Qantas - what will Coronavirus mean in the medium term?

[nickfromeastryde]

Just watched QF27 overhead on its way to SCL. Going to miss watching the big birds flying in and out over the next few months at least

 

[Max Samuels]

Typical passenger aircraft life span: 15-25 years

Last globally significant pandemic: 100 years ago

Last pandemic during global aviation era: Never

Sorry, but your suggestion is quite ludicrous when you look at the hard evidence.

What suggestion? I didn't make any suggestion except saying that it was short-sighted of many companies and governments - many decisions they made -that have them over a barrel now.... unless you are saying that there has been no amount of short-sightedness on anyone's behalf? Also, what "hard" evidence are you talking about? As a normal person I don't ever buy a car with only 2 seats and no luggage space - do you know why? Because I have the vision to know that at some point I might need an extra passenger or need to carry some luggage. It literally is not rocket science. All these ridiculous airlines that have fleets of aircraft only suited to carrying passengers (and 400+ passengers) seems to me, by definition, really short-sighted. Emirates will be RUINED by this - no domestic routes (Dubai is just a city FYI) - and a fleet made up of only 380 and 777...... goodbye EK........... if it made sense 30 years ago to have combi aircraft, why doesn't it make sense now?

You can go back and look at all the posts from people discussing this pandemic and all sorts of "facts" and hard "evidence" quoted that it was "nothing to worry about" etc....

It does seem to be human nature to reject what is right before our eyes..... there is a story in the paper where another "expert" is saying that police refusal to do RBTs will see the death toll "sky-rocket"... fake news.

"A recent report by peak transport and traffic agency Austroads found about 200 people died every year in alcohol-related road deaths, while many more were injured. Lead author of the report Eric Howard said reductions in the number of roadside tests have previously been shown to have an almost immediate impact on the number of road crashes."

Wow - 200/year. I think the coronavirus deathtoll will hit 200 by the end of the week.... I'd rather take my chances with a drunk driver....

 

[Carrots]

Would the JQ A320s be more convenient for freight work out of all the narrow bodies given they run luggage cans unlike the 737?

Would be somewhat ironic if we were to see more JQ flights than QF simply due to ability for easier freight handling etc.

 

[jase05]

Would the JQ A320s be more convenient for freight work out of all the narrow bodies given they run luggage cans unlike the 737?

Would be somewhat ironic if we were to see more JQ flights than QF simply due to ability for easier freight handling etc.

We use JQ for freight now for that reason. Some days we can get a 5-6 cans in ADL alone

 

[jb747]

I remember in the past, some airlines had "convertible" planes where the seats could be removed at reasonable short notice in case of increased freight volumes, and the cabin reconfigured to hold freight. This would be perfect for this situation. Has Qantas ever had these? Do other airlines have them today?

QF had three combi 747s (I think). They carried about 280 passengers, and the aft end of the fuselage was configured for bulk freight. They had a large cargo door on the aft fuselage. Combis disappeared after fire suppression standards were changed.

Remember the 747 combi? I think it was called the "SP" or something... Half pax, half cargo? One of them would really come in handy now...

Given the fuel burn of a 747-200, I wouldn't think so. Some pure freighters would be useful, but that's a different discussion.

Wow - how short-sighted are the boss people that run the world...

Not really, given that they were effectively banned.

 

[Max Samuels]

QF had three combi 747s (I think). They carried about 280 passengers, and the aft end of the fuselage was configured for bulk freight. They had a large cargo door on the aft fuselage. Combis disappeared after fire suppression standards were changed.

Meh - anyway, the discussion is about "why can't they just use passenger aircraft for freight" - and the response was "we used to have aircraft that did that". I am sure they could have worked out how to improve the fire suppression systems... comes back to the lack of vision

 

[jase05]

Emirates will be RUINED by this - no domestic routes (Dubai is just a city FYI) - and a fleet made up of only 380 and 777...... goodbye EK........... if it made sense 30 years ago to have combi aircraft, why doesn't it make sense now?

EK has a decent sized fleet of cargo only aircraft. The 777F and 747 are both capable of holding over 100 tonnes of freight. Their passenger A380 and 777’s can both handle a full passenger load plus approximately 10 tonnes of freight

 

[Max Samuels]

EK has a decent sized fleet of cargo only aircraft. The 777F and 747 are both capable of holding over 100 tonnes of freight. Their passenger A380 and 777’s can both handle a full passenger load plus approximately 10 tonnes of freight

I wonder if they can operate in freight-only mode.....would the fact that the top is empty (the passenger cabin) mean that the aircraft is "bottom heavy"? I am sure someone on here knows.... although I suppose when they were designing these mega-passenger aircraft with spas and bars and private cabins, they weren't really thinking of a scenario whereby they had no passengers?

 

[AIRwin]

HND?

Looks like I was wrong about what QF would not be suspending...

 

[Max Samuels]

And closing the Chariman's Lounges!!! Oh no!!! Mr High Flyer Important CEO and Federal MPs have to rub shoulders with the plebs!!

It truly is the end of the world

 

[Max Samuels]

And closing the Chariman's Lounges!!! Oh no!!! Mr High Flyer Important CEO and Federal MPs have to rub shoulders with the plebs!!

It truly is the end of the world

Actually I have to eat my words.... Qantas Clubs all closing too and "everyone" is invited to use the Business Lounges.... now flying is really over

 

[Melburnian1]

Given the various discouragement of interstate 'non essential' travel or border closures announced by various State Premiers (NSW, Vic, WA and SA) plus Chief Ministers ACT/NT on Sunday 22 March, expect another update to the ASX by QF and VA either on Mon or Tues morning.

Some states have even said quarantine for a fortnight is necessary so that is a chief reason why few would be able to travel.

More flight cuts presumably. For how long is the question.

What's unclear is how 'essential' travel will be allowed (and conversely how discretionary travel will be disallowed or not encouraged.)

 

[mrmerc500]

Given the various discouragement of interstate 'non essential' travel or border closures announced by various State Premiers (NSW, Vic, WA and SA) plus Chief Ministers ACT/NT on Sunday 22 March, expect another update to the ASX by QF and VA either on Mon or Tues morning.

Some states have even said quarantine for a fortnight is necessary so that is a chief reason why few would be able to travel.

More flight cuts presumably. For how long is the question.

What's unclear is how 'essential' travel will be allowed (and conversely how discretionary travel will be disallowed or not encouraged.)

Removing the right to travel our country freely is very unwelcome news, having the international borders closed is justified although coming home back from the GC last weekend, the tourist operators & shops ( Pacific Fair ) were so glad that they were not just reliant on locals.

Maybe visit Broome if the WA borders are closed but it’s a very sad state of affairs across the board, I feel sorry for the % of deaths and the world will be a new place:

 

[DC3]

... Maybe visit Broome if the WA borders are closed ....

The welcome mat has been pulled at Broome:

'Stay home': Grey nomads asked to rethink travel plans to Top End amid coronavirus

Tourists are vital for towns like Broome but a key medical group has withdrawn the welcome mat.

www.abc.net.au

 

[drron]

Quite frankly I think the current bans will be with us for a lot longer than 2 weeks.Maybe they will be relaxed in 2 weeks but then a second spike in infections is likely to see bans reinstated.
The second wave is probably the reason for Singapore and Taiwan imposing a ban on transits.See the graph about a third of the way down this page with active cases in Singapore,HKG and Taiwan.

The Times & The Sunday Times

News and opinion from The Times & The Sunday Times

www.thetimes.co.uk

 

[moa999]

The Australian Government stage 1 rules are going to be with us for likely 6 months, reviewed monthly.

Any change is going to take approx 2 weeks to make an impact in the growth rate of the virus.

 

[Quickstatus]

Emirates will be RUINED by this - no domestic routes (Dubai is just a city FYI) - and a fleet made up of only 380 and 777...... goodbye EK.

I think thats speculation. DXB is a massive international hub. If you want a business model that is diversified across an international and domestic hub then dont look at DXB. How is QF faring?. EK will take a hit , however thats a far cry from saying goodbye EK.

Wow - 200/year. I think the coronavirus deathtoll will hit 200 by the end of the week.

Its now Monday - the day after end of the week. How close did it get to 200?

And closing the Chariman's Lounges!!! Oh no!!! Mr High Flyer Important CEO and Federal MPs have to rub shoulders with the plebs!!
It truly is the end of the world

Says who?
My 5000-7000 SC per year CLPO friend is quite happy not to fly so much especially with status continuance for 12 months.
Many MPs are doing it by road or not attending parliament. Usual parliamentary conventions such as pairing will apply so that there will not be a material change in voting power.

now flying is really over

Says who?

the discussion is about "why can't they just use passenger aircraft for freight"

QF does all the time using passenger aircraft.

......

Because Covid19 cases are now dotted all over the country, the pause in normal programming will need to be longer. Hindsight is always 20/20.
This will take several months. Painful as it is.

 

[sqrt()]

Murdoch press reporting QF1 to operate SYD-DRW-LHR from today due to new Singaporean government travel restrictions. Will reportedly be the first non-stop commercial flight between Darwin and London.

Paywalled at ntnews.com.au

Am on QF2 tonight, will update when I get to Sydney.

 

[Melburnian1]

Am on QF2 tonight, will update when I get to Sydney.

AFFer and Qantas staffer milehighclub already posted about QF1 and QF2 last night in the Qantas delays/cancellations thread. (Thanks to her!)

 

[Max Samuels]

I think thats speculation. DXB is a massive international hub. If you want a business model that is diversified across an international and domestic hub then dont look at DXB. How is QF faring?. EK will take a hit , however thats a far cry from saying goodbye EK.

EVERYTHING anyone posts here is speculation... EK seems to have grounded to a halt... friends on the ground there tell me some people have been stood down for 70 days on 25%, 50% pay. I personally know of people that cannot get out of DXB to anywhere..... so yeah, I reckon this could be bye bye EK... at least as we know it. I suppose we need to agree what "bye bye" means.... if they have one plane left are we counting that as a win?