Forty days in pre-flight seems a long time for ZNK. I always thought that this aircraft would be needed for the start of daily 787-9 services to SFO and AKL on 4/12/19 but A380 services to HKG were to commence on the same day which would free up an existing 787-9.
Checking the A380 commencement date I found that QANTAS has delayed the date of these services which will now run from 18/12/19 through to 28/3/20 with 744 services operating QF127/128 from 4/12/19 to 14/12/19 and on 16/12/19 with an A330 on 15/12 & 17/12/19. This could be due to the unrest in Hong Kong affecting demand or a delay in the return from maintenance or refurbishment of an A380. QANTAS will need both their 11th and 12th A380s for HKG and QF17/18 LAX services from 18/12/19 and 13/12/19 respectively.
Two 744s will be freed from SFO services allowing for the 12 return flights to HKG as well as YVR from 12/12/19 to 25/1/20.
A 787-9 will still be freed up to operate the SFO services on alternate days with 744 operations to HKG.
|