ZNN (to be) ferried from VCV-PAE yesterday as BOE282.

Note: this was to be a logo jet

Payne Field Blog notes the arrival but only displays a pic of its departure for VCV back on 12 Nov 2020 2020 image

Here's a photo of VH-ZNN arriving at PAE on 13oct22:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/thegre...s/52425898406/

Troubles with B789 VH-ZNA &/or crew timings ?

After diverting to Brisbane with QF8 DFW_SYD Tuesday morning, VH-ZNA completed the route to Sydney. The aircraft then positioned to Melbourne where it underwent some maintenance procedures, before taking a delayed QF9 to Perth. A day later it is now returning to Melbourne with QF10 at 29000' rather than the usual 40000'.

Edit : B789 VH-ZNC having operated Thursday's QF9 MEL-PER sector is now taking the 24hr delayed Wednesday QF9 on to London as QF7009. Meanwhile B789 VH-ZNG which operated the LHR-PER sector of QF10 completed to Melbourne by VH-ZNA, was supposed to turn around and operate Wednesday's QF9 PER-LHR sector 2 hours behind VH-ZNC. This flight has now been delayed until at least 10:45 AWST Thursday

VH-ZNA is currently SW of Hawaii on its way to LAX from MEL. It would be interesting to know whether there is an issue, but there's nothing in the flights themselves that says anything obvious.

My FIL was on QF8 the day after the diversion to BNE, and we assumed it had been headwind related. His flight the day after on ZNK was unremarkable apart from an hour or so delay out of DFW.

Interesting flight path for B789 VH-ZNI returning from Heavy Maintenance at Singapore to Sydney earlier today ... QF6016 flight path

The flight ended in Perth, with ZNI taking the 2nd 26+ hour delayed QF9 to LHR as QF7009, 105 minutes behind today's QF9 (B789 VH-ZNH).

Begs the question as to what has happened to VH-ZNG which arrived in Perth with QF10 more or less on time on Wednesday morning.

Looks like QF have removed all planned additional A380 flying (MEL-LAX) and as a result trimmed other 787 frequencies to cover:

https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/221020-qfns23intl

Anyone know what's going on with the lack of A380 fleet?

Brad, it is an ongoing issue with the resumption of QANTAS A380 services being put back. QF11/12 was due to increase A380 frequencies from 3 to 6 pw from August, which has been put back to December, 2022. QF93/94 was due to be operated by A380s 3 pw from 2/12/22 and 6 pw from 25/3/23 which has now been shelved.

QANTAS has four A380s currently operating (OQB, OQD, OQH, OQK) - three for QF1/2 daily and one for QF11/12 two or three times per week. OQJ would have increased this to five to operate the increased A380 QF11/12 flights but after resuming flying in June has been in maintenance in SYD since 31/8/22. OQG has been in maintenance in AUH since 30/7/22 and it was presumed that when these two A380s resumed flying the increased A380 services from December would be achieved with the six aircraft. The next A380, possibly OQA, would have had maintenance and refurbishment in time to operate the increased QF93/94 services from late March, 2023.

But this schedule has now been put back for reasons unknown. Is the maintenance work required on the A380s taking longer than planned? Is there a tech crew shortage to fly them? Do forward bookings not justify the increase in seats deployed? This last question does not seem to be true with other airlines on North American services increasing flights - United, Delta and Air Canada, with American returning at the end on this month. Or some other reason or reasons.

It would be very interesting to hear from someone in the know as to what is delaying the return of previously planned A380 services.

The A380s are required to undergo checks on their wing spars per an EASA airworthiness directive, which is what's happening to OQJ now. Others that are in service currently (not sure whether all four, but I would assume so given timings) will require this same check in turn after OQJ.

https://services.casa.gov.au/airwort...022-0174R1.pdf

Thanks very much for the information, Rowan.

Do you know how long the inspections should take per aircraft and whether any of the other QANTAS A380s are currently having these inspections done at other locations? Such as OQC and OQG in AUH or OQA in LAX?