Earlier this year Qantas announced it would fly a Boeing 747 jumbo jet to Honolulu over summer, from 7 December 2018 through to the end
of April 2019, meaning a huge increase in the number of business class seats plus the addition of premium economy compared to the usual SYD-HNL Airbus A330. The 747 must have been very well received or Qantas can't figure out what else to do with it because Qantas will now continue flying the Boeing 747 to Honolulu until at least the middle of 2019!
Having just flows SYD-HNL-SYD on 7 Dec and back 9 Dec, 747 was 85% full, including 100% J seats filled. Having compared HNL PE and J fares compared to Asian destinations, QF is definitely pricing aggressively, with PE coming in at around ~$1600-2000 return and business for sub 4,000 - not bad strategy to squeeze utilisation out of the ageing 747 and drive numbers. I would also note that later in December (as at a couple of weeks ago), pricing remained aggressive, sans typical QF holiday premium. I also noted the flight is an AA codeshare and there were quite a few AA passengers onboard, which can't hurt seat filling either. At least from my limited experience, seems like right aircraft for the job (assuming aggressive pricing).
Qantas will be missing a very important slice of the market once the 747 goes (sub-400 seater). I do hope that with the recent reprieve in fuel that they are able to extend the 6 ERs at the very least.
Hopefully we’ll get a new Boeing platform of similar size pre-2021!
Maybe they realise that the extra seats are required. While very fuel efficient, the 787’s don’t have the seats of a 747. QF will most likely need an additional service at least some days a week to service HNL.
Lots of A350/787/777Xs are expected to be freed up in 2019/2020 production slots should Etihad cancel their orders, which is rumoured to be highly likely!
I agree with Aidan. Once all the 787’s are in place, and a few additional ones have arrived, I see SYD to HNL being a daily flight, and say three a week will commence in MEL. This would bring total services a week to HNL to ten. Maybe the A330 will take place of one of the 787’s.
I just returned from family holiday to Hawaii in November and we flew on the Qantas 747 both ways in business class. Both flights were full in both business and premium (had friends in premium class) both ways and if economy class was not full then it was by only a few seats. The service, crew, meals, flight were faultless, I can't rave enough about how great Qantas was and to be on the 747 again was magic.
Martin Haynes
Martin Haynes
Member since 13 Sep 2016
Total posts 17
patrickk
patrickk
Qantas
Member since 19 Apr 2012
Total posts 731
I think they are just delaying retirement and squeezing revenue out of it while other A330 routes are being juggled, or planes repainted or serviced.
melbtraveler
melbtraveler
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 02 Jan 2015
Total posts 20
Yes Booked for August and shows 747. I'm hoping it goes back to A330 before then but not holding my breath.
AALF
AALF
QF
Member since 31 Dec 2014
Total posts 8
Having just flows SYD-HNL-SYD on 7 Dec and back 9 Dec, 747 was 85% full, including 100% J seats filled. Having compared HNL PE and J fares compared to Asian destinations, QF is definitely pricing aggressively, with PE coming in at around ~$1600-2000 return and business for sub 4,000 - not bad strategy to squeeze utilisation out of the ageing 747 and drive numbers. I would also note that later in December (as at a couple of weeks ago), pricing remained aggressive, sans typical QF holiday premium. I also noted the flight is an AA codeshare and there were quite a few AA passengers onboard, which can't hurt seat filling either. At least from my limited experience, seems like right aircraft for the job (assuming aggressive pricing).
whoppersandwich
whoppersandwich
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 11 Dec 2017
Total posts 125
Qantas will be missing a very important slice of the market once the 747 goes (sub-400 seater). I do hope that with the recent reprieve in fuel that they are able to extend the 6 ERs at the very least.
johnaboxall
johnaboxall
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
Member since 24 Aug 2011
Total posts 384
Sweat the asset. It's money for old rope, and the A330 can be utilised elsewhere.
Red Cee
Red Cee
Member since 15 Feb 2018
Total posts 151
Maybe they realise that the extra seats are required. While very fuel efficient, the 787’s don’t have the seats of a 747. QF will most likely need an additional service at least some days a week to service HNL.
patrickk
patrickk
Qantas
Member since 19 Apr 2012
Total posts 731
I can see another A330 lease or two happening to fill the gap before maybe 787-10s come in to take up the regional slack from around 2021.
whoppersandwich
whoppersandwich
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 11 Dec 2017
Total posts 125
Lots of A350/787/777Xs are expected to be freed up in 2019/2020 production slots should Etihad cancel their orders, which is rumoured to be highly likely!
Aidan
Aidan
Member since 05 Dec 2018
Total posts 94
A Mel-Hnl direct flight by qantas 787 would be great.
Albinoni1967
Albinoni1967
Member since 01 Nov 2018
Total posts 4
Is Qantas going to buy any Airbus A350's
dm12
dm12
Member since 08 Feb 2018
Total posts 200
Totally agree. It’s perfect length flight up and back with 24 hrs, and if they can fill a 744 then it’s almost a no-brainer.
Red Cee
Red Cee
Member since 15 Feb 2018
Total posts 151
I agree with Aidan. Once all the 787’s are in place, and a few additional ones have arrived, I see SYD to HNL being a daily flight, and say three a week will commence in MEL. This would bring total services a week to HNL to ten. Maybe the A330 will take place of one of the 787’s.
David
David
Member since 24 Oct 2010
Total posts 1,016
Just updating this: we can advise that the red-tailed jumbo will be headed to Honolulu all the way through to August 29, 2019.
AT
AT
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 14 Sep 2012
Total posts 16
I just returned from family holiday to Hawaii in November and we flew on the Qantas 747 both ways in business class. Both flights were full in both business and premium (had friends in premium class) both ways and if economy class was not full then it was by only a few seats. The service, crew, meals, flight were faultless, I can't rave enough about how great Qantas was and to be on the 747 again was magic.