Qantas to phase out A380s

[kookaburra75]

"premiumisation"

Thanks, I thought I was the only one who thought WTF when I saw that.

 

[lovestotravel]

Will anyone else change their plans because of this?

Still 0 plans to fly QF

(With the exception of one more status run to obtain LTS to allows EK F bookings )

 

[MelbFlyer]

The last time I stepped foot on an A380 was with QF back in 2019 on the way back from the U.S..

The tail number was VH-OQG - I was in economy and I could see the plane was aging even back then.

There was tape used to hold panels, the carpets and seat were well worn and the IFE was already dated.

Photo as per below :



Even though there have been some refurbishments over the years - especially the business cabin where they finally retired the Skybeds, at the end of the day, the first QF A380s are now almost 2 decades old.

That along with the economics of flying these days, its no surprise that they're being retired soon.

 

[moa999]

There was tape used to hold panels

I've been on a 2 wk old SQ aircraft with tape.
Stuff breaks, and most stuff isn't critical enough to stop an aircraft from flying.

It gets written up and addressed at the next home stop or minor maintenance window..

Stuff like carpets are probably replaced every C8/D check (every 6-8yrs). IFE probably double that.

 

[elanshin]

Im surprised QF isn't considering adding 777X to the fleet as part of the 380 replacement. They missed the 777-300 which i think everyone looking back would believe it would've been the better plane for Qantas than the 380.

But now there's a chance to pick up the 777X and we're finally at a point where it'll likely launch soon so you're not sitting around ripping your fleet planning schedule.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

Im surprised QF isn't considering adding 777X to the fleet as part of the 380 replacement. They missed the 777-300 which i think everyone looking back would believe it would've been the better plane for Qantas than the 380.

But now there's a chance to pick up the 777X and we're finally at a point where it'll likely launch soon so you're not sitting around ripping your fleet planning schedule.

If it's Boeing, I'm not going.

 

[jamesatfish]

From an F cabin perspective, as long as the A380 is being replaced by the A350 I think it's a positive.

Qantas cramming 14 pax into F was always in such stark contrast to someone like SQ who only put 6 F seats on their A380s. The QF hard product is dated, and 2 toilets for 14 pax (or more given the J passengers who come down to use the F toilets) isn't a premium experience especially in the hour or so before arrival when everyone wants to get changed back into their street clothes.

I can't wait to try the A350 when it arrives with more space and only 6 F seats, so if it ends up on all the current routes where Qantas fly an F cabin I'll end up on QF more often than I do now.

If on the other hand they replace the A380 with the 787 (or another 3 class aircraft) on the US or SIN/UK routes then I'll be back to another carrier.

First-world-problem perspective of course.

 

[moa999]

Im surprised QF isn't considering adding 777X to the fleet as part of the 380 replacement

Running an airlines isn't Pokemon.

As it is the long term plan is for four different widebodies.

 

[elanshin]

Running an airlines isn't Pokemon.

As it is the long term plan is for four different widebodies.

Long term right now there's only the a350 and b787. Sure there's variants but types they're going down to 2 plus the a350-1000ULR if you count that as a separate special aircraft.

777X also represents the biggest passenger service airline going forward. Its spec and profile would put it as the closest aircraft to replacing the 380.

 

[moa999]

I'd see it as going from four variants (380, 333, 332, 789) to four (35U, 35K, 78X, 789).

Also of note no end date has been given for the A380s. Given VH-OQC only returned to service in Dec 2025 after a heavy check I'd expect it will still be flying into the 2030s.

 

[elanshin]

I'd see it as going from four variants (380, 333, 332, 789) to four (35U, 35K, 78X, 789).

Also of note no end date has been given for the A380s. Given VH-OQC only returned to service in Dec 2025 after a heavy check I'd expect it will still be flying into the 2030s.

I just think QF should be looking and learning from the history books. 777-300ER is probably the single biggest fleet mistake in the past (not ordering) and the 777-8/9 on paper right now is shaping up to be very solidly speced. I believe the 777-8 with the updated range can now even do Sunrise distances without special modifications (likely just a slightly reduced loadout).

 

[Quickstatus]

I find it hard to believe how the airspace is getting busier and the airlines overall are going to a smaller plane.

Because the A380 was too big for its time as many airlines discovered
It was also too expensive to build for the numbersthat airlines wanted as Airbus discovered. Even EK could not make Airbus profitable.

As airlines operate their aircraft to a frequency schedule rather than "fly when full", finding those passengers on an ongoing basis is always going to be difficult unless you are a major hub like DXB or SIN. - hence SQ and EK.
Mega hubs allow aircraft to be full more often than longer thinner routes.
A full aircraft is profitable but it needs to be full most of the time, not seasonally.

I have never thought that the A380 was any more spacious that other dual aisle aircraft.
"Spaciousness" was just a marketing tool from Airbus and the airlines but when you measure the seat size, the height to ceiling, the toilet size, the tray tables, it was not significantly different to other dual aisle aircraft.

To me, it is just another aircraft. Pity it was designed and built before its time.

777X
No point having so many different airframes.
Likely also too big.
When is it coming to an airline?......

 

[esseeeayeenn]

I have never thought that the A380 was any more spacious that other dual aisle aircraft.

Have you ever flown in the F cabin on an Etihad A380?
The First Apartments are beyond compare.
They are not replicated on any other aircraft, even within the EY fleet.
And that's before we even get to The Residence!

 

[Quickstatus]

Have you ever flown in the F cabin on an Etihad A380?

You can make most jet aircraft more spacious than any F or Residence or Suites.
So it really is irrelevant.
People travelling don't care about spaciousness in another cabin when they are not buying that cabin - their reality is their cabin.
Remind me why EY stopped flying their A380 to SYD, MEL, JFK. Not profitable enough?. even though the F/Residence is so spacious?.
Of course it is not replicated on any other aircraft. I wonder why.....

 

[jamesatfish]

Have you ever flown in the F cabin on an Etihad A380?
The First Apartments are beyond compare.
They are not replicated on any other aircraft, even within the EY fleet.
And that's before we even get to The Residence!

Space is nice, but for me privacy and exclusivity is just as important.

When flying as a family I love SQ’s 777 F - we take the whole cabin, 2 flight attendants and 2 toilets for one family of 4.

The seats themselves aren’t much more special than a good J suite, it’s the rest of the experience that makes it F.

You don’t need an A380 for that.

 

[jb747]

Obviously I have a soft spot for the 380, and will be sad to see it go, though time runs out for everything. But, through all of this my bet is that QF will end up with MANY fewer seats overall, which makes them an even more marginal choice. But, I guess that means they'll pay the CEO more.

I now chase 350s. Not a fan of the 777, and so far have avoided the 787.

 

[Supersonic Swinger]

But, through all of this my bet is that QF will end up with MANY fewer seats overall, which makes them an even more marginal choice. But, I guess that means they'll pay the CEO more.

Perhaps this is the ultimate end game! Phase out flying completely and just have people chasing 'valuable' points and status through on the ground partners earning fat margins without all that annoying opex and capex to be spent flying actual planes!

 

[kookaburra75]

Having flown a lot of long haul trips in Y over the past 40+ years, the A380 was my favourite, especially the Y mini-cabin up at the back on the old fit out of the Qantas A380. While it's unlikely I'll get back on the Qantas aircraft MrsK and I are doing a birthday run with EK from Sydney to Christchurch and back in October in bus, and intend to check out the bar. It will give me the opportunity to compare the two at least.

And having the opportunity to check out @jb747's office on his pre-retirement flight to London, the A380 is an incredible piece of aviation engineering and it's mind blowing how big it is and what it does. I'll find it hard to find a replacement as a passenger in my mind.

Perhaps this is the ultimate end game! Phase out flying completely and just have people chasing 'valuable' points and status through on the ground partners earning fat margins without all that annoying opex and capex to be spent flying actual planes!

Is that like in "Yes Minister", when the most efficient hospital was the one without patients? That wouldn't surprise me.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

Space is nice, but for me privacy and exclusivity is just as important.

There is nothing more private and exclusive than The Residence.

You can make most jet aircraft more spacious than any F or Residence or Suites.

No, you can't, which is why even EY don't.