QF 777's here they come ... At last.
 

The EK deal has QF getting some of their triple slots in exchange for LHR slots currently leased to other airlines.

Let's just say a mob was on board today coming out to quote on simulator and training facilities for QF ASAP.

7 in quick succession.

Who would have believed common sense could overcome the egos who have for years preached about what a useless aircraft it really is.

should this be in Jet Blast?

Group of 4 on board today who were all part of a group who said they were coming out for this reason. They also seemed to know a lot. Strange that they told me the contents of the news articles and more before they were even published.

Seems the LHR slots for EK are invaluable. Enough to throw a half dozen triplers (of their 100 still on order) for a tidy premium.

Tie up will not be good for QF international though. Probably the end of the 400. Which would make sense given the refurbishment (what else would you expect from the worlds highest paid airline management).

We don't have spare sim time and we don't have spare airframes.

Triple 7s - great!

A lovely 2 holer for the punters and the crews.

The big qestion is where will they operate?

The network is self immolating by the week.

If something isn't done soon to arrest the rot, the great white rat will become the lesser white mouse and the Flying Kangaroo will become the altitude challenged quokka.

What on earth has gone wrong?

I know there a thousand answers to that but it is a thousand times beyond quel domage.

EWL

Wow!!!! The rumours are flying thick and fast now!!!!!

Dont get too excited.There is nowhere for Q to fly the triplers given their reduction in routes. 777 to Jstar preparing for the 787 and A330's back to Q early for domestic ops.

Pacific. 744's all but 6 gone by next year. 6 triplers taken in the next 12 months.

EK need every aircraft they can get, but the LHR slots are worth gold to them hence their ability to allow QF to have some of their production slots over the coming 12 months.

Perth and Adelaide international gone. Westbound international flying also gone. One 380 per day to LHR through SIN, other LHR service via DXB. Other leased LHR slots gifted to EK.

Not the greatest of news for QF careers however. For some a triple endorsement will mean opportunity to move on to greener pastures.

It appears to be based on significant substance.

Seems there was a bit of urgent dialogue late yesterday between the Australian and NZ regulators and the red rat. Seems like it will happen quick.

Unfortunately the plan is Jetconnect. NZ based and registered. 744's to be phased out rapidly with just a few remaining.

Goodbye Europe. HK, pacific to become the bread and butter, Jetstar to take over Asia. Token 380 to LHR, the rest of the network to be cut significantly.

Rumour also has it that Simon Hickey has always been a fan of the 777. If this is true, he's now the man that could make the decision on them.

It has always made sense. I just couldn't see AJ admitting he's wrong. As recently at the last AGM he stated implicitly that the 777 was the wrong aircraft for QF, and 787 was the game changer. Well now they've abandoned the game changer, maybe the 777 is being looked at again. Personally I doubt it though. Too many egos involved.

He he he those emiratis with all their money are giving us some 777's, now we can finally compete against those pesky middle eastern airlines and use those LHR slots we've got....oh wait...

Probably all a tactical ploy so that the Pilots who would have been so stressed 12 months ago that the airline had to be grounded, can now relax for 5 days until the real news is released on the 5th. .....don't have to ground the airline that way!:rolleyes:

Ha ha ha ha.......ha. Oh my sides hurt. What are u all smoking?!!!

I heard something slightly different about QF getting 777s (from the Townsville refueler and another source).

EK gift their next however-many 77W delivery slots to QF. Boeing gives QF a good price on these to keep them on-side after the 787 debacle.

In return, QF lets EK take over all routes west of DXB (except JHB) which become codeshares as part of a wider-ranging codeshare agreement. QF may or may not take over some of the Australia-DXB flying.

QF uses the 77Ws to replace 744s to LAX and Asia and open up a few new routes in Asia. QF keeps enough 744ERs to do SCL, JHB and DFW and the rest. No idea what happens to the A380s that are freed up.

As I say, that's just what I heard.

So that mean QF would have 12 A380's, 9 B744's, 6-10?? 777's? And then a handfull of A330's still doing asian routes. 4 types between about 35 frames?

Looks like those in Avalon on death row have just had their date of execution brought forward.

That's not much different to what they have now or what would have happened with 787s. It isn't ideal but it won't be fatal.

Also note that there are domestic A330s (and more coming from Jetstar) that will boost fleet numbers of that type.

If this rumour has legs, surely the triplers would be used on DFW?

DIVOSH!

Can't imagine why anyone would want to fly on QF over EK to DXB. Even if they are outfitted as per EK-ie a real IFE, the cabin service would cripple the operation.

Given these rumours become fact, looks like Emirates will be Australia's national Airline. I can see a kangaroo wearing a hijab on the tails of these 777's!

Seriously it seems that the ME carriers will dominate the UK - OZ routes. BA's token flights do nothing to for the competition. Far East carriers don't seem to be expanding in the way everyone thought.