Keg, as it stands they need to slow the 747 retirement plan.
They wouldn't be able to maintain anything like the domestic capacity they need without it. Who would have thought we'd see Sydney-Perth, crewed out of Brisbane no less, on the 747!
The patterns for next BP to Perth out of Brisbane were pax to SYD, day off, operate to PER, pax BNE. 3 day pattern. One operating sector. 16.30 pay. Crazy stuff. I understand part of this was having no surplus in the SYD base and a little bit in BNE so it was presumably the only way to do it. HKG and HND patterns have also been crewed out of BNE with additional days away credit, accom, allowances (and AFDP payable for the paxing sector back to BNE). I'm not sure what the determining factor is in A/C retirements (D-check?) but if they HAVE to start retiring 747s for any reason they're in serious trouble.