mmmm.....
The 300 series Jumbos are 20 odd years old and some of our first 400s whilst younger have more hours/cycles.
We currently have 30 747s and on average their crew complement is 15 cabin crew.
Rumours suggest that the 20 A380s on order will have 21 crew so you could [simplistically] argue that QF will need to double their longhaul crew member numbers to crew the fleet.
However......
Plenty in the know suggest that many of the A380s will end up being replacement aircraft for the [many?] 747s that management plan to retire.
If the APA deal gets up they plan to rip AUD $4.5 billion out of the business in the first year to pay themselves and many suggest that they will sell aircraft order slots to fund this.
There will be no longer any enforceable cap on overseas base numbers at the end of our EBA thanks to little johnnies work [no] choices legislation.
Maybe they will give the A380 to shorthaul/MAM?
At the end of the day no one really knows.
The only definate is that business and QF in particular will be no less greedy, immoral, corrupt and completely lacking in social conscience.
Much will depend on the Federal election.