Qantas boosts international capacity, wet lease Finnair aircraft

[evanb]

Toppers are an easy fix but seat cushions are actually more complicated since it actually may require a new regulatory approval with EASA. Sounds absurd, but inability to get seats to pass regulatory safety tests has become a huge cause of delays with new aircraft and refurbishments.

 

[Aeryn]

AY don't provide any special cushions apart from those that are a fixed part of the seat They just give you 2 different sized pillows, neither very good.

 

[RooFlyer]

have flown both QF and AY J have said that it could be remedied on QF to a large extent by their using the right accessories with the seats. Is 112 unique J seats in operation enough to now justify this? How long would the leases likely run for?

I should’ve adopted all of the AY soft product. Mattress toppers, menu copper service standard the lot. it’s such a change of experience going from one wet lease AY to the proper thing onwsrds to Europe.

Could be easily solved by having velcro or some way to tie/clip it in position;

I did take a couple of Velcro squares on my Qantas and AFF flights and they worked pretty good but did detach from the seat after awhile. If they were in built I dare say it would be better.

 

[AIRwin]

AFF flights

New airline?!

 

[AIRwin]

Flightradar24 is showing the BKK-SYD flight tonight as:
GF296 from Bangkok to Sydney Live Flight Tracker - Real-Time Flight Tracker Map | Flightradar24

 

[evanb]

Flightradar24 is showing the BKK-SYD flight tonight as:
GF296 from Bangkok to Sydney Live Flight Tracker - Real-Time Flight Tracker Map | Flightradar24

Suspects it's a data error somewhere along the line. ACARS showing QF296.

 

[Melburnian1]

I haven't read every page of this thread so apologies if this has already been covered.

I notice QF291 and its return SYD-SIN-SYD is back operating with AY aircraft. QF2985 and its return continue to operate SYD-BKK-SYD.

IIRC, eventually these become 'dry lease' rather t65han 'wet lease', but when do these two return flights again become operated by QFi's own cabin (and flight deck) crew and on QFi aircraft?

 

[markis10]

IIRC, eventually these become 'dry lease' rather t65han 'wet lease', but when do these two return flights again become operated by QFi's own cabin (and flight deck) crew and on QFi aircraft?

Dry lease starts next month (25 Oct) for up to three years, I don’t think that means they will stay on those destinations that entire time, there is a third aircraft being leased which will do HNL services.

 

[evanb]

Dry lease starts next month (25 Oct) for up to three years, I don’t think that means they will stay on those destinations that entire time

Correct, two Finnair aircraft will be operated by Qantas from NW25/26, however two will also remain on wetlease until at least start of NS26, so four aircraft until at least NS26.

Finnair will still operate SYD-BKK (daily) and SYD-SIN (6x/week) for NW25/26, while Qantas operated Finnair aircraft will operate SYD-HNL (5-6x/week) and SYD-SIN (4x/week). Presumably some other routes will be the QF operate aircraft, but not scheduled yet (rumoured to be SYD-DPS).

From NS26 it's not clear what will happen as there's no indication of the wetleases, only Qantas operated flights are on Finnair aircraft are scheduled on SYD-HNL (5x/week) and SYD-SIN (5x/week with remaining 2x/week on A380). SYD-BKK and other SYD-SIN scheduled on regular Qantas aircraft.

 

[Saab34]

I’d say considering the issues in recent times it would be wise to extend the Finnair crews for as long as possible while they have the offer available, even above the dry leases.

 

[evanb]

I’d say considering the issues in recent times it would be wise to extend the Finnair crews for as long as possible while they have the offer available, even above the dry leases.

Not sure that the offer is available given Finnair's labor relations challenges.

 

[milehighclub]

Presumably some other routes will be the QF operate aircraft, but not scheduled yet (rumoured to be SYD-DPS).

It will be SYD-MNL twice a week, as this was communicated to crew who are being trained on it

 

[evanb]

It will be SYD-MNL twice a week, as this was communicated to crew who are being trained on it

Somewhat of a surprise, but they've got to go somewhere! Still nothing in the published schedule though.

 

[markis10]

Somewhat of a surprise, but they've got to go somewhere! Still nothing in the published schedule though.

MNL seems to be getting some love, application to run a 5th weekly QF A330 BNE-MNL service was requested last week.

 

[Melburnian1]

MNL seems to be getting some love, application to run a 5th weekly QF A330 BNE-MNL service was requested last week.

The Filipino economy has been doing very well per annum for a few years, and there's growing interest from Australians in visiting its islands along with a significant and increasing diaspora. It's not surprising that QFi seeks to capitalise on plenty of business links (call centres - perhaps under threat from AI - and business process outsourcing).

Like Indonesia, the economy needs to perform, as populations in these nations are young (median age c.25 years) and growing.

 

[SYD]

Somewhat of a surprise, but they've got to go somewhere! Still nothing in the published schedule though.

Yes, surprised it wouldn't be something like HKG with some PE to lift the experience from current 2x Class A330s. Especially since they occasionally swing an A380 that way.

 

[evanb]

MNL seems to be getting some love, application to run a 5th weekly QF A330 BNE-MNL service was requested last week.

Apologies, didn't mean it from that perspective. Manila is one of the earlier A330s to arrive (6:40am STA) and thus typically turns for one of the earlier northbound Asian departures (e.g. HKG at 10:20am or HND at 11:05am). It very rarely turns to SIN with the exception of the 1x/week A330-200 rotation. So putting is on MNL requires some other reconfiguration of the typical rotations.

Yes, surprised it wouldn't be something like HKG with some PE to lift the experience from current 2x Class A330s. Especially since they occasionally swing an A380 that way.

Agreed, although that kinda only makes if they can get it daily, which they certainly don't have the space for. The allocation to SIN, alongside the wetleased flights and then alongside A380 from NS26 shows the intention in this regard.

 

[Saab34]

Not sure that the offer is available given Finnair's labor relations challenges.

I recall that was all cleaned up?

 

[evanb]

I recall that was all cleaned up?

Yes, subject to sunsetting the wetleasing. Finnair crew wanted supplements for longer multiday slips that weren't originally contemplated in their prior bargaining agreement.

 

[moa999]

Now for more confusion..

Here is the new paint job for OH-LTU (you can see the rego)

Photo per Boten on airliners.net



Believe it's intended this will be the dry lease SYD- HNL aircraft with other wet lease aircraft operating the existing SYD- SIN/ BKK.