Any updated word on A380 MEL-LAX?
Jan 10, 2011, 7:24 am
#1
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Any updated word on A380 MEL-LAX?
I was supposed to fly MEL-LAX on the A380 in mid Feb...Is there any word out there on when this route will feature the A380 again? What are they doing in the mean time? Keeping same flight times on 747's? I got an 85 minute connection in LAX on to JFK.
Thanks!
Thanks!
Jan 10, 2011, 12:53 pm
#2
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Same flight time using 747 (which is easy to do as 747 cruise is slightly faster than A380). Doubt there will be MEL-LAX using A380 in Feb, but I am booked on A380 in May; however have heard it will be just 1 per week initially, and only MEL-LAX (LAX-MEL will be using 747, with the A380 returning LAX-SYD instead, due to the extra fuel load needed for MEL). All academic atm as QF requires regulatory approval from CASA (Aussie FAA equiv) before any A380 flights to LAX can occur, and this hasn't been granted yet. RR hasn't demonstrated the safety of their modificiations so this could take a while and is out of QF's control.
Jan 10, 2011, 5:03 pm
#3
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Qantas are still planning to resume 388 transpacific flights in about a week.
See this post: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/qanta...l#post15623888
See this post: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/qanta...l#post15623888
Jan 10, 2011, 7:53 pm
#5
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Announcement from QF
http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news...111-19lz7.html
January 11, 2011 - 1:34PM
AAP
Qantas Airways Ltd says it will resume flights to Los Angeles using the Airbus A380 superjumbos from January 16.
The airline said on Tuesday the first A380 flight bound for the US will be QF 93 departing from Melbourne to Los Angeles.
© 2011 AAP
January 11, 2011 - 1:34PM
AAP
Qantas Airways Ltd says it will resume flights to Los Angeles using the Airbus A380 superjumbos from January 16.
The airline said on Tuesday the first A380 flight bound for the US will be QF 93 departing from Melbourne to Los Angeles.
© 2011 AAP
Jan 10, 2011, 7:54 pm
#6
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Sure, QF announced start SYD-LAX on Jan. 16 but that is no longer a credible start date given the lack of regulatory approval less than a week before that date. It can happen, but just as I predicted back in October that it wont be flying in Jan 2011, I predict it won't be starting on Jan 16. We can all speculate; those who know aren't allowed to post on FT as it is NDA info.
Jan 10, 2011, 8:12 pm
#7
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Media Release is here http://www.qantas.com.au/regions/dyn...2Fjan11%2F5057
Jan 10, 2011, 8:38 pm
#8
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The SMH story: http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news...111-19lz7.html
Jan 10, 2011, 9:06 pm
#9
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Sure, QF announced start SYD-LAX on Jan. 16 but that is no longer a credible start date given the lack of regulatory approval less than a week before that date. It can happen, but just as I predicted back in October that it wont be flying in Jan 2011, I predict it won't be starting on Jan 16. We can all speculate; those who know aren't allowed to post on FT as it is NDA info.
Given the delay of several days in actually making the announcement I would consider Qantas believe any regulatory issues have now been covered.
... otherwise this announcement would not have been made.
Jan 11, 2011, 5:19 am
#10
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Sure, QF announced start SYD-LAX on Jan. 16 but that is no longer a credible start date given the lack of regulatory approval less than a week before that date. It can happen, but just as I predicted back in October that it wont be flying in Jan 2011, I predict it won't be starting on Jan 16. We can all speculate; those who know aren't allowed to post on FT as it is NDA info.
I predict that it will be happening - my roster already reflects the change and they would for one not muck us around given the last 2 months of disruption for crew.
The A380 has been able to fly from LA for sometime now and can assure you the decision has been made much earlier than today.
Jan 11, 2011, 3:17 pm
#11
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Qantas A380 flights back to normal
QANTAS expects its trans-Pacific A380 program to gradually return to normal after it resumes flights to Los Angeles on Sunday.
The airline grounded the fleet in early November after a Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engine on one of its aircraft exploded after takeoff from Singapore.
It resumed flights to London later that month but decided against flying the big planes across the Pacific because of payload and operational restrictions.
That changed yesterday after the Civil Aviation Safety Authority endorsed Qantas plans for operating the engines at the airline's maximum setting of 72,000lb.
The endorsement was good news for both companies but leaves unresolved the question of compensation to Qantas for the damage to its aircraft, grounding of its fleet, loss of earnings and issues such as brand damage.
The airline grounded the fleet in early November after a Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engine on one of its aircraft exploded after takeoff from Singapore.
It resumed flights to London later that month but decided against flying the big planes across the Pacific because of payload and operational restrictions.
That changed yesterday after the Civil Aviation Safety Authority endorsed Qantas plans for operating the engines at the airline's maximum setting of 72,000lb.
The endorsement was good news for both companies but leaves unresolved the question of compensation to Qantas for the damage to its aircraft, grounding of its fleet, loss of earnings and issues such as brand damage.
Jan 11, 2011, 7:01 pm
#12
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QF would be pushing to get their marquee fleet back onto the pacific route to coincide with Australia Week in the USA and the Oprah episodes going to air...which just happens to be 15/16 Jan.
IMO it would just be for publicity purposes - it's not as if the desired boost in holiday travel will be immediate.
IMO it would just be for publicity purposes - it's not as if the desired boost in holiday travel will be immediate.
Jan 11, 2011, 7:22 pm
#13
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Might also have something to do with maxing out usage of the 744s that are looking over the fence at retirement and QFs only replacement option being the 380.
Jan 13, 2011, 6:03 pm
#14
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QANTAS plans to operate A380 on MEL LAX SYD pattern on 16JAN11.
After that A380 operates SYD LAX exclusively until 27MAR11.
http://airlineroute.net/2011/01/13/qf-lax-jan11update2/
After that A380 operates SYD LAX exclusively until 27MAR11.
http://airlineroute.net/2011/01/13/qf-lax-jan11update2/
Jan 13, 2011, 11:48 pm
#15
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After that A380 operates SYD LAX exclusively until 27MAR11.
http://airlineroute.net/2011/01/13/qf-lax-jan11update2/
http://airlineroute.net/2011/01/13/qf-lax-jan11update2/
QF11 - A380 6 times a week (except Wednesday)
QF12 - A380 Daily
QF93 - A380 once a week (Wednesday)