How many do we have still?
 

SINGAPORE: SIA says fond farewell to 747 after four decades

How many clapped out pax 400s are we still operating? We'll be one of the last for sure...

COO Chu has your answer!
 

Commenting on the airline’s Boeing 747-400s that were involved in some of the recent incidents, Mr Chu said these aircraft have a long record of reliable service and stressed that every engineering incident is reviewed so the maintenance regime can constantly be improved. The airline has a strict maintenance programme, overseen by the regulatory authorities, which goes beyond manufacturers’ requirements.

“In the longer-term, we are investing HK$190 billion at list prices in new aircraft to progressively replace our 21 Boeing 747 passenger aircraft with B777-300ERs and Airbus A350s, with all the older aircraft leaving the fleet by 2017. We will take delivery of 11 new passenger aircraft this year alone,” he said.

We won't be one of the last since airlines like United and Delta have nothing on order to replace their large 744 fleets. Delta has recently invested a lot of money for new interiors in theirs. That said, we will probably be one of the last operators in Asia along with China Airines, who has also ordered nothing as replacements.

We have gotten rid of two 744s so far, not including those turned into freighters. One of them, B-HKD you can see very often looking almost all white except for the large Orient Thai titles. The other is now beer cans already.

Currently 21 in the fleet. 16 -467 with the RB211 and 5 -412 (ex. SQ) with PW4056.

B-HOO was the first to be retired and has now been scrapped in KVCV. Was line number 705 and delivered in 88.

Anyone know why B-HKD (ln 923) was sold to Orient Thai before B-HKE/F (ln 859/60) ?

Could have something to do with -HKD receiving the interior from B-HOU when it became the first BCF.

The -300ER fleet is now at 24!

Regarding United and Delta. UA will replace the -400 with the significantly smaller A350-900 and Delta is yet to order a suitable replacement. However with the -200LR in the fleet, a -300ER seems likely down the line.

UA operates 23 -400 and Delta has 16 in the fleet. Both fleets are currently heavily underutilized.

As for CX... my two cents are on the -8.

I believe B-HKD was leased, and it was simply that the lease was up and CX chose not to renew. Not sure if the other ex-SQ ones are leased or owned.

Clapped out B747's
 

Take time to think that without CX having invested in the B747 and building the network outside Asia some of you would still be pushing regional turbo-props or even air-taxis around. The B747 may no longer be the Queen of the Skies, but it sure as hell was the backbone of CX for a long time.

.....has anybody got the tissues....... :{

Old Fella, when certain industry representatvies are doing routine inspections on CX 744's that are just about to depart HKG, and they are poking holes through belly corrosion with their fingers. The time for sepia-tone, soft-focus and soaring string music has way passed.

Fly Safe Now....

Ah yes, nostalgia for former CX aircraft types....

DC3, Convair, Tristar, Classic, 744.... yawn.

The -400 had its day during the times when engine technology was developing and fuel prices were generally low. But those times are gone. I look back at my 744 departures from LAX, struggling to get 170 000kg of fuel into the tanks. Now in a 777, I will leave ORD or JFK for HKG with 130 000kg fuel.

I did like flying the -400, and can still remember my last IGS flying the type. But it was very noisy, especially at low level. In addition, the air conditioning was not really robust enough. There are better aircraft around now.

The old girl has had her day. One has to question Management's strategy at not having replaced them. Please don't bore us with Corporate spin in the Friday telex about the cost of fuel, when we still have these gas guzzlers on the strength. Also, lets ensure that we keep ahead on the Maintenance of these old machines so that we can keep out of the press. I was on a bus the other day, and the driver noticed my CX uniform hat. He asked me if it was still safe to fly CX, given all the bad headlines about breakdowns, diversions and evacuations etc.