Qantas A380 refurbishment

11 replies

Kitch

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 10 Jun 2015

Total posts 72

New qantas a380 refurbishment.

When do u think it will happen?

Covo95

Member since 30 Jul 2015

Total posts 52

theyll have to do it at some stage in order to effectively compete with virgin's new business class seats, they could annouce it next week when they announce their half-yearly results. at the very least they would only replace the business class seats and update the inflight entertaiment system. 

Chris2304

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 10 Apr 2013

Total posts 167

Hopefully next Tuesday!

StudiodeKadent

Member since 20 May 2015

Total posts 109

That's a reasonable prediction. I'd think they'd refresh/update First Class as well, to give their suites a level of amenity consistent with EK (i.e. a small, perhaps chilled drinks compartment and a vanity area. Perhaps a sliding door or something along those lines too).

Premium Economy? If QF have decided on a new PE seat for the Dreamliners, we may see them pre-emptively update the A380 with it. If QF are sticking with the current PE seat, we can expect PE to remain as it is.

Economy? Even IF QF change Economy for the Dreamliners I don't think they'll change the A380s Economy class.

Chris2304

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 10 Apr 2013

Total posts 167

I think they will for economy choose the new A330 Y seats with the new IFE. Although an 18" width version of it. 

StudiodeKadent

Member since 20 May 2015

Total posts 109

I certainly hope you're right.

moa999

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 02 Jul 2011

Total posts 835

Won't happen until they finish the A330 refurb (towards the end of this year)

I'm expecting it to begin during 2017 or 2018 - essentially the same time as the 787-9s are introduced.

Guessing any earlier announcements might be more WiFi related.

Himeno

Member since 12 Dec 2012

Total posts 295

I doubt we'll see any changes to the 380's until they have decided on seats for the 787s and the 330 refurbs are done.

Then they'd have to wait to do any changes to the 380s until after the 787s start arriving. They'd need to either change the seats while the aircraft are in MNL for heavy maintainance or rotate a 747 through the 380 routes as while 380s are done prior to retiring at least the 2 remaining non refit 747s.

By the time the first 787-9 enters QF service, VH-OQA will be 10 years old.

riley

Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards

Member since 19 Mar 2014

Total posts 358

I believe it's on the agenda but couldn't envisage it being announced 6+ months before any rollout commences. 

My guess is a mid-life refurb to coincide with the arrival of the dreamliners, probably a MKII version of the A330 product.

Chris2304

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 10 Apr 2013

Total posts 167

If they're revealing the 787 seats/interiors in April surely an A380 refurb would be announced at the same time. And to start a380 refurb early next year. 

riley

Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards

Member since 19 Mar 2014

Total posts 358

I disagree, they'll defend the incumbent product for as long as possible and get everything in place before commencing the refurb. 

By conceding their current offering is set to undergo a refurb is basically announcing to the market that rival product is superior. In most cases on the routes the A380 works, this is the case for the hard product. 

Himeno

Member since 12 Dec 2012

Total posts 295

After they announced the A330 refurb seats over a year before they started installing them, giving VA more then enough time to counter them, I don't see QF announcing the 787 fit out or A380 refurb until the last moment. While the first QF 787 is in the boeing plant.

It's expected that the 787s and any A380 midlife refurb will get some form of the A330 J seats. Anything other then that is up for debate.

Any A380 refurb will either have to wait until the 787s start arriving to allow 787s to cover a 747 which then covers a 380, or will need to be done as they rotate aircraft through MNL. In which case, it would take around 22 months to do all 12 (6-8 weeks per aircraft undergoing C or D checks at MNL, no heavy maintance planned over peak holiday travel periods)

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