Qantas to return to San Francisco?

13 replies

brobro

Member since 02 Jan 2013

Total posts 66

Hi! Rumors are floating around that QF are about to re-open SFO due to low fuel costs and will reinstate 2 747's currently stored at VCV. Has anyone heard anything? I am aware rumours are rumours so just though Id throw it out there.

AALF

QF

Member since 31 Dec 2014

Total posts 8

I heard more frequent SCL services with alternating GRU/GIG onward connections 

hutch

Member since 07 Oct 2012

Total posts 771

Would love to see QF fly to Brazil... combined with some negotiations between the Aust and Brazil governments to reduce the relatively high visa costs to stimulate demand.

nmalon

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 11 Jan 2013

Total posts 182

It would be good.. i am heading there later in the year and it would let me avoid LAX!

hutch

Member since 07 Oct 2012

Total posts 771

It would be nice, but any non refurb 747's are a marginal product IMO.

In any case, not sure why QF would want to bring any 747's our of retirement...surely it makes better sense to keep the 4 non-refurb flying and delay their retirement? 

Current 747 requirments:

SYD>SCL - 1 , SYD>LAX - 2, BNE>LAX>JFK - 2, MEL > LAX - 1, SYD > NRT / SYD > JNB - 3, SYD - HKG  - 1 

So my back of paper calculations are that QF uses 10 747's (not factoring in maintenance, charters and emergencies etc)

Assuming they wanted to fly to SFO now (3 times weekly) they could probably do a 3 x weekly service without pulling anything out of Victorville. 

Whilst not popular with some, surely they would be better off using an A330 on SYD - HKG and SYD - NRT/HND (plus a retime) and using the 747's on longer routes (before considering un-retiring 25 year old birds)

smit0847

Member since 30 Aug 2013

Total posts 148

Switching all Asian flights to A330 to free up 747s is a no brainer to me.

smit0847

Member since 30 Aug 2013

Total posts 148

Just switching SYD-NRT to A330 would instantly free up 2 747s which could make SYD-SFO daily.

brobro

Member since 02 Jan 2013

Total posts 66

Great points Hutch. From what Ive heard,  QF will be going daily on SFO which Im assuming would require more frames as OJA is on her way out before her D-Check.

hutch

Member since 07 Oct 2012

Total posts 771

Well I do hope its true... somewhat sceptical that QF can do daily flights into SFO straight away though. 

Whilst OJA is an old bird... isn't it younger / same age as everything in Victorville? 

Assuming OJA does go and nothing comes out of retirement. SFO could only be done if Asian 747 flights are swapped with A330's (and I'm not sure there are many spare of those anyway), or retiming SYD-NRT/HND. 

msport2012

Delta Air Lines - SkyMiles

Member since 14 Apr 2013

Total posts 294

Question, Has JQ handed back all its A330's to QF? If so then QF and easliy do SYD - SFO daily and Change HKG & NRT/HND from the B747 to the A330.

watson374

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 17 Aug 2012

Total posts 1,285

They need to be rotated through refurbishment in Brisbane first, unless you plan on running Hong Kong and Tokyo with domestic recliner seats in Business.

moa999

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 02 Jul 2011

Total posts 835

No... JQ still have 4 A330-200s, and QF has 16 A330-200s along with 10 A330-300s

The published refurb plans are for 18 A330-200s, meaning two existing A330s are leaving the fleet.

Aubz11

Member since 09 Aug 2014

Total posts 12

Could QF incorporate SFO as a stop & go enroute to YVR? Cover 2 cities with the 1 flight to ensure loads are at capacity to and from year round. Would that work or would QF keep SFO seperate?

hutch

Member since 07 Oct 2012

Total posts 771

They could, but not sure how attractive the option is? 

It would be less competitive than AC non-stop service. Customers would have to transit in the US and there is increased staff costs by opertaing the tag.

Having said that, QF used to do SYD-SFO-YVR.

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