QF 8 forced to land at [insert Pacific Island] due to strong headwinds

[djfuzz]

Qantas Dallas-Brisbane 747 flight forced to land for more fuel

Qantas is assessing the operation its new Australia-Dallas, Texas, route after a jumbo jet ran low on fuel trying to make the non-stop leg to Brisbane yesterday and had to land on a Pacific island to fill up.

Pilots landed the Boeing 747-400ER in Noumea for an unscheduled pitstop after battling stronger than expected headwinds after leaving the US, a Qantas spokesman said.

Not sure there's any basis in the QF quotes to claim that they're 'assessing' the route, but interesting nonetheless if this kind of thing does become regular whether the return leg needs to be rethought as a sort of quasi-QF10late going through LAX or SFO !.

 

[mannej]

Just having a quick look, the A380 seems to have a greater range than the jumbo, would would be the chances of a swap?


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[simongr]

I'm a little teapot short and stout.

A mildly more accurate comment than originally placed here.

 

[serfty]

I would expect that DFW is not equipped to take an A380 so no chance of a swap.

DFW is very 388 capable!

Terminal D has 3 A380 capable gates though it seems the upper jetways are yet to be attached. The necessary widening of some taxiways has been completed; runways were 388 capable before the beast was delivered.

 

[oz_mark]

Not sure there's any basis in the QF quotes to claim that they're 'assessing' the route, but interesting nonetheless if this kind of thing does become regular whether the return leg needs to be rethought as a sort of quasi-QF10late going through LAX or SFO !.

Or they may just rethink the Brisbane part. It might be better to schedule a stop somewhere else in the pacific (maybe not LAX or SFO, but somewhere closer to Australia). AKL maybe?

 

[NM]

I would expect that DFW is not equipped to take an A380 so no chance of a swap.

You may like to reconsider you expectation

 

[tuppaware]

Just having a quick look, the A380 seems to have a greater range than the jumbo, would would be the chances of a swap?


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Maybe its a case of 'if we are not flying to SFO, what we going to do with our 747-400ERs ?'

 

[mannej]

Maybe its a case of 'if we are not flying to SFO, what we going to do with our 747-400ERs ?'

That's EZE done


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[ftm]

Maybe its a case of 'if we are not flying to SFO, what we going to do with our 747-400ERs ?'

The ERs weren't doing the SFO run. Often it would be a 2 class RR.

I think it was always expected that a few flights would have to drop into Noumea or Nadi to refuel. The numbers would have been done on a set percentage of flights being able to make BNE in one go.

Remembering that not all LAX-SYD or LAX-MEL flights make it in one go either. Every now and then those flights also have to make a fuelling stop.

 

[JohnPhelan]

If they add a scheduled stop anywhere, the obvious choice would be HNL.

 

[ozmille]

If they add a scheduled stop anywhere, the obvious choice would be HNL.

would introduce some decent seats on that leg.

 

[gumpy]

I feel this is a bit silly of QF...

If they didn't want to get the 777 I would have converted the 747 to have more J and W seats to reduce the number of pax and luggage so that the chances of this senario happening again is reduced. SYD to DFW is mainly a corporate flyer route isn't it?

I was looking forward to this flight as it would get me to Cincinatti with one stop over staying within OW but I think on the way back home I'll select the 388 flight via LAX.

 

[ausi ski bum]

I flew in today from LAX on QF12 and it really was very rough, heaps of turbulance and warnings to stay in the seats and put belts on, we were thrown around quite badly at times.

Not suprising really in these conditions that QF 8 did a stop over

 

[serfty]

I flew in today from LAX on QF12 and it really was very rough, heaps of turbulance and warnings to stay in the seats and put belts on, we were thrown around quite badly at times.

Not suprising really in these conditions that QF 8 did a stop over

FA member on FT reports that QF12 was nearly diverted to BNE due to fuel.

QF94 certainly had a 'splash and go' pit stop in SYD this morning.

 

[JohnPhelan]

SYD to DFW is mainly a corporate flyer route isn't it?

I think you'll find that quite a lot of both corporate and leisure travellers from BNE who are visiting the the east coast or the mid-west will use QF8, as a way of avoiding LAX.

I'm booked to do it in a few months time and I have chosen the flight specifically for that reason.

Having another direct flight from the US to BNE is a huge advantage for QF in Queensland. I'm sure part of the reasoning for the DFW-BNE-SYD routing is to provide that additional direct flight to BNE.

 

[NM]

If they add a scheduled stop anywhere, the obvious choice would be HNL.

Not really. Using HNL for flights to the USA requires clearing immigration/customs at HNL. While this simplifies the DFW arrival it means everyone has to wait at HNL until all passengers have been through immigration and customs processing.

But of course the problem is generally west-bound which is reduces the immigration/customs processing issues, but can introduce some unique USA "domestic" segment issues. I suggest that if they decide DFW-BNE is too unreliable, then DFW-AKL would be a more likely option. Also note that DFW-AKL-SYD, DFW-NAN-SYD and DFW-PPT-SYD are less total distance than DFW-HNL-SYD.

 

[Kefci2000]

Had a chuckle when I read this quote from "The Age" writer on the inaugrial flight to DFW

Our real captain, David Oliver, a Qantas veteran of 35 years, echoes the actor/captain's words when he comes downstairs from the coughpit for a visit.
No land between here and the US, he confirms, unless you count Noumea - which I do not, given that this a 747- 400 ER, one of the biggest planes going around the world and Noumea is a speck in that vast, vast ocean.

​

 

[BD1959]

If they add a scheduled stop anywhere, the obvious choice would be HNL.

Wouldn't HNL be way north of track?

BD

 

[samh004]

Interesting times, a 388 with a stop in SFO or AKL would be a great flight.

 

[djfuzz]

But of course the problem is generally west-bound which is reduces the immigration/customs processing issues, but can introduce some unique USA "domestic" segment issues. I suggest that if they decide DFW-BNE is too unreliable, then DFW-AKL would be a more likely option. Also note that DFW-AKL-SYD, DFW-NAN-SYD and DFW-PPT-SYD are less total distance than DFW-HNL-SYD.

Agree with the cabotage issue, but as you said, that would only be an issue west-bound. Interestingly, SFO-SYD is shorter than DFW-AKL.