JQ to lease more A330's due to 787 delays

[Malcolm Parker]

Just seems as if Qantas are sick and tired on the 787 delays they will lease more A330's. No word on type and when though. More info should come through soon.



Jetstar to operate more A330s

Qantas has just announced that it will lease up to six A330 aircraft for Jetstar's international operations.

The announcement follows a revelation overnight by Boeing that its 787 program has been delayed for another six months. http://yssyforum.net/board/showthread.php?t=64

QF ceo Geoff Dixon said the carrier iwas "very disappointed that Boeing has again delayed the delivery schedule" for QF's 65 787s - the first 15 of which were earmarked for JQ's international services.

He said Qantas now expected to receive its first B787-8 15 months after its original delivery date.

"The B787-9 aircraft, which has also been ordered by the Qantas Group, will also be delayed by between 15 and 23 months," he said.

[Greg F]

These 787's are becoming a headache for the QF group......
I don't see why JQ don't remain all Airbus anyway..

[Montague S]

almost as bad as the A380 delays...that's what you get with something fresh off the chopping block.

[Michael Morrison]

So I guess JQ can do some expanding after all!

I wonder if they will still go for Europe with the 332's or stick to Asia?

[lloyd fox]

Yes Montague i agree, and i can't see why the airlines that have ordered the 787 didnt think this was a possibility.

[Michael Morrison]

The 787 delays seem a bit more serious though???

At least the A380 was able to fly when it was delayed. The 787 cant even get put together!

[Erik H. Bakke]

Originally Posted by Greg F

These 787's are becoming a headache for the QF group......
I don't see why JQ don't remain all Airbus anyway..

As good as the A330 is, the B787 will far eclipse it in most areas when it is finally flying. Therefore, the B787 still makes a lot of sense from a financial point of view when compared with the A330. What could happen, of course, is that QF/JQ would order A350s instead (and then JQ could stay an all-Airbus operator), but then they would have to wait even longer for their new generation aircraft.

Now, the delays are really bad for Boeing, but the aircraft will be flying and delivered eventually. Anyone willing to sign up as a launch customer for a new aircraft should be prepared to face delays.
You would think that airlines that were already burnt by the A380 delays would know that. They surely should not think "it's not going to be delayed, it's a Boeing after all..." because these things have happened before, they're happening now, and they will continue to happen on almost every completely new aircraft project. No matter who designs and builds it.

The hope would be that Boeing could follow what Airbus did with the A380 and use the delays to ensure a much higher maturity on entry into service than what would have been possible without the delays. However, as the aircraft is still not flying, and first flight has been pushed back nearly as much as the estimated first delivery, they are not going to get as much experience with the aircraft during test flights.