QF 744 retirement. Where is it at?

[Patrick M]

If VH-OJM is going to be D Checked, will they refit her cabins to A380 standard like OJS, OJT, OJU, OEE, OEF, OEG, OEH, OEI and OEJ?

[Jacob L]

They May, but after a D Check, it may not happen. Don't Quote me on it though????

[Ash W]

Doubt it. The announced plan sees the remaining non refurbished 747's going by the 2nd half of next year. Once can but assume when they announced the retirement plan they knew some would come up for major checks before retirement, so don't see why they would have changed their plan.

That said, still no idea what will fill the role that these aircraft are fulfilling, its not like any new a/c are due by the end of next year. Qantas has increased utilisation of the fleet as much as they can, and some new routes (and two A330-200's to be retired), so a big unknown I guess.

[Dennis McLean]

I cannot see anything leaving the fleet at the moment as A380's OQD and OQF are in maintenance or repairs and 744 OJM is in HKG for maintenance.

A380 VH-OQD positioned SYD/MNL as QFA6009 on 1 May at 10.40pm. No return flight shown.

A380 VH-OQF is in SYD having not moved since 14 April.

744 VH-OJM (353 seats) positioned SYD/HKG as QFA6023 on 1 May at 2.03pm. A 353 seater, is scheduled on QFA 128 HKG/SYD, arr SYD at 07.20am on 27 May, presumably OJM.

The QFA 127 flight on 26 May is shown as a 364 seater but it does not return on the 27th so another one in for maintenance replacing OJM.

So at the moment QF only has 10 x 380 and 11 x 744 available. The normal 744 schedule needs 10 daily plus Saturday and the A380 schedule needs 10 Daily plus 1 Daily ex Wednesday.

In addition there are 19 flights by 744's replacing A380's on QFA93/94 MEL/LAX/MEL from 5 May to 28 June. There are 12 flights by 744's replacing A380's on QFA11/12 SYD/LAX/SYD from 1 May to 25 June. Also OJI (371 seats) is on QFA 17 SYD/LAX on 28 June returning on QFA 12 on 30 June.

BAC also shows 2 x ASY Flights 10 and 11 on 12 May and 26 May from BNE to the Middle East at 16.05 returning on 14 and 28 May at 05.15 by 744's.

Then there is QFA 75/76 SYD/YVR/SYD commencing Mon, Thu, Sat on 20 June.

Talk about tight as the proverbial?? Hope nothing else goes US.

[Adam W]

I think Qantas needs to seriously consider at least some of the MH A380s that are for sale/lease.

[Dave Dale]

If they haven't taken up their own deferred A380s, I can't see them taking on someone else's. I have no doubt it will all work out nicely, even with the stretch in the fleet. Besides, if they were to look at other capacity options short term, they could always bring back a 747 from the graveyard. However I highly doubt that to occur also.

[Adrian B]

What do they have in storage verses retired, and how long would it take to bring it / them up to air worthiness?

[Emil C]

Originally Posted by Adrian B

What do they have in storage verses retired, and how long would it take to bring it / them up to air worthiness?

I believe that the 747's at Victorville are still airworthy. All have full interior with no parts removed (I think).

On the 60 Minutes story the 747's were still able to be turned on.

https://youtu.be/We7qdE4pMtk?t=10m30s

[Zac M]

I don't think theres that many left at VCV. Didn't a heap of them recently get sold and flown to Mojave for parting out?

[Emil C]

Looking on google maps from images taken in January 2015 there are:
9x Qantas 763's
5x Qantas 734's
12x Qantas 744 have gone to VCV, 7x remain, 2x scrapped and one entered service with Max Air. That means two may of gone to Mojave then?