QANTAS Fleet and Operations

[James Smith]

Thanks for your insight, Greg.

[Peter C]

Originally Posted by Greg Hyde

I believe that the 3 x B789 have not been delivered to QF.
The first flight was to VCV and into storage
Can't confirm at that Boeing testing is complete.
There has been NO customer acceptance testing
They have not been added to the VH reg.
One has an "All White" livery ( a logo jet that never happened)

I agree that no customer acceptance 'C' flights have taken place, so Boeing still 'owns' these three. However, while perhaps not registered, ZNL & ZNM have full VH registration markings ...

A fully painted VH-ZNM had a Taxi test on 16 Sep 2020 when its name "Mateship" was accidently revealed. It then completed a full B1 PAE-[MWH]-PAE flight on following day, before being flown to VCV for storage by Boeing a day later on 18 Sep.
http://www.paineairport.com/kpae18648h.htm

A fully painted VH-ZNL had a short B1 PAE-PAE flight on 12 Oct 2020, followed by a full B2 PAE-[MWH]-PAE flight two days later on 14 Oct, then on to VCV for storage by Boeing on 15 Oct.
http://www.paineairport.com/kpae18703e.htm

VH-ZNN with only a painted tail (NN on tip) and temporary reg of N1020K, had a Taxi test on 9 Nov 2020, followed by a full B1 PAE-[MWH]-PAE flight on 11 Nov, before being flown to VCV for storage by Boeing on 12 Nov.
http://www.paineairport.com/kpae18793t.htm

All three aircraft were initially parked in different areas at VCV compared to the Qantas A380s. I haven't seen any recent photos to confirm current locations.

Assuming Qantas activates customer acceptance on these three, the question then is whether with all 787 construction now at Charleston, will that acceptance still take place at Everett (PAE) ? Presumably ZNN would go to Portland first for completion of painting ?

[Brian Wilkes]

Rumour and it's just a rumour that ZNN would be in One World Livery!

[C Patters]

Do we know when ZNE will be back in service as it appears to be only a damaged engine cowling so shouldn’t be too difficult to repair?

[Peter C]

Originally Posted by Peter C

... However, while perhaps not registered, ZNL & ZNM have full VH registration markings ...

Probably should also have noted that all flights by these aircraft used callsigns BOE280, BOE281 & BOE282 for ZNL, ZNM & ZNN respectively.

[James Smith]

Rumour and it's just a rumour that ZNN would be in One World Livery!

As QANTAS had two aircraft with One World markings, the retirement of OEF reduced this to one. Having ZNN with One World markings or livery would restore to two the aircraft with these markings in the fleet.

[Rowan McKeever]

Based on Greg's and Peter's info, I'd expect to see at least one additional B flight for each before any C flights would occur, particularly given the extended storage period.

IIRC there's an arrangement in place between the US and Australia whereby aircraft built by Boeing for Australian customers do not need to wear N***** test registrations and so appear with their VH-*** straight out of final assembly (despite not being officially on the Australian register). I believe similar arrangements also exist between the US and other countries, too.

[James Smith]

QANTAS operated a return flight to Apia yesterday (OF333/QF340) with A333 VH-OPJ routing BNE-APW-SYD. The aircraft arrived last night during thunderstorms with the APW-SYD leg taking seven and a half hours, which included holding. I am not aware of the reason for the flight.

[C Patters]

Does anyone know when EBB & EBD will return to service given the current demand on both domestic & international travel?

[Peter C]

Originally Posted by C Patters

Do we know when ZNE will be back in service as it appears to be only a damaged engine cowling so shouldn’t be too difficult to repair?

ZNE is back in the air today, operating QF9 Melbourne to Darwin with a 3 hour delay (same delay as yesterday's QF9)