Qantas A380 return to LAX [route]

[ejb]

From www.smh.com.au

Qantas gets ready to put A380s back on US route

QANTAS is expected to announce as early as next week the resumption of its A380 superjumbo flights on its key international route between Australia and the US.

This is good news for all traveling late Jan onwards.

ejb

 

[yohy?!]

I must have checked out early for NYE - I read the title of this thread to mean a QF A380 was returning to LAX (possibly with more engine troubles) lol

Seriously, this is good news though for LAX routes - returning A380 capacity should mean more discounting

 

[rtyuiop]

Now, if only QF would open up some more J awards to LAX to fill up those skybeds...

 

[straitman]

I had lunch with a QF B747 captain friend last Friday and he indicated the QF are optimistic about having the A380 on the LA runs by mid or late January.

This fits in well with the story.

 

[samh004]

I would love to hear more about how they solved the engine issue from LAX, as my understanding was the engine was incapable of delivering the higher thrust (and I’ve probably got all those words wrong, but you know what I mean).

 

[oz_mark]

I would love to hear more about how they solved the engine issue from LAX, as my understanding was the engine was incapable of delivering the higher thrust (and I’ve probably got all those words wrong, but you know what I mean).

I understand that the 'C' revision of the engine is ok for this.

(The issue is not so much that the other engines can't provide the thrust, its just that there is an issue with the bearings when you do use the max thrust)

 

[Sprucegoose]

I had lunch with a QF B747 captain friend last Friday and he indicated the QF are optimistic about having the A380 on the LA runs by mid or late January.

This fits in well with the story.

Bill it also fits in well with my travel plans for June!!!

I had lunch before Christmas with an old hand (Qantas Engineer 30 yrs ++) and putting aside the obvious pro engineering bias (union) reckons QF still do the best mantainence work around.

Having Joyce fly the 380 when it resumed LON flights was a good look and I will suspect he will do the same when LAX resumes.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Qantas A380 return to LAX

I'm flying LAX-MEL in March, QF changed the aircraft to 744 2 days ago however LAX-SYD is being operated by 388 the same day. I called the Premium desk today to change my seat ( was 11A on both) and asked the agent if the flight might be changed back to 388 she said that the schedules were changing constantly and to keep checking online.

 

[cove]

During this lull of no A380 we have been booking J and F flights for pretty good one way points numbers ex Australia. Picked up a First ex MEL-LAX for about 163k and a J for about 110k on Any Seat as these low points flights are sprinkled thru September for the A380.

 

[pauly7]

Qantas A380 return to LAX

Now, if only QF would open up some more J awards to LAX to fill up those skybeds...

Why, when they can sell them QF premium cabins on LAX route is chockas with paid fors.

Keep an eye out for last minuters in Feb.., which is usually a bit quieter... But the aussie dollar being so high will mean the US flights will stay full IMHO

 

[Sprucegoose]

There are some good deals on the US QF website, $3.8k for W+ as a return option for later on.

 

[rtyuiop]

Re: Qantas A380 return to LAX

Why, when they can sell them QF premium cabins on LAX route is chockas with paid fors.

Keep an eye out for last minuters in Feb.., which is usually a bit quieter... But the aussie dollar being so high will mean the US flights will stay full IMHO

Clearly they should release them to make me happy! Sadly it has to fit into an existing booking for May (currently a Y+ leg on a J oneworld award)...

 

[froggerADL]

Now, if only QF would open up some more J awards to LAX to fill up those skybeds...

I got a J classic award to LAX (and beyond) for Aug 2011 about 10 days ago. A380 too.

 

[straitman]

Qantas Prepares to Resume A380 Flying on USA Routes

This should make a few people happy.

From the Qantas web site.

Qantas Prepares to Resume A380 Flying on USA Routes

Sydney, 11 January 2011
Qantas today announced it would resume A380 services between Australia and Los Angeles, commencing with QF93 from Melbourne to Los Angeles on 16 January.

The move follows the grounding of the A380 fleet and continued suspension of A380 flights on the Los Angeles-Australia routes that regularly require the use of maximum engine thrust. In line with the airline's safety-first approach, the suspension of the Los Angeles-Australia routes was implemented to enable Qantas to monitor the performance of the Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engine.

After extensive engineering analysis and close consultation with Rolls-Royce, Airbus and the European and Australian regulators, Qantas, Rolls-Royce and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority are now satisfied that it is appropriate for Qantas to resume A380 flying on the Los Angeles-Australia routes.

Qantas Chief Executive Officer, Mr Alan Joyce, said the decision would see Qantas continue the progressive reintroduction of A380s to its network.

"As always, safety has been our first priority in assessing when and where to bring A380s back into service over the past month," Mr Joyce said.

 

[serfty]

Qantas to resume A380 services to LA

AAP

Qantas Airways Ltd says it will resume flights to Los Angeles using the Airbus A380 superjumbos from January 16.

The airline said on Tuesday the first A380 flight bound for the US will be QF 93 departing from Melbourne to Los Angeles.
...
For the rest of January, Qantas said it would operate 14 A380 services a week - three flights a week between Melbourne and London, via Singapore, four flights a week between Sydney and Los Angeles and a daily service between Sydney and London, via Singapore.

"From February onwards, A380 frequencies on London and Los Angeles routes will be steadily increased as aircraft return to service and new deliveries join the fleet ..."

 

[simongr]

Great news - I just now need a reason to book a DONE4

 

[gpr49697]

yep deifintely good news. having flown a few sectors in Y+ and J class it is damn hard to go back and do it in a B744 - these look old, cramped and tired now!

 

[Nigelinoz]

OZ-spotters is reporting that the next Qantas A380 VH-OQI is currently on it's delivery flight from Toulouse to Sydney,at 15:48 it had crossed over Pt Hedland at FL410.
We may well see it pressed into service on the LAX route.

 

[notmensa]

OZ-spotters is reporting that the next Qantas A380 VH-OQI is currently on it's delivery flight from Toulouse to Sydney,at 15:48 it had crossed over Pt Hedland at FL410.
We may well see it pressed into service on the LAX route.

What time did it land in SYD? We saw a Qantas A380 coming in over Ryde earlier this evening. Unfortunately i didn't get the exact time!

 

[serfty]

What time did it land in SYD? We saw a Qantas A380 coming in over Ryde earlier this evening. Unfortunately i didn't get the exact time!

I would guess that was it - there are no 388 flights scheduled to operate such they land on east coast Oz in the evening.