Qantas orders six more 787s, plans to retire all 747s by 2020

[jb747]

Looks like they have two 747-8's coming to their freight arm.

They're simply leasing Altas 747-8 instead of the -4. Still in Altas colours..... I doubt that the freight cares what carries it.

 

[docjames]

Nice bit of spin and graphics especially, showing the -8 in QF colours which it would seem is unlikely to ever happen (it’ll be Atlas colours surely).

 

[Max Samuels]

I too am sad to see it go. Always has been my fav plan to fly on. Last year flew QF3/4 and had the old F seats in the nose. Loved it! Scored 1A each direction. Really private, I would even go as far as saying that I prefer it over EK 380 F.... sure, EK is far more over the top with its bathrooms, larger TV, actual door etc, but there is something cosy and intimate about the nose of the 747.... the 380 is not intimate! I like it that if you stand a couple of metres back from row 1 you can see out both sides of the plane at once!......sigh

As many people have pointed out, however, huge gap between 380 & 787/330.... I suppose they can always order the 747-8 in the future if they need? The mob that run Qantas seem to change their minds quite frequently. And the demise of the 380 might be a bonus for the 757-8.

I have yet to fly on one but they look great from all the pics i have seen... I am planning on flying on a Korean one soon... just for the hell of it!

 

[pauly7]

Nice bit of spin and graphics especially, showing the -8 in QF colours which it would seem is unlikely to ever happen (it’ll be Atlas colours surely).

They usually have a little logo on the nose from memory

 

[Deleted member]

And for me as well, and on QF.

Remembering when QF was an all 747 airline.

And for me as well, and on QF.

Remembering when QF was an all 747 airline.

Not only an ALL 747 airline, but the largest All 747 fleet globally.

 

[Bad Seed]

I’m currently reading this post in the US and happened to be on this flight to SF! I noticed when I got on that a lot of the staff seemed to be older staff. Then we got the announcement that the IFE was not working properly and while we could still watch movies we couldn’t pause or start whenever we wanted, only watch from wherever it was up to in the cycle. So I watched Bohemian Rhapsody from half an hour before the end and then from the start. Lucky I know how it ends. The lady in front of me couldn’t get hers working at all that’s when I heard the flight attend tell her it was the plane’s last flight. That’s why I guess they weren’t super fussed on fixing the IFE and why there might have been a few “old hands” among the crew.

 

[93Revisited]

Such a shame to see the end of the 747 in Qantas livery. My best experience was a flight from London to Hong Kong where I had booked a premium economy seat and used points to be upgraded to business. When I checked in I found I had been allocated seat 1A in first! It seems a Cathay flight had been cancelled and the pax were being rebooked onto Qantas.
I have never had a better in flight experience (not that I grace the first class cabin very often). I remember the sheepskin mattress cover - it helped deliver 8 hours of sleep.
It’s hard to see how the 787 can fill the breach.

 

[harvyk]

I’m currently reading this post in the US and happened to be on this flight to SF! I noticed when I got on that a lot of the staff seemed to be older staff. Then we got the announcement that the IFE was not working properly and while we could still watch movies we couldn’t pause or start whenever we wanted, only watch from wherever it was up to in the cycle. So I watched Bohemian Rhapsody from half an hour before the end and then from the start. Lucky I know how it ends. The lady in front of me couldn’t get hers working at all that’s when I heard the flight attend tell her it was the plane’s last flight. That’s why I guess they weren’t super fussed on fixing the IFE and why there might have been a few “old hands” among the crew.

I was on it a couple of weeks ago and the IFE wasn't working on that flight either. Whilst I get that QF was about to retire that plane they still charged full price to be on that service. I kinda feel that their equipment should be working fully and properly on every flight, be it the first or last.

It kinda ruined what was likely my last long haul 747 flight.

 

[jase05]

I was on it a couple of weeks ago and the IFE wasn't working on that flight either. Whilst I get that QF was about to retire that plane they still charged full price to be on that service. I kinda feel that their equipment should be working fully and properly on every flight, be it the first or last.

It kinda ruined what was likely my last long haul 747 flight.

Agree. Very poor by QF. I hope the pax get some form of compensation

 

[p--and--t]

Interestingly my partner and I flew to London in Y a few years back on QF. At the time I was Bronze, the partner Silver.

The IFE wasn't working at all in our row despite multiple "resets" by the crew.

A couple weeks after our trip he received an unexpected & unsolicited $120 credit from QF in the bank account . I received nothing .

 

[OATEK]

TKWHW!

 

[moa999]

From a thread on airliners.net

Announced today internally to the Ops staff within the Qantas Campus ...

The QF 747's are staying now until the 2021

Subsequent discussion that it may be related to the recent distribution of HND slots - with two additional slots awarded to Australian based airlines.

 

[Himeno]

From a thread on airliners.net



Subsequent discussion that it may be related to the recent distribution of HND slots - with two additional slots awarded to Australian based airlines.

Looks like 2 day slots, in addition to the existing night slot. The Japanese pair have already been assigned as 1 ANA, 1 JAL. Available from end March.

 

[Brettmcg]

Looks like 2 day slots, in addition to the existing night slot. The Japanese pair have already been assigned as 1 ANA, 1 JAL. Available from end March.

From the IASC website:

The Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development has announced that the additional capacity of two daily services to operate to Haneda Airport are now available for allocation on the Japan route. The new arrangements will take effect from 29 March 2020. In order for Australian airlines to be awarded slots to operate to Haneda Airport for the 2020 Northern Summer IATA scheduling period, the Commission is working towards allocating these capacity entitlements by 31 October 2019.

https://www.iasc.gov.au/applications/files/20190903_IASC_announcement.pdf

 

[TomJones]

Nice to hear that the queen might have a little bit longer in her yet.

 

[Max Samuels]

Best news ever!!!!

Can someone though please explain to me why QF don't want to replace with 747-8? Obviously there is a lot of love for this plane. A bunch of other airlines buy them - so is AJ much smarter than these other operators?

 

[Captain Halliday]

Best news ever!!!!

Can someone though please explain to me why QF don't want to replace with 747-8? Obviously there is a lot of love for this plane. A bunch of other airlines buy them - so is AJ much smarter than these other operators?

Four engines burn more juice than two.

While I have massively over-simplified a complex and expensive investment decision, it is at the heart of the issue.

 

[Brettmcg]

Best news ever!!!!

Can someone though please explain to me why QF don't want to replace with 747-8? Obviously there is a lot of love for this plane. A bunch of other airlines buy them - so is AJ much smarter than these other operators?

I'd hardly call a grand total of 47 orders for the 747-8i 'a lot of love'. Only three airlines (LH, KE and CA) operate the passenger versions. The whole project was a bit of a flop really...

 

[moa999]

Will be interesting to see whether all 6 are kept and what additional maintenance is required.

QF has previously had planned retirements pretty close to major maintenance periods.

In respect of the HND flights wonder whether QF is looking at new flights (like a double daily to SYD which would avoid the current ground time), or transferring the BNE/MEL services from NRT.
I can't see VA seeking any of the flights given their other issues.

HND is generally more convenient for Tokyo traffic and domestic connections (eg. 60+ flights to Sapporo CTS and Fukuoka cough at HND versus under 20 (and mostly LCCs) at NRT

 

[Daver6]

PER - HND? Wishful thinking.