QantasLink to operate A320

[pauly7]

Hi all

Not sure if has been posted but appears 2 A320s from Jetstar are on their way over to QFlink for WA operations.

Will be nice to see an A320 in QF colours!

Happening March: QantasLink to operate Airbus A320 aircraft - Airline Hub Buzz | Airline news and Information

 

[kermatu]

Thanks for posting.

" freeing up Boeing 737 aircraft from the mainline division to allow double daily Perth – Singapore services." may not be what some folk here - who'd hope for an A330 - will be thrilled about.

 

[moa999]

And I suspect this won't be the end of the regional subs operating full jets.

Personally I'd like to see QF pick-up some 321neos (out of the Group order) - but with Business flat beds. Still probably 12/162 config so common with the 737s.

These could be used for the red-eye to BNE/ADL from PER, and possibly the shorter Asian routes

 

[michaele]

And I suspect this won't be the end of the regional subs operating full jets.

Personally I'd like to see QF pick-up some 321neos (out of the Group order) - but with Business flat beds. Still probably 12/162 config so common with the 737s.

These could be used for the red-eye to BNE/ADL from PER, and possibly the shorter Asian routes

Why would PER-ADL need flat beds? Transcon - not a bad idea.

 

[kermatu]

Is there a PER-ADL red eye?

 

[dajop]

Personally I'd like to see QF pick-up some 321neos (out of the Group order) - but with Business flat beds. Still probably 12/162 config so common with the 737s.

These could be used for the red-eye to BNE/ADL from PER, and possibly the shorter Asian routes

Would be good to put on PER-SIN and with re-routing of QF1 might even be good to re-open ADL-SIN with them.

 

[Happy Trails]

Is there a PER-ADL red eye?

No, you'd normally be routed via MEL.

 

[kermatu]

Would be good to put on PER-SIN and with re-routing of QF1 might even be good to re-open ADL-SIN with them.

A QF 737 ADL-SIN tough to compete with a SQ offering I'd have thought. Darn long flight in a 737. Could the QF fleet 737s even handle that?

 

[Franky]

Hi all

Not sure if has been posted but appears 2 A320s from Jetstar are on their way over to QFlink for WA operations.

Will be nice to see an A320 in QF colours!

Happening March: QantasLink to operate Airbus A320 aircraft - Airline Hub Buzz | Airline news and Information

Haven't heard of this newsletter before, and there is no name of the author that I can find. Whoever it is should perhaps revise their bio to exclude the reference to 'PhD in Aviation related field coming soon'. It seems to me that if you don't have it, don't quote it.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

I don't mind the 717 as I like to choice of having rows A & B to pick from, for 2 abrest, but I don't like the idea of flying a 320 esp if QF does not put in any J seats, but flies the 320 as is, ie a real sardine class plane without any hint of luxury, or even having the chance to pay for said luxury of J, apart from exit row seating for extra leg room.

 

[Bugalugz]

Sincerely hope Qantas will reconfigure the A320 from the Jetstar pitch and at least give people another inch to 737 standards. But will be interesting to see what config they run it in.

I guess this will cover the Ginbata, Solomon and Christmas Creek flights for Roy Hill and FMG and a few KTA, PHE and BME flights chucked in during the peak to replace some of the 737 services which would make sense.

Interesting to see if mainline QF will pull out of regional WA completely except the interstate flights? leaving us with purely QFLink.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

I can to a certain degree expect to see QF put those 320s into service without any modifications.
Would save a lot of $.

 

[pauly7]

Interesting to see if mainline QF will pull out of regional WA completely except the interstate flights? leaving us with purely QFLink.

Perhaps yes this might happen - similar to other states, welcome to the family WA

 

[Must...Fly!]

More likely to find a 737MAX in QF mainline I'd have thought

 

[RichardMEL]

I don't mind the 717 as I like to choice of having rows A & B to pick from, for 2 abrest, but I don't like the idea of flying a 320 esp if QF does not put in any J seats, but flies the 320 as is, ie a real sardine class plane without any hint of luxury, or even having the chance to pay for said luxury of J, apart from exit row seating for extra leg room.

Except that the A320 series has a (slightly) larger cabin cross section width which actually allows for a little more space than the 737 (and Airbus won't stop letting you know about it ).

It's most likely QF will keep these birds all Y given the WA regional 717's are all Y too, and they want that capacity on some of those routes, but I suppose they could put in a faux J (like maybe a few rows up the front with extra pitch or something).

They prob wouldn't keep the JQ pitch though it's honestly hard to know.

It's an interesting move, but may also be very short term (and thus the JQ config may stay) as it seems a bit oddball tbh.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Thinking a little more, it probably is a winner. More flexibility, extra capacity, and keeps it all in house. Cobham have been having issues, that we do know. The 737s are presumably doing well keeping frequency up elsewhere (and PER-SIN). VA seem to have had little interest in removing the A320s they received leftover from XR so presumably have found a way to make them work for them in small number.

If they can do it I am sure Qantas can. Plus gives them a chance to go after some more FIFO contracts which are very competitive.

 

[Himeno]

More likely to find a 737MAX in QF mainline I'd have thought

Qantas Group has outstanding orders with Airbus which could easily be given a red and white paint job. There are ~90 A320s (some are NEOs) and 8 (+ 4 options) A380s. The outstanding A380 order/options could be converted to A350s, A330 or A320.
The only current Boeing order book are the 787s. ~30 in a mix of orders, options and rights.

Qantas needs to order something for 747-400ER and A380 replacements to arrive around 2024. The 33 oldest 737s will start needing replacement around the same time, as well as the 10 A330-300s.

It is likely that they'll tap the A320 order for 737 replacement, use the 787 options for fleet expansion and A330 replacement, order some 777X for 744ER/A380 replacement and convert the remaining A380 book for more A320NEOs.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Qantas Group has outstanding orders with Airbus which could easily be given a red and white paint job. There are ~90 A320s (some are NEOs) and 8 (+ 4 options) A380s. The outstanding A380 order/options could be converted to A350s, A330 or A320.
The only current Boeing order book are the 787s. ~30 in a mix of orders, options and rights.

Qantas needs to order something for 747-400ER and A380 replacements to arrive around 2024. The 33 oldest 737s will start needing replacement around the same time, as well as the 10 A330-300s.

It is likely that they'll tap the A320 order for 737 replacement, use the 787 options for fleet expansion and A330 replacement, order some 777X for 744ER/A380 replacement and convert the remaining A380 book for more A320NEOs.

It will all boil down to economics in the end and I won't pretend to know the details. I can't really argue with any of your points. However I am not so sure widebodies will be a continued feature on the transcon with such economic, longer narrowbodies. A new 757 type would probably do well. There certainly are a lot of A320s that will have to fly somewhere. But then again there would be no shortage of airlines willing to take the slots.

 

[moa999]

Qantas needs to order something for 747-400ER and A380 replacements to arrive around 2024.

It's clear from the ’challenge’ that they will order some ULR 350/777s for the 9 747s from 2024/25.

QF will upgrade it's A380s over 2019/20 so they will have a life into the late 2020s

With EKs latest A380 order and a new generation of engines due in the mid 2020s I still think their is a chance of an A380neo/stretch and QF may order it to replace the current A380s.
Is still a great aircraft for some routes.

 

[JohnK]

A QF 737 ADL-SIN tough to compete with a SQ offering I'd have thought. Darn long flight in a 737. Could the QF fleet 737s even handle that?

Very long flight. They could possibly have a transit in DRW as they have done in the past.