Air NZ selling off their 1st 747

[John R]

Looks like this one is going to the big scrapyard.

Source: http://nz.news.yahoo.com/a/-/newshome/5612730/air-nzs-first-jumbo-to-be-sold/


The continuing decline in global air travel has seen the demise of Air New Zealand's first Boeing 747-400.

The 19-year-old jumbo, named The Bay of Islands, was grounded and put up for sale in December, the Dominion Post reported.

There were two potential buyers who would probably dismantle the aircraft overseas, Air NZ's head of long-haul airline Ed Sims said.

Long-haul demand was down 10 to 15 per cent and airlines around the world were grounding aircraft to minimise losses, Mr Sims said.

A sale was expected to be concluded within the next few weeks.

The grounded 747 was delivered to Air New Zealand from the Boeing factory near Seattle on December 16, 1989.

It had a book value of about $5 million, just a fraction of the $US250m ($NZ410m) list price for a new 747-400.

[Mike W]

More from "Stuff"

http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/2454877/First-747-400-heads-for-wrecker

[Andrew Ewen]

I think that you meant to say "Air NZ selling off their 1st 744" - rather than their first 747 - that was a -200 and it went a number of years ago , first to VS then onwards to UN

[Andre H]

ANZ will reduce the HKG-LHR Service (http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssIndustryMaterialsUtilitiesNews/idUSWLF00135820090529) to 5/7 from October

[Andrew H]

This would be the 1st 744 to be parted out anywhere ?

[Tim Bowrey]

I think Oasis (http://www.airliners.net/photo/Oasis-Hong-Kong/Boeing-747-481/1492065/L/) would be one of the 1st -400's to be scrapped and I think there is a pic of a China Airlines Cargo 744F somewhere.

[Michael Mak]

The first B747-400 scrapped should be China Airlines B-165.
http://www.airliners.net/photo/China-Airlines/Boeing-747-409/0193315/L/

It overran the runway and crashed into the way when landing at HKG. The aircraft was only 5 months old!

[Tom PER]

I think having RR engines is it's achillees heel personally. If ANZ can't flog to this 90,000hr 744 to another airline, the future must be grim for QF's early build B744's.

If it had a book value of only $US5m, it must be due for a heavy check.

No Oasis B744 have actually been scrapped yet.

Their are some ex UA B744's that have been stored for many years now at VCV.

I think you'll find this is the first B744 that will be scrapped not as the result of an crash.

[Michael Cleary]

According to Airfleets, just 3 744's (The CI at Kai Tak, KE at Kimpo and SQ at Taipei) have actually been 'written off'. None are showing as 'Scrapped' although there are a lot (including F's) showing as Stored - including MSN 24386 / ZK-NBS.

SQ have disposed of a lot of 744's recently, though only 4 are listed as 'stored'.

[Tom PER]

Add the ANA one to your list at BKK JA8955.

[Michael Cleary]

There are probably more that are marked as Stored (as the ANA one is) that have actually been scrapped - whilst Airfleets is a handy reference tool, it is by no means an official site and in the ANA case it makes no reference to the BKK fire that ended its life.

The import of the thread though is whether the ANZ one will be the first that has not been written off as a result of an accident to be parted out. That remains to be seen.

I might add that "Book Value" varies with airline and country - the depreciation allowances and subsequent written down value are what the "Bean Counters" work on these days. Those depreciation allowances differ between countries (Singapore is I think more generous than Australia is). It doesnt matter how well maintained the Aircraft might be or the total hours/cycles, if the Bean Counters say it isnt worth anything then they win out and the airline disposes of the aircraft.

[Andrew H]

At least some Oasis aircraft seem have found a new operator

http://www.airliners.net/photo/Lion-Airlines/Boeing-747-412/1532929/M/