ku747 From Kuwait, joined Mar 2008, 368 posts, RR: 0 Posted (1 year 5 months 1 day 11 hours ago) and read 6546 times:
I searched but no luck.
According to airfleets.net 2 EK A332 A6-EAB and A6-EAC were stored for a while and sold or leased to Virgin Blue/Virgin Australia VH-XFA and VH-XFB back in March and May 2011.
Can anyone confirm, and why EK sold those aircrafts? if they were really sold.
There are 772 in EK fleet and they are the oldest in the fleet, EK sold A332 and not a single 772 was sold according to airfleets.net. assuming if the information is accurate in this site.
qf002 From Australia, joined Jul 2011, 2559 posts, RR: 1 Reply 5, posted (1 year 5 months 1 day 10 hours ago) and read 6277 times:
Quoting ku747 (Reply 4): My question is why they were sold?
I'm not certain, but can think of a number of possibilities:
1. EK lease was up and so it was an opportunity for them to start reducing their fleet numbers by not signing a renewal.
2. VA approached with a good offer, so it was decided to accept based on fleet plans (the airlines were still partners at the time of ordering).
The 772 is significantly more valuable than the A332 to EK at this point. Not only are they much larger, but they have far superior seats and IFE (all fitted with ICE compared with the ancient A330/A343 system). To retrofit the entire A330/A340 fleet would cost EK an arm and a leg -- not worth it. So these birds were always going to go before the 772's (at least IMO).
KU747 From Kuwait, joined Mar 2008, 368 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (1 year 5 months 1 day 8 hours ago) and read 5978 times:
Quoting qf002 (Reply 5): The 772 is significantly more valuable than the A332 to EK at this point. Not only are they much larger, but they have far superior seats and IFE (all fitted with ICE compared with the ancient A330/A343 system). To retrofit the entire A330/A340 fleet would cost EK an arm and a leg -- not worth it. So these birds were always going to go before the 772's (at least IMO).
PM From India, joined Feb 2005, 6717 posts, RR: 65 Reply 8, posted (1 year 5 months 1 day 8 hours ago) and read 5916 times:
Quoting ku747 (Reply 4): There are 772 in EK fleet and they are the oldest in the fleet, EK sold A332 and not a single 772
Quoting qf002 (Reply 5): I'm not certain, but can think of a number of possibilities:
Quoting qf002 (Reply 5): The 772 is significantly more valuable than the A332 to EK at this point.
I'm just guessing but I'd suggest almost the opposite. It has been widely rumoured that CX and EK have had their 777-200s on the market for a couple of years but no-one wants them. EK have an orphaned fleet of just three 777-200s (and six 777-200ERs). The 777-200s have very limited appeal to anyone whereas A330-200s are in high demand.
Quoting EK413 (Reply 1): and will lease another 2 new builds...
I disagree about the demand of the A330's. At least passengers don't want it. I fly very frequently between JFK and HYD in EK F, and on the DXB-HYD sector, they usually have the disgusting, old, boring A330's on all 3 daily flights, but every once in a while, it's a 772, which are much more advanced with the flat bed F seats. I would choose a 772 over the 330/340-300 of EK any day, if it was available.
NCFC99 From United Kingdom, joined May 2005, 643 posts, RR: 0 Reply 10, posted (1 year 5 months 1 day 3 hours ago) and read 5313 times:
Quoting emirates202 (Reply 9): I disagree about the demand of the A330's. At least passengers don't want it. I fly very frequently between JFK and HYD in EK F, and on the DXB-HYD sector, they usually have the disgusting, old, boring A330's on all 3 daily flights, but every once in a while, it's a 772, which are much more advanced with the flat bed F seats. I would choose a 772 over the 330/340-300 of EK any day, if it was available.
I think that PM is refering to demand from airlines for 332 frames rather thatn 772 frames. 330's are in greater demand than 772 at this time, new or secondhand. The interior of each frame is totally dependant on the airline. The 332's could be fitted with a comparable product if EK wanted to.
Viscount724 From Switzerland, joined Oct 2006, 21505 posts, RR: 24 Reply 11, posted (1 year 5 months 1 day 3 hours ago) and read 5262 times:
Quoting qf002 (Reply 5): The 772 is significantly more valuable than the A332 to EK at this point. Not only are they much larger, but they have far superior seats and IFE
As far as the seats are concerned, I think 99% of passengers would prefer the relatively spacious 8-abreast A330 seats to the cramped 10-abreast EK 777s. It's business class where EK A332s (and A343s) are well below standard with 7-abreast (2-3-2), the only major carrier I can think of with more than 6-abreast in business class on an A330/340.
PM From India, joined Feb 2005, 6717 posts, RR: 65 Reply 12, posted (1 year 5 months 16 hours ago) and read 2314 times:
Quoting emirates202 (Reply 9): I disagree about the demand of the A330's. At least passengers don't want it. I would choose a 772 over the 330/340-300 of EK any day, if it was available.
Quoting NCFC99 (Reply 10): I think that PM is refering to demand from airlines for 332 frames rather thatn 772 frames.
Oui!
Quoting NCFC99 (Reply 10): The interior of each frame is totally dependant on the airline.
Oui!
Quoting Viscount724 (Reply 11): As far as the seats are concerned, I think 99% of passengers would prefer the relatively spacious 8-abreast A330 seats to the cramped 10-abreast EK 777s.
Zut alors! OUI!
Quoting Viscount724 (Reply 11): It's business class where EK A332s (and A343s) are well below standard with 7-abreast (2-3-2), the only major carrier I can think of with more than 6-abreast in business class on an A330/340.
Wow, I had no idea. That would certainly put me off.
qf002 From Australia, joined Jul 2011, 2559 posts, RR: 1 Reply 14, posted (1 year 5 months 12 hours ago) and read 1390 times:
Quoting PM (Reply 8): I'm just guessing but I'd suggest almost the opposite. It has been widely rumoured that CX and EK have had their 777-200s on the market for a couple of years but no-one wants them. EK have an orphaned fleet of just three 777-200s (and six 777-200ERs). The 777-200s have very limited appeal to anyone whereas A330-200s are in high demand.
Perhaps if this is the case then EK is simply looking for 'small' aircraft that they can offload now then? They can't get their 772's sold but need to retire a few of their 'smaller' planes so jump at the opportunity to do so?
Selling A332's now (at the peak of the demand) will be far more favourable for EK than waiting two years. Maybe they are capitalising on this demand to limit the cost of retiring their A330's?
Quoting Viscount724 (Reply 11): As far as the seats are concerned, I think 99% of passengers would prefer the relatively spacious 8-abreast A330 seats to the cramped 10-abreast EK 777s. It's business class where EK A332s (and A343s) are well below standard with 7-abreast (2-3-2), the only major carrier I can think of with more than 6-abreast in business class on an A330/340.
Sure, but the seats are ancient and have really been left behind in the massive 777 refits that have been happening. I'm sure that if EK was serious about retaining these planes, new Weber seats and ICE would have been installed in them years ago. Most passengers don't look past the age of the seats/IFE.
And I agree that J is disgraceful! The only other airline I can think of is JQ, but that's to be expected.
Sponsor Message: 
From Kuwait, joined Mar 2008, 368 posts, 
From Australia, joined Nov 2003, 3922 posts, 
From Greece, joined Sep 2000, 4414 posts, 
From India, joined Feb 2005, 6717 posts, 
From United States of America, joined Nov 2011, 237 posts, 
From United Kingdom, joined May 2005, 643 posts, 
From Switzerland, joined Oct 2006, 21505 posts, 
From Belgium, joined Jun 2001, 2360 posts, 
Printer friendly format 
