Last QF 747 service?

[Green.Dot]

I’m hearing QF28 back from Santiago will be the last one, can anybody confirm if this is the case and what date it departs? Sad times, I hope Qantas finds a way to give it an appropriate farewell if this is the case...

[Australopithecus]

Unable to confirm, but I have it second hand (from a guy who is one level down from flt ops management) that they have all been sold and will go to the desert boneyard quickly.

...And that they are locked into the refurb contract for the first five 380s, but there won’t be any more done after that.

Sad times indeed.

[Office Update]

Ask Geoffrey Thomas, he is an aviation expert according to TV media.

[Green.Dot]

Originally Posted by Office Update

Ask Geoffrey Thomas, he is an aviation expert according to TV media.

I heard GT was asked to Captain the last flight!

[ruprecht]

Well, should be plenty of time to get the RINs sorted then.

[longjohn]

My pick, assuming most airlines survive:

all B747’s retired
6 x A380 retired
JQ B787’s to QF

in a worst case some of the older B738’s and A320’s benched

[Green.Dot]

Originally Posted by longjohn

My pick, assuming most airlines survive:

all B747’s retired
6 x A380 retired
JQ B787’s to QF

in a worst case some of the older B738’s and A320’s benched

A fair assessment I’d say

[SecretAngel]

Originally Posted by longjohn

My pick, assuming most airlines survive:

all B747’s retired
6 x A380 retired
JQ B787’s to QF

in a worst case some of the older B738’s and A320’s benched

Entirely possible. Even a week ago, I'd have said they wouldn't scrap the A380s early - and especially not until they'd seen how the crisis plays out. But, it's increasingly hard to see how demand recovers enough on the routes they'd want to use them on (Asia) for it to make much sense.

I'd still hope that they feel it'd be premature to retire any of the A380s.

[dragon man]

Hub and spoke for the 380 again. Melbourne and Brisbane to Sydney then a 380 to Lax pax’s to Dallas, Jfk etc all then go on American Airlines.

[Australopithecus]

Originally Posted by SecretAngel

Entirely possible. Even a week ago, I'd have said they wouldn't scrap the A380s early - and especially not until they'd seen how the crisis plays out. But, it's increasingly hard to see how demand recovers enough on the routes they'd want to use them on (Asia) for it to make much sense.

I'd still hope that they feel it'd be premature to retire any of the A380s.

Allegedly the early estimates are that it will be cheaper to pay the leases on parked A380’s than to magnify the losses by actually trying to operate them. But there are a lot of assumptions in whatever modelling they are doing, of course. Its eventually likely going to be better or worse than anyone’s current guess.

[Capt Fathom]

The funny thing is, no one here has any idea what Qantas will do with their fleet! But by all means, do keep us entertained.
We need a good laugh!

[-JLS-]

I've got a booking on QF73/QF74 SYD-SFO in September...not cancelled yet as I am hanging on to some slim hope it will be possible to travel then. Booking still states B744 at the moment (after it was changed from B789 a few weeks ago), but I guess updating flights that far out is probably a low priority right now. I was looking for one last chance to fly on a 747 before they retire, was gifted it with the equipment swap, but will likely lose it now...first world problems.

[601]

Its eventually likely going to be better or worse than anyone’s current guess.

I hope that that is not a barbed wire fence you are straddling.

[Australopithecus]

I meant to convey that there are way too many unknowns for any estimate or model to have any hope of accuracy. I am out of the prediction business because ultimately, who cares?

[Chris2303]

We still have no idea where those 100 A32xNEOs that AJ bought are going do we?

Are they firm or options?

[Wingspar]

The 380....forget Dallas. The 787 will do that.
How many 380’s do they need to do just SY-SIN-LHR and SY-LA?
744’s gone.
After the EA is ratified look for some early 350’s to be delivered I think?
Of course after all this mess has died down.

[tdracer]

Originally Posted by Chris2303

We still have no idea where those 100 A32xNEOs that AJ bought are going do we?

Are they firm or options?

Right now, I doubt you can consider any orders to be 'firm' - especially anything more than a year out.
In during the aftermath of 9/11, Boeing production dropped from ~50 aircraft/month to about 25/month. Further, some operators would take delivery of a brand new aircraft - often without the interior - and fly them to the desert and park them.
I'm not a gloom and doom guy - I think things will recover - just like they did after 9/11 - but it's going to take a while...

[blubak]

Originally Posted by Australopithecus

Unable to confirm, but I have it second hand (from a guy who is one level down from flt ops management) that they have all been sold and will go to the desert boneyard quickly.

...And that they are locked into the refurb contract for the first five 380s, but there won’t be any more done after that.

Sad times indeed.

Word is that GE have bought the 5 747ER,s & will not fly again on a qantas service.
No idea on 380 reconfigs but makes sense im thinking.
Will be plenty of 787's that can be picked up cheaply & reconfigured if need be or as suggested jq 787's painted red & white.

[C441]

Spoiler

 

 

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At a Longhaul EA briefing I attended overseas, it was made quite plain that the 380 will not be doing MEL-LAX once it ceased due to the current circumstances. That plan was already in place.
It was an interesting proposal given that commercial premium load factors are probably as good if not better than most, on that route.

That was about 4 weeks ago well before the full impact of the current downturn was recognised or, at least, considered probable.

[rowdy trousers]

Looks like QF28 just did a farewell harbour scenic.