Qantas orders six more Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners
By David Flynn, May 2 2018
Qantas will today announce an order for six more Boeing 787-9 jets, bringing the total red-tailed Dreamliner fleet to 14 in number.
The first of these additional 787-9s is due to arrive in late 2019, with a rapid delivery of all six by mid-to-late 2020 – just in time for the airline's 100th anniversary in 2020.
Qantas CEO Alan Joyce tips that with the new Dreamliners "we’ll be looking at destinations in the Americas, Asia, South Africa and Europe."
Paris and Germany have already been pencilled in as likely European destinations.
Read: London done, now Qantas eyes non-stop flights to Paris
The six new Boeing 787-9s will sport the same seating and configuration as the first eight.
Dreamliners in, jumbos out
These additional Dreamliners will allow Qantas to retire its remaining ten Boeing 747-400 jumbo jets by the end of 2020.
Qantas currently flies the ageing and fuel-thirsty jumbo jets to the USA (and seasonally to Vancouver), Asia, South America and South Africa, with some of those routes to be taken over by the Boeing 787 and others handed across to Airbus A330s.
"This really is the end of one era and the start of another," Joyce remarked.
"The jumbo has been the backbone of Qantas International for more than 40 years and we’ve flown almost every type that Boeing built. It’s fitting that its retirement is going to coincide with our centenary in 2020."
“By the end of 2020 we’ll have farewelled the 747, finished upgrading the cabins of our A380s, and welcomed our fourteenth 787."
The airline has not advised where the new Dreamliners will be based; the first order of eight jets was split four-each between Melbourne and Brisbane.
Is this the sweet spot for Qantas' Boeing 787 fleet?
Qantas' second tranche of Boeing 787s is drawn from a total 'orders and options' book of some 45 Dreamliners, although the airline is not expected to take up all of those due to changes in where it will use the Boeing 787s.
The size of the initial order, which stretches back to 2005, reflected Qantas’ intention to have the Boeing 787 replace the Airbus A330 on domestic routes.
However, Joyce has previously told Australian Business Traveller that he no longer plans to put the Boeing 787 onto domestic routes.
"Our thinking has evolved... while the 787 as with the A330 are pretty powerful they are over-spec'd" for domestic flights, "so the economics do not work."
Instead, Qantas will revamp its domestic fleet from the mid-2020s with either the advanced Boeing 737 MAX or the Airbus A320neo and the yet-to-be-built mid-sized Boeing 797, which would also pick up some flights into south-east Asia.
Read: Qantas CEO increasingly bullish on the Boeing 797
David Flynn
David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.
Traveller14
Traveller14
17 Sep 2015
Total posts 391
B789 in Y is 'nightmareliner.'
aklrunway
aklrunway
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
09 May 2011
Total posts 333
andredfb
andredfb
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
28 Apr 2013
Total posts 14
SteveCF
SteveCF
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
15 Aug 2012
Total posts 170
It will be a sad day however when we no longer see the red kangaroo on a 747. There’s no doubt this aircraft opened a work of possibilities to Australian travelers.
patrickk
patrickk
Qantas
19 Apr 2012
Total posts 395
AJW
AJW
16 Nov 2011
Total posts 501
As for the rest of your comment as a regular traveller I couldn’t disagree more. Qantas as others have pointed out have a reasonable fleet age (not airlines have the ability to roll aircraft over to meet the perceptions of age from clients). Their product whilst not THE best is pretty good and competitive. Food is good, yeah there are negative reports but think you will find that most companies have significantly more negative reviews than positive as that’s how people operate. And service, yeah can be a bit laid back but frankly that is representative of us as Australians and I much prefer that over the faux robotic service you get on Asian airlines or the over the top nonsense from the ME3.
Bob Burgess
Bob Burgess
13 Sep 2016
Total posts 184
Tlar
Tlar
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
17 Jul 2013
Total posts 19
Traveller14
Traveller14
17 Sep 2015
Total posts 391
Lots of comments on Internet about travellers are choosing other aircraft in Y and actively avoiding the B789s.
Contrary to what one might think, many business travellers use Y, especially on medium haul trips to north and southeast Asia. So it's a big consideration.
Michael Kao
Michael Kao
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
06 Nov 2014
Total posts 336
aklrunway
aklrunway
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
09 May 2011
Total posts 333
David
David
24 Oct 2010
Total posts 2322
Packetman21
Packetman21
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
28 Jul 2016
Total posts 108
crazybenjamin
crazybenjamin
15 Dec 2015
Total posts 21
mviy
mviy
05 May 2016
Total posts 524
GregXL
GregXL
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
26 May 2014
Total posts 395
Himeno
Himeno
12 Dec 2012
Total posts 920
Rons47
Rons47
01 May 2015
Total posts 7
mviy
mviy
05 May 2016
Total posts 524
If QF goes with the 787 for SYD-SFO, perhaps with greatly reduced capacity out of SYD, QF will be able to increase MEL-SFO services to daily or close to daily.
fxdxdy
fxdxdy
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
18 May 2011
Total posts 219
Something about CASA only approving twin engines for 180mins?
Or has that restriction been relaxed?
Tlar
Tlar
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
17 Jul 2013
Total posts 19
Himeno
Himeno
12 Dec 2012
Total posts 920
The Southern Ocean routes need at least ETOPS240 to be viable.
reno
reno
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
20 Sep 2013
Total posts 469
reno
reno
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
20 Sep 2013
Total posts 469
NQflyer
NQflyer
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
02 Jun 2015
Total posts 30
travelator
travelator
QFF Gold QC gold
26 Nov 2012
Total posts 56
reno
reno
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
20 Sep 2013
Total posts 469
[Deleted by admin - personal attack]
7OD
7OD
24 Apr 2012
Total posts 21
https://www.ausbt.com.au/qantas-boeing-787-brisbane-los-angeles-new-york-flights-start-sept
GregXL
GregXL
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
26 May 2014
Total posts 395
NQflyer
NQflyer
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
02 Jun 2015
Total posts 30
QF15/16 and QF55/56
Try fact checking before you insult people.
ChrisCh
ChrisCh
24 Apr 2012
Total posts 2925
GBRGB
GBRGB
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
21 Jan 2014
Total posts 212
johnnypc67
johnnypc67
28 Nov 2012
Total posts 90
Madhatter49
Madhatter49
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
11 Dec 2016
Total posts 40
Frank
Frank
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
09 Sep 2013
Total posts 175
He appears to know nothing about 747s or aircraft in general.
Joe
Joe
03 May 2013
Total posts 365
Joe
Joe
03 May 2013
Total posts 365
Mike66
Mike66
30 Apr 2015
Total posts 6
Himeno
Himeno
12 Dec 2012
Total posts 920
Both ANA and JAL, the first airlines to get 787s, installed 8 across. Every other airline has gone with 9 across.
ANA has converted theirs to 9 across, JAL hasn't.
Passengers don't like 9 across 787s because it causes the economy seats to be narrower then the seats on simliar sized aircraft.
Powerledger
Powerledger
01 Mar 2018
Total posts 8
Paddy1916
Paddy1916
06 Jan 2017
Total posts 7
UpUpAndAway
UpUpAndAway
QF
11 Jul 2014
Total posts 287
Zulu
Zulu
24 Apr 2017
Total posts 4
PER to Britain or anywhere such as France Germany involving long hours in a cramped and very narrow Economy seat is going to leave them open to potential legal action for avoiding the safety aspect (deep vein thrombosis). And, Qantas would get more sales growth if they could answer this vexing question. The 787 is a short term solution for them but not the long term answer.
Ian D
Ian D
03 Dec 2015
Total posts 2
pkjames
pkjames
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
21 Jan 2017
Total posts 45
PER-LHR in QF Y would be quite a nightmare.
azriazmi90
azriazmi90
Malaysia Airlines - Enrich
28 Feb 2017
Total posts 8
Himeno
Himeno
12 Dec 2012
Total posts 920
Himeno
Himeno
12 Dec 2012
Total posts 920
Getting rid of the 747ERs in 2020 is quite surprising. They were expected to still be around at least until 2022, if not through 2025.
Still, they could always change their minds about that again.
Felipe
Felipe
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
18 May 2017
Total posts 16
Dan22
Dan22
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
07 Aug 2013
Total posts 54
johnnypc67
johnnypc67
28 Nov 2012
Total posts 90
Sr Batrill
Sr Batrill
04 Dec 2017
Total posts 25
johnnypc67
johnnypc67
28 Nov 2012
Total posts 90
Fynsie
Fynsie
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
02 May 2018
Total posts 1
But has to happen. Entertainment failure; seat recline failure; cupboard door in front of my fav seats falling off in turbulence. All recent (< 12 mths) events on QF15/16 which are my most regular flights. The old girls are no longer young and beautiful. (PC incorrect but describing an emotion; hope that not censored!)
jed
jed
14 Feb 2015
Total posts 1
Dan22
Dan22
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
07 Aug 2013
Total posts 54
Have done only once the 787 on Etihad and I was so squashed for a 10hr flight. Did manage to fall asleep but remember waking up so hot, dehydrated and sweating. Personally, the only excitement out of this announcement is potential new routes and being a Perth local more direct connections to Europe the better for economy etc. I read an article the QF PER-LHR flights are always full in premium cabins. I might have thought a chance on future b787 orders to increase premium cabin seating.
johnnypc67
johnnypc67
28 Nov 2012
Total posts 90
johnnypc67
johnnypc67
28 Nov 2012
Total posts 90
GoldenClub
GoldenClub
15 Jan 2013
Total posts 37
After one flight I lodged an official complaint about the service provided by one of the staff.
I think a 50% strike rate is just too high when forking out hard earned cash for business class. I will be flying again later this year as part of a very competitive Finnair fare, but would never choose to fly all the way to Europe paying the premium price QANTAS charges for the Kangaroo Route.
My impression is that QANTAS is a company just doesn't care enough anymore about providing consistently great service.
Any word on whether QANTAS will fix their 787 PE pitch which was received such negative reviews?
GregXL
GregXL
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
26 May 2014
Total posts 395
Jedi
Jedi
04 May 2018
Total posts 24
Jedi
Jedi
04 May 2018
Total posts 24
zoomzoom
zoomzoom
21 Aug 2015
Total posts 90
patrickk
patrickk
Qantas
19 Apr 2012
Total posts 395
GregXL
GregXL
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
26 May 2014
Total posts 395
cooper81
cooper81
BA Gold
01 Apr 2012
Total posts 149
The other interesting thing to note is the customer comfort on the 747. BA's highest 'aircraft customer satisfaction' rating is not for the A380 or 787....it's for the refurbished 747's.
BA's 747's will begin to be replaced by A350's in Q3 next year but BA is in no rush and just last month announced more 747's will get refurbished cabins so they can fly longer.
And as crew I can tell you i'd rather work on the 747 ANYYY day than the A380 or 787. The newer aircraft are basically designed to fit as many seats in as possible. Galleys are made as small and unpleasant to work in as possible, there tends to be lower toilet:bathroom ratios, less 'room' in general.
Long live the 747 I say!
puppy79
puppy79
06 Dec 2017
Total posts 112
mo
mo
22 Dec 2012
Total posts 37
In terms of customer experience, this is a step backwards. Unless you're a sardine.
MarkivJ
MarkivJ
22 Jan 2018
Total posts 61
AJW
AJW
16 Nov 2011
Total posts 501
The ME3 and the likes of CX, TG, SQ etc fly from Australia to hubs hence the multiple flights and larger aircraft.
With London in particular I am certain Qantas could do with some more flights and capacity, but the airline game is about maximizing profit with the resources available and that are affordable.
AT
AT
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
14 Sep 2012
Total posts 249
groags
groags
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
24 Apr 2018
Total posts 3
wanderingvan
wanderingvan
01 Feb 2018
Total posts 33
Flew SCL-AKL-SYD on Latam 787 in y not that long ago and it was better experience than some, the headroom,big windows certainly made the different compare to a A330.
In case if anyone wondering, I had been in F and J more frequently than y.
lakepacificair
lakepacificair
25 Nov 2016
Total posts 27
Hi Guest, join in the discussion on Qantas orders six more Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners