QANTAS Fleet and Operations

[James Smith]

OQA is flying to LHR as QF6023 and is due to depart LAX at this time.

[Ben W]

Originally Posted by James Smith

OQA is flying to LHR as QF6023 and is due to depart LAX at this time.

Odd that it's heading to LHR? It wouldn't be going straight into service as QF2 would it? Don't believe it has been refurbished yet?

[James Smith]

OQA is still to be refurbished, along with OQC and OQL according to my records and confirmed by the A380 seat maps information on their website. This usually takes at least 2 months and OQA has only been in LAX for a little less than 2 months. So, I doubt that OQA has been refurbished in LAX, as no other QF A380s have and I think that it would be far cheaper to take the aircraft to the new interior to be installed than taking the new interior to the aircraft. Australian Aviation has been saying on many occasions and as recently as their latest issue that OQA is being refurbished in LAX, but I have always doubted this as only DRS and AUH have been used up to now. The time in LAX looks more to be the time taken (50 days) for the wing spar inspections.

The question of why OQA is going to LHR. I doubt it is to operate QF2 back to SYD as there is currently an A380, OQD heading for LHR as QF1, unless they swap over in LHR and OQD goes to DRS or AUH for maintenance, wing spar inspections perhaps. But, QANTAS hasn't operated un-refurbished A380s on passenger flights for some time now. The LHR diversion could be for some other reason, crew related perhaps and OQA will just continue to either DRS or AUH for refurbishment. We shall see.

[Zac M]

OQA will be continuing to AUH


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[James Smith]

Thanks Zac. That clears that up. Do you know what work was carried out on OQA in LAX?

[Peter C]

VH-OQL fired up on FlightRadar24 at 11:07 on 17th at VCV for a 0 minute flight as QF16 ?!!

[James Smith]

Yes Peter, with the blip we are thinking that OQL will replace OQA at the QANTAS maintenance facility at LAX in the next few days.

[C Patters]

I presume OQG will be returning to service soon after being in AUH for maintenance?

[James Smith]

One would hope so, but OQG may return to SYD and replace OQK having its wing spar inspections done, if they have not been done while in AUH. OQK should have these inspections completed by around 10/12/22.

[Tristan S]

Pillaged from another forum.

VH-OQA: wing spar check complete; correction from earlier, I believe it has not had refurbishment yet, but is transiting through LHR to DRS or AUH for refurbishment.
VH-OQB: in service; wing spar check not yet completed
VH-OQC: wing spar check not completed; in AUH for refurbishment at present
VH-OQD: in service; wing spar check not yet completed
VH-OQE: storage in VCV
VH-OQF: scrapped at VCV
VH-OQG: wing spar check not completed; in AUH for refurbishment at present
VH-OQH: in service; wing spar check not yet completed
VH-OQI: storage in VCV
VH-OQJ: in service; wing spar check completed Sept/Oct.
VH-OQK: currently in maintenance receiving wing spar check in SYD.
VH-OQL: will position from VCV to LAX in coming days for maintenance (including wing spar)