Will Qantas A380s get a new entertainment system or not?

Will Qantas A380s get a new entertainment system or not?

There is no announced refurb program for the A380s.

That said at their mid life one (first delivery was 2008) would expect upgrades to cabin (at a minimum to the Business and First cabins). This might include an IFE upgrade as well.

Economy needs an upgrade. I cannot stand the crappy in flight entertainment system in economy class. 

Content or technology?

I wouldn't call it 'crappy' per se.  Yes, it is pretty laggy and the screen resolution isn't the best, but at lease they tend to have a decent selection of films to watch. However, if it's that big of a deal load up a tablet with a bunch of films/shows.

Love how you say screen is laggy and screen resolution isnt the best, and maybe bring your own tablet, but don't call it crappy.

I dont mind the IFE on Qantas International

Unless it's on those rubbish pre-refurbished A330s. Thank goodness they're getting an upgrade.

The QF A380 Y class does not need an upgrade of anything - as someone who has flown it a dozen times, I can say unashamedly it still rates up there. I can rarely get through every movie & TV show on their IFE that I want to and, as several people have pointed out, anyone who is prepared will come with their own entertainment preloaded on their phone or tablet 'just in case'. Their F is starting to show its age but definitely still holds up, but J needs a very desperate refresh. After flying in F last week and looking at J compared to many of QF's international competitors, it really simply does not stack up.

They will have to upgrade it sometime soon as the A380s are approaching halfway in their lifespan with the new seats and stuff so they will include IFE in there. Probably will start upgrades mid-2017 around August.

If anything, they'll announce a refurb program for the 380s when they announce the types of seats on the 787s. Any update would start after at least 2 787s have arrived in late 2017.

This would allow 787s to replace 747s on routes such as SFO, YVR, HKG and HND while 2 747ERs replace some A380 flights while the A380s rotate through a cabin refresh.

They are unable to pull any aircraft out of service for long enough to complete a cabin refresh program until those 787s start arriving outside of long planned heavy maintance.

HND? Haneda is the perfect airport for an A380 service since its slot-restricted and QF cannot upgauge without flying a bigger jet. They have only one daily slot. In addition, HND has first class ground facilities for an allied airline (JAL), which means it makes sense for QF to have First Class on the Haneda flight.

HKG has a similar problem - QF need bigger jets to add capacity on that route. The 787-9s will be too small (we know they'll have less capacity than the current A330-200s) and have too much range for HKG. Plus, CX's First Class ground service would be a good reason to have QF operate First Class to HKG.

I can see QF using the first wave of 787s to service YVR, SCL and JNB. SFO is a possibility but even if we presume QF's 787s will have 250 seats, going to a daily SFO frequency will still represent a reduction in capacity unless QF buy another slot and run extra services (probably from MEL, perhaps BNE).

I absolutely agree the A380 refurb program will have to wait until the 787s come in; the 787s will free up additional 747s which (alongside the new 2 refurbished 747s) can plug the frequency gaps for QF when the A380s are getting refreshed.

HND has limits on A380 traffic. In most cases, the airport can't take A380s. The current AU allocation for HND is 1 flight for Australian carriers, 1 slot for Japanese carriers, useable for HND arrival/departure between 2200 and 0600. It is possible another slot pair (+1 for each side) will be added later (6 total slots are opening up soon as the US traded 3/4 night slots for 5 day slots).

As long as CASA refuses to grant ETOPS of over 180 to Australian carriers, JNB and SCL will need to be operated by 747s or A380s.

QF does not need to buy slots at SFO. SFO is slot controlled between 6am and midnight. QF could start another SFO flight timed for ~5am arrival and ~1am departure, or they can request another slot as per normal IATA slot conferences. Most slot controlled airports are not like LHR where slots are airline owned asests.

Thank you for the info on the airports. I didn't know HND had limits on A380 traffic... I'd have presumed HND would easily take A380s since they're quieter than 747s.

Interesting to hear that Australian operators may get more slots at HND. I'd think QF should try to get some sort of flagship four-class product on that route as soon as possible.

I've heard about the ETOPS thing. I'm sure QF are putting pressure on CASA to let them have an ETOPS >180, or at least do so when the Dreamliners arrive.

I didn't know SFO wasn't slot controlled all the time - I'd have thought given the bay area's real estate demand, tourist demand and business/tech demand it would probably be slot controlled very strictly. Needless to say, SFO may be a premium destination but it also is a United fortress hub with few onward connections on partner airlines, so growth at SFO would have to be something cautiously done.