Risks of "improved aircraft utilisation"

[samh004]

samh004, you are more or less sugegsting the model that QF usd for years in operating flights to SIN from a few Oz airports, with them all providing convenient onward connections to LHR, FRA and so on. Sadly (as far as QF metal goes) that operating mode has been abandoned. The middle aged and older among us can even remember when QF ran intra-Asia flights: SIN to HKG and return was one if I recall.

More so operating at least two services to each destination. Such as BNE-NRT and SYD-HND for Tokyo. BNE/SYD/MEL-HKG can all help carry pax stranded. SYD/MEL-DXB-LHR helps cover off that route. As does BNE/SYD/MEL-LAX/DFW/NYC. If there's only one city pair and it's a big plane, when something goes wrong it'll cause long delays, but if there's multiple city pairs and an excellent domestic network, they should be fine.

 

[sydstar]

Yes there is still a long haul Melbourne base. They operate HKG and SIN on the A330 but are all 747 trained and very much looking forward to having LAX back!

Sorry milehigh, I was referring to tech crew. I can well imagine the cabin crew would be happy to get LAX (and the 747) back!

 

[UP4014]

JohnPhelan, yours is a sensible solution given that these 744s must be fully depreciated, although obtaining spare parts and perhaps personnel with the expertise to fix this particular class of aircraft may become a problem in the next few years.

Are they fully depreciated though, old age doesn't mean they are. They get an overhaul and the value goes back up, the management like high value assets as it's much easier to borrow money against them for other things. I'm sure the bankers like lending it as well.

Why do planes seem to get parked in the desert for years, parts is the tiny bit but they are letting them depreciate to a stage the airline can stomach the write off.

Matt

 

[markis10]

Are they fully depreciated though, old age doesn't mean they are.

I think the last big loss had a significant portion of it attributable to accelerated depreciation of fleet. Regardless, it does not make much difference in the scheme of things, operating costs still make them unattractive even as standby aircraft, and QF no longer has the ability to service such aircraft which adds to their overheads.