Qantas to boost fleet with 28 aircraft including F-100s, 717s and A320s | ATW Online
Qantas said it will acquire 28 aircraft and extend leases on others as it looks to boost its domestic, resources, charter and international fleets. It will also consider the Boeing 777 as a long-term option. QF said the new fleet will support growth and operational efficiencies across its flying businesses.
According to CEO Alan Joyce, the package of commitments will be made up of a combination of aircraft orders and leases, as well as lease extensions. The airline will acquire 10 used Fokker 100s for its new resource charter subsidiary, Perth-based Network Aviation and lease two more 717s for QantasLink as well as lease five additional 737-800s and extend leases on two more for Qantas mainline. For Jetstar, the group will lease 10 additional Airbus A320s and extend the leases on 11 more, plus lease one more A330-200.
“With the domestic market continuing its strong post-[global financial crisis] recovery and growth, the Qantas Group will need additional capacity to participate in this growth and maintain its profit maximizing 65% domestic market share,” said Joyce, who noted that many of the fleet additions “will be directed to this key part of our operations—across each of our premium and low-fare airlines, as well as Network Aviation operating fly-in-fly-out resource charter services in Western Australia.” QF’s intention “from day one has been to grow network, and today’s announcement will increase its F100 fleet fivefold,” said Joyce.
Going forward, Joyce told ATW the airline was “looking at what Boeing is doing with the 777-300ER” as an option for replacing some 747-400s. QF will eventually have a fleet of 20 A380s and nine 747-400s, which will need replacing from 2017.
“We are looking at the 787-9 to replace some 747-400s and also examining what improvements Boeing will offer on the 777 with 787 technology,” Joyce said. “If there is considerable 787 technology in the 777 it could be outstanding.”