Qantas Airbus A380 refurbishment schedule

10 replies

Velar

Member since 22 Nov 2018

Total posts 2

Hi All,


Was hoping someone might have some info on the timings of the Qantas A380 refresh, have heard that the program will kick off early next year and I assume it’s probably about a month or so per plane.

I normally fly EK business to Europe but a trip next September is on Qantas, and their business class seat is poor to say the least. Last QF1 trip the seat wouldn’t go close to its angled recline, thus wasn’t a great flight! Obviously I’m hoping that my QF1 next Sept will be on one of the updated planes, I figure that by Sept they should probably have about 4/5 planes done, so I should have a 40% chance of getting the upgraded business class cabin. This assumes they don’t assign the new planes to the Kangaroo Route, then I should be ok!

If anyone has an idea would be grateful for any inside knowledge.

Cheers

patrickk

Qantas

Member since 19 Apr 2012

Total posts 737

I think it is 2 months per plane after the summer rush so from March 2019, so they re all done by the end of 2020. it will be nearer four planes by Septbut QF1 may be at the front of the queue.

harry77

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 20 Sep 2018

Total posts 1

Meanwhile the good old Qantas droop bed can be rescued by:

1. Fully extending the bed to “flat”
2. Requesting a plastic drinks tub from the crew (they won’t be surprised, they’ll know exactly what you’re up to)
3. Placing it on its side under the end of the bed then utilising 3-4 copies of the Qantas mag for fine level adjustment.
4. Requesting an extra underlay ‘mattress’
5. The speedy consumption of an alcoholic beverage of choice.

moa999

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 02 Jul 2011

Total posts 834

I think it is 2 months per plane after the summer rush so from March 2019, so they re all done by the end of 2020.

Agree it's more likely to be two months. The equivalent A330 refurbs took 30-60 days depending on whether major checks were also conducted.


I'd expect the refurb will be combined with the 12-yr check on a bunch of the fleet

Velar

Member since 22 Nov 2018

Total posts 2

Meanwhile the good old Qantas droop bed can be rescued by:
1. Fully extending the bed to “flat”
2. Requesting a plastic drinks tub from the crew (they won’t be surprised, they’ll know exactly what you’re up to)
3. Placing it on its side under the end of the bed then utilising 3-4 copies of the Qantas mag for fine level adjustment.
4. Requesting an extra underlay ‘mattress’
5. The speedy consumption of an alcoholic beverage of choice.

Best reply I’ve read on this website for quite a while!!

Poolprouk

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 14 Sep 2017

Total posts 8

I guess at some point Qantas will update the seat plan for busines class when they know which routes a refurbished A380 will be flying on and when. This would then be visible when you manage your booking. Not sure when that is likely to happen though?

David

Member since 24 Oct 2010

Total posts 1,021

I expect we'll see the revised A380 seat plan shortly before or around March 2019 when the first superjumbo goes under the knife.

Himeno

Member since 12 Dec 2012

Total posts 295

They are likely to do the refurbs during heavy checks when they have to strip the cabin out anyway.

simulate

Member since 15 Nov 2016

Total posts 5

I think it is 2 months per plane after the summer rush so from March 2019, so they re all done by the end of 2020.

Agree it's more likely to be two months. The equivalent A330 refurbs took 30-60 days depending on whether major checks were also conducted.

I'd expect the refurb will be combined with the 12-yr check on a bunch of the fleet

Fascinated by this 12 year check. Is that a D check based on hours or cycles or is QF on some other regime?

Madhatter49

Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards

Member since 11 Dec 2016

Total posts 86

What I'm interested in, is when VH-OQA will be done. As i expect it should be last. It had about 2 years less flying time on the clock while it was being repaired after the QF32 situation and was substantially rebuilt then, so may not need it's check as soon as the others will.

Himeno

Member since 12 Dec 2012

Total posts 295

What I'm interested in, is when VH-OQA will be done. As i expect it should be last. It had about 2 years less flying time on the clock while it was being repaired after the QF32 situation and was substantially rebuilt then, so may not need it's check as soon as the others will.

:) I had a LHR-SIN QF32 flight on VH-OQA a few months after it returned to service.

OQA had its first flight on January 25, 2008 and was delivered to QF September 19, 2008.
Had its first heavy check September 14 thru October 6 2010, then had the QF32 incident a few weeks later on November 04 before returning to service April 21, 2012.

Since then, OQA has spent April 2013 (cabin refit), March 2014 and Feb-March 2016 in MNL for maintenance. Other then minor checks in Sydney and a repaint in Dubai, it doesn't appear to have had any heavy checks since early 2016. It might be one of the next A380s to go for a heavy check.

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