Dennis, I presume that when QF9/10 becomes a 787-9 that QF11/12 will become a daily service with the Tue 744 no longer needed, which could be placed on QF73/74, which doesn't operate on Tuesday ex SYD, apart from peak periods. They may redeploy 787-9 when aircraft 5 & 6 are delivered to SFO, start ORD or open YVR to 787-9, either daily or 3 pw - 1 or 2 787-9s. Another option is to make QF15/16 a 787-9 service which gives 2 744 when aircraft 5 & 6 are delivered (I don't have a date or month for these deliveries apart from 2017/18). QANTAS may not want to do this as the LAX-JFK leg would be operated by a smaller aircraft than present but the only other option is with an A380 as the MEL to LAX 787-9 will be too late to hub with the other LAX connections? HKG would be one retirement but also remember that MEL-HKG is operated by a 744, 3 times a week, I think, with A333 on the other days. They may only retire one 744 after March, 2018. Lots of permutations to ponder.
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