Hispania

While waiting for 787, Qantas turns attention to 777-300ER
Thursday August 28, 2008

Qantas is understood to be moving toward an order for the 365-seat 777-300ER as Boeing pulls out all stops to thwart a commitment to the rival A350-1000. ATWOnline understands that the order, if submitted to and ratified by QF's board, would be for 15 aircraft with deliveries as early as 2011. CEO Geoff Dixon yesterday confirmed the airline's interest in the -300ER. "We have aircraft orders of A$35 billion ($30 billion) in place and are in discussions with the manufacturers about options for the replacement of 747-400s not covered by our A380 order. This does include the 777-300ER, but no decision has been made and no proposal has been put to our board," he told this website in a statement.

QF has 20 A380s on order and a fleet of 24 747-400s and six 747-400ERs, for which it was the only customer. It has been pressing Boeing for some time about improvements to the 777-300ER, and according to Emirates President Tim Clark, Boeing has a package in hand. Earlier this month on the first commercial flight of EK's A380, Clark told ATWOnline that the -300ER upgrade would see a further 10% improvement in fuel burn (ATWOnline, Aug. 4). The so-called -300ERX would counter the promised brochure performance of the A350-1000, which Clark claimed still is being finalized.

Boeing has been weighing its response to the A350 for some time while balancing the need to wait for hard performance numbers from the 787 structural test program. The flight test program should be underway in early November (ATWOnline, June 25). Qantas Group has ordered 65 of the smaller 787s.

The A350 series has emerged in the past year as a potent competitor to both the 230/280-seat 787 and the 777, although delivery of the largest model, the -1000, will not begin until 2015. The 777-300ER and A350-1000 each burn approximately 20% less fuel per passenger than a 747-400. ATWOnline understands that if QF selects the 777-300ER, the 15 aircraft could come as early as 2011 and "maybe earlier" from some "protected positions" and from lessors such as ILFC. Boeing is under intense pressure to compensate Qantas for the 787 delay. A -300ER deal may be part of that compensation package.

by Geoffrey Thomas
ATW Daily News

QF A380

I noted this as well on "Aviation Record". Do you think QANTAS would open new routes or use them as a replacement on routes that are too thin for their 747-400s and too big for 767-300s?

It would be nice to see the big Boeing twin in the air for the flying Kangaroo.

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