A350 grounding - what is the longer term solution beyond re-utilising A330s?
Feb 2, 2023, 1:35 am
#121
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: AMS
Programs: BAEC Silver, Flying Blue Gold, TK M&S Nobody
Posts: 2,482
I thought they were, but couldn't point you to any evidence. I think I'd assumed they wouldn't be retrofitted until deliveries were complete anyway, since new seat sets would be better used in new frames [assuming that's a bottleneck at all]. By that point the Super Diamond seats would probably be rightly due a refresh anyway, so swap them out for QSuite...
Feb 2, 2023, 4:36 am
#122
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: London
Programs: BA GGL / GfL
Posts: 3,265
Pilot37
Feb 2, 2023, 4:55 am
#123
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2022
Programs: QRPC, BAEC
Posts: 682
A quick comparison, 20 years apart lol
The QR A330 IFE, in 2023
The CX A346 IFE, in 2003
Feb 2, 2023, 5:42 am
#124
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: AMS
Programs: BAEC Silver, Flying Blue Gold, TK M&S Nobody
Posts: 2,482
No airline is going to withdraw a frame or fleet solely because of outdated IFE kit, and the number of posters on here that seem to think anything from IFE up to entire business class seat sets can be swapped out over a long weekend is a bit odd.
I thought the A330s had already been parked before the issues with the A350s cropped up? There are some frames with EI now. I personally wouldn't expect them to hang around long, but that's just a guess. The time needed to fix the parked frames will clearly be crucial, along with whether they choose to put any extra capacity [new or repaired] towards expansion rather than getting rid of the A330s.
I thought the A330s had already been parked before the issues with the A350s cropped up? There are some frames with EI now. I personally wouldn't expect them to hang around long, but that's just a guess. The time needed to fix the parked frames will clearly be crucial, along with whether they choose to put any extra capacity [new or repaired] towards expansion rather than getting rid of the A330s.
Feb 2, 2023, 3:47 pm
#125
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: MEL
Programs: DL, QF, QR Gold, MR Lifetime Gold
Posts: 7,003
Indeed, pax don't get a vote on the planes that are used. Here we are knowledgeable and passionate about this stuff while most pax are clueless. Improvements to pax experience need to have an ROI. The QR A330s product is inconsistent with the rest of their fleet. Hopefully more A350s being brought [back] into service + new codeshare agreements gives QR the capacity they need to push the A330s out. I'm hoping they keep the A380s around.
Feb 3, 2023, 3:30 am
#126
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 842
Indeed, pax don't get a vote on the planes that are used. Here we are knowledgeable and passionate about this stuff while most pax are clueless. Improvements to pax experience need to have an ROI. The QR A330s product is inconsistent with the rest of their fleet. Hopefully more A350s being brought [back] into service + new codeshare agreements gives QR the capacity they need to push the A330s out. I'm hoping they keep the A380s around.
After that I predict the leased 777 will be next and some of the older non-Qsuite 777 will start leaving.
It makes sense for the A380 to stay on until the 777-9 is delivered, but I hope they resume the project to retrofit faster wifi on them which they announced prior to COVID.
Feb 3, 2023, 4:13 am
#127
Join Date: Apr 2015
Programs: Some
Posts: 5,262
I predict the A330 will be withdrawn first, bringing back the A350 will require qualified crew and the best source for that right now is the A330 fleet.
After that I predict the leased 777 will be next and some of the older non-Qsuite 777 will start leaving.
It makes sense for the A380 to stay on until the 777-9 is delivered, but I hope they resume the project to retrofit faster wifi on them which they announced prior to COVID.
After that I predict the leased 777 will be next and some of the older non-Qsuite 777 will start leaving.
It makes sense for the A380 to stay on until the 777-9 is delivered, but I hope they resume the project to retrofit faster wifi on them which they announced prior to COVID.
Feb 3, 2023, 6:42 am
#128
Join Date: Feb 2022
Location: YEG/KWI
Programs: EK Gold, QR Gold, WY Gold, Delta Silver Medallion
Posts: 461
I predict the A330 will be withdrawn first, bringing back the A350 will require qualified crew and the best source for that right now is the A330 fleet.
After that I predict the leased 777 will be next and some of the older non-Qsuite 777 will start leaving.
It makes sense for the A380 to stay on until the 777-9 is delivered, but I hope they resume the project to retrofit faster wifi on them which they announced prior to COVID.
After that I predict the leased 777 will be next and some of the older non-Qsuite 777 will start leaving.
It makes sense for the A380 to stay on until the 777-9 is delivered, but I hope they resume the project to retrofit faster wifi on them which they announced prior to COVID.
Feb 3, 2023, 7:26 am
#129
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2022
Programs: QRPC, BAEC
Posts: 682
I think the leased 77Ws are there to stay for the meantime, the ex-CX ones are leased directly from the leasing company (i.e. it won’t be going back to CX). A third ex-VA 77W is getting ready to be flown to Doha (VH-VPD) at the moment, the fourth one (VH-VPH) is also rumoured to be heading to QR as well.
Feb 3, 2023, 3:57 pm
#130
Join Date: Sep 2021
Location: YYZ
Programs: AP 50k, UA Silver, MB Titanium, HH Diamond
Posts: 247
Agreed, the A380s serve a useful purpose to slot constrained airports (e.g. LHR, SYD) and, despite what AAB has said to attack EK in the past, I doubt QR is going to willingly give up capacity on these routes right now with the crazy fares they are able to charge. I think (and hope!) the A380 will be here for a bit yet. The fact that most other airlines with idle A380s now appear to be reactivating them (EY, LH) is another interesting trend.
Feb 3, 2023, 4:02 pm
#131
Join Date: Apr 2015
Programs: Some
Posts: 5,262
Im hoping this is the case. Looking to snag a pair of A380 F award flights via BKK for next year but worried about equipment swap screwing me over. Will be going out of my way slightly to be able to experience the A380, would be a total buzz kill if they removed it
Feb 3, 2023, 5:49 pm
#132
Join Date: Sep 2021
Location: YYZ
Programs: AP 50k, UA Silver, MB Titanium, HH Diamond
Posts: 247
That's my feelings on it too. I guess worst case scenario i can try booking both routings (from CGK and from BKK), and hope that QR doesn't cancel my booking like some airline programs do for overlapping travel times.
Feb 4, 2023, 4:32 am
#133
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: CGK, BDO, MXP
Programs: QR Gold, WY Gold, TK Elite, EY Silver,
Posts: 464
No A380 for sure out of CGK, usually B787 and A359, at least last minute swap to A330 do not happen.
Feb 4, 2023, 5:10 am
#134
Join Date: Sep 2021
Location: YYZ
Programs: AP 50k, UA Silver, MB Titanium, HH Diamond
Posts: 247
Feb 4, 2023, 9:49 pm
#135
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Doha, Qatar
Posts: 374
Agreed, the A380s serve a useful purpose to slot constrained airports (e.g. LHR, SYD) and, despite what AAB has said to attack EK in the past, I doubt QR is going to willingly give up capacity on these routes right now with the crazy fares they are able to charge. I think (and hope!) the A380 will be here for a bit yet. The fact that most other airlines with idle A380s now appear to be reactivating them (EY, LH) is another interesting trend.