The countdown is on for the delivery of the first Qantas Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. Australian Business Traveller will be aboard the invitation-only 'ferry flight' from Seattle to Sydney (and we hope to share with you some great 'behind the scenes' snippets and snaps) – but for now, we can confirm the following details for the delivery flight.
The flight number is QF7879, and it's scheduled to depart Seattle at noon (local time) on Tuesday October 17, and arrive at Honolulu at 2pm the same day – where we will have an overnight break before being wheels-up at 11.30pm on Wednesday October 18.
The current timetable – which could vary a bit, as these things are wont to do – will see QF7879 touching down at Sydney on Friday October 20 at around 7am. It'll then taxi around past the Qantas lounges at T3 (a good chance for some sticky-beaking from the windows!) to pull into the T3-adjacent Hangar 96 for a special (also invite-only) arrival event which will run through to mid-morning.
I am surprised they are not going direct to Sydney. The plane definitely has the legs. I am guessing it is due to crew hours, but since it is a delivery flight, for a plane they keep saying has amazing range, I can't see why they wouldn't load extra crew and do it properly.
I am surprised they are not going direct to Sydney. The plane definitely has the legs. I am guessing it is due to crew hours, but since it is a delivery flight, for a plane they keep saying has amazing range, I can't see why they wouldn't load extra crew and do it properly.
David can confirm, but it is to do with arrival timings into SYD and the PR aspect of the flight.
How are they expecting to get from PER-LHR in one hop if they have to have a 30+ stand down in HNL from SEA. Surely if its related to PR in SYD couldn't they depart SEA later?
7AM Friday arrival into SYD could've been quite easily done nonstop with a 10PM Wednesday departure from Seattle. I assume they are picking up VIPs and press in HNL hence the stopover. Even then, I expect the plane will be fairly empty with only pax in J class. (Don't think VIPs would like 9 abreast Y class and QF won't want press concentrating on the back of the bus!!!)
It could also be to do with the cost. Just because it can fly direct it doesn't mean that it's economic to do such a long flight without paying customers onboard.
A shame it's flying into SYD not MEL when it's going to be based in MEL.
I am told by a friend at Qantas its also been a tradition to overnight in Hawaii on all Boeing Delivery flights. I am pretty sure Jetstar also did the same on the delivery flights for the 787-8
Just to clear up the Hawaii stopover: it's certainly the case for some Boeing 737 deliveries I've been on (and also the Jetstar Boeing 787-8 delivery flight), although at least one has been at Fiji... this can have much to do with scheduling arrival of the flight into Sydney at an optimum media-friendly event-friendly time. The Qantas Boeing 787-9 certainly could do non-stop from Seattle to Sydney – Air New Zealand's 787=9 delivery flight did Seattle-Auckland in a single leg, but it was a long leg and as I recall, arrival time into Auckland was rather late and not at a TV/media-friendly time.
In the case of this Qantas delivery flight, the timings and stopover also have a PR angle: it's very much a working flight in many ways, with interviews and TV segments etc etc done on board, which wouldn't work well if the flight left Seattle at 10pm; splitting the flight at Hawaii also allows media to experience both the daytime and night-time aspects of the flight & service, while also providing that nice morning arrival into Sydney for TV coverage and then (I presume) letting staff visit Hangar 96 throughout the day to check out the newest member of the fleet.
David
David
Member since 24 Oct 2010
Total posts 1,021
The countdown is on for the delivery of the first Qantas Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. Australian Business Traveller will be aboard the invitation-only 'ferry flight' from Seattle to Sydney (and we hope to share with you some great 'behind the scenes' snippets and snaps) – but for now, we can confirm the following details for the delivery flight.
The flight number is QF7879, and it's scheduled to depart Seattle at noon (local time) on Tuesday October 17, and arrive at Honolulu at 2pm the same day – where we will have an overnight break before being wheels-up at 11.30pm on Wednesday October 18.
The current timetable – which could vary a bit, as these things are wont to do – will see QF7879 touching down at Sydney on Friday October 20 at around 7am. It'll then taxi around past the Qantas lounges at T3 (a good chance for some sticky-beaking from the windows!) to pull into the T3-adjacent Hangar 96 for a special (also invite-only) arrival event which will run through to mid-morning.
flychrisfly
flychrisfly
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 09 Jun 2011
Total posts 40
Did the Boeing factory tour today and saw no Skippies on tails :(
Grannular
Grannular
Member since 31 Mar 2014
Total posts 284
I am surprised they are not going direct to Sydney. The plane definitely has the legs. I am guessing it is due to crew hours, but since it is a delivery flight, for a plane they keep saying has amazing range, I can't see why they wouldn't load extra crew and do it properly.
mannej
mannej
QF
Member since 21 May 2014
Total posts 176
David can confirm, but it is to do with arrival timings into SYD and the PR aspect of the flight.
Timmy22bc
Timmy22bc
Member since 18 Oct 2015
Total posts 16
How are they expecting to get from PER-LHR in one hop if they have to have a 30+ stand down in HNL from SEA. Surely if its related to PR in SYD couldn't they depart SEA later?
reeves35
reeves35
Member since 24 Aug 2011
Total posts 83
7AM Friday arrival into SYD could've been quite easily done nonstop with a 10PM Wednesday departure from Seattle. I assume they are picking up VIPs and press in HNL hence the stopover. Even then, I expect the plane will be fairly empty with only pax in J class. (Don't think VIPs would like 9 abreast Y class and QF won't want press concentrating on the back of the bus!!!)
mviy
mviy
Member since 05 May 2016
Total posts 322
It could also be to do with the cost. Just because it can fly direct it doesn't mean that it's economic to do such a long flight without paying customers onboard.
mviy
mviy
Member since 05 May 2016
Total posts 322
blaird
blaird
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 01 Aug 2013
Total posts 36
I am told by a friend at Qantas its also been a tradition to overnight in Hawaii on all Boeing Delivery flights. I am pretty sure Jetstar also did the same on the delivery flights for the 787-8
Nick Sydney 2
Nick Sydney 2
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 22 Jul 2015
Total posts 83
Worlds longest gestation period....that QF baby better be good.
David
David
Member since 24 Oct 2010
Total posts 1,021
Just to clear up the Hawaii stopover: it's certainly the case for some Boeing 737 deliveries I've been on (and also the Jetstar Boeing 787-8 delivery flight), although at least one has been at Fiji... this can have much to do with scheduling arrival of the flight into Sydney at an optimum media-friendly event-friendly time.
The Qantas Boeing 787-9 certainly could do non-stop from Seattle to Sydney – Air New Zealand's 787=9 delivery flight did Seattle-Auckland in a single leg, but it was a long leg and as I recall, arrival time into Auckland was rather late and not at a TV/media-friendly time.
In the case of this Qantas delivery flight, the timings and stopover also have a PR angle: it's very much a working flight in many ways, with interviews and TV segments etc etc done on board, which wouldn't work well if the flight left Seattle at 10pm; splitting the flight at Hawaii also allows media to experience both the daytime and night-time aspects of the flight & service, while also providing that nice morning arrival into Sydney for TV coverage and then (I presume) letting staff visit Hangar 96 throughout the day to check out the newest member of the fleet.
patrickk
patrickk
Qantas
Member since 19 Apr 2012
Total posts 737
Also it is good to have the press fresh on arrival. Even in business class a 14hour flight zonks you out a bit.
Bob Burgess
Bob Burgess
Member since 13 Sep 2016
Total posts 49
David, will AusBT be giving readers a chance to attend the 'invitation-only' welcome event at Hangar 96 for the B789's arrival?
David
David
Member since 24 Oct 2010
Total posts 1,021
We're hopeful of that, Bob – and if so, we'll run a reader contest here :)
markpk
markpk
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 29 Nov 2013
Total posts 459
Would be awesome if you could get them over the line David...
And well done on getting a seat on the flight. I can't wait for the reviews