Withdrawal of the QANTAS B747 from LHR-SYD or LHR-MEL routes? Fleet Developments.

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avlawyer82

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Hi all

I've just come back from holiday on QANTAS and was on a flight back from Melbourne to London when I overheard some of the flight attendants discussing that the Boeing 747 was going to be withdrawn from service on the London routes to Australia from March this year. I thought it a rather odd decision to be discussed - as the capacity on the route could not be served by the available A380s alone (nor on the frequency of flights departing London). In addition, I note that QANTAS are focusing on London (via Singapore) routes - and thought that there might have been some truth to it. I was wondering if anyone had heard the same rumour?

As I know that many of us are fond of the old bird, I contacted QANTAS directly to enquire as to whether such a rumour was true - and if the 747 was to be withdrawn, I wanted to know when this was scheduled to take place and to get my place on board for a final flight. As it transpires, QANTAS have confirmed that they have not yet been advised of any plane changes on the London route. They have confirmed only the following fleet developments:


  • Withdrawing from the Singapore-Mumbai and Auckland-Los Angeles routes from 6 May
  • Replacing the Sydney-Bangkok B747 route with an A330 from June 10
  • Replacing the Sydney-Perth B747 with an A330 on certain services
  • Adding additional A330 services to Melbourne-Perth services
  • Replacing the Los Angeles-New York A330 route with a B747
  • Moving the Sydney-Tokyo route to daily B747 services
  • Retiring two further B747 aircraft (bringing the total to six B747s)


I'd be interested if anyone has heard anything different.

Cheers
 
Re: Withdrawal of the QANTAS B747 from LHR-SYD or LHR-MEL routes? Fleet Developments

Hi all

I've just come back from holiday on QANTAS and was on a flight back from Melbourne to London when I overheard some of the flight attendants discussing that the Boeing 747 was going to be withdrawn from service on the London routes to Australia from March this year. I thought it a rather odd decision to be discussed - as the capacity on the route could not be served by the available A380s alone (nor on the frequency of flights departing London). In addition, I note that QANTAS are focusing on London (via Singapore) routes - and thought that there might have been some truth to it. I was wondering if anyone had heard the same rumour?

As I know that many of us are fond of the old bird, I contacted QANTAS directly to enquire as to whether such a rumour was true - and if the 747 was to be withdrawn, I wanted to know when this was scheduled to take place and to get my place on board for a final flight. As it transpires, QANTAS have confirmed that they have not yet been advised of any plane changes on the London route. They have confirmed only the following fleet developments:

  • Withdrawing from the Singapore-Mumbai and Auckland-Los Angeles routes from 6 May
  • Replacing the Sydney-Bangkok B747 route with an A330 from June 10
  • Replacing the Sydney-Perth B747 with an A330 on certain services
  • Adding additional A330 services to Melbourne-Perth services
  • Replacing the Los Angeles-New York A330 route with a B747
  • Moving the Sydney-Tokyo route to daily B747 services
  • Retiring two further B747 aircraft (bringing the total to six B747s)

I'd be interested if anyone has heard anything different.

Cheers

I thought QF9/10 was all A380 services already. But yes it will be on A380's as I think there will be only 2 flights to London, both via SIN. Don't forget they are not flying past HKG and BKK from April.

Nick
 
Re: Withdrawal of the QANTAS B747 from LHR-SYD or LHR-MEL routes? Fleet Developments

I don't think all have been replaced yet by A380s but I guess its only a matter of time. My recent QF29 flight from Melbourne via HKG was a B747 - under the new livery and One World logo - Registration: VH-OJU. No doubt after April - that'll free up a further B747 for the Los Angeles to New York or Sydney/Tokyo sectors
 
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Re: Withdrawal of the QANTAS B747 from LHR-SYD or LHR-MEL routes? Fleet Developments

With Singapore Airlines making an enormously big deal about the end of the 747 era over the next few months, it may become unfeasible (in a competitive marketing sense) for Qantas to continue to operate them for too much longer.

Singapore Airlines Journeys
 
Re: Withdrawal of the QANTAS B747 from LHR-SYD or LHR-MEL routes? Fleet Developments

With Singapore Airlines making an enormously big deal about the end of the 747 era over the next few months, it may become unfeasible (in a competitive marketing sense) for Qantas to continue to operate them for too much longer.

Singapore Airlines Journeys

Seems the end may be closer than we think. Can't believe that Singapore Airlines have it pinned to a date now in April. Who gets to be aboard? Anyone from here...?
 
Seems the end may be closer than we think. Can't believe that Singapore Airlines have it pinned to a date now in April. Who gets to be aboard? Anyone from here...?

It's a normal fligh, and at $500 round trip, rather cheap assuming you are in SIN, as for QF, they will have 747s for at least another 10 years, being the only operator of the ER in pax version, and of course 748s are coming online now with LH etc.
 
Re: Withdrawal of the QANTAS B747 from LHR-SYD or LHR-MEL routes? Fleet Developments

I know for sure that the SYD-LHR is going. I have a friend who flies this route (in the 74s) and he has just done his last trip to LHR. The bifdding for flying that route was pretty heavy as the air crew have known about it for some time.

I also believe Q are flying 747s more often to Japan, as my friend basically flies this route, and SYD-LAX
 
Re: Withdrawal of the QANTAS B747 from LHR-SYD or LHR-MEL routes? Fleet Developments

I tried to fly MEL-LHR via HKG in May on QF but cannot. The evening departure from MEL is being stopped. The evening rtn flight is already history. MEL flights will now terminate in HKG and onward travel will be with BA. Also QF have listed, from MAy, the MEL-HKG aircraft as A330 and BA HKG-LHR as B777. This is very sad on many fromnts: afternoon or evening arrivals are much better for jet lag recovery. The reduction in capacity on the MEL-HKG, and MEL-LHR routes is not good for Melbourne & I too am really fond of B747 upper deck..

No wonder QF is not finding international profitable if they reduce the flights on offer. From MEL the long haul destinations are now only HKG, SIN, LAX and LHR. In addition MEL-HKG service reduced from 2/day to 1 smaller aircraft and 100s of seats lost on the LHR service. I have often not been aboe to get discount business fares on these sectors so I find hard to believe that the route is not profitable. Is Alan Joyce planning to stop international full service flights or route everyone via SYD?

QF needs to fly to where PAX want to fly and at times when PAX want to fly. I think the 'high costs' argument is a furphy. Many more people would fly QF if QF offered a reasonable service.

Vale Qantas international
 
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Re: Withdrawal of the QANTAS B747 from LHR-SYD or LHR-MEL routes? Fleet Developments

Not much of a rumour, I would have thought it was pretty much confirmed with the previous round of announcements about the HKG and BKK routes, that means A380s MEL/SYD-SIN-LHR. Of course QF5/6 will still be 747 for now.
 
Re: Withdrawal of the QANTAS B747 from LHR-SYD or LHR-MEL routes? Fleet Developments

Not much of a rumour, I would have thought it was pretty much confirmed with the previous round of announcements about the HKG and BKK routes, that means A380s MEL/SYD-SIN-LHR. Of course QF5/6 will still be 747 for now.
Concur ... the demise of through routes via BKK/HKG has already confirmed the OZ-LHR will be 388 only soon enough. (QF9/10,QF1/QF2 [was QF31/32]).
 
Re: Withdrawal of the QANTAS B747 from LHR-SYD or LHR-MEL routes? Fleet Developments

Interesting that QF 107/10late is returning to the 744 - I guess that's a consequence of eliminating QF 25/26?

Might be time to book another US transcon... :)
 
Re: Withdrawal of the QANTAS B747 from LHR-SYD or LHR-MEL routes? Fleet Developments

Bugger! I like my SYD/BKK B747, I'm booked for 1st June, so that will be my last then. I wonder what I will get coming back on 28th Aug? I have my seat numbers already for a B747 aircraft! I don't like it when they mess with my planes...LOL!
 
Re: Withdrawal of the QANTAS B747 from LHR-SYD or LHR-MEL routes? Fleet Developments

This is very sad on many fromnts: afternoon or evening arrivals are much better for jet lag recovery.

They don't sit well with the SYD curfew :rolleyes: But there are still options for afternoon/evening arrivals (in both directions between MEL/LHR) on oneworld (CX and soon to be member MH), Star (SQ, TG) and others (QR, EK, CZ)
 
Re: Withdrawal of the QANTAS B747 from LHR-SYD or LHR-MEL routes? Fleet Developments

With all these reductions in serviecs to LHR are QF going to give up their LHR slots? An unamed source says they may not. Surely they cannot give the to THE DARK SIDE:mrgreen:

Danger UXB
 
Re: Withdrawal of the QANTAS B747 from LHR-SYD or LHR-MEL routes? Fleet Developments

The situation is pretty simple and about efficiency. QF want to have 380's on their big showpiece routes, LHR, LAX and they hope DFW. Long and/or ETOPS restricted routes like JNB and EZE or BNE-LAX to get 744 (generally ER'S as the others get gradually sent to the Coke factory). The rest get A330's as required. When a particular route is dumped for JQ or dumped altogether the A330's may go back into domestic service, all except HNL which is being upgraded next year to this beauty http://cdn-www.airliners.net/aviation-photos/middle/4/8/9/0943984.jpg with tech stops at NOU and CIS.
 
Re: Withdrawal of the QANTAS B747 from LHR-SYD or LHR-MEL routes? Fleet Developments

With all these reductions in serviecs to LHR are QF going to give up their LHR slots? An unamed source says they may not. Surely they cannot give the to THE DARK SIDE:mrgreen:

Danger UXB

IIRC The announcement about BKK and HKG routes said something about loaning the slots to BA.
 
Re: Withdrawal of the QANTAS B747 from LHR-SYD or LHR-MEL routes? Fleet Developments

It's a normal fligh, and at $500 round trip, rather cheap assuming you are in SIN, as for QF, they will have 747s for at least another 10 years, being the only operator of the ER in pax version, and of course 748s are coming online now with LH etc.

Not that the 748 adds many to the world 747 fleet. Beoing have sold 36 of the PAX version so far!
 
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