Have You Flown Overseas On These Qantas Aircraft?
Author: Australis Gifts Date Posted:14 February 2020
Qantas was the first airline to fly regular jet services across the Pacific, the first airline to fly around the world through both hemispheres, the first airline to fly non-stop London to Sydney (B747 delivery flight), and the first airline to introduce Business Class.
Qantas currently fly variants of four aircraft type on their international routes, namely the A330, B787-9, B747 and the superjumbo A380.
The A330-300 built by Airbus was first delivered to Qantas in November 2003. The first A380 was delivered in September 2008 and the first B787-9 was delivered in October 2017. The queen of the skies the B747 was first delivered to Qantas in August 1989 in the B747-400 variant (named City of Canberra). Whilst that particular B747-400 aircraft has retired there are still six in the fleet due to be retired by the end of 2020.
How do the different aircraft compare?
As best we can we have compiled the following specifications for the current Qantas fleet (as at 14/2/20):
|
|
A330-303 |
B787-9 |
B747-438ER |
A380-842 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
No. In Fleet |
10 |
11 |
6 |
12 |
|
Average Age |
15.6 yrs |
1.4 yrs |
17.1 yrs |
10.5 yrs |
|
Engine |
2x GE CF6-80E1A2 |
2x GEnx-1B74/75 |
4x GE CF6-80C2B5F |
4x Rolls Royce Trent 972-84 |
|
Take-off Thrust |
292.7kN - 310.5kN |
329.6kN |
232.2kN - 275.6kN |
341.4kN |
|
Cruising Speed |
880km/h |
1,050km/h |
920km/h |
925km/h |
|
Cruise Altitude |
8,500-11,800m |
10,600-13,100m |
8,800-13,100m |
10,600m-13,100m |
|
Range with full payload |
7,000km |
14,498km |
12,971km |
14,800km |
|
Seating |
297 (0F/28J/0W/269Y) |
236 (0F/42J/28W/166Y) |
364 (0F/58J/36W/270Y) |
485 (14F/70J/60W/341Y) |
|
Wingspan |
60.3m |
60.12m |
64.94m |
79.8m |
|
Length |
63.7m |
62.81m |
70.4m |
72.57m |
|
Height |
16.84m |
17.02m |
18.96m |
24.1m |
|
Cabin Width |
5.28m |
5.49m |
6.1m |
6.54m (main)/5.8m (upper) |
|
Max. Take-off Weight |
233,000kg |
254,000kg |
412,000kg |
560,000kg |
|
Max. Landing Weight |
187,000kg |
193,000kg |
295,000kg |
386,000kg |
|
Payload |
47,400kg |
42,722kg |
48,208kg |
64,500kg |
|
Wheels |
10 |
10 |
18 |
22 |
|
Take-off Distance (indicative) |
2,220m |
2,800m |
3,090m |
2,900m |
Looking at the specs you have to marvel at the size of the A380 and the speed and range of the B787-9 in comparison.
The Qantas A330 flys to Asia and Hawaii (USA). The B787-9 flies to Los Angeles then on to New York, also to Chicago and San Francisco in the USA, and to London in the UK. The B747 is retiring later this year but in the meantime can be flown on to Los Angeles/New York and San Francisco in the USA, Santiago (Chile), Hong Kong (SAR China), Tokyo (Japan) and seasonally to Johannesburg (South Africa) and Vancouver (Canada). The Qantas A380 flys to Los Angeles and Dallas/Fort Worth in the USA, London (UK), Singapore, and seasonally to Hong Kong (SAR China)
If you have any comments we would love to hear them. Also, have a look at the model Qantas aircraft and other aircraft we have for sale.