Qantas Freight - Atlas or...?

Rowan McKeever · #1 7th March 2013, 08:27 AM

The SMH is running a story this morning about QF considering options to replace the current Atlas Air 747 wet lease. Along with renewing the wet lease and wet leasing from another operator, the article mentions QF might be considering buying used B744F from Boeing. I wonder, with the QF pax fleet being drawn down significantly this year, why they wouldn't look into converting some of their own airframes like they did with the B737Fs?

Cheers
Rowan

Kent Broadhead · #2 7th March 2013, 11:02 AM

There are a bunch of 744Fs, as well as conversions, in the desert. recommissioning one of these would prob be the most cost effective.

Stuart Trevena · #3 7th March 2013, 01:32 PM

Hi,

Any chance of QF getting a B748F to offset delays to B787 Dreamliners??

Stuart

Stuart Trevena · #4 7th March 2013, 01:36 PM

Hi,

Any chance that QF will get B748 or even a B777-300F ex boeing to offset the delays with B787 Dreamliner??

Stuart

Rowan McKeever · #5 7th March 2013, 02:04 PM

Thanks Kent, didn't realise there were -400F stored around the place.

Stuart there's no B777-300F, only the B777F which is a -200LR derivative. Presumably the idea of buying -400F is that they may be fully depreciated and require very little conversion training for the crew and no proving to CASA.

Steve S... 2 · #6 7th March 2013, 03:02 PM

Any chance that QF will order 20 x 747-8's - to get rid of the A3Uglies?

Please please.

Kent Broadhead · #7 7th March 2013, 06:57 PM

No worries Rowan - just I saw this pic the other day and felt really old seeing 744s in storage http://www.airliners.net/photo//2234...750bd4cb24e16b

Tom PER · #8 7th March 2013, 08:36 PM

The factory B744F's are far superior payload and performance wise to the BCF/SF's which are formerly passenger aircraft converted.

The converted ones have limitations that the factory ones don't.

Plenty of GE engined B744F's out there looking for new homes.

Rowan McKeever · #9 8th March 2013, 11:29 AM

Pretty sad photo that

Cheers Tom, also didn't realise the limitations etc issue was there. Makes sense though!

D Chan · #10 12th March 2013, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom Barber

The factory B744F's are far superior payload and performance wise to the BCF/SF's which are formerly passenger aircraft converted.

The converted ones have limitations that the factory ones don't.

Plenty of GE engined B744F's out there looking for new homes.

that's a good point in fact Cathay are getting rid of their BCFs...