Yep, 20hr test flight reduced by 4hours.

A side trip two-thirds of the way to PER and back will take the total flight time for ZNL close to the 20 hour mark.

I thought that the flight would head west from PAE towards Japan and then south to Australian, but heading west from southern NSW has resulted in the added time being flown in Australian airspace which is a logical and less costly solution. Now ZNL is due to land in less than an hour.

Anyone have news/updates on the next A380 return to service?

I wonder if Qantas will put back the 717 retirements given the issue with the A220 engines
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets...wTw/edit#gid=0

Credit to twitter on the spreadsheet https://twitter.com/FlyingFan1/statu...92226350641152

I think you might find a few ex-JQ A320s in QFLink colours running around then until the engine on the A220 is......well redesigned?

https://www.qantasnewsroom.com.au/me...ng-new-routes/
A few interesting changes.
BNE-HIR and BNE-WLG operated on the E190
Leasing of 2x Finnair A330s.

Interesting...

The fine print has:
The Finnair A330 aircraft will operate selected Qantas flights between Sydney and Singapore from late October .... flights will be operated by Finnair pilots and cabin crew


Then

From late 2025, two Finnair A330s will be dry leased, operating for up to three years with Qantas pilots and cabin crew, creating new jobs and further promotional opportunities within Qantas.

I guess through that period they'll train up additional 330 crews.

No mention of EBD's RTS though

EBD is currently in the Brisbane hanger & should return to service after heavy maintenance has been completed

VH-NXJ departed Canberra this morning bound for Alice Springs, Darwin and onward enroute stops bound to join YQV in Victorville presumably. NXR has also been on the ground in Canberra for some time now, expect that will follow

Flight no SXI2332

Next stop Darwin

https://flightaware.com/live/flight/SXI2332/

EBD RTS will be late this year post maintenance check.

Does anyone know what’s wrong with OQL?

Reported elsewhere as "QF128 stuck in HK with a faulty generator."

Thanks Peter!

Stuck in Chitose, Japan since Tuesday.

Clearance or Tech or .... ?

Read elsewhere that it was stuck in Nagoya due to a spoiler control unit fault, perhaps this resurfaced after the subsequent flight.

QANTAS PREPARES TO FAREWELL BOEING 717; WELCOMES MORE NEW AIRCRAFT

Published on 29th May 2023 at 11:34

First Boeing 717 registered in Australia to leave Qantas fleet in June

New Qantas and Jetstar aircraft commence flying as part of significant fleet investment

The next generation aircraft have lower emissions, longer range, less noise and better economics

Qantas will mark the end of an era with the departure of one of its Boeing 717 jets, the first of its type to be registered and flown in Australia.

The departing 717 (registration VH-NXI) holds a special place in the Qantas Group’s
modern history, having operated Jetstar’s first flight between Melbourne and Launceston on the day the airline started flying in May 2004.

The aircraft has also flown on regional and domestic routes for QantasLink for the past 15 years. All up, it has completed more than 29,000 flights and safely carried more than 1.6 million customers for both Qantas and Jetstar over two decades.

Named Blue Mountains after the world-heritage listed national park in New South Wales, the aircraft is due to depart Australia in mid-June ahead of being sold to another major carrier. It is the third of the airline’s 717s to leave the fleet and its range limits mean the journey to its new owner in North America will involve eight fuel stops, including Cebu, Sapporo and Anchorage.

All of QantasLink’s 20 Boeing 717s will be gradually replaced by 29 fuel efficient Airbus A220 aircraft as part of the “Project Winton” fleet renewal program. The first A220 aircraft is due to arrive later this year and the first of 20 A321XLRs will arrive in late 2024.

Fleet Renewal

The departing 717 was flanked at Sydney Airport today by two new arrivals in the fleet – a Boeing 787 Dreamliner and a Jetstar A321neo LR.

The next generation aircraft are part of a significant investment in fleet renewal that will see the Group take delivery of a new aircraft every three weeks on average for the next few years. The incoming aircraft will help Qantas and Jetstar restore capacity and expand their network while lowering emissions and improving efficiency.

Qantas’ latest Boeing 787 Dreamliner, Billabong, started flying on the airline’s
international network this month, with another two Dreamliners to be delivered over the next three weeks. These additional aircraft enabled the resumption of Sydney-San Francisco flights and will support the launch of the Sydney to New York via Auckland route next month. This will bring Qantas’ 787-9 fleet to 14.

Jetstar also this month welcomed its seventh Airbus A321neo LR aircraft, which are 50 per cent quieter than the older A321s they replace and burn up to 20 per cent less fuel. They are operating domestic services and flying between Australia and Bali. The airline will receive another 11 A321neo LR aircraft by the end of 2024.

Through a combination of new arrivals and standby aircraft returning to service, the Qantas Group has returned to around 100 per cent of pre-COVID domestic flying levels and expects to restore 100 per cent of international flying by March 2024.

CEO COMMENTS

Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce joined pilots and crew at Sydney Airport to farewell the 717 and welcome the new aircraft into the fleet.

“It’s the end of an era for these Boeing 717s which have played a crucial role in connecting Australians across our domestic and regional network for more than two decades,” Mr Joyce said.

“It’s fitting that the very first 717 to be registered in this country is making way for another brand-new fleet type, the A220, which can operate double the range of the 717s opening up new domestic and short-haul international routes.
“Qantas is in the early stages of the biggest fleet renewal program in its history, with up to 299 narrowbody aircraft spread over 10-plus years as well as the A350s that will operate our Project Sunrise flights. It’s an incredibly exciting time for our employees as well as our customers as these new aircraft create more opportunities and unlock new destinations.
“We’ve already taken delivery of four new aircraft this year and we’re on track to receive another eight before the end of the year.
“The new aircraft we’re receiving are much more capable than the aircraft they’re replacing. They can fly further while being much quieter and more efficient and providing a great experience for our passengers.”
Blue Mountains Boeing 717 – operations in Australia:
2000 – First registered in Australia as VH-IMP. Operated first commercial flight for Impulse Airlines.
2001 – 2004 – Transferred to operate QantasLink flights.
2004 – 2005 – Operated for Jetstar.
2006 – 2023 – Operated for QantasLink, registered as VH-NXI.
A220s vs 717s
Seats – 25 per cent more. 137 to 110.
Range – 100 per cent further.
Fuel burn – 28 per cent lower per seat.

Hmmmm A220 with all them engine problems:eek:

Looks like they are headed to Delta.

I expect that the QQ E190s are the backup plan.

100% agree!

Delta has added 8 x B717-200's ex. Volotea Airlines to the US register over the last couple of weeks

One of the quandaries I have had is why QANTAS is reinstating A380 services on QF93/94 MEL-LAX-MEL for only two weeks from 15/6/23 to 1/7/23. This will be on alternate days for a very short time in a non-holiday period involving just the one aircraft. A380 services are only scheduled to commence from MEL on a more permanent basis with two services per week from 29/10/23.

It looks as though it is to release a B789 to commence either JFK or FCO services from 14 and 17/6/23 respectively, until ZNN's scheduled delivery on 28/6/23.

Also, A380 services on SYD-HKG-SYD only run to 5/6/23 ex SYD, which leaves OQL or a refurbished A380 to operate from MEL. This begs the question of whether OQL will return to AUH for refurbishment and another A380 return to service shortly ex AUH.

OQA and OQC have been in AUH for a while, OQI only a couple of months. I'd expect A or C to return to service soon.

A & C need the new cabin and possibly more work, OQI was in Dresden prior to storage for 6 months and I suspect doesn’t need spar work

Possibly. OQC has been in AUH since June 2021, which seems a really long time, OQA since last November - still 6 months. OQI arrived in February.

One the move again, currently in Anchorage AK, should be all downhill from here.

A330 fleet to be sold later this year.

https://www.smh.com.au/business/comp...05-p5ddve.html

What isn't clear to me is whether this is sale and RFS or sale and leaseback. I expect the latter, especially given the Finnair A330 lease deal.

I think its more by the end of 2023 Qantas will decide what aircraft type will replace the A330's as that replacement aircraft will still be a few years away with production slots filling up quickly & not likely to be for a few years

Here's my 2 cents worth. They should get either A350's or 777s to replace the 787's on the routes they are currently operating on as they are too small for those routes and are constantly full. These were ordered as 747 replacements, surely they should be looking to use something bigger on those routes rather than something which has less than half the capacity.
They could then reconfigure the 787 cabins and use them as an A330 replacement.

What about trading the frames with Airbus for MRTT stock and upgrading to A330neos.

I would suggest if they have a scheduled sale date the decision has been made.

Airbus would need some MRTT orders first, hasn’t been any for a while.

Might be good to find a similar or like for like and order a replacement first:rolleyes:

NATO ordered an additional a/c in 23 March 2023

https://www.airbus.com/en/newsroom/p...al-airbus-a330

possibly the replacements contenders could be A330 NEO . A350 , or more 787

I suspect if the B787IGW was close it would be a strong contender.

So the ET article has been updated, QF are not planning on selling off the 330s, just that they will make a decision on its replacement by the end of the year.

https://www.executivetraveller.com/n...as-airbus-a330

An earlier version of this article quoted a report in The Australian that Qantas intended to sell off its Airbus A330s; that report in The Australian was in error, and this article has been revised and updated accordingly.

Don't forget QF has many options still left for the 787 fleet. 788,789,78X
Questions for the brains trust.
Cost/Pax/Range/Freight A330-800/900 vs A350 vs B787
Which one suits the current market best, and what markets are in the future?

NXJ is scheduled to complete its ferry VCV after an extended stay in ANC