QANTAS A.380

[James Smith]

QANTAS is reverting QF35/36 MEL-SIN-MEL currently operated by an A380 to a 789 from 29/3/20 to 24/5/20. As this flight is an extension of QF93/94 some timing adjustments will be needed for the departure of the LAX flight from MEL.

This opens up the possibility of QANTAS getting a third A380 refurbished during this time, which maybe a little tight as the last two refurbishments have taken two months to complete. Another possibility is that the three remaining A380s could be repainted in PUS during the eight week period.

[Dennis McLean]

OQA is on its way back to SYD on QF2 after only 3 weeks in DRS. Has the Cabin change been done or was it only a "C" check???? OQD which arrived in LHR on QF1 over 16 hours ago, it is almost 12 midnight in LHR now, has not ferried to DRS??? Perhaps OQL which is due in LHR on QF1 in about 6 hours will go instead with D returning to SYD????

[James Smith]

It could just be a crew rest issue and OQD will position to DRS in the morning, Dennis. You would think though that the crew that brought OQA to LHR would take OQD back to DRS as it is such a short leg.

QANTAS Source posted the following on 6 March, 2020:

QANTAS A380 VH-OQA, which has been under maintenance at Dresden since 14th February, positioned Dresden – London Heathrow early this afternoon as QF6006.

[Dennis McLean]

Ok that confirms no cabin refresh. So OQG must be getting done in DRS

[James Smith]

Well, Dennis we were both wrong. OQD has gone to AUH for maintenance and possible refurbishment and OQL is returning to SYD as QF2.

QANTAS A380 VH-OQD positioned London Heathrow – Abu Dhabi for maintenance this morning as QF6007. The aircraft had arrived into London Heathrow early yesterday morning as QF1 from Sydney and Singapore.

Source: QANTAS Source

[MarkR]

Qantas will announce today that half of the A380 fleet will be grounded to reduce capacity.

[MarkR]

Only two will remain flying:

“rather than exit routes altogether, Qantas will use smaller aircraft and reduce the frequency of flights to maintain overall connectivity.
This approach results in eight of the airline’s largest aircraft, the Airbus A380, grounded until mid- September. A further two A380s are undergoing scheduled heavy maintenance and cabin upgrades, leaving two of its A380s flying.
In response to strong customer demand for the direct Perth-London service, the existing Sydney- Singapore-London return service (QF1 and QF2) will be temporarily re-routed to become a Sydney-Perth- London service from 20 April.
The start of Qantas’ new Brisbane-Chicago route will be delayed from 15 April to mid-September.”

[David C]

I take it then that as of 20 April the QF1/2 will revert to 787 equipment ?

[MarkR]

Yes, 787 double daily ex Perth to LHR

[James Smith]

Wow, what a dramatic way to ensure that the A380 refurbishment is completed by the end of 2020!

This leaves QF11/12 SYD-LAX-SYD as the only QANTAS service operating with A380 equipment. I presume they will keep flying two of the three refurbished A380s - OQH, OQJ & OQK, although OQH is yet to be repainted in the silver roo livery. OQG will probably have its refurbishment completed by 20/4/20 as well.