Would it be fair comment to say that perhaps the Flight Operations department were not c.c the memo?
It sounds from a distance a complicated process. Perhaps well designed to protect pilots from furlough? Previous Qantas market guidance suggested despite the obvious necessity to refleet the International business the B747 fleet was to hang around a year or two longer than announced yesterday?
Reckon the training system's under pressure now? This announcement has just dropped AT LEAST 260 additional movements (minus a few inevitable retirements) in to the system in the next two and a half years. That's roughly 10 a month on average, more if the RIN results in displacements and further residuals. Not sure how the system will cope. Not well, would be my conclusion at this point.
From the tone here it would appear that Corporate tail wagging the Qantas dog?
A quick check of the fleet age of the Qantas A330 fleet shows 11.3 years.
It is plausible that the B787 fleet will replace the A330 fleet when mid next decade, the A380 approaches the zero book value!
(replaced with what?)
(Qantas still need a new fleet)