Qantas Hong Kong A380: Is anyone aware yet as to which A380 Qantas services (if not all) are being downgraded to B747/A330 for the Sydney - Hong Kong legs, and if so when?

12 replies

Skipp

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 20 Aug 2012

Total posts 36

Qantas Hong Kong A380: Is anyone aware yet as to which A380 Qantas services (if not all) are being downgraded to B747/A330 for the Sydney - Hong Kong legs, and if so when?

watson374

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 17 Aug 2012

Total posts 1,285

Based on historical data, Tuesdays and Wednesdays are the first days to fall. I would therefore expect something like this:

SM--TFS (A380)

--TW--- (not A380)

hutch

Member since 07 Oct 2012

Total posts 772

Nothing official from QF. But i've read that a B747 will  be used on HKG route - no A380. Also noted that you can't book first to HKG (at least on the various dates I tried for next year).

I suspect QF is planning for the greater maintenance requirements of the A380's by keeping an A380 off scheduled routes.

watson374

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 17 Aug 2012

Total posts 1,285

I said 'expect'. If the A380 is culled all days, then I might actually expect a 744 SM--TFS and an A330 --TW---.

All speculation!

hutch

Member since 07 Oct 2012

Total posts 772

Yes I enjoy the speculation.

David

Member since 24 Oct 2010

Total posts 1,020

Skipp: the A380/B747 mix has not yet been announced.

moa999

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 02 Jul 2011

Total posts 835

While I agree that Tue/Wed are normally the last to fall, it is only Tue that the new A380 DFW operation is not going to operate, so it may not be the case in this instance.

watson374

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 17 Aug 2012

Total posts 1,285

Tuesday usually falls before Wednesday (no pun intended).

Skipp

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 20 Aug 2012

Total posts 36

Thanks everyone. Good pickup Hutch re: first class bookings. With that hint I looked at first class bookings and have seen that the last first class service terminates on Sunday 28th September (a day before the commencement of the A380 Dallas services). No day of the week from the 29th Sept onwards indicates first class services available to Hong Kong (I.e. A380 services). 

So it looks like from 29th Sept onwards it's back to B747 or A330's.

Maybe Cathay might decide at that point (wishful thinking, but possible) to upgrade one of their HKG-SYD services to a 4-class configured B777. 

Otchiman

Member since 24 May 2012

Total posts 6

Found this posted on  another froum not sure if the math is accurate:

"If 12 A380s were available all of the time, then it would be possible to maintain all of the current A380 routes, including QF7/8 and QF127/128, daily.

However, if we assume that one A380 was always unavailable due to maintenance. Then with the current schedules, and assuming QF94 is able to quickly turnaround as QF93, then it would only be possible for the A380 to operate SYD-HKG-SYD 2 days per week on Tuesdays and Wednesdays."

That brings up another question how on earth is Qantas going to turn around QF94/QF93 in an hour? 

Otchiman

Member since 24 May 2012

Total posts 6

I made a table with the new A380 schdeule on it from 29 October. If one A380 is always in maintinace it will only be possible for the A380s to fly to Hong Kong on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Otchiman

Member since 24 May 2012

Total posts 6

That didn't work very well. Here is a link to it instead: http://i.imgur.com/DmFWCVd.png

hutch

Member since 07 Oct 2012

Total posts 772

Cheers for the effort!

Hi Guest, join in the discussion on Qantas Hong Kong A380: Is anyone aware yet as to which A380 Qantas services (if not all) are being downgraded to B747/A330 for the Sydney - Hong Kong legs, and if so when?

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