QANTAS Fleet and Operations

[Ben W]

Originally Posted by James Smith

Ben, QANTAS need a sixth A380 from 2 December, 2022 to operate QF93/94 MEL-LAX-MEL three times a week and the seventh A380 from 25 March, 2023 when QF93/94 is due to operate six days a week. The fifth aircraft will be finally deployed on SYD-LAX from 1/9/22 to operate a six times weekly service.

It is assumed that OQG will be the sixth A380 brought back to service as it is currently in maintenance in AUH. Not sure about number seven as OQC has not been refurbished during its extended stay in AUH, as far as we know, and OQI is the only refurbished A380 yet to return to service, but remains in VCV.

As to where the last three A380s will operate is yet to be announced. SYD to DFW was previously operated by A380s and would require two aircraft for a six weekly or daily service. If this happens during and by the end of 2023 the tenth A380 could be used as a spare to operate at peak times to SIN or HKG, for example during summer, or to replace an aircraft in maintenance or with an unforeseen unserviceability.

We'll see how this all pans out.

Great information James! Very interesting! Thanks

[Tristan S]

On the topic of the QF 380s.. this isnt good news for them:
https://michaelwest.com.au/wing-crac...ef-alan-joyce/

"The aircraft requiring maintenance are part of a global call-in of first generation A380 aircraft that is also expected to affect Singapore Airlines and Emirates. Each aircraft faces about 50 days out of service as engineers scour the critical “spar” infrastructure in the wing for cracks. "

[Brenden S]

VH-XMB was ferried to ASP and has now been deleted from the register. One must assume that it is being scrapped there.

[Neil Hogbin]

As I predicted a few weeks ago A380 OQA is scheduled to fly out of Victorville on Thursday 22nd September to Lax for gear swing and maintenance then onwards for refurbishment.

[James Smith]

Thanks for the information, Neil. Does your source know where OQA will be refurbished - AUH or DRS? My bet would be AUH, maybe to coincide with OQG returning to service.

[James Smith]

A332 VH-EBP operated QANTAS' first flight QF67 to Bengaluru yesterday 14/9/22, which returned as QF68 today.

Also, A333 VH-OPB operated QF25 from SYD to HND on 12/9/22, which returned today as QF26, with QANTAS resuming services to Tokyo.

[Dennis McLean]

Does anyone know why OQJ has been in SYD since 31 August??

[James Smith]

Dennis, QANTAS received its fifth operational A380 in early August from maintenance in AUH and the timetable showed that QF11/12 would be operated on a six day per week basis from 11 August, 2022. Since then the operation with the A380 on this route has been three days per week or less, which means that QANTAS only needs four A380s - three for QF1/2 and one for QF11/12.

Therefore a serviceable A380 spends time out in either SYD or LAX. It looks as though six day per week services on QF11/12 are now due to resume on 30 October, 2022 at the start of the NW schedules.

[C Patters]

Rather than the spare A380 sitting in Sydney doing nothing why not deploy on the MEL-LAX route given the demand is there for it?

[MarkR]

Lack of crew, having a spare doesn’t require more crew but gives upside in unexpected outcomes