I see Skytrax, which is about as reliable as GT's Airline Ratings blog, has somehow decided MEL is the 19th best airport in the world and the best airport in Australia and the Pacific. Bit of a mystery to me but it is fair to say all the major capital city airports in Australia are pretty ordinary. OOL won the best regional airport in Australia. AU/NZ airports in the top 100 were MEL (19), BNE (23), SYD (49), AKL (51), OOL (54), PER (58), ADL (73) and CHC (100)

I can't disagree with SIN taking out top spot (again) followed by DOH and HND but I really don't know how they get these scores and worry it is a very unscientific social media vote.

tullamarine wrote:

I see Skytrax, which is about as reliable as GT's Airline Ratings blog, has somehow decided MEL is the 19th best airport in the world and the best airport in Australia and the Pacific. Bit of a mystery to me but it is fair to say all the major capital city airports in Australia are pretty ordinary. OOL won the best regional airport in Australia. AU/NZ airports in the top 100 were MEL (19), BNE (23), SYD (49), AKL (51), OOL (54), PER (58), ADL (73) and CHC (100)

I can't disagree with SIN taking out top spot (again) followed by DOH and HND but I really don't know how they get these scores and worry it is a very unscientific social media vote.

Is it an early April fools, I’d say MEL was the worst major airport

tullamarine wrote:

I see Skytrax, which is about as reliable as GT's Airline Ratings blog, has somehow decided MEL is the 19th best airport in the world and the best airport in Australia and the Pacific. Bit of a mystery to me but it is fair to say all the major capital city airports in Australia are pretty ordinary. OOL won the best regional airport in Australia. AU/NZ airports in the top 100 were MEL (19), BNE (23), SYD (49), AKL (51), OOL (54), PER (58), ADL (73) and CHC (100)

I can't disagree with SIN taking out top spot (again) followed by DOH and HND but I really don't know how they get these scores and worry it is a very unscientific social media vote.

SIN taking out the top spot is a no brainer really but MEL taking out 19th world best and best in Australia - geez, that's a stretch! I do wonder if these are 'pay to play' awards?

I haven't been through OOL for many years but they have spent a lot of money on it very recently

Even the much maligned LGA in New York got a gong for the re development of Terminal B (it's by no means the worst airport I've been through despite its reputation amongst the locals)

I see the Crowne Plaza @ Changi also took out worlds best airport hotel - so many people go ga-ga over this hotel but I don't rate it - the rooms are pretty average, service is spotty at best and it is super expensive for what you get. No doubt though, it is very convenient, the pool is a nice addition and the rooms with tarmac views are good if you hand over your first born as you swipe your credit card

https://www.worldairportawards.com/a-z- ... ners-2023/

jrfspa320 wrote:

tullamarine wrote:

I see Skytrax, which is about as reliable as GT's Airline Ratings blog, has somehow decided MEL is the 19th best airport in the world and the best airport in Australia and the Pacific. Bit of a mystery to me but it is fair to say all the major capital city airports in Australia are pretty ordinary. OOL won the best regional airport in Australia. AU/NZ airports in the top 100 were MEL (19), BNE (23), SYD (49), AKL (51), OOL (54), PER (58), ADL (73) and CHC (100)

I can't disagree with SIN taking out top spot (again) followed by DOH and HND but I really don't know how they get these scores and worry it is a very unscientific social media vote.

Is it an early April fools, I’d say MEL was the worst major airport

'Skytrax'. There's your answer.

YSSYplanespoter wrote:

One of the more creative routings I've seen today.

QF25 being even more creative right now. Has Cthulu been spotted in the Philippine Sea or something?

https://fr24.com/QFA25/2f8ab75b

Velocity7 wrote:

SIN taking out the top spot is a no brainer really but MEL taking out 19th world best and best in Australia - geez, that's a stretch! I do wonder if these are 'pay to play' awards?

I haven't been through OOL for many years but they have spent a lot of money on it very recently

Even the much maligned LGA in New York got a gong for the re development of Terminal B (it's by no means the worst airport I've been through despite its reputation amongst the locals)

I see the Crowne Plaza @ Changi also took out worlds best airport hotel - so many people go ga-ga over this hotel but I don't rate it - the rooms are pretty average, service is spotty at best and it is super expensive for what you get. No doubt though, it is very convenient, the pool is a nice addition and the rooms with tarmac views are good if you hand over your first born as you swipe your credit card

I think awards for airports like OOL and LGA are more recognition that they were so dreadful previously that they should be rewarded for trying to address the situation.

The Crowne Plaza at SIN is OK but, as you say, ridiculously expensive. I stayed in a tarmac view room which they proudly advertise as soundproof but they are not which is fine whilst you are plane spotting from the bath but not so good when trying to sleep. That it wins is more a statement as to how dreadful airport hotels typically are. I used to really like the Stamford at SYD but all the roadworks etc now make it virtually impossible to walk from the hotel to the domestic terminals only 500m away.

Qantas 787-9 VH-ZNL LN1019 entered paint for repaint on 12 March

http://paineairport.com/images/kpae20386t.png

qf2220 wrote:

YSSYplanespoter wrote:

One of the more creative routings I've seen today.

QF25 being even more creative right now. Has Cthulu been spotted in the Philippine Sea or something?

https://fr24.com/QFA25/2f8ab75b

Any link to this?

Chinese warships interfering with aircraft comms says Qantas

https://twitter.com/MichaelWestBiz/stat ... jfz4g&s=19

qf789 wrote:

Qantas 787-9 VH-ZNL LN1019 entered paint for repaint on 12 March

http://paineairport.com/images/kpae20386t.png

A rather dumb Q but I'm assuming that is the aircraft prior to entering repaint?

If so, looks it good nick still!

Twice-weekly service between SGN and BNE!

https://www.vietjetair.com/en/news/news ... 8871926155

VJ083 SGN1005 – 2110BNE 330 15
VJ084 BNE2310 – 0450+1SGN 330 15

mrkerr7474 wrote:

qf789 wrote:

Qantas 787-9 VH-ZNL LN1019 entered paint for repaint on 12 March

http://paineairport.com/images/kpae20386t.png

A rather dumb Q but I'm assuming that is the aircraft prior to entering repaint?

If so, looks it good nick still!

Possibly needs some rework after 2 years in the desert.

tullamarine wrote:

mrkerr7474 wrote:

qf789 wrote:

Qantas 787-9 VH-ZNL LN1019 entered paint for repaint on 12 March

http://paineairport.com/images/kpae20386t.png

A rather dumb Q but I'm assuming that is the aircraft prior to entering repaint?

If so, looks it good nick still!

Possibly needs some rework after 2 years in the desert.

Probs correcting the paint defect - my understanding is this only impacts the top of the wing surface, rest is fine. Apart from brand damage not sure what other impacts the poor paint job has on the wing? Minute drag, long term corrosion risk?

Velocity7 wrote:

I see the Crowne Plaza @ Changi also took out worlds best airport hotel - so many people go ga-ga over this hotel but I don't rate it - the rooms are pretty average, service is spotty at best and it is super expensive for what you get. No doubt though, it is very convenient, the pool is a nice addition and the rooms with tarmac views are good if you hand over your first born as you swipe your credit card

https://www.worldairportawards.com/a-z- ... ners-2023/

Have you actually stayed there? The rooms are absolutely fantastic and service is second to none. Yes, it is a tad more expensive, but I wouldn't call it "Super Expensive".
I think it's about par with what you'd pay for a hotel of the same quality in the middle of Singapore.
My only gripe, the pool sucks. It only goes to 1.2m (4ft) deep. But it still helps with the SIN humidity.

Cheers,

Chipmunk1973 wrote:

Velocity7 wrote:

I see the Crowne Plaza @ Changi also took out worlds best airport hotel - so many people go ga-ga over this hotel but I don't rate it - the rooms are pretty average, service is spotty at best and it is super expensive for what you get. No doubt though, it is very convenient, the pool is a nice addition and the rooms with tarmac views are good if you hand over your first born as you swipe your credit card

https://www.worldairportawards.com/a-z- ... ners-2023/

Have you actually stayed there? The rooms are absolutely fantastic and service is second to none. Yes, it is a tad more expensive, but I wouldn't call it "Super Expensive".
I think it's about par with what you'd pay for a hotel of the same quality in the middle of Singapore.
My only gripe, the pool sucks. It only goes to 1.2m (4ft) deep. But it still helps with the SIN humidity.

Cheers,

I have stayed there and it is more expensive than a comparable room in the middle of Singapore but that is the pricing power of having a monopoly location. You are basically paying Intercontinental prices for a Crowne Plaza.

The rooms are OK but pretty much what you'd expect from a Crowne Plaza anywhere; the sound proofing could be better. The service was nothing special; I am high tier with IHG and it was nowhere near as good as what I receive in the Holiday Inns in Jakarta or Singapore. The pool is welcome but the food prices near the pool are as extortionate as the hotel room themselves.

tullamarine wrote:

The rooms are OK but pretty much what you'd expect from a Crowne Plaza anywhere; the sound proofing could be better. The service was nothing special; I am high tier with IHG and it was nowhere near as good as what I receive in the Holiday Inns in Jakarta or Singapore. The pool is welcome but the food prices near the pool are as extortionate as the hotel room themselves.

I think I was fortunate when I did stay there which was circa February 2020. As CoVid was starting to bite, the room rates were actually very competitive. But it was also only a one night stop over on the way to Thailand. I didn't bother with food around the pool because I know they use that as an excuse to charge more. But the staff were excellent (maybe bored due to reduced demand).

The one thing I found interesting was the smoking area on the same level as the pool. A fair number of cabin and flight crews out there smoking... mostly Indigo. Had a very interesting chat with an Indigo A320 captain. He was having a bitch about new flight crew recruits being weak because he was ex-airforce. I had three glasses of wine under my belt and smoked two cig's in 30 mins to his 5. Kept wondering how he'd pass a medical......?

It's little experiences like that which make travel interesting, besides where you're actually going.

Cheers.

qf2220 wrote:

qf2220 wrote:

YSSYplanespoter wrote:

One of the more creative routings I've seen today.

QF25 being even more creative right now. Has Cthulu been spotted in the Philippine Sea or something?

https://fr24.com/QFA25/2f8ab75b

Any link to this?

Chinese warships interfering with aircraft comms says Qantas

https://twitter.com/MichaelWestBiz/stat ... jfz4g&s=19

There's a possibility.

EK413 wrote:

Shocking images of -ZND wings.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_ ... tid=uc01c0

I flew on ZNC yesterday and the amount of speed tape on the wings was even a bit worse than those ZND pics! I'd heard the JQ 788s were bad, but didn't realise the 789s were this bad until actually flying on one.

Does this much tape on the wing affect performance at all? I did notice that at some point during my flight a chunk of paint came off on the edge of one of the patches, which left the speed tape flapping around.

UAL839 LAX-SYD did a loop north of Sydney and then diverted to BNE this morning - any idea why?

https://imgur.com/a/fP4QpWQ

Edit: looks like it was foggy.

Goodbye wrote:

UAL839 LAX-SYD did a loop north of Sydney and then diverted to BNE this morning - any idea why?

https://imgur.com/a/fP4QpWQ

Edit: looks like it was foggy.

Visibility was down to 700m when I arrived in the office this morning. Couldn’t see the airport at all.

There is still no sign of VA's first 737MAX8 rolling out at RNT, the first 737MAX8 in LN8604 and will wear the registration VH-8IA. Dont think they will get it until May at the earliest, April delivery is looking unlikely at this stage

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/ ... edit#gid=0

qf789 wrote:

There is still no sign of VA's first 737MAX8 rolling out at RNT, the first 737MAX8 in LN8604 and will wear the registration VH-8IA. Dont think they will get it until May at the earliest, April delivery is looking unlikely at this stage

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/ ... edit#gid=0

Apparently there are factory pictures of 8IA. Anyone got them?

Goodbye wrote:

UAL839 LAX-SYD did a loop north of Sydney and then diverted to BNE this morning - any idea why?

https://imgur.com/a/fP4QpWQ

Edit: looks like it was foggy.

Advantages of UA now operating ex-BNE would be the recovery in the event the crew ran out of hours.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

YSSYplanespoter wrote:

qf789 wrote:

There is still no sign of VA's first 737MAX8 rolling out at RNT, the first 737MAX8 in LN8604 and will wear the registration VH-8IA. Dont think they will get it until May at the earliest, April delivery is looking unlikely at this stage

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/ ... edit#gid=0

Apparently there are factory pictures of 8IA. Anyone got them?

Haven't seen anything in the Max thread about production and delivery, which qf789 does a great job contributing to.

csturdiv wrote:

YSSYplanespoter wrote:

qf789 wrote:

There is still no sign of VA's first 737MAX8 rolling out at RNT, the first 737MAX8 in LN8604 and will wear the registration VH-8IA. Dont think they will get it until May at the earliest, April delivery is looking unlikely at this stage

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/ ... edit#gid=0

Apparently there are factory pictures of 8IA. Anyone got them?

Haven't seen anything in the Max thread about production and delivery, which qf789 does a great job contributing to.

Still praying for a livery refresh!

qf789 wrote:

There is still no sign of VA's first 737MAX8 rolling out at RNT, the first 737MAX8 in LN8604 and will wear the registration VH-8IA. Dont think they will get it until May at the earliest, April delivery is looking unlikely at this stage

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/ ... edit#gid=0

That’s going to be the first airliner to carry an alpha numeric registration surely?

EK413 wrote:

Goodbye wrote:

UAL839 LAX-SYD did a loop north of Sydney and then diverted to BNE this morning - any idea why?

https://imgur.com/a/fP4QpWQ

Edit: looks like it was foggy.

Advantages of UA now operating ex-BNE would be the recovery in the event the crew ran out of hours.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Also the ability for the timed-out crews able to deadhead either down to SYD or MEL on a VA flight or rest in BNE for a few days with the crew rostered on UA96/97 before deadheading back to SFO on UA's own ex-BNE flight on Tuesday.

qf789 wrote:

There is still no sign of VA's first 737MAX8 rolling out at RNT, the first 737MAX8 in LN8604 and will wear the registration VH-8IA. Dont think they will get it until May at the earliest, April delivery is looking unlikely at this stage

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/ ... edit#gid=0

Has a date for the issue of the new marks been announced? I can't find it on the CASA web site

Gemuser

Something happening at Sydney Airport this evening (19MAR) .... JQ203 SYDAKL currently surrounded by Airport Vehicles... SQ211 SINSYD performed a go around and then landed... and is now sitting behind a Thai flight TG475 on the taxiway waiting to access the International terminal... Also VA891 MELSYD did a go around and is now on final approach back to the airport...

QuayWeeAir wrote:

Something happening at Sydney Airport this evening (19MAR) .... JQ203 SYDAKL currently surrounded by Airport Vehicles... SQ211 SINSYD performed a go around and then landed... and is now sitting behind a Thai flight TG475 on the taxiway waiting to access the International terminal... Also VA891 MELSYD did a go around and is now on final approach back to the airport...

Flight QF650 from Canberra to Sydney
https://fr24.com/QFA650/2f93d1b4

QF650 diverted to CBR too


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I was on the INTL parking rooftop and watched the vehicles with their lights flashing rush somewhere. Wasn't able to capture it though. I wonder what happened?

Gemuser wrote:

qf789 wrote:

There is still no sign of VA's first 737MAX8 rolling out at RNT, the first 737MAX8 in LN8604 and will wear the registration VH-8IA. Dont think they will get it until May at the earliest, April delivery is looking unlikely at this stage

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/ ... edit#gid=0

Has a date for the issue of the new marks been announced? I can't find it on the CASA web site

Gemuser

VH-8XS Q400 was spotted in Malta last month, so perhaps the beginning of this year? https://flic.kr/p/2ogfnve

Chipmunk1973 wrote:

Velocity7 wrote:

I see the Crowne Plaza @ Changi also took out worlds best airport hotel - so many people go ga-ga over this hotel but I don't rate it - the rooms are pretty average, service is spotty at best and it is super expensive for what you get. No doubt though, it is very convenient, the pool is a nice addition and the rooms with tarmac views are good if you hand over your first born as you swipe your credit card

https://www.worldairportawards.com/a-z- ... ners-2023/

Have you actually stayed there? The rooms are absolutely fantastic and service is second to none. Yes, it is a tad more expensive, but I wouldn't call it "Super Expensive".
I think it's about par with what you'd pay for a hotel of the same quality in the middle of Singapore.
My only gripe, the pool sucks. It only goes to 1.2m (4ft) deep. But it still helps with the SIN humidity.

Cheers,

I've stayed there and if you get a room in the main building its fine... but the Jewel rooms are small and you can look into the bathrooms of other rooms if you have the blinds open.

SCFlyer wrote:

EK413 wrote:

Goodbye wrote:

UAL839 LAX-SYD did a loop north of Sydney and then diverted to BNE this morning - any idea why?

https://imgur.com/a/fP4QpWQ

Edit: looks like it was foggy.

Advantages of UA now operating ex-BNE would be the recovery in the event the crew ran out of hours.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Also the ability for the timed-out crews able to deadhead either down to SYD or MEL on a VA flight or rest in BNE for a few days with the crew rostered on UA96/97 before deadheading back to SFO on UA's own ex-BNE flight on Tuesday.

United is a mess in Sydney today. SFO cancelled, LAX and IAH delayed. My first ever flight with United in Polaris and they transferred me to the delayed LAX flight and downgraded me. That took 1.5 hours on the phone to fix. Not leaving until tomorrow now. Lesson learned of booking early on Qantas for US flights!

The Australian (paywall) is reporting that, due to the near collapse of Credit Suisse and stock market uncertainty, the Virgin Australia float planned for Q3 of this year is likely to be deferred. VA directors commenced a roadshow in Singapore last week promoting the IPO but it is likely that the tumult of last week will mean Bain chooses to defer.

Looks like an interesting new way to get between Canberra and Sydney coming. Seaplane service between lake burley griffin and rose bay.

https://the-riotact.com/will-there-be-c ... nes/643555

Obzerva wrote:

tullamarine wrote:

Pcoder wrote:

The big thing now is that EL Al can use Saudi Arabian and Omani airspace, which will make this flight more viable as the flight now can be very direct, and not having to add another +1000km on a flight that is already 13,000+ km long.

This is also shows how Perth airport could be more of a hub for flights like these and to Europe as most carriers now have planes that can reach Perth easily, but I'd imagine not having one centralised terminal, makes it harder. With Perth having flight to heaps more destinations within Australia, I could see a maybe state government initiative to make PER more of hub, getting more airlines to operate to PER.

El Al have no interest in PER. The Jewish diaspora in Australia is concentrated in MEL and SYD The whole point of the plan is to offer a non-stop link between one of these cities and Israel. One-stop is not of any interest to them as that was already possible with a connection from TG or QF in BKK.

Agree, PER is ideal as a stopping point for airlines that have no natural diaspora on the east coast and need to maximise connections - eg MK codesharing on VA's PER-east coast flights.
However for El Al, PER doesn't make a lot of sense.
just on TLV travel, I believe when CX launched HKG-TLV, they were pleasantly surprised about the amount of traffic they picked up from Australia.

It will be interesting to see how this route goes, as they have a number of competitors now, CX, AI (if they restarted post covid) and from June 2022, Emirates.
Otherwise there is the usual 1 stop (2 Airline) via Thailand or Hong Kong to pick up El Al.

The biggest Jewish Communities in Australia are in Melbourne, Sydney and Perth, so they are the key markets, together with those that want 1 stops to Europe with EL AL.
There is of course other religions that have Jerusalem as their a very important part of their religion too..

ACCC has delayed decision on Qantas buying remaining 80% of Alliance till 20 April 2023

https://www.msn.com/en-au/money/compani ... 741a&ei=11

Sorry if I've missed something but what is QF130 in aid of today? QF hasn't gone back to PVG yet has it?

Interesting article on linked about ZL’s Sharp didn’t realise he was minster with nationals, explains a bit…. Lots of time talking about QF, when he could have been talking up his own brand again

https://www.afr.com/work-and-careers/le ... e=LinkedIn

QuayWeeAir wrote:

Something happening at Sydney Airport this evening (19MAR) .... JQ203 SYDAKL currently surrounded by Airport Vehicles... SQ211 SINSYD performed a go around and then landed... and is now sitting behind a Thai flight TG475 on the taxiway waiting to access the International terminal... Also VA891 MELSYD did a go around and is now on final approach back to the airport...

Did we ever find out what happened?

rushed wrote:

Looks like an interesting new way to get between Canberra and Sydney coming. Seaplane service between lake burley griffin and rose bay.

https://the-riotact.com/will-there-be-c ... nes/643555

My initial reaction to this was an early April Fools' joke but this seems like a really great idea. Especially if they can tap into the well heeled market around Rose Bay and Vaucluse.

qf2220 wrote:

Sorry if I've missed something but what is QF130 in aid of today? QF hasn't gone back to PVG yet has it?

You are correct. Chines PAX services yet to be timetable let alone restart - but is ops as pure cargo rev flights unless it was a charter. However unusual to use the pax revenue flight number. maybe someone else can shed some more light.

Chipmunk1973 wrote:

Velocity7 wrote:

I see the Crowne Plaza @ Changi also took out worlds best airport hotel - so many people go ga-ga over this hotel but I don't rate it - the rooms are pretty average, service is spotty at best and it is super expensive for what you get. No doubt though, it is very convenient, the pool is a nice addition and the rooms with tarmac views are good if you hand over your first born as you swipe your credit card

https://www.worldairportawards.com/a-z- ... ners-2023/

Have you actually stayed there? The rooms are absolutely fantastic and service is second to none. Yes, it is a tad more expensive, but I wouldn't call it "Super Expensive".
I think it's about par with what you'd pay for a hotel of the same quality in the middle of Singapore.
My only gripe, the pool sucks. It only goes to 1.2m (4ft) deep. But it still helps with the SIN humidity.

Cheers,

Yes, November 2022 was the most recent

aussie747 wrote:

qf2220 wrote:

Sorry if I've missed something but what is QF130 in aid of today? QF hasn't gone back to PVG yet has it?

You are correct. Chines PAX services yet to be timetable let alone restart - but is ops as pure cargo rev flights unless it was a charter. However unusual to use the pax revenue flight number. maybe someone else can shed some more light.

Probably just a freight flight. QF used the regular flight numbers when doing the freight flights to PVG during covid. Hadn't seen one pop up in quite a while though.

JJWess wrote:

QuayWeeAir wrote:

Something happening at Sydney Airport this evening (19MAR) .... JQ203 SYDAKL currently surrounded by Airport Vehicles... SQ211 SINSYD performed a go around and then landed... and is now sitting behind a Thai flight TG475 on the taxiway waiting to access the International terminal... Also VA891 MELSYD did a go around and is now on final approach back to the airport...

Did we ever find out what happened?

Well it was quite foggy last night, so that may explain some of the delays and diversions, but not the JQ return though....

LTEN11 wrote:

aussie747 wrote:

qf2220 wrote:

Sorry if I've missed something but what is QF130 in aid of today? QF hasn't gone back to PVG yet has it?

You are correct. Chines PAX services yet to be timetable let alone restart - but is ops as pure cargo rev flights unless it was a charter. However unusual to use the pax revenue flight number. maybe someone else can shed some more light.

Probably just a freight flight. QF used the regular flight numbers when doing the freight flights to PVG during covid. Hadn't seen one pop up in quite a while though.

This was a trial flight prior to resuming regular RPT services.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

EK413 wrote:

LTEN11 wrote:

aussie747 wrote:

You are correct. Chines PAX services yet to be timetable let alone restart - but is ops as pure cargo rev flights unless it was a charter. However unusual to use the pax revenue flight number. maybe someone else can shed some more light.

Probably just a freight flight. QF used the regular flight numbers when doing the freight flights to PVG during covid. Hadn't seen one pop up in quite a while though.

This was a trial flight prior to resuming regular RPT services.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks both. I wonder if it is regulatory. Easier to use preused flight nos than custom freight ones.

https://www.smh.com.au/business/compani ... 5ctj9.html

Considering they are a monopoly- not sure the CEO of Sydney airport should come out swinging around airlines suppressing capacity.

Not going to do any good building relationships with airlines venting in the media.

rfarlz wrote:

EK413 wrote:

Shocking images of -ZND wings.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_ ... tid=uc01c0

I flew on ZNC yesterday and the amount of speed tape on the wings was even a bit worse than those ZND pics! I'd heard the JQ 788s were bad, but didn't realise the 789s were this bad until actually flying on one.

Does this much tape on the wing affect performance at all? I did notice that at some point during my flight a chunk of paint came off on the edge of one of the patches, which left the speed tape flapping around.

There’s 4 of them flying around with tatty wings at the moment, ZNA is another. Believe it or not the speed tape carries no aero/drag penalties.

Both Qantas and the CN3 used regular pax flight numbers for Australia-China flights throughout Covid. It must be a regulatory requirement specific to China, as just about every other market and inbound airline used non-standard flight numbers.