QANTAS Fleet and Operations

[MarkR]

Originally Posted by James Smith

Interesting Tristan. VH-OQB is one of the two A380s that wasn't stored in VCV and did a 2 hour 46 minute test flight from LAX on Tuesday. Could it be going to DRS for refurbishment? Likely not, based on Alan Joyce's past comments regarding the future of their A380s and only needing the six already refurnished aircraft in service initially.

Could it be that the new seats and internal fittings were ordered by QANTAS well before COVID hit and have been sitting in storage at DRS and AUH. The companies have said that they need the space and QANTAS has determined that it is more cost effective to install the already received furnishings? Or maybe the companies have offered an excellent deal to perform the refurbishments? Or lastly, as is often the case, is my thinking well off the mark?

Also VH-OQC has now been in AUH for 2 months. Another un-refurbished A380.

They are not upgrading the cabins, just doing heavy maintenance.

[MarkR]

Originally Posted by MarkR

They are not upgrading the cabins, just doing heavy maintenance.

That may have changed, 10 returning to service, two being disposed. Also working on extending range of A330-200s to fly to Lax, taking delivery of 787s and A321neo due earl FY23 for JQ

[Tom PER]

Originally Posted by MarkR

That may have changed, 10 returning to service, two being disposed. Also working on extending range of A330-200s to fly to Lax, taking delivery of 787s and A321neo due earl FY23 for JQ

QF used to fly AKL-LAX with A332’s, EBG/H/I and J, although H and I have long departed the fleet to join the RAAF, from memory it was just a minor engine software modification needed, to give the engines an additional ‘thrust bump’.