Originally Posted by
Going Boeing
I admit that I thought that the A380’s would not return to service in Qantas but, if you can believe recent statements by Joyce, they look like returning.
I suspect they won’t need all 12 of them as QF already had pre COVID plans to replace the A380 with B787 on the SYD-DFW-SYD route (in conjunction with a AA B787 operating DFW-BNE-DFW) and the LHR via SIN route already reduced to one service per day (pre COVID) there doesn’t appear to enough flying for all of them. This would be an opportunity to dispose of the 3 “Wave 1” aircraft which have a higher empty weight & bespoke circuits/system layouts as SQ did with their first 5 “Wave 1” A380’s. I understand that these aircraft have not had the upper deck refurbished and, if they are disposed of, they would be a great source of spare parts - especially engines. This would effectively lower the cost of operating the other 9 aircraft for the remainder of their service life. Time will tell.
6 aircraft have been reconfigured & some had it done in conjunction with a heavy maintenance check so you may find that 1 or more of these could be a 'wave 1' aircraft.
Disposing of them would not have been a consideration when the planning was being done.