Qantas A330-200 cabin refurbishments

[Chrizztofa]

The decal is gone - back to the normal slightly off-black QANTAS titles

Shame, but to be expected.

 

[emirates777]

Any update on this and when will it start?

I am due to Fly QF 36 in January 2027 (Singapore to Melbourne in Y Class) and hoping to be on one of these refurbished jets!

 

[wenglock.mok]

Flew on EBA last night on the QF44 down the back and, to my surprise, it seems to have gotten an upgraded cabin lighting system, which included warm-ish LED lights that gently fade, alongside blue mood lighting. Not sure if there were other colours as those were not used but I seem to recall these domestic A332s only had the basic Airbus white lights installed in their cabins previously.

Unfortunately, the seats seem to be falling apart in these aircraft. The seat back in front of mine, for instance, had a (somewhat) broken iPad holder with a broken hinge on the right, and a tray table with a broken latch and bottom hinge so the bottom half of the table would jut out whenever the passenger in front reclined. I reported this to the cabin crew, who said they would write it up in the cabin maintenance log. Are they not bothering with fixing up cabin defects for these aircraft anymore I wonder (given they were intended to retire anyway)?

 

[OZDUCK]

Flew on EBA last night on the QF44 down the back and, to my surprise, it seems to have gotten an upgraded cabin lighting system, which included warm-ish LED lights that gently fade, alongside blue mood lighting. Not sure if there were other colours as those were not used but I seem to recall these domestic A332s only had the basic Airbus white lights installed in their cabins previously.

Unfortunately, the seats seem to be falling apart in these aircraft. The seat back in front of mine, for instance, had a (somewhat) broken iPad holder with a broken hinge on the right, and a tray table with a broken latch and bottom hinge so the bottom half of the table would jut out whenever the passenger in front reclined. I reported this to the cabin crew, who said they would write it up in the cabin maintenance log. Are they not bothering with fixing up cabin defects for these aircraft anymore I wonder (given they were intended to retire anyway)?

We were on one of these two years ago and tape holding bits of the interior together was pretty obvious. The cabin crew said that they were continuously having breakages. Obviously not much has been, or will be, done.

 

[SYD]

Obviously not much has been, or will be, done.

See post #1 re what is supposed to be done.

The real question is why it’s taking sooo long.

 

[wenglock.mok]

See post #1 re what is supposed to be done.

The real question is why it’s taking sooo long.

The refurbishment being referenced in post #1 is for the ten aircraft originally specified, all eight of the current international A330-200 fleet, as well as two of EBG, J, K and L (suspected to be EBG and EBL).

However, it looks like when the earlier birds go in for a heavy check, they get some lighter work done (like cabin lights being upgraded).

 

[SYD]

The refurbishment being referenced in post #1 is for the ten aircraft originally specified, all eight of the current international A330-200 fleet, as well as two of EBG, J, K and L (suspected to be EBG and EBL).

However, it looks like when the earlier birds go in for a heavy check, they get some lighter work done (like cabin lights being upgraded).

Yes, sounds like it. But I thought that those really old ones were leaving soon! So maybe not too expensive a mod.

Anyway, this thread is about those 10x A332s “to be” upgraded. They were supposed to start mid 2025 and finish by end of 2026. So far, zip completed - as far as we know?

 

[moa999]

Well a kind of update on the other 332s from a post on airliners.net by Whatsaptudo

VH-EBC is being retired at the end of this month, and EBD will retire in January. EBA and B have had their check done so will soldier on, but timing has brought an end to the other 2. They are going to Alice Springs to be parted out.

I assume on the lighting for EBA that the check required the lights to be replaced as a maintenance item and new LEDs are probably cheaper than fluros these days (if you are even allowed to use them)

As for why the delay.. there still seem to be continuing issues in the aircraft seat supply chain and testing chain, so maybe it's that.

 

[moa999]

And on watch candidates for refurb.
VH-EBO has been in QPG for 3+wks, and
VH-EBS in BNE maintenance for almost 2 wks

 

[SYD]

And on watch candidates for refurb.
VH-EBO has been in QPG for 3+wks, and
VH-EBS in BNE maintenance for almost 2 wks

The original QF presser said the upgrade works would be done in BNE. Hopefully one pops out soon!

 

[moa999]

VH-EBS out of BNE maint with no announcements after a 2+ wk stint
Replaced by EBR

Quite possibly we are seeing install of Economy Plus, as I've seen a few posts where people have lost upfront seat selections for flights on 332s (and 333s)

 

[JoeyKangaroo]

VH-EBS out of BNE maint with no announcements after a 2+ wk stint
Replaced by EBR

Quite possibly we are seeing install of Economy Plus, as I've seen a few posts where people have lost upfront seat selections for flights on 332s.

Yeah checked my A330-300 flight from Bangkok to Sydney in the end of September and my seat was totally changed, got put in some middle seat in the 4 row to accommodate all the new forward/economy plus seats.

 

[qf17]

Any news on this coming out of yesterday's annts?

 

[sevenfourtyseven]

ET reports today that refit has now commenced - https://www.executivetraveller.com/news/qantas-a330lr-refit-refurb

 

[moa999]

So if its started then it appears VH-EBG , currently in Singapore will be the first.
All the other 332s that are reportedly getting upgraded (EBL-EBV) are flying.

 

[markis10]

Well a kind of update on the other 332s from a post on airliners.net by Whatsaptudo


I assume on the lighting for EBA that the check required the lights to be replaced as a maintenance item and new LEDs are probably cheaper than fluros these days (if you are even allowed to use them)

As for why the delay.. there still seem to be continuing issues in the aircraft seat supply chain and testing chain, so maybe it's that.

EBC is still working

 

[moa999]

EBC is still working

Reportedly not for much longer.

Per airliners.net

VH-EBC has her last commecial service pencilled in as QF54/05SEP SINBNE.

After this, the provisional plan is to then ferry her to MEL as QF6132/06SEP to be stripped internally.

Follwing this, then ferried to ASP as QF6130/10SEP for storage and parts.

 

[serfty]

I note Qantas seat maps showing on both seat selection and through expert flyer are no longer showing seats 23A/B/J/K on any QF15/QF16 BNE/LAX I have brougt up this week.

However still showing 25A/B/J/K as "up front", not "extra leg room".

 

[serfty]

And on watch candidates for refurb.
VH-EBO has been in QPG for 3+wks, and
VH-EBS in BNE maintenance for almost 2 wks

EBO is today operating the BNE/LAX route (QF15/16). I can see it also did this a few times recently.

EBS is currently paying PER-AKL as QF111.

 

[moa999]

Yep as per #275 VH-EBG is the only one currently under maintenance.