QANTASpower From Australia, joined Aug 2002, 516 posts, RR: 7 Posted (7 years 4 months 2 weeks 6 days 12 hours ago) and read 2448 times:
It seem the days are now numbered for QF's 6 x 747-300's. With only 5 now operational it is hard to see them being kept given the A330-300's are now taking over the Mumbai flights and also beginning to take over the Sydney - Tokyo flights. (a big suprise given cut in capacity)
It would seem they will now be used for only 3 Sydney - Honolulu flights and 4 weekly Sydney - Tokyo flights.
Maybe enough flying for 2 of these old birds.
Why on earth they just spent millions installing new interiors and IFE we will never know.
It must only be a matter of time before they are scrapped.
AussiepridE From Australia, joined Dec 2005, 9 posts, RR: 0 Reply 1, posted (7 years 4 months 2 weeks 6 days 11 hours ago) and read 2394 times:
It does seem like a waste, unless they want to start new routes with the 743's for some reason???
Could Qantas give the 743's to AO or even JQ for a short time?
Kiwiandrew From New Zealand, joined Jun 2005, 8435 posts, RR: 15 Reply 2, posted (7 years 4 months 2 weeks 6 days 11 hours ago) and read 2352 times:
they are lovely old aircraft , but everything has a lifespan and these a/c have had a good life , some of them date from 1984 , and yes , with a bit of care their working life could be stretched a bit more ( however maintenance is one area where QF are looking to make savings and hanging on to a small fleet of ageing aircraft is not maintenance efficient ) , and , just as importantly , they are the only a/c in the QF fleet which still require FE's - how big a pool of FE's does QF have ( does anyone know??) ... in short the 743 is an ageing a/c with higher crewing costs - I would imagine they would be some of the first a/c QF would wish to dump when they start receiving additional a/c
Quoting AussiepridE (Reply 1): It does seem like a waste, unless they want to start new routes with the 743's for some reason???
Could Qantas give the 743's to AO or even JQ for a short time?
as above - 743 are high maintenance a/c with high crewing cost - why would AO and JQ want them - they are meant to be keeping their costs below QF mainline so that they can tackle routes that QF can't effectively compete on .
it was sad when QF retired their last 707 back in 1979 , and sad when they retired their last 742 and SP a couple of years back , and it will be sad when the 743s retire ..... but when it is time to go , it's time to go ........ and IMHO the time has well and truly come .
Moderation in all things ... including moderation ;-)
Ken4556 From United States of America, joined Jun 1999, 169 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (7 years 4 months 2 weeks 6 days 8 hours ago) and read 2184 times:
QF recentaly upgraded them with new interiors and IFE, so they must be planning to hang on to them for while yet.
ANstar From Netherlands, joined Nov 2003, 4845 posts, RR: 6 Reply 4, posted (7 years 4 months 2 weeks 6 days 8 hours ago) and read 2170 times:
Quoting Ken4556 (Reply 3): QF recentaly upgraded them with new interiors and IFE, so they must be planning to hang on to them for while yet.
That may have been their plan, but they aren;t afraid of changing strategy if something isn;t working out. As has been mentioned, the high fuel, staffing & maintenance costs of these birds, probably outweigh the fact they are fully depreciated. As a few more A333's have come online, the 743's have been reduced further.
Does anyone know if QF have more A33's to be dleivered or is this now it?
Qantaspower From Australia, joined Aug 2002, 516 posts, RR: 7 Reply 5, posted (7 years 4 months 2 weeks 6 days 1 hour ago) and read 1986 times:
ANstar,
QF now have all 10 x 333's and no more are on firm order. I doubt any more will come given the 787 order just announced. They may have a need to hang on to 2 or 3 of the 743's.
Ikramerica From United States of America, joined May 2005, 21027 posts, RR: 60 Reply 6, posted (7 years 4 months 2 weeks 6 days ago) and read 1953 times:
also, they are 4 engine aircraft, still valuable to QF on certain routes, right?
Of all the things to worry about... the Wookie has no pants.
Ken777 From United States of America, joined Mar 2004, 7442 posts, RR: 5 Reply 8, posted (7 years 4 months 2 weeks 5 days 23 hours ago) and read 1837 times:
I think QF will have the same problem with the 743s as they did with the SPs. They have maintained them very well and will want a reasonable price for them - more than a 743 that has not been maintained to the same standard. At some point they will go (hopefully to be replaced with 748i's) and the 744s will be the oldest in the fleet.
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