ASIA-PACIFIC STOP IN 2020
Qantas: Boeing 747-400
The half-century of aviation history ends at Qantas with the early retirement of its last six Boeing 747-400ERs in June, with the final farewell flights in July.
The announcement that the iconic guy would be leaving the fleet for good was not a big surprise. The new, more efficient Boeing 787-9 is set to replace the remaining 747s in Qantas service this year. Sadly, the coronavirus pandemic, which wiped out much of the lost Qantas fleet and the international network, brought the airline's incredible 747 journeys to an early end, which has operated the strain continuously since 1971.
Data from the Cirium fleet shows that Qantas operated eight passenger variants of the 747. Additionally, Qantas operated a trio of 747-400Fs from 2010 to 2017.
Qantas' peak year with 747 came in 2000, when it operated 37 units in five variants. It consists of 25 747-400, six -300, two -200B, two -200B combis and a pair of long range 747SPs.
Over the years, Qantas has generally opted for the 747 powered by Rolls-Royce RB211, although the later -400ER was powered by the GE Aviation CF6 turbofan engine.
Virgin Australia: Boeing 777, Airbus A330, ATR 72
Virgin Australia announced on August 5 that it would operate the entire Boeing 737 fleet and focus on short-haul and domestic destinations, as part of a restructuring effort under new owner Bain Capital.
The operator, which entered voluntary administration earlier this year amid declining travel demand due to the coronavirus outbreak, said it would streamline its fleet "to achieve profitability and eliminate operational complexity ". This means the departure of the jumbo jet fleet, which includes the 777-300ER, the Airbus A330 and the ATR 72.
Prior to the departure of its large jet and turboprop fleets, Virgin Australia had a fleet of five 777s, six A330-200s and 12 ATR 72s.
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