QF A330s on AKL-SYD & AKL-MEL

[Mattg]

I noticed that a few trans-Tasman flights are being operated by A330s this weekend in lieu of the usual narrow-body 737s. This includes QF156/151 on the AKL-MEL-AKL run yesterday and today, QF142/145 on the AKL-SYD-AKL run yesterday and today, and tomorrow morning's AKL-MEL flight.

Does anyone know the reason for this, and whether this will become a permanent thing? Would be a very welcome change, if so!

 

[samh004]

Perhaps there is a sporting event on?

 

[ncraigm]

Keen to know this too. I have taken the EK A380 half a dozen times to avoid the QF B738 and have several upcoming trips to AKL. There has to be capacity as the QF MEL-AKL-MEL flights are always full.

 

[RichardMEL]

Would certainly make the QF flights more attractive if they were on the 330's - it might be nice if it somehow became a semi-regular thing rather than just the odd fairly last minute sub deal

I can almost hear the pooch jumping up and down with excitement from here

 

[njba]

Wouldn't that be a lovely surprise: resigning oneself to a 737 and getting a (hopefully refurb!) A330.

 

[JessicaTam]

Hopefully a taste of things to come.

And hopefully not just to free up a 737 for maintenance/refurb.

 

[Mattg]

Wouldn't that be a lovely surprise: resigning oneself to a 737 and getting a (hopefully refurb!) A330.

The A330 flights over the weekend were indeed operated by a refurb aircraft. Would have been a very nice surprise if you were booked in J.

 

[casanovawa]

Wouldn't that be a lovely surprise: resigning oneself to a 737 and getting a (hopefully refurb!) A330.

It would be nice if they were going to put any refurbed A330s going to NZ that they put it on the 7.5 hour PER-AKL rather than the old J bird that currently does the route...

 

[Mattg]

It would be nice if they were going to put any refurbed A330s going to NZ that they put it on the 7.5 hour PER-AKL rather than the old J bird that currently does the route...

Actually, they did start allocating a refurb to PER-AKL a couple of weeks ago. VH-EBV did that route last weekend, and VH-EBC the weekend before that.

 

[Cool Cat Phil]

I was on an A330 on a simple SYD > MEL golden triangle flight last night, and gee , first impressions are great once seated when compared to a 737 for space & aesthetics.
A QF A330 on any trip across the ditch would be highly welcomed!

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Am in the MEL int QF J lounge.
No op ups, unless I get a "nice surprise"... but indeed if the 330 flew from MEL/SYD/BNE(PER) - NZ regularly, I would even fly QF ADL - xPER - AKL with it, me living in ADL its not that bad to go to PER and place myself for the 330 PER - AKL.
But for the time being, after this current trip, its the EK 380 with a QF flight number for me from now on.
As for why QF flies the 330 for these few days, I haven't a clue.
Edit: oh, and Au outgoing eGate is so easy, like the NZ outgoing one too.
Drop your OPC (pax card) into the clear lid box.

 

[Altair]

Well NZ school holidays started this week and I guess the NSW and Vic school holidays are still going as well.

 

[eminere]

I was on FR24 on Saturday and noticed there were also JQ AKL-SYD B787 flights.