spiplane From UK - England, joined Jan 2005, 102 posts, RR: 0 Posted (8 months 2 days 20 hours ago) and read 14090 times:
Was taking departure photos this morning at Manchester Airport and caught Cathay Pacific passenger 744 B-HUD taking off. Looked like it was going West, at least initially. As Cathay only has cargo flights to MAN, anyone knows what this passenger plane was doing here? Diversion from LHR?
Carfield From United States of America, joined Dec 2003, 1727 posts, RR: 9 Reply 10, posted (8 months 1 day 9 hours ago) and read 5999 times:
Oh no... I did not get to fly it before it is scraped...
I guess I can never claim flying every CX passenger 747-400... lol... I am missing B-HUD and B-HKV on my list.
ncfc99 From United Kingdom, joined May 2005, 643 posts, RR: 0 Reply 17, posted (7 months 4 weeks 1 day 13 hours ago) and read 4738 times:
I'm very surprised CX is retiring a sub 20 year old 744. I just assumed they'd keep them for a few more years, or sell it on to another operator/conversion.
gegarrenton From United States of America, joined Aug 2012, 77 posts, RR: 0 Reply 18, posted (7 months 4 weeks 1 day 13 hours ago) and read 4729 times:
Given the cost of a D check, I am not that surprised.
CX Flyboy From Hong Kong, joined Dec 1999, 6341 posts, RR: 56 Reply 19, posted (7 months 4 weeks 1 day 13 hours ago) and read 4701 times:
The 744 in CX operation needs around 90% load factor to make money because of the fuel prices. This has been discussed in other threads. Given the costs of a D check and engine overhaul costs, retirement is the only reasonable option. We have 9 777-300ERs being delivered in 2013 and a cut back in our longhaul schedule for winter 12/13. This is allowing several 744s to be retired. Our passenger 744fleet will be halved by the end of next year!
zeke From Hong Kong, joined Dec 2006, 7725 posts, RR: 73 Reply 22, posted (7 months 4 weeks 1 day 8 hours ago) and read 4512 times:
Quoting gegarrenton (Reply 21):
I know it's progress and the 77W's are moneymakers, but damn it's a bummer to see such iconic planes headed for the bin.
I think it is safe to say they paid themselves off, and then some. The earlier plan was to convert all of them to BCFs, they did not turn out as good as the brochure. So the options are, give the aircraft away to your competitors for X, or sell them for scrap and parts which is worth more than X and does not leave your seat product in the hands of your competitors.
The positive out of this should be more parts available for the existing 744 fleet in other airlines to keep them economical for longer.
We are addicted to our thoughts. We cannot change anything if we cannot change our thinking – Santosh Kalwar
zkojq From New Zealand, joined Sep 2011, 778 posts, RR: 1 Reply 24, posted (7 months 4 weeks 1 day 5 hours ago) and read 4417 times:
Does anyone know how many hours/cycles B-HUD had done when she reached retirement? It would be interesting to compare it to Lufthansa's first 747-400 (D-ABVA) which was scrapped last year.
[Edited 2012-09-25 21:23:20]
Flare......Flare...FLARE!!!!
25 lukeyboy95: Yes, very sad to see this fall from grace. It is a shame the JumboHostel lot at ARN are not looking to expand their product across some more airports
26 gegarrenton: Certainly agree, just lamenting. Do you guys keep much hardware or just turn these birds over as-is?
27 B-HOP: What time would B-HOT leave HK this Sat?
28 EVAAIRBR076: Why airline companies sometimes choose for Victorville, Mojave, Kemble etc. Ofcourse it must have something to do with the prices, but is the differen
29 GCPET: Sad to see another 744 being scrapped especially a Cathay one! They look so elegant... And I've got the ITVV video of the Cathay 747-400 with Don Gran
30 gdg9: Probably a combination of the cost of ferrying the aircraft as well as how much each scrapyard is willing to pay.
31 CX747: It is indeed an unusual sight to see a CX 747-400 heading off into retirement. One of the first books I ever read regarding aviation eagerly anticipat
32 spiplane: I guess that answered my question and more. Thought I add a photo of B-HUD during it's last take off, from Manchester Airport on the 22nd of September
34 tonymctigue: Ah no, not another airline ditching 747s! I had my first ever CX B744 flight only last June, ending an 18 year gap between 747 rides (The last being i
35 na: Very sad developments at CX, but most of the 744s in the green fleet is over 20 years old and CX utillisation quite high as much as I know. B-HOT mus
36 jfk777: Sad to see Cathay parking so many 744 especially when they expanded the fleet by buying several ex-Singapore Air Pratt powered 744's. Now the question
37 tonymctigue: Sadly, like so many airlines who for so long the B747 formed the backbone of their fleet, it is hard to see CX ever ordering anything bigger than the
38 blueflyer: Some 744s are due for heavy maintenance and several engines are due for an overhaul (that alone is $8 millions a piece). Cathay isn't retiring the 74
39 lightsaber: I have hopes for the 748i. Hope that is fading... Looking at the freight market and unconverted 744 prices... cheaper to buy a BCF used. Seriously. I'
40 EK413: I'm curious to know why CX ferry the aircraft to Kemble and Mojave as many other carriers choose to do so...? When did JetStar start up in Kemble EK4
41 CX Flyboy: As Lightsaber noted above, the aircraft are sold to third parties who then scrap them. Kemble has an established scrapping facility. See below: _____
42 EK413: Thank you for the details Mr CX Flyboy EK413
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![_](javascript:compressPost('5569980','1','1','6','gegarrenton','Ahh, bummer. I was on that bird beginning of the month SFO-HKG. DFW-SFO%2520CX%2520F%2520SFO-HKG%2520020.JPG" />[Edited 2012-09-22 09:39:45][Edited','')){kind=link}