Qantas is having quite a bad tine of it, what with strikes, high fuel costs, the high-value Australia Dollar, and the reorganisation of the business into different units. So much so, Qantas has hired Macquarie Group and set up an internal team to advise on defending potential private equity bids, according to Bloomberg. Qantas seems to wish to move into commerical … [Read more...]
Nancy Bird returns to the air
Qantas's Airbus A380 registered VH-OQA or known as "Nancy Bird Walton" finally returned home from Singapore on the 22nd April. The A380 suffered an uncontained engine failure on the 4th November 2010 as it departed Singapore with bits of the engine falling to the ground, forcing an emergency return to Singapore. Since the return of the aircraft to Singapore, the aircraft … [Read more...]
Airplane Repaint Saturday: Qantas A380
It's Saturday, and time for an aircraft to enter the paint shop As Qantas's Nancy Bird (their first A380) prepares to retake to the skies after it's extended break on the ground after her engine incident over 18 months ago, here's a video of her getting her first paint job in 2008. More airplane repainting next week! … [Read more...]
Nancy Bird Walton to take to the skies and fly home (QF32)
Remember Flight QF32? 18 months, ago, a Qantas Airbus A380 - VH-OQA "Nancy Bird Walton" experienced an uncontained engine failure over Batam in 2010, and had to limp back Singapore. As we all know, there were no injuries... save for the airplane itself. Well it's take 18 months of repairs, but it seems Nancy Bird is ready to take to the air again after extensive … [Read more...]
A new Jetstar on the horizon: Jetstar Hong Kong
After the failed attempt to create a premium carrier with Malaysia Airlines, Qantas is to try again to make a new airline. With it's Jetstar unit, Qantas and China Eastern Airlines are joining together to create a new budget carrier for the Chinese market Both airlines will be equal partners in this venture. The plan is to tie the networks together, with Jetstar Asia based … [Read more...]
Airplane Refit Saturday – Qantas 747-400
It's Saturday, and on a twist of on Airplane Repaint Saturday, this week it's Qantas refitting and repainting one of their Boeing 747-400's and installing A380 interiors inside the plane. And yes, they show economy being refitted too. More airplane repainting next week! … [Read more...]
Qantas’s “Premium Asian” Carrier goes up in smoke after talks end with Malaysia Airlines
In the saga of Qantas, it seems things just go from bad to worse. The plan to establish a premium airline has come to a halt after they withdrew from discussions with Malaysian Airlines. The excuse given is down to money: "Discussions with Malaysia Airlines on a partnership, including the establishment of a new premium airline, would not continue due to parties being unable … [Read more...]
Airplane Art – Qantas A380 at Sunset
It's Sunday, so it must be time for some airplane art. Rather than raiding though the archive of stuff I've shot, it's one from the end of my Japan trip - a Qantas Airbus A380 sitting pretty in the evening sun at London Heathrow Airport (Yes, it's clickable to view the large version!) More of course next week! … [Read more...]
Qantas – Delays 787-8 deliveries
Well it seems Qantas is trying to save money "any way possible", with the announcement that they will be deferring delivery of the first of their 787 fleet as a way of reducing capital expenditure. Qantas cites the delays by Boeing to actually deliver aircrft as a good excuse, with savings that are not inconsiderable. Well the odd million Aussie dollars to Qantas can be lost … [Read more...]
Virgin to Hire, Qantas to Fire…
It's all kicking off with news that Virgin Atlantic will be hiring up to 500 new cabin crew to support its new Airbus A330 London fleet. The crew (dual based between Heathrow and Gatwick) will be used to support Virgin Atlantic's new routes to Cancun and Vancouver, as well boost its staffing on other long haul fleet. Which is nice. Meanwhile in a land down under, … [Read more...]
