QF Announce B763 Upgrade

[Kurt A]

Qantas accelerates refresh of B767 fleet

BRISBANE, 1 November 2011: Qantas has today announced it will fast track the refurbishment of 16 Boeing 767 (B767) aircraft with new interiors and individual in-flight entertainment as part of wider investment in the domestic customer experience.

Qantas Domestic Chief Executive Officer Lyell Strambi said “We have fast tracked this project to improve the flying experience on these 16 aircraft. The works on each aircraft take approximately two weeks to be completed and will be done in our Brisbane maintenance facilities.

Qantas’ wide-bodied domestic fleet is made up of B767s and Airbus A330s. A new A330 will be delivered to Qantas domestic fleet in November and progressively our fleet of A330s will grow until the eventual retirement of all domestic B767s by mid-2015.

Issued by Qantas Corporate Communication (Q5466)

[Steve S... 2]

That is great news! Love the new interior style.

What I do not understand is why an airline operates worn out 22 year old 763's and waited to spend a fortune to refurbish them just as retirement is pending.

I know the 787's situation played a part but still...

[Stuart Trevena]

Hi Steve S,

I was thinking the same thing!!
Why waste the money on Refurbs to last only a few years, when they should just retire the B763's on a one for one basis now with new A330's.

Stuart

[Kelvin R]

I wonder who is actually paying for this? Is it QF or is this being funded by Boeing as part of the 787 delays?

I have been on the ANA refurbished 767 and they are a nice aircraft but I guess the QF refurb isn't to the same level as ANA?

[Dave Dale]

Originally Posted by Stuart Trevena

Hi Steve S,

I was thinking the same thing!!
Why waste the money on Refurbs to last only a few years, when they should just retire the B763's on a one for one basis now with new A330's.

Stuart

Stuart, I am thinking that $20 million is small money in the grand scheme of things, especially spread over 16 aircraft. It is only $1.25 million per aircraft and if they are retired in 2015, they will probably get their money back a few times over. I am thinking however, based on past past 787 hiccups, and especially the latest news about United's 787's running later than expected, it may mean the A330's might remain in Jetstar slightly longer. Therefore, the younger 767's might be around past 2015...

Dave

[Ash W]

Originally Posted by Kelvin R

I have been on the ANA refurbished 767 and they are a nice aircraft but I guess the QF refurb isn't to the same level as ANA?

Correct. The Qantas upgrade is basically new seat covers and the installation of the WiFi IFE system, so basically the soft coverings only. ANA included hard items like the bins etc.

So don't really think the cost of the Qantas upgrade is too much but maybe could have been done a few years back!

[Rowan McKeever]

I understood that the ANA 767s with the 777-style interior were all new build & not refurbs. Didn't think they'd done any refurbs on their earlier aircraft?

[J Brown]

Does anybody know which 767's have been upgraded thus far?

[Zac M]

Pretty sure don't take this as a certainty:
OGG, OGI, OGM, OGQ, OGR OGS, OGV with OGJ in fitting

[Alex Lui]

I am pretty sure OGG hasn't had the upgrade yet. I took it in October last year and it hadn't been upgraded as yet, still the current interior and a very bad tv screen!!