Qantas - new SYD-AKL-YYZ 787 service rumours

[RSVKanga]

Currently rumours circulating about a potential Sydney-Auckland-Toronto 787 service (3x a week) launching from late 2024, complementing the existing Sydney-Auckland-New York QF3 service which will become daily by August 2024. The free 787s are available from SYD-JNB switching from 787 to A380 from mid 2024. On that note I've also heard talk that QF is considering acquiring the 3 787s Bamboo Airways are removing from their fleet with the aim of them flying with QF seats and colours by 2025.

Does anyone have any more information on this planned/rumoured service?

 

[HS-TQE]

QF would need to discuss options with the leasing companies of the ex-Bamboo 787s if they were to acquire those three specific aircraft for their own use.

Bamboo's ex-A818 and A819 are owned by CALC (soon to be acquired by Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE)), whilst ex-A829 is owned by AerCap leasing.

 

[Bundy Bear]

Brisbane to LA on Qantas should be upgraded to a 787 first.

 

[HS-TQE]

Brisbane to LA on Qantas should be upgraded to a 787 first.

Would be a decrease in Y capacity though, and yields on BNE-LAX are generally lower than the bigger brothers down south.

Only chance of BNE-LAX getting upgraded in the short term is if Premier Steven comes up to QF with BAC and taxpayer funded AAIF money to subsidise the 787 on BNE-LAX in the name of "Premium Tourism for Queensland", because "Queenslander!!" (and of course the upcoming Late 2024 election.. wouldn't surprise me if the QF returns the 787 on BNE-LAX with taxpayer AAIF money in Q2 2024 at the earliest)

 

[jrfsp]

I don’t know if YYZ would have the yields to make such a long route viable, would be a nice addition to the network though

 

[yachty]

Not a route that makes much sense from a network perspective? YYZ pax are already served through a YVR transit onto SYD, not sure if moving that to AKL would make much difference - probably a longer overall travel time. YYZ hardly a huge destination for Aussies either.

QF would need to discuss options with the leasing companies of the ex-Bamboo 787s if they were to acquire those three specific aircraft for their own use.

Bamboo's ex-A818 and A819 are owned by CALC (soon to be acquired by Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE)), whilst ex-A829 is owned by AerCap leasing.

Indeed. As much as I'd like to see QF expand the fleet, they seem highly averse to taking second-hand (or even third-hand, in the case of A829) aircraft - and it would seem odd timing to do it with ample opportunities to pick up cheaper aircraft having passed over the last 12-18 months.

Interesting rumour if it comes to pass but doesn't stack up to me.

 

[randompunter]

Would be a decrease in Y capacity though, and yields on BNE-LAX are generally lower than the bigger brothers down south.

Only chance of BNE-LAX getting upgraded in the short term is if Premier Steven comes up to QF with BAC and taxpayer funded AAIF money to subsidise the 787 on BNE-LAX in the name of "Premium Tourism for Queensland", because "Queenslander!!" (and of course the upcoming Late 2024 election.. wouldn't surprise me if the QF returns the 787 on BNE-LAX with taxpayer AAIF money in Q2 2024 at the earliest)

The A330 is arguably more comfortable in Y with its 2-4-2 layout but of course this being AFF we'd all prefer to avoid Y where possible

 

[HS-TQE]

Also to mention in regards to the earlier rumour from the OP's source, I don't think that source has got the memo that QF has dialled back SYD-AKL-JFK expansion from daily to 5x weekly.

 

[clifford]

Brisbane to LA on Qantas should be upgraded to a 787 first.

So what don't you like about the 333?

 

[Himeno]

QF would need to discuss options with the leasing companies of the ex-Bamboo 787s if they were to acquire those three specific aircraft for their own use.

Bamboo's ex-A818 and A819 are owned by CALC (soon to be acquired by Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE)), whilst ex-A829 is owned by AerCap leasing.

The Bamboo 787s have already been returned. 2 are owned by CALC, the 3rd owned by GECAS.

 

[HS-TQE]

The Bamboo 787s have already been returned. 2 are owned by CALC, the 3rd owned by GECAS.

Which was as stated in the post. As mentioned the 3rd aircraft is registered to AerCap (the parent company of GECAS).

 

[moa999]

At least the Bamboo aircraft have GE engines (which QF used on its 787s)

 

[RSVKanga]

YYZ pax are already served through a YVR transit onto SYD

YVR is barely a transit destination for Qantas passengers connecting from domestic flights in Canada - it’s American Airlines that does that job, not Air Canada or WestJet.

If you enter a YYZ-SYD booking into the QF website you’d get American/AA Eagle flights from YYZ to LAX, DFW and SFO (mostly DFW) with onward Qantas connections to SYD.

 

[jb747]

Brisbane to LA on Qantas should be upgraded to a 787 first.

It's not really an upgrade, is it.

 

[AIRwin]

So what don't you like about the 333?

332 not 333

 

[yachty]

YVR is barely a transit destination for Qantas passengers connecting from domestic flights in Canada - it’s American Airlines that does that job, not Air Canada or WestJet.

If you enter a YYZ-SYD booking into the QF website you’d get American/AA Eagle flights from YYZ to LAX, DFW and SFO (mostly DFW) with onward Qantas connections to SYD.

YVR transit with WestJet comes up as the second option, after a shorter connection in DFW, when searched on the days that QF76 is operating.

 

[DC3]

Currently rumours circulating …

 

[RSVKanga]

So what don't you like about the 333?

The youngest 333 is also 18 years old and they’re really showing signs of age despite having updated cabins.

 

[RSVKanga]

Premier Steven comes up to QF with BAC and taxpayer funded AAIF money to subsidise the 787 on BNE-LAX in the name of "Premium Tourism for Queensland", because "Queenslander!!" (and of course the upcoming Late 2024 election.. wouldn't surprise me if the QF returns the 787 on BNE-LAX with taxpayer AAIF money in Q2 2024 at the earliest)

I’m not sure if a simple change of plane on an existing route would dramatically improve Queensland Labor’s chances of retaining government at the next election. The average voter doesn’t know cough about plane manufacturers, but what will grab voter attention is launching new routes. BNE-ORD is in the box seat for the next new long haul QF route from BNE, but the 787 fleet is currently under some strain and I doubt that BNE-ORD and BNE-SFO are coming back anytime soon as QF have Paris to launch and this rumoured Toronto service, which takes new Brisbane services off the cards until at least 2027.

 

[Himeno]

If QF were to take up the former QH 787s, they are similar ages to the 787s already in the QF fleet.
LN746 former VN-A829 first flight 10/08/2018 (same day as LN742/VH-ZNF)
LN924 former VN-A818 first flight 04/11/2019 (day after LN921/VH-ZNI)
LN936 former VN-A819 first flight 17/11/2019 (2 weeks before LN941/VH-ZNK)