As I regular traveller on this route, I have been wondering how come Qantas only puts its oldest 747 with the standard Skybed 1 configuration on its longest 747 route SYD-SIN-FRA?

As I regular traveller on this route, I have been wondering how come Qantas only puts its oldest 747 with the standard Skybed 1 configuration on its longest 747 route SYD-SIN-FRA?

I understand this route does not justify deploying an A380 but with major competition offering a far better product on the Europe-Australia route this seems like a very unclever decision.

I have no definite answer, but can theorise. The competition on this route in business class isn't actually that great. Emirates do not offer lie flats on the DXB - FRA leg; Singapore only offer lie flats on certain SYD - SIN flights; Thai, Malaysian etc. also don't offer lie flats. Etihad is the only real competition offering lie flats on all flights. Therefore Qantas aren't really losing out too much by putting older 747s on this route.

Meanwhile, with almost all the competition to North America offering lie flats, it is of higher importance to put refurbished aircraft on these routes. Putting refurbished 747s on the Dallas flights may also encourage customers to choose this route over A380s to LAX for eastern connections.

These are only ideas, I don't know for definite, but I hope this helps.

Another reason, that isnt listed above is the fact that they dont have enough of the refurbished 747s to put on this route, in the furture when the 747-400s are being phased out and the 747-400ERs are still around, they are likely to put them on this route, we may even see an A380 one day!