QF too many aircraft or not enough?

[maninblack]

Qantas is about to take delivery of VH-EBL a lovely new international configured A330-200, here is a good photo at Toulouse. Photos: Airbus A330-202 Aircraft Pictures | Airliners.net
I am perplexed though. We keep seeing QF cut back routes and schedules yet they always seem to be short of aircraft even though they have received several new A330's, 738's and soon to be 2 A380's this year.

To my knowledge they have retired 2 x 743's this year and that's it.

Are they short of aircraft for current international requirements or do they have excess capacity?

And when are they going to chuck those 763's off SYD-HNL May be a job for the nice new plane in the picture...here's hoping

 

[Leumas]

Interesting topic...

I'm not sure if they have too many or too few, but I think they may not have enough of the right types of aircrafts (i.e., also too many of the wrong types).

Cutting routes is probably more due to the lack of demand than the lack of aircrafts. If there's enough demand, I'm sure Qantas will get a plane there one way or the other.

The mid-size aircrafts, the A330's and the 763's seem to the link between the international and domestic fleet. As explained on FT by someone in QF is that the delay of the A380 caused a ripple effect right down to the 733's and 734's. My understanding (which may not be accurate) is:

The A380 was supposed to take the load off some of the 744/743 (or even the international A330's) international routes, which will then free them up for some domestic/shorter routes. They in turn will help out on the 763/738/733/734 routes, e.g., the Jetconnect routes.

To be honest, I still struggle to think how 1 or 2 A380's can help that much...

There're also other factors like refitting (introducing PE, refitting the interior) and unexpected repairs...

 

[JohnK]

I would hazard a guess and say QF do not have enough aircraft, or at least not the right type of aircraft, as there are constant scheduling issues when one of the aircraft needs refitting, maintenance or has unscheduled mechanical problems.

 

[Mal]

I think Qantas has too many old aircraft.

(BTW, yes I realise Qantas has a fairly young fleet compared to some airlines - but they just can't handle the extra maintenance and unexpected issues that arise)

 

[Evan]

1 or 2 A380's, by now they would have had 6 or 8. So a fair number.
I think the new aircraft are giving them a chance to continue to retire older models, like the 5 x 743's that have gone in the last 2 years or will all be gone very soon, i think only 2 left now ?
Also 733 and 734's are going.
The 763's on lease would have also gone i think by now if they had the 787 (QF group should have had a good number of 787's by now if all had gone to plan)

E

 

[2muchplastic]

So I guess the answer is that neither too many or too few, but just the wrong ones compared to what they'd planned.

Just a victim of their supplier's circumstances....

 

[opusman]

Maybe it's just that they need a few extra spares to allow for the occasional explosion or towing collision

 

[Lord Mud]

Just thinking about this slighty differently, could it be the geographical nature of Qantas that could be causing much of this also? Apart from the Golen triangle routes out of sydney and a say MEL-ADL and MEL-HBA there are no real 1 hour-ish flights and tie that in with the pretty limited number of flights based on population, any delay will have a far more reaching knock-on effect I would have thought. Particularly domestically where multiple flights occur on the same routes day-to-day
That is not to discount any previous statement made here but I think it would have some bearing. Compare say to USA where AA out of many of its ports will have a staggering number of flights going in and out in similar aircraft configurations that substitution would be a much easier game to play than here.. Sure AA get their delays too but i'm not sure it is disruptive to as high a percentage of overall day-to-day pax

 

[ANstar]

And when are they going to chuck those 763's off SYD-HNL May be a job for the nice new plane in the picture...here's hoping

HNL has been cut down from 4 weekly back to 3 weekly so not that many flights to replace!

To be honest, I still struggle to think how 1 or 2 A380's can help that much...

...

The extra A330's delviered this year have freed up 767's from international flying and allowed those aircraft to be used on MEL/SYD-PER (and dont forget the domestic 332's).

I also presume the SYD-CNS-NRT 767 service that gets canned next week then frees up the last 743 operating SYD-PER.

The other 2 x 743's have been doing PER-SIN and BNE-SIN as replacement aircraft for the damaged planes (332/743). They also had to start EZE-SYD and as such some BNE-LAX flights have been cancelled.

The extra 2 A380's coming in DEC will allow for the complete retirement of the 743's by year end.

So I would say by the end of Jan, they should have a fleet thatis just about what they need to fulfil their published schedule with correct aircraft types etc.

A380 #4 will probably free up another 747 which will help with operational stability rather than open new routes etc.

 

[serfty]

As a matter of interest; looking at SYD/LAX schedules for June, there are only the daily QF11/QF12/QF107/QF108's scheduled. For what would be considered peak time, there's no sign of QF8/QF149/QF150 et el services.

On another note; it was posted elsewhere that the maintenance contracts for the 743's cease on Dec 31.

 

[Evan]

As a matter of interest; looking at SYD/LAX schedules for June, there are only the daily QF11/QF12/QF107/QF108's scheduled. For what would be considered peak time, there's no sign of QF8/QF149/QF150 et el services.

On another note; it was posted elsewhere that the maintenance contracts for the 743's cease on Dec 31.

They could be waiting a game of wait and see right now, just having the single service in and seeing what loads are being generated and as required add the extra service. June is a fair time away yet and is advance bookings are soft i guess it makes sense.

E

 

[dajop]

Just thinking about this slighty differently, could it be the geographical nature of Qantas that could be causing much of this also? Apart from the Golen triangle routes out of sydney and a say MEL-ADL and MEL-HBA there are no real 1 hour-ish flights and tie that in with the pretty limited number of flights based on population, any delay will have a far more reaching knock-on effect I would have thought. Particularly domestically where multiple flights occur on the same routes day-to-day

Much of QF's well publicised delays have not been domestic, other than a few foggy/stormy days at key airports such as SYD, MEL & BNE.

Domestically I think almost the converse is true for your argument, QF benefits from high frequency eastern seaboard flights, where unless loadings are 100% flights can be manipulated (read cancelled) and eg. an aircraft miss out on SYD-MEL-SYD cycle and soon catch up. How many airport pairs in the world do you get one airline operating up to 37 flights a day in each direction?

 

[maninblack]

HNL has been cut down from 4 weekly back to 3 weekly so not that many flights to replace!

Yes, from Feb 2009 QF back to 3 services per week (and JQ back to 4). So surely with reductions to other routes too you would think that they would have capacity to replace the 763's with A330's.

 

[ANstar]

HNL has been cut down from 4 weekly back to 3 weekly so not that many flights to replace!

Yes, from Feb 2009 QF back to 3 services per week (and JQ back to 4). So surely with reductions to other routes too you would think that they would have capacity to replace the 763's with A330's.

With the reduction in flights to HKG (From SYD/MEL) on A330's they SHOULD have the capcity. Perhaps MNL will be first? Who knows.... but I do think the 767's long haul days will be over sometime next year.

 

[Dave Mackenzie]

What is the bet Jetstar will service the SYD/BNE - MNL and return runs from next year? Or more to the point when they receive their B787's.

Determination 2008 IASC 123, refers.


DM

 

[ANstar]

Determination 2008 IASC 123, refers.


DM

I see no reference to Jetstar in that determination. It just mentions that QF plan to use a larger aircraft on the route in the future to fill the capcity allocation. I presume that will be A330 aircraft.

 

[2muchplastic]

With the reduction in flights to HKG (From SYD/MEL) on A330's they SHOULD have the capcity........

I'm glad someone has posted that, I was trying to book a flight HKG-SYD for January that I was sure existed only a few days ago, but the company TA said they couldn't find.

That explains it!:evil:

 

[oz_mark]

I see no reference to Jetstar in that determination. It just mentions that QF plan to use a larger aircraft on the route in the future to fill the capcity allocation. I presume that will be A330 aircraft.

Me neither. Typically when they mean Jetstar this is disclosed explicitly within the determination. The door is open to Jetstar with this one, but all that can really be gleaned from it is that Qantas intends to use bigger aircraft.

 

[Kendall Roy]

I was booked on an award J flight for QF85 MEL-HKG at the end of Feb (then onto BA for HKG-LHR). A direct option in J on classic awards is next to impossible as I'm sure all of you are aware

This flight was cancelled 2 days ago and QF wanted to route me via SYD 4 hours earlier. After a few lines about the 'inconvenience' caused, I scored a direct J seat on QF29 leaving midnight

 

[garyjohn951]

I was booked on an award J flight for QF85 MEL-HKG at the end of Feb (then onto BA for HKG-LHR). A direct option in J on classic awards is next to impossible as I'm sure all of you are aware

This flight was cancelled 2 days ago and QF wanted to route me via SYD 4 hours earlier. After a few lines about the 'inconvenience' caused, I scored a direct J seat on QF29 leaving midnight

Amazing what 6 months will do !

Couldn't get a F or J classic award seat 3 months out for love or money.
Now you can get a F seat onevery day between 20/2 to 15/3 except for one day 7/3.
Last week you could get J on every day but of course now QF85 has gone to God, there are only 3 days available.

Amazing it took 18 months for them to put QF85 on the route, a recession and bang it is gone.....................