When will Qantas' 747 flights to Hong Kong have the A380 upgraded interior/cabin?
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jaydenwebster
jaydenwebster
Member since 26 Aug 2011
Total posts 9
When will Qantas' 747 flights to Hong Kong have the A380 upgraded interior/cabin?
DrTGanguly
DrTGanguly
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 20 Nov 2011
Total posts 107
I would imagine not for a few years yet. The intoroduction of an A380 with the new F suites suggests they are serious about maintaining HKG as a high yeild premium destination, and maintaining the F customer base (especially as CX do not run F cabins to Australia). Obviously the only way to do this is to run A380s and Kangaroo configured 747 - 400s.
As for the reconfigured 747s, the 6 ER birds are currently Pacific aircraft, I am not sure about the non-ER 747s they are reconfiguring, and will be going back to pacific routes such as BNE - LAX, SYD - SCL, and as of today's announcement SYD - JFK (QF 107/108). That schedule will occupy all 6 of the ER birds. I would imagine that the three non - ER birds and the 2 non-F A380s due for delivery soon will between them be left managing a combination of SYD-NRT, SYD - JNB and the other 3 days of the SYD - HKG schedule when the last of the current 747s are retired in 3-4 years. This leaves the SEA destinations (Jakarta, Manila, Bang Kok and SIN/HKG from ADL/BNE/PER/MEL) to be serviced by 787s. I think it is fair to say that BKK will be a A330/787 destination permanently, especially without the onwards traffic to London.
Krikey, appologies for the long answer, I was bored at lunch time today and caught myself looking at a world map!
David
David
Member since 24 Oct 2010
Total posts 1,020
All I can add to that is a tally of 747s... at today's Qantas briefing, Alan Joyce said that "two 747s have been upgraded to A380 product standards, with seven to follow" by year's end, for a total of nine rejigged jumbos.
Earlier this week QF PR gave an update on its 747 fleet: there are currently 25 747-400s in service, with six slated to leave service in the next few months – the four previously planned plus two more announced today.
So we're looking at 19 x 747s remaining by year's end, nine of which will be the A380 upgrades and the remaining 10 will be standard config (inc the sloping-but-not-lie-flat Skybed Mark I business class seats).
whipper
whipper
Member since 17 Feb 2012
Total posts 50
As I understand the current 747 services to HK will be replaced by the repaired A380 when that comes back into service in March. Watch this space.