seems to get confused between passenger and non-passenger variants. SQ sun operate the 747 in passenger configuration anymore.

 

[moa999]

Oops yep it's Cathay Cargo with 14. Fixed above.

Of the 744s only BA (36), KLM (15) and Lufthansa (13) have more than Qantas (11)

 

[kermatu]

Nice one. Thanks for posting.

 

[amaroo]

Great bird! Hard to beat the views from the upper deck...

 

[Sprucegoose]

The most reliable of aircraft and always felt very comfortable in any sort of weather.

 

[Strategic Aviation]

Boeing's 747 aircraft fleet: the original jumbo, overtaken by the 777 - CAPA Centre for Aviation

• The 777 has overtaken the 747 as the world's leading widebody by number of deliveries
• The A330 is also closing in on the 747
• The first 747 order was 52 years ago! - in Apr-1966
• More than half of the 505 Boeing 747s in service are freighters
• The 747-400 still dominates the active fleet
• Europe is the biggest region for 747s in service
• There are 79 operators of 747s
• Lufthansa, Korean Air, Cargolux and Cathay are the leading 747-8 operators
• Orders for the 747 have slowed to a trickle and are dominated by freighters
• The Boeing 747's place in aviation history is assured

 

[Strategic Aviation]

The Boeing 747 is going to survive, for now, but not as a passenger aircraft - Bloomberg

 

[Strategic Aviation]

United Airlines frequent flyers splurge see Boeing 747 'disassembly centre' - Traveller

 

[Beasley]

Didn’t mention Airforce 1.

 

[Strategic Aviation]

Long may she reign – Qantas to retire the Boeing 747 in 2020 - Australian Aviation

 

[davidj]

Interesting that 747s are running for so long, yet SIA don't seem to be extending leases for A380s beyond 10 years, rather ordering new metal.

And no one wants to buy 10 year old A380s. These are likely to be scraped for parts!

Surely a 10 yo A380 is going to be more efficient per seat/ton than a 747?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Surely a 10 yo A380 is going to be more efficient per seat/ton than a 747?

Perhaps. But do they work as part of a strategic plan to replace 747s with 787s, with a massive reduction in capacity, and the resulting potential to put up fares?

 

[cambriamarsh]

Perhaps. But do they work as part of a strategic plan to replace 747s with 787s, with a massive reduction in capacity, and the resulting potential to put up fares?

Remember there are a lot of alternative airlines. If QF could put up the fares by replacing the 747 with 787s, they could do it anyway.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Remember there are a lot of alternative airlines. If QF could put up the fares by replacing the 747 with 787s, they could do it anyway.

Sure, there will be a price point, how many seats you can full at the higher price? With the golden shackles of Qantas Club, and with the allegiance to QF's excellent safety record, easier to fill 166 seats vs 270 at the higher fares, regardless of what the competition might be offering?

 

[cambriamarsh]

Sure, there will be a price point, how many seats you can full at the higher price? With the golden shackles of Qantas Club, and with the allegiance to QF's excellent safety record, easier to fill 166 seats vs 270 at the higher fares, regardless of what the competition might be offering?

Hi Mel, Not sure how many are QP members or know of the safety record, but something that no doubt affects the pricing.

 

[davidj]

If QF could put up the fares by replacing the 747 with 787s, they could do it anyway.

Agreed.

But do they work as part of a strategic plan to replace 747s with 787s, with a massive reduction in capacity, and the resulting potential to put up fares?

This works if all airlines on that route do the same, so total supply drops.

If they are filling the 747 and suddenly they shed 100 seats with a 787, those 100 pax will need to fly with a competitor.

If they weren't filling the 747, they could switch equipment to another route now (eg 747 to A330).

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Agreed.


This works if all airlines on that route do the same, so total supply drops.

If they are filling the 747 and suddenly they shed 100 seats with a 787, those 100 pax will need to fly with a competitor.

If they weren't filling the 747, they could switch equipment to another route now (eg 747 to A330).

yes, they might lose 100 seats... but let’s pick MEL-HKG where QF had a sale for $599 or whatever. Let’s say they make very little on those... it’s a break even plus a small margin to cover costs. Let’s say $100 on that fare. So they’ve lost 100 x $100.

their 787 might offer no $599 fares, but only fares at $800 and up... fares that qantas club members will pay extra for because they get lounge access. So QF raises fares and more than adequately off-sets the low fares which were break even.

And... they save 8 cabin crew (wages, hotel rooms, per diem, training costs etc etc), save fuel, save 100 hotel rooms when there’s a delay/cancellation, save ground handling and so on.

 

[ICUDr]

Great bird! Hard to beat the views from the upper deck...

View attachment 114929

Awesome pic!

The most reliable of aircraft and always felt very comfortable in any sort of weather.

Also has the biggest toilets, this side of the Business on the A380s