Qantas To Bring A330 Maintenance Onshore

[Brad Myer]

As Pacific Brands and other companies send Australia jobs offshore, negotiations are underway which could see hundreds of Queensland aviation industry jobs protected and more jobs created.

The Australian Workers' Union Queensland vice-president Marina Williams said negotiations with Qantas to move the maintenance of more than 20 A330s passenger aircraft from The Philippines to Brisbane were well advanced.

"The ageing 767 fleet is being phased out by Qantas," Ms Williams said.

"There are up to 400 staff working in the hangars in Brisbane servicing and maintaining these aircraft," Ms Williams said.

"The potential was for many of these jobs to be lost in coming years as the 767 fleet was phased out.

"However, we are negotiating for more than 20 of the new A330s to be serviced here in Brisbane rather than the Philippines."

Ms Williams said the Queensland government's efforts over the last decade to build a world-leading aviation industry had been critical to the negotiations to protect and create local aviation jobs.

"The agreement we are negotiating offers to not only protect 400 jobs, but create more jobs and invest in upskilling of staff.

"Employers, whether they are from the public or private sector, should do all they can to retain skilled staff in tough economic times and plan for future recovery," she said.

I guess with JQ getting 2 more new A332s later in the year it kinda makes sense with a now large A330 fleet.

[Jack B]

When exactly will the 767s begin to be phased out??


Aren't some of the later ones only around 10 or so years old? I think VH-OGV is from 1999.

[Owen H]

As Pacific Brands and other companies send Australia jobs offshore, negotiations are underway which could see hundreds of Queensland aviation industry jobs protected and more jobs created.

Not all that long ago, the Queensland government set up a task force to keep, and attract, jobs to Queensland.

3 guesses at who is on that board. (Hint, he is the man responsible for the mass outsourcing of Australian jobs to begin with).

[Marty H]

when exactly will the 767's begin to be phased out??


Aren't some of the later ones only around 10 or so years old? I think VH-OGV is from 1999


VH-OGA "City of Whyalla" was delivered in 1988.

[Brandon Giacomin]

VH-OGB,OGC and OGD were also delivered in 1988.

[Jason Carruthers]

It will be interesting to see whether or not the first batch of 787-8s (due 2011-2012?) go straight to Qantas to start replacing older 767s rather then Jetstar as initially planned who can stick to their relatively new A330's until the 787-9s arrive later on. I just hope Qantas don't have the same problems with the 787 on the SYD-MEL/BNE runs as they did with the A330s.

I flew on OGA last year and you could tell it was 20 years old, the wings on the headrest made this horrible noise when I tried to bend them and when I tried to raise it the wings fell off. Then a few of the overhead lockers opened when we landed.


Jason

[Michael Morrison]

I think the initial 787s will still go to JQ and QF will get their A330-200s back which can inturn replace some 767s on East Coast/New Zealand flying before QF get their 787s.

[Mike W]

Still with the 763s, do you think QF will continue into the future with the newer (10 year old examples) perhaps even adding AP Winglets as per American, Delta and New Zealand? After all, it will be a long time until QF get enough 787s (in line after JQ) to replace all the 767s.

[Owen H]

It is in the groups best interests to drive JQ expansion as quickly as possible.


I think you'll find a lot of people disagree with you there Andrew!

Convincing people to fly with Qantas over another airline because you can fly on the new A380 has been a big success with the aircraft getting great satisfaction ratings.

A lot would argue that the premium carrier should have the new and premium aircraft!

You have your Business class, and higher economy passengers flying to Tokyo on an old 767, and you have your low fare passenger flying to Asia on a brand new A330.

Why? Because Jetstar would be unable to make a profit flying 767s on the route, while Qantas could, and so it is not in somebody's best interests to show that.

It will, of course, all come full circle, and eventually the voice of the premium passenger will be heard once more demanding quality.

[NickN]

The 763s are all still going strong. Aren't all the QF 763 ER models?

I hope they keep them in service for as long as possible. A world without the 767 is a boring world IMO.

[Ash W]

It will be interesting to see whether or not the first batch of 787-8s (due 2011-2012?) go straight to Qantas to start replacing older 767s rather then Jetstar as initially planned who can stick to their relatively new A330s until the 787-9s arrive later on. I just hope Qantas don't have the same problems with the 787 on the SYD-MEL/BNE runs as they did with the A330s.

I flew on OGA last year and you could tell it was 20 years old, the wings on the headrest made this horrible noise when I tried to bend them and when I tried to raise it the wings fell off. Then a few of the overhead lockers opened when we landed.


Jason

You gotta remember that the first Qantas 787s will actually be the ones that Jetstar will operate. They will be cascaded to Qantas when the larger 787s arrive at Jetstar. So the 767s will most certainly be in service on domestic runs for a few more years.

[Ash W]

Please refrain from quoting the whole previous post in your post, it is not necessary, thank you - mod

Quite true, except most of not all of the A330's with Jetstar are not capable of having Skybed fitted without major floor strengthening. Having said that they would be great regional aircraft with a product better suited to shorter (day time) flying or indeed for some of the longer domestic routes.

[Ash W]

Please refrain from quoting the whole previous post in your post, it is not necessary, thank you - mod

That is already what they are doing, so the point remains, you cannot simply move the current Jetstar A330's to Qantas Int routes and fit Skybed's. If they were used on Int routes the product would have to be matched to fit the capability of the floor, which IMO isn't such a bad thing as Skybed is a waste on some of the shorter segments.

[Michael Morrison]

2 x JQ A330's have normal floors so could go to QF INT.

4 x JQ A330's ahve lite floors and could easily be deployed on PER and AKL services as well as CNS flights.

So they could all easily be re sued within QF

[Ash W]

Ash, Please refrain from quoting the whole previous post in your post, it is not necessary, thank you - mod

That is what I was getting at, but the poster I replied to indicated they could all be converted, which cannot be easily done.

[Owen H]

Alternatively, the 787's could fly mainline, and the current mainline A330's could go, without restriction of routes, to Jetstar to enable them to expand at the current rate, whilst avoiding the additional cost of crewing and maintaining a second type.

[Ash W]

But it still can be done Ash, and Qantas will do what it needs to do to achieve its goals.

Qantas have already made the decision that it was too expensive to modify the floors of their first A330-200's to accept Skybed, hence why they ordered new build aircraft for this purpose and sent their older ones to Jetstar. I beleive they also need galley mods to bring them up to international spec too.

[Ash W]

Alternatively, the 787's could fly mainline, and the current mainline A330's could go, without restriction of routes, to Jetstar to enable them to expand at the current rate, whilst avoiding the additional cost of crewing and maintaining a second type.

Qantas have already made this decision too. The first 787-800's go to Jetstar, releasing the A330's back to Qantas. When the larger 787 model is ready they too will go to Jetstar and the orginal 787-800's will be cascaded to Qantas for domestic working. In the mean time A330's will operate as they currently do.

[Mike W]

Qantas have already made this decision too. The first 787-800's go to Jetstar, releasing the A330's back to Qantas. When the larger 787 model is ready they too will go to Jetstar and the orginal 787-800's will be cascaded to Qantas for domestic working. In the mean time A330's will operate as they currently do.

What's with the "800" thing Ash? We`all know (and what the manufacturer calls it) the actual Aircraft is called the 787-8!

[Sarah C]

What's with the "800" thing Ash? We`all know (and what the manufacturer calls it) the actual Aircraft is called the 787-8!

To be fair to Ash, even on the JQ website they have the -800 ;) :

http://www.jetstar.com/au/en/about-us/our-fleet.aspx

[Mike W]

To be fair to Ash, even on the JQ website they have the -800 ;) :

http://www.jetstar.com/au/en/about-us/our-fleet.aspx

That's a fair answer. I was just wondering, not having a go or anything. :cool:

[Ash W]

What's with the "800" thing Ash? We`all know (and what the manufacturer calls it) the actual Aircraft is called the 787-8!

Brain fart! I was thinking of the A380-800 I will be flying on next week!

[Mike W]

Brain fart! I was thinking of the A380-800 I will be flying on next week!

:D

[Owen H]

Again deleting my post... this discussion has nothing to do with the topic.

[James B]

Qantas have already made the decision that it was too expensive to modify the floors of their first A330-200's to accept Skybed, hence why they ordered new build aircraft for this purpose and sent their older ones to Jetstar. I beleive they also need galley mods to bring them up to international spec too.

LOL This floor upgrade cost always gets the blame for QF not using the old domestic A332s for the international config. It is true it would cost a couple of $$s to strengthen the business class floor (but has been done before, most of QF 744s floor was upgraded to handle the in seat IFE system and Skybed). What is not clearly mentioned is that the entire cabin would have to be gutted to bring it to Int spec (larger capacity fully chilled galleys, a full inseat IFE system, more lavs, etc) then there is the need for higher aircraft spec (MTOW and engine thrust). This all equals very large $$s. Again it has been done, recall that QF brought the initial A333s as domestic configs and then stripped them to an empty shell to install a completely new Int config.


On the origional topic, I thought the plan long ago was to bring the QF A330 maintenance to BNE?? :confused: Thats why awhile back they built new hangers up there and QDS is contracted to do the RAAF A330 MRTT conversion project in BNE as well as provide the through life support for the aircraft. I don't see the boys in the Philippines touching aussie military aircraft any time soon.

[Brad Myer]

Interesting comment made by Alan Joyce in this article:

http://www.crikey.com.au/Business/20090414-Qantas-blood-bath-and-loss.html

He said overseas maintenance contracts were not being renewed and the work was being brought back to Australia to conserve cash. His comments will add to the growing view that he takes a much different and more positive view of the worth of non-management staff at Qantas that his predecessor Geoff Dixon, whose allies in the organisation have now largely been culled.

[Gerard M]

Where abouts does this maintainence take place? All the news channels just said Brisbane so i'm assuming Brisbane Int somewhere? Was it Singapore where it was previously taken place?
In the footage of the hangers, there were two aircraft in there, one fully painted and one in i think primer? What two aircraft are these?

Gerard

[Nick C]

At the moment, maintenance of QF's A332/333s are done by Lufthansa Technik in the Philippines.

In the footage of the hangers, there were two aircraft in there, one fully painted and one in i think primer? What two aircraft are these?

Those 2 aircraft ought to be RAAF's KC-30As.

[Gerard M]

Cheers Nick couldn't remember which country.
Well maybe the one in primmer was the Raaf KC-30 and the other was a 767 undergoing maintenance? Because one defiantly had Qantas Painted all over it ;)

[lloyd fox]

tHERE is only 1 KC-30 in BNE currently and it is not in the 767 hangar.It is in the old Ansett Hangar which is the one with the red doors.

The huge 767 hangar which can take 3 side by side currently has only 767's inside.

Cheers Lloyd