Originally Posted by
dragon man
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Although off topic a bit what is not talked about is the urgent need to upgrade the fleet.
12 A380s probably Max another 8 years
10 747s passed their used by date IMO max 8 years
28 A330s I don’t know what their use by date is but suspect some must be close to it.
73 737s I suspect the oldest of these are close to retirement.
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A380- first delivered in 2008? Could go as long as 2028 or maybe longer? Suspect fuel costs will be the final part of that puzzle from 2023 onward.
744- 2023 I think is the current plan. Despite the narrative the 787 is NOT the replacement- at least not on a one for one basis. The only way the 787 replaces the 744 is with two of them and some creative Scheduling. Eg one 787 does BNE- LAX- JFK and another does BNE- SFO or BNE- DFW.
A330- oldest of these is late 2002/ early 2003? So likely to start needing replacing in about 5 years or so? Suspect the additional 787s on order will take care of these 29 aeroplanes.
737- 15 oldest were from January 2002. Youngest is November 2014. Will start to need need other options in about 4 years. Still have 100(ish) A320s on order. I reckon the A320 family will replace the 737. Maybe even some A321s to start with to allow the A330 to be replaced on transcontinental routes to expand internationally or to retire the older A330s in a few years.
So the time frame from about 2021 to 2030 will essentially see the entire current Qantas fleet replaced except for the 787s and some of the newer 737s.