QANTAS 787-9 |
After years of struggling to return to profitability, Australian carrier, QANTAS, has returned to the black and has started ordering the 787. Actually QANTAS had the 787-9 on order but cancelled an order for 35 aircraft in 2012 when their financial situation was bleak. They retained the 787-8 order for Jetstar (14 aircraft) as well as retained the 20 options and 30 purchase rights at the time of the cancellation. The purcahse rights have no production slots assigned to them whereas the options do. QANTAS will exercise the options first as the expiration dates come due.
The carrier ordered 8 787-9, 3 of which are conversion of 3 Jetstar 787-8 to 787-9, and exercised 5 options. The first four are to arrive between July 1, 2017 and June 30, 2018 while the second set of four will arrive between July 1, 2018 and June 30, 2019. These 8 aircraft will replace 5 747-400. QANTAS is not reducing overall fleet capacity but the use of the smaller 787-9 will give the airline more flexibility to down-gauge routes that are currently using the 747-400. Jetstar's 11th 787 is already on the flightline and should be delivered next month.
QANTAS still retains 15 options and 30 rights for any model 787, thus I do see that the 787-10 can very well be in QANTAS' future. The replacement strategy seems to be to only exercise the rights/options just before they are about to expire thus taking advantage of long term fleet and route planning at QANTAS as they replace the 747s.
ANA 787-9 ZB411 (LN329, JA872A) |
Lastly, ZB412 (LN345, JA873A) otherwise known as the "Star Wars" jet has been completed. According to plans, this aircraft should have it's first flight on August 26th and then flown to Everett on August 31st where it will be painted in the special Star Wars scheme. There is to be a special ceremony at the Future of Flight by ANA (I wonder if any of the cast of the new Star Wars movie will be there) around September 12th/13th. The airplane will return to Charleston on September 14th to continue delivery preparations which should take place around September 29th. The aircraft will be pressed into ANA service around October 16th.
787 Full Production Table
Total 787 Deliveries By Customer
2015 Projected Operator Deliveries
2015 Projected Customer Deliveries
2015 Projected Operator Deliveries
2015 Projected Customer Deliveries
Do you have any further information on KLM's order?
ReplyDeletehttp://worldairlinenews.com/2015/08/20/klm-modifies-its-boeing-787-order/
Subject to my arithmetic I think jetstar might have their 12th on the flightline ?
ReplyDeleteNo, it's their 11th and last.
ReplyDeleteUresh (or anyone), I noticed that early build LN14 (ZD006/Ethiopian) has been moved to the 40-24. What would be the reason for moving to an assembly line position? thanks in advance...
ReplyDeleteFor re-work and testing
ReplyDeleteHello! Does anyone know when will AF starts receiving their B787? Thank you.
ReplyDelete2017
ReplyDelete