QF exterior paint

[Tom PER]

After spending a week working at SYD last week I couldn't believe the exterior condition of some QANTAS aircraft.

Some of the later B763's such as OGP and OGS still retain the very old 'The Australian Airlines' titles, I saw about 3 different a/c.

OEB the name (Phillip Island-??) is wonky behind the cockpit windows and the larger QF logos on the engines are in different places on the no.3 and 4 engines, they sit at different heights.

And how can I forget N412MC the Atlas B744F which technically I know isn't owned by QF but it has titles on the nose that say 'Operated for QANTAS Airways Limited'. I know this aircraft has been bashed repeatedly on the various net forums but it looks even worse in the flesh, huge chucks of paint missing in places. It doesn't portray and very good image to the public.

Some of the paint on the A333's is also looking very tired also.

One would of thought the "The World's most experienced airline" could present their aircraft a little better.

[Rhys Xanthis]

Now, i *daresay* that QF has more pressing financial issues to do with oil than the appearance of their aircraft.

Atlas Air one is a joke, that needs to be fixed, but it does cost a decent amount to paint, and they will eventually change all the planes to the new livery, its just a matter of when really.

I dont think its a pressing issue, considering all thats happened at QF in recent months.

[Chris Griffiths]

Atlas Air one is a joke, that needs to be fixed, but it does cost a decent amount to paint, and they will eventually change all the planes to the new livery, its just a matter of when really.

Atlas Air has a new livery?? Really?
I must have been away from the airport for too long!

[Rhys Xanthis]

Atlas Air has a new livery?? Really?
I must have been away from the airport for too long!

Sorry, i meant QF's new livery :o

[Adam T]

I agree, the majority of QF's planes look dull and tired, almost as if they should be sitting out in the desert in tucson :D

Qantas need to sort it out because it's making them look like an airline from the 3rd world.

[Karl M]

They are not the only one with shabby planes!

[NickN]

Qantas need to sort it out because it's making them look like an airline from the 3rd world.

I think that is taking things a little too far.

[Matt N.]

Some of the BA 744s paint jobs look pretty grotty at the moment. In Heathrow earlier this year I recall seeing quite a few that around the tail was all flaked off and it did look pretty rubbish, but a peeling paint job rates pretty low on the care factor scale to be honest. Not the best example but you can see what I mean here:
http://www.airliners.net/photo/British-Airways/Boeing-747-436/1401085/M/

The 777 that was in a few pieces out in the open (as a result of the crash a few weeks prior) and viewed from your window seat during taxi was a little more disturbing than something as superficial as a flakey paint job.

[Brenden S]

How about you fly your aircraft to ASIA and you see how it turns out. The amount of crap in the air is amazing. The aircraft do get washed regularly. Paint has nothing to do with the aircrafts serviceability. I can assure you that I have seen a aircraft with brand new paint but its a bucket of bolts. Paint isn't everything. As for the Atlas B747F, the reason why the paint is flaking off is due to the painters not preparing the surface correctly. It was basically 'dirty' when they painted it thus not giving the adhesion properties needed.

Now as for you lounge chair EXPERTS perhaps you should research more about something before you come and post crap on here.

[Greg W.]

I don't think the OP was commenting about airworthiness, nor stating that poor paint has any correlation to an aircraft's serviceability. I believe the OP was commenting that an airline such as QANTAS should present their aircraft at a higher standard, consistent with other high standards within the airline.

[Eli B]

What percentage of the entire airline experience for an 'average' or 'regular' flyer is going to be spent looking at the paint job? The timeframe for curb-to-curb could be between 2.5hrs and 27+hrs. I think a MAXIMUM of 1hour would realistically be spent looking at the livery. I agree this is a moment where the business may lose cred for their brand, but the instant they step inside the craft a new first impression will be made my the crew.

Presentation of the interior of aircraft or inside FF or First lounges might take a higher priority than paint jobs on the outside of a/c as these are places where a bigger impact on the customers perception of their airline experience can be made. If you are going to focus resources it would be clever to pay special attention to places that create the biggest benefit to the busniness.

What do you think top tier frequent flyers would think about the exterior of an aircraft? They already have so much invested in their account with the airline to worry about the outside of the plane imho. They receive a list of benifits for their loyalty. If they had to pay more or receive less for their points in exchange for a sparkling livery every flight, would they be disgruntled? They would probably want more bang for their buck elsewhere... more free flights, nicer amenities in terminals, more checked baggage allowance, more upgrades with points. I am not a top tier FF so my opinion can't be taken with too much weight. Having said that I think I am close to the mark.

Should I mention oil prices? I think it is amazing QF is still investing in their future considering the economic climate at the moment. Inseat air-to-ground msn messenger for a small cost per session on A380 a/c as well as seat to seat messaging, seat to ground sms and webmail. Cutting capacity is risky. It does lower fuel bills but might also lower market share. Someone somewhere is doing their numbers and I believe they are doing them well.

The business has other mechanisms to create and continue its premium airline brand... print and tv media, charity sponsorship, QF website. QF also align itself with high quality producers and designers like Marc Newson, Niel Perry, Collette Dinnigan, Akira Isogowa, Payot Paris, Morrissey, Korner, Recaro, Panasonic, Noritake, Allessi, Calendar Cheese Company, Joseph Olive Oil, Mana From Heaven, Maggie Beer the list goes on and on.
"Qantas has been recognised as having the Best First Class Cellar in the prestigious 2008 Cellars in the Sky Awards. The airline also won the Best Business Class Sparkling award and a special award for Consistency of Wines Across Business and First, building upon the success of the airline in 2005 when it won the award for Best First and Business Class Wine List and in 2007 when it won the award for Most Original First Class Wine List. The award, judged by a panel of wine experts for Business Traveller and Wine International magazines in London, recognised the airline's commitment to its inflight wine program and the quality of Australian wines." (from QF website) These partnerships and initiatives are all about benifit to the customer.

There is a bigger picture sometimes. I agree it would make for a beautiful photo everytime if their aircraft were shiny every day. I think we are all alike in this forum. We have a passion for this exciting industry in some form or another. Perhaps we notice more than the average or frequent flyers? Or we form our opinions or perceptions on a brand in a unique way.

[Daniel G]

Or we form our opinions or perceptions on a brand in a unique way.

Spot on Eli. If one had to form an opinion from behind the fence so to speak, it would be purely extrinsic - which is where most of us spotters spend our time! But as you stated, there's a bigger picture. :)

[Paul C.]

I think they're just too lazy to send their planes to the paintshop, strip the old paint off and repaint them maybe because it costs alot of money or because they need all their aircraft for service. So expect OGD and OEB to be the only existing Qantas planes on the new livery, some Dash 8's and 717's. I think OEJ and VXB will always retain their special schemes. But all 737's with TJ, VX and VY regos will probably remain in the old livery.

[Jason Carruthers]

But all 737's with TJ, VX and VY regos will probably remain in the old livery.

I doubt it. I'd say QF will eventually update the livery on the whole fleet but as it is not a high priority they would properly wait for each aircraft to have a D check. So it could be around 5-6 years before the entire fleet is repainted.




Jason

[Brenden S]

Paint will last on a aircraft for 8-10 years.

[Sarah C]

I doubt it. I'd say QF will eventually update the livery on the whole fleet but as it is not a high priority they would properly wait for each aircraft to have a D check. So it could be around 5-6 years before the entire fleet is repainted.

Jason

Exactly - same as the likes of Delta and UA. I am sure Delta still have a few aircraft with the old widget on them.

[Mike W]

Some of the BA 744s paint jobs look pretty grotty at the moment. In Heathrow earlier this year I recall seeing quite a few that around the tail was all flaked off and it did look pretty rubbish, but a peeling paint job rates pretty low on the care factor scale to be honest. Not the best example but you can see what I mean here:
http://www.airliners.net/photo/British-Airways/Boeing-747-436/1401085/M/

The 777 that was in a few pieces out in the open (as a result of the crash a few weeks prior) and viewed from your window seat during taxi was a little more disturbing than something as superficial as a flakey paint job.

One issue that QF has with their colour scheme is that Red in particular is suceptible to fading a lot more than all other colours. A price they pay having such a distinctive scheme.

[Marty H]

One issue that QF has with their colour scheme is that Red in particular is suceptible to fading a lot more than all other colours. A price they pay having such a distinctive scheme.

Same with VB aircraft VBJ is going pink on the upper part of the fuselage, and VBI is another one that springs to mind as having shocking paint with most have flaked off the rivets.

I would like to see the red on VB aircraft replaced with silver or white.

[Brenden S]

DJ aircraft have had some paint protection done to them. There was a article in Australian Aviation.

[Raymond Rowe]

Same with VB aircraft VBJ is going pink on the upper part of the fuselage, and VBI is another one that springs to mind as having shocking paint with most have flaked off the rivets.

I would like to see the red on VB aircraft replaced with silver or white.

Red is the worse colour in a country like Australia. It retains heat and fades really bad in our harsh sunlight.

[Marty H]

Red is the worse colour in a country like Australia. It retains heat and fades really bad in our harsh sunlight.

Agree, even for a car, I would never buy a red car.

[Raymond Rowe]

silver is just as bad.Black is worse.