NZ 763 upgrades?

[maninblack]

Whilst recently bemoaning the state of the QF 763 fleet to someone in the travel industry, I was informed that NZ is to be keeping its 763 fleet in operation longer than previously anticipated. As a result of this they will be getting new seats in Y with personal IFE as well as new seats and IFE for J. The J seats to be something along the lines of the new AA mini-sleeper angled flat seats in their 763's, with a possible reduction from 24J to 18J seats.

Anyone hear anything about this?

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

While I've heard similar rumours I am not yet convinced it will happen. NZ has done pretty well limiting 763's to lower yield routes. But those flights are often full so reduced capacity may create other problems.

If it was going to do a significant refurbishment to 763's I'd expect they would have retained PPT-LAX as a nice money spinner route. Instead they ditched it for lower potential yield RAR-LAX.

Another factor is the lack of a/c. When they refitted the 747s it coincided with new 777s being delivered and dropping/downgauging some routes. The 787s are too far away to offer similar benefits and no a/c left to downgauge to. So if 763s are being taken out for 1 month or so to get refitted NZ would need to drop routes at least during this period. Which one(s) would they drop?

 

[maninblack]

I see your point but i heard that they are getting new 737-800's soon, so maybe they will slot into some routes temporarily. Where there is a will there is a way. Of course they would only do one aircraft at a time, maybe during c or d check, which they always must allow for in planning schedules. I know they run 763's into SYD, (one service) PPT and HNL a few days a week, where else do they use them now?

Interestingly, if they can do it for others, surely they can do it for themselves!

10 November 2006

UK airline Thomsonfly has awarded a US$3 million contract to Air New Zealand's engineering services division, ANZES, for the installation of a new in-flight entertainment system and heavy maintenance checks on nine B767-300 aircraft.

"We are delighted with the outcome of what has been a demanding selection process," says Thomsonfly Managing Director Colin Mitchell.

"We needed to be comfortable that our maintenance provider had the technical and organisational skills to complete the programme to the high standards we expect in the timeframe required. We found that provider in ANZES."

The work will be carried out in ANZES' Auckland facility from November 2006 to May 2007 in preparation for Thomsonfly's summer schedule. The first Thomsonfly Boeing 767 arrives at the Auckland base tomorrow (Saturday). The programme covers seven heavy maintenance checks and installation of the latest Panasonic eFX Audio Visual on Demand (AVOD) in-flight entertainment system on five aircraft.

Air New Zealand's general manager of technical operations, Chris Nassenstein, welcomed the contract.

"ANZES has a strong reputation of engineering excellence within our region but we take pride in the fact that Thomsonfly awarded us this contract against global competition."

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

A refurbishment at same time as a check is sensible, but does take more time than normal. NZ has small fleet and highly utilised. Clearly not impossible, but does require sacrifices (which cost money).

Lots of 763 routes. The island hoppers to LA as well as some flights that turnaround in the pacific islands (TBU, RAR etc), PER, HNL, some trans-tasman (mainly SYD but also some CNS and others depending on demand and a/c availability).