Tag Archives: Boeing 747-438 ER

QANTAS operates its first Boeing 747 farewell flight

QANTAS Airways today (July 13) operated its first Boeing 747-400 farewell flight from Sydney with VH-OEJ.

Video:

The special flight s continue on July 15 in Brisbane and on July 17 in Canberra.

Previously QANTAS announced a program of events to farewell its last remaining Boeing 747 and provide Australians the opportunity to say goodbye to the much loved “Queen of the Skies” ahead of its retirement from the national carrier’s fleet.

The airline will operate three one-hour “farewell jumbo joy flights” departing from Sydney, Canberra and Brisbane, in response to requests from employees and customers for one final chance to fly on the aircraft.

QANTAS 747 Fleet Captain Owen Weaver said the 747 has a special place in the hearts of many Australians.

“The 747 has been a magnificent aircraft and it’s fitting that we celebrate the end of five decades of history-making moments for the national carrier and aviation in Australia,” Captain Weaver said.

“Since the first 747 joined the Qantas fleet in 1971, these aircraft have operated numerous rescue flights to bring Australians home during times of crisis and provided a safe passage for many travellers taking their first international flight to or from Australia.

“These three flights will offer the final opportunity to fly on the Qantas 747 before it leaves, with some of our frequent flyers and aviation enthusiasts as fond of the aircraft as we are, having spent thousands of hours onboard over the years.

“There is an enormous amount of nostalgia and affection associated with our 747 and for those who miss out on a seat on the flight, they will at least be able to catch a glimpse of the aircraft as it takes to Australian skies for the last time.”

The flights will go on sale at midday on Wednesday 8 July on Qantas.com and will operate on Monday, July 13 (Sydney), Wednesday, July 15 (Brisbane) and Friday, July 17 (Canberra). Economy fares cost $400 and a small number of Business Class tickets will be available for $747 with additional extras included.

Seats will be limited to maximise passenger comfort (in line with other previously operated joy flights).

The flights will be operated on a cost-recovery basis and profits will be donated to the HARS Aviation Museum at Albion Park (Wollongong) and the Qantas Founders Museum in Longreach to support their efforts to preserve and promote the 747 legacy for future generations. Both museums have a QANTAS 747 on public display.

The final 747-400 in the fleet will depart Sydney at approximately 2 pm on July 22, 2020 as flight QF7474.

Prior to its final departure on July 22, QANTAS will host a hangar farewell event for employees.

Top Copyright Photo: QANTAS Airways Boeing 747-438 ER VH-OEJ (msn 32914) BNE (Peter Gates). Image: 908305.

QANTAS Airways aircraft slide show:

QANTAS Airways parks its five Boeing 747-400 ERs

QANTAS Airways, due to the coronavirus and sudden downturn in travel, has decided to park its five remaining Boeing 747-400 ERs. Previously it was planning to retire the type in February 2021. The airline hopes to operate some Boeing 747 revenue flights later this year when traffic returns.

On Thursday, March 26, 2020, a QANTAS Boeing 747-400 ER performed a flypast over Sydney Harbour before landing at SYD as a final salute to its hometown.

The last revenue flight (for now) was flight QF28 from Santiago, Chile to Sydney today (March 29). The flight was operated with the pictured Boeing 747-406 ER VH-OEE (top). Flight QF28 arrived in Sydney at 1730 (5:30 pm) local time on Sunday, March 29, 2020.

QANTAS previously retired the standard Boeing 747-400 in October 2019.

Above Copyright Photo: QANTAS Airways Boeing 747-238B VH-EBA (msn 20009) (Bruce Drum Collection). Image: 944371.

QANTAS has been an operator of the Boeing 747 since 1971. The first 747-238B (VH-EBA), named “Canberra” (above), was delivered to the airline on July 30, 1971 and arrived in Sydney on August 16, 1971. The type was introduced on the Sydney-Melbourne-Singapore route.

Above Copyright Photo: QANTAS Airways Boeing 747-338 VH-EBU (msn 23223) (Nalanji Dreaming) SYD (John Adlard). Image: 930000.

QANTAS has operated the 747-200B, 747SP (below), 747 Combi, 747-300 (above), 747-400 and the 747-400 ER.

Above Copyright Photo: QANTAS Airways Boeing 747SP-38 VH-EAA (msn 22495) (Boeing – Christian Volpati Collection). Image: 944958.

When Cyclone Tracy devastated the city of Darwin on Christmas 1974, QANTAS established a world record for the most people ever carried on a single aircraft when it evacuated 673 people on a single Boeing 747 flight.

The first Boeing 747-400 arrived in 1989.

Top Copyright Photo: QANTAS Airways Boeing 747-438 ER VH-OEE (msn 32909) LAX (Michael B. Ing). Image: 931607.

QANTAS Airways aircraft slide show:

QANTAS operates its last Boeing 747 flight from the Mainland USA

QANTAS Airways on December 3, 2019 operated the last regularly scheduled Boeing 747 revenue flight from the mainland United States.

This flight ended 47 years of Boeing 747 service to the mainland United States.

Flight QF74 was operated with the pictured VH-OEE.

SFO made this announcement on social media:

Goodbye Queen! On December 3 QANTAS flew it’s final 747 flight from Sydney to SFO, ending 747 service to the Mainland US. These planes will be replaced by the 787 Dreamliner starting the following day.

Top Copyright Photo: QANTAS Airways Boeing 747-438 ER VH-OEE (msn 32909) LAX (Michael B. Ing). Image: 931607.

QANTAS aircraft slide show:

QANTAS to replace the Boeing 747-400 on the San Francisco route on December 4

QANTAS Airways has made this announcement:

QANTAS has announced the Sydney-San Francisco route as the next route for its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner.

From December 4, 2019, customers traveling between Sydney and San Francisco will experience the Dreamliner’s next generation Economy, Premium Economy and Business cabins.

The change is timed with the phased delivery of the airline’s six additional Dreamliners as the more efficient aircraft gradually replaces the Boeing 747-400 aircraft on QANTAS’ international network by the end of 2020.

The Sydney-San Francisco Dreamliner service will operate daily and complements QANTAS’ existing Dreamliner service between Melbourne and San Francisco which operates four times per week.

The popular Californian city is one of five international destinations currently served by the Qantas Dreamliner, together with Los Angeles, New York, London and Hong Kong.

“The 747 has been the backbone of our international fleet for more than 40 years, so it will be the end of an era and the start of another when we farewell the Queen of the Skies from flying to mainland America.

QANTAS currently has eight 787-9s in its fleet, with a further six arriving from October 2019, bringing the total fleet of Dreamliners to 14 in the second half of 2020. The arrival of the new aircraft is enabling the airline to accelerate retirement of its remaining Boeing 747-400s.

QANTAS’ Dreamliner carries 236 passengers across three cabins. It features the latest version of the airline’s Business Suite, nicknamed “mini First Class” by some frequent flyers, as well as a next generation Premium Economy seat and a significantly improved Economy seat with extra storage compartments and more legroom.

Top Copyright Photo: QANTAS Airways Boeing 747-438 ER VH-OEI (msn 32913) JFK (TMK Photography). Image: 936240.

QANTAS Aircraft slide show: