Qantas A380 refurbishment news and updates

[moa999]

Sadly from the SydSquad video that work didn't include adding the satellite hump.

 

[docjames]

I think the “operational spare” is a good move.

In reality, this means they are operating the fleet less tightly scheduled, which is good as recovery of a full A380 is very challenging as you’d need 2 787s to cover it, and/or cop a massive delay(s) sometimes for days whilst the issue is resolved. I assume this will done be extended downtime at either SYD (most likely) or LAX. Those on the forum who are schedule gurus will probably have a decent idea on that aspect.

You’ll recall the publicity they got the last couple of christmases when A380 diverted to Baku, and had operational issues (delays) and a lot of bad press for disrupting Xmas travel so no doubt that factored into the late 2025 planning. Whether they stick with this plan long term, or get tempted into other routes / higher utilisation in the new year, who knows.

 

[tassie6]

I just saw a post by QF saying OQC received an incredible 10,000hours of maintenance at AUH and then went to LAX for more work to replace engine cowlings before being returned to service.

*100,000 hours

 

[AuSammy]

*100,000 hours

Oops typo. Have corrected

 

[mrflyby]

Note that OQC landed back in Sydney this morning. Completing the goal of having 10 refurbished A380s back in the Qantas fleet.

Does that mean this 7.5 year old thread is finally done??

 

[Melburnian1]

Note that OQC landed back in Sydney this morning. Completing the goal of having 10 refurbished A380s back in the Qantas fleet.

Does that mean this 7.5 year old thread is finally done??

Given A388 VH-OQL as QF63 from SYD to JNB had to divert to MEL today, and has been altered to depart Melbourne for Joburg tomorrow at 1130, the first test of the 'spare A380' scenario may come this weekend.

See the 'Qantas delays and cancellations' thread elsewhere on AFF for a very helpful, informative reply by @jb747 .

 

[Melburnian1]

As recorded in the 'Qantas delays/cancellations' thread, QF11, the 1745 hours SYD to LAX A380 on Saturday 6 December 2025 has been cancelled.

This is because QF63 is still in MEL and as above, departing at 1130 today for JNB as QF63(D?), so the JNB flight is a day late.

However what's surprising is OQC is in Sydney having returned to service after its years-long absence, so at face value it is the 'spare' that could in theory go to Los Angeles. I am obviously missing a piece of the puzzle.

 

[Kangol]

Recently I was in the SYD F lounge and 4 A380s were occupying 4 of the closest gates from the window.
One pushed back from the furthest right gate (when looking out the window).
About half an hour later, I saw it returning to the gate - but realised it was a different aircraft, OQI.
I noticed the tail was painted in the old style - the kangaroo "arm" was present and a different design to the others (which has no arm), plus the head design looks like an older one.

You can see what I mean at the bottom of this page:

VH-OQI Airbus A380-842

history of qantas airways airbus a380-842 vh-oqi cn 055.

www.aussieairliners.org

Compared to the updated roo logo:

VH-OQG Airbus A380-842

history of qantas airways airbus a380-842 vh-oqg cn 047.

www.aussieairliners.org

Any idea why they didn't update the tail design?

 

[moa999]

Simply hasn't yet been repainted yet. OQI is a Jan 2011 delivery so the paint job is coming up on 15yrs.

Also a number of 332, 333 and 738s still carrying the older 2007-2016 livery.

On OQC possibly some more maintenance that couldnt be conducted in LAX. On the SydSquad livestream a poster mentioned it should return to service on Sunday.

Poster kaitak744 on airliners.net in the QF fleet thread also thinks there are currently two spare aircraft before the Jan schedule changes kick in.

 

[Kangol]

Simply hasn't yet been repainted yet. OQI is a Jan 2011 delivery so the paint job is coming up on 15yrs.

Oh, I thought the repaint was part of the refurbishment. My bad.

 

[D747]

VH-OQC about to perform first revenue flight in 5 years and 8 months!

 

[Mwenenzi]

VH-OQC about to perform first revenue flight in 5 years and 8 months!

A bad first after refurbishment flight. A fail.
From FT https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/qan...1-12-7-vh-oqc-a388-inflight-power-issues.html

I just got off QF11 SYD-LAX on 12/7. This apparently was the first flight of this airframe after it's refurbishment and time sitting in the desert. Sometime during takeoff, we experienced a partial onboard power failure, causing the right half of the middle business cabin to go dark (no lights, no power to seats, emergency lights on), and also causing most of the IFE on the plane to go out. From talking with the FA's, it also caused about half the galley coolers and ovens to go out as well, and later in the flight, the rear 4 lavs in Y were leaking water everywhere as the pumps also lost power, leaving only 3 active lavs for all of Y. The staff was extremely apologetic and tried to reset things but ultimately were not able to get any of it back. The decision was made to continue on to LAX as the issue didn't affect the airworthiness of the plane, we couldn't go back to SYD due to curfew, and diverting to BNE wouldn't have had proper maintenance support.

I imagine this is going to have some downstream impacts this week - hopefully QF figures out the issue and gets the mess all cleaned up. I know QF11 was cancelled yesterday - I wonder if it was supposed to be the same airframe and they were dealing with other mechanical issues on it. Aside from this, the interior was looking quite sharp and brand new.

I was on the right side of the mid-business cabin so had no IFE, lights, power, or ability to move my seat during the flight. The FAs were kind enough to manually move the seat to bed mode, so at least I was able to get some comfortable rest! And they really did try their best to make everyone comfortable, but as you can imagine there were a lot of upset folks onboard.

 

[Melburnian1]

A bad first after refurbishment flight. A fail.
From FT https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/qan...1-12-7-vh-oqc-a388-inflight-power-issues.html

Great find.

Assuming it's factual, we can bet our bottom dollar that no media 'travel journalists' are likely to report this in Australia, salivating as they do at the prospect of the next freebie QFi J class trip.

We wouldn't want to bit the hand that feeds us, would we?

Having to return to SYD would have been complex and costly, not just in extra fuel burnt but the time delay (overnight?) for passengers but if there were say 300 of the 341 economy seats occupied, the 1:100 toilet ratio is close to unacceptable. The leaking toilets may have created an unsanitary environment in part of the economy cabin.

Things go wrong unexpectedly with all manner of transport equipment and rollingstock but it'd be interesting to know if the lavatories and ovens, plus the lighting, had been extensively tested at the end of the aircraft's refurbishment.

Years ago, I was on a TR single aisle aircraft on a three hour flight that departed with only one working lavatory, so QFi is not alone in experiencing such problems. However, very embarrassing given the lengthy period of refurbishment.

 

[moa999]

Think QF11 was cancelled on Sat due to the SYD-JNB diversion to MEL and cre out of hours.

Hopefully LAX maintenance can quickly fix OQC.
Nothing like real world testing I guess