Qatar to replace SYD A380 service with 2x A350-1000s?

[SCM]

I read somewhere that Qatar was planning to retire all A380s in 2025 (well I guess not!), and I'm wondering what are the barriers if any on replacing the Sydney-bound A380 with 2 brand new A350-1000s as they receive them from Airbus? I see they are receiving 2 more 1000s in the next 6 months, and they did originally want 3x flights into each capital city. I see these as logical reasons why they need to replace the A380s with 2xA351s - it will boost capacity and replace the plane they dislike with a more efficient model. In terms of customer experience, every single DOH-SYD flight will have qsuites - which people will love.

My question is, what's the likelihood this will actually happen by the end of 2026? Do they intend to use those aircraft elsewhere? Can they wet lease more flights to VA to evade restrictions? Are there enough slots at SYD?


Kind regards

 

[WilsonM]

I read somewhere that Qatar was planning to retire all A380s in 2025 (well I guess not!), and I'm wondering what are the barriers if any on replacing the Sydney-bound A380 with 2 brand new A350-1000s as they receive them from Airbus? I see they are receiving 2 more 1000s in the next 6 months, and they did originally want 3x flights into each capital city. I see these as logical reasons why they need to replace the A380s with 2xA351s - it will boost capacity and replace the plane they dislike with a more efficient model. In terms of customer experience, every single DOH-SYD flight will have qsuites - which people will love.

My question is, what's the likelihood this will actually happen by the end of 2026? Do they intend to use those aircraft elsewhere? Can they wet lease more flights to VA to evade restrictions? Are there enough slots at SYD?


Kind regards

The Australia-Qatar air services agreement only allows for 28 weekly flights into SYD/MEL/BNE/PER (with additional allowances for other cities, including tag flights etc.). So they're not allowed to replace the 1 SYD A380 service with 2 flights.

This is why they're wet-leasing to VA, to take advantage of the Australian side of the agreement, and double their flights

 

[RooFlyer]

I went to book a Sydney A380 return flight on my most recent booking for early next year - I love the bar - but it was a fair bit more expensive so I stuck with MEL.