Thoughts on qantas ordering 777-8/9x or order some new a380 neo if they come out or both?

Thoughts on qantas ordering 777-8/9x or order some new a380 neo if they come out or both?

I think the new 777 will be the preferred option. The market is really trending to twin engine and the 777 has proved to be an extremely profitable plane to operate. It also opens up a lot of flexibility for Qantas, in destinations but increased Cargo capacity. The A380 actually has less cargo capacity than the 777 due to the upper deck and the increased patronage luggage taking up cargo space.

I think the A380's future lies in the hands of the Middle East airlines as arguably they are the only true hub and spoke airlines left that require such large capacity aircraft.

i think qantas will order the 777x for to be delivoured sometime next decade as the 747-400ER's have plenty of life still in them. Qantas will never order the A380 even if the neo variant is ever built. 

The problem for Qantas is they currently need the 4 engine aircraft to operate the routes to Africa and soutern South America. If these routes are operated with 2 engine aircraft, they'd need ETOPS 240 or better to do the routes without large detours. As long as CASA refuses to allow anything more then ETOPS 180 for Australian carriers, QF needs those 747/A380s.

The ETOPS 240+ issue is partly what caused VA to drop their 777 MEL-JNB route.

QF still has 8 A380 on order. They were defered in 2012. They need to decide this year what they are going to do with those orders.

In 2014 the FAA gave the 787 approval for its ETOPS to be extended to 330ETOPS from 180ETOPS. 

It doesn't matter what the FAA says about ETOPS. As far as VA and QF go, it's up to CASA.

Both the type and operator need ETOPS clearance for each level. If CASA will only approve 180, QF can only use 180, even if the type has ETOPS330 clearance.

Qantas is certainly better off with the Boeing 777X, preferably the 777-8 version over the 777-9 due to range and seat capacity factors. The Airbus A380neo has little chance in the Red Roo's fleet (as in any other airline's fleet apart from the Middle East network carriers) as Qantas' long haul routes no longer need the range-equipped quad-jets like the A380 or 747; the 787-9 that it is taking from 2017-18 is a better option any day.