Two QF A380s to be scrapped

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Melburnian1

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There's a suggestion on a non-aviation website that six of QFi's 12 A388s are to be scrapped and that 'there won't be any international flights until next year.'

I've not yet seen any QF (stock code is QAN) announcement to the ASX. This only occurs if an event is considered 'material' to the share price.

If true, the first one above is not all that surprising. These aircraft must have a value of close to zero as other operators like Air France have or are ending use of A380s or in the case of Lufthansa reducing the size of its A380 fleet.

With coronavirus continuing to be a negative for the USA (though arguably even worse in Latin America), a key QFi market may not resume for longer than predicted (although of late QFi has started to favour B789s for Oz-USA city pairs).

The second part may mean 'except for NZ.'
 
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I can see them putting them in storage, but highly doubt they will be scrapped though.
 
'there won't be any international flights until next year.'

I don't think Qantas would make a call like this with 7 months left in the year. NZ bubble is very possible along with some South Pacific Islands, if they'll have us.
 
I can see them putting them in storage, but highly doubt they will be scrapped though.

Effectively they are in storage now, even if in the airline world there's a distinction between shuffling them off to the USA desert or merely having them stabled on an Australian airport's tarmac such as SYD or ASP.

The suggestion was made on the Hot Copper investors' site. Unfortunately whoever posted it - not me - did not provide any source, merely cryptically stating "ann (as in 'announcement' not 'anniversary' or 'annual') coming."

I don't usually post such rumours or suggestions not backed up by a source but this was unusual.

If it turns out not to be wholly true, there is still likely to be a much reduced role for the A388s QFi has given the high operating costs, alleged likely lower demand even if routes reopen and other factors. As many on AFF have noted, this will be sad whatever the airline as the design has often won plaudits from passengers, even if the QFi unrefurbished ones have aged interiors in 2020.
 
@Melburnian1 A link or named site would be helpful (And potentially shed some light on it’s veracity).

Personally i doubt they’ll be scrapped imminently but QF will take the Opportunity to write down the value substantially, and i think 6 is likely in the medium term.

The interesting thing will be more broadly if they dip sufficiently in value can one or more “non-trunk” carriers make use of them - perhaps the haj pilgrimage charter carriers (Whenever these are next allowed) As if purchased cheaply enough perhaps they can be seasonally used.
 
Well AJ said himself weeks ago (rather ambiguously) that QFs A380's may or may not fly again and cast doubt the 6 non-refurbished ones would ever be refurbished a pretty clear signal to me at least (without an announcement that would need to go to the ASX) that at least 6 would probably be mothballed or retired.
 
We're probably not far away from a market update - there's normally one early in the month. Let's see what gets said....
 
Can't see a scrapping decision being made anytime soon.

But wouldn't be surprised to see the A380 fleet written down to scrap value this FY.
 
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