So despite moving runway 25L 200ft south of where it used to
be, adding an additional taxiway between runways 25L and 25R to prevent
runway incursions (and accomodate for the A380's wingspan), QFA is
still not impressed with the facilities at LAX.
If things stay the way they are, the A380, which will start its
service on both the SYD-LAX and MEL-LAX routes in October, will have to
be parked remotely, and passengers bussed into the terminal. Because of
this, QFA is threatening to move its A380 services to SFO, and keep
B744s on the Trans-Pacific routes.
It's main concern alongside the A380 conditions, is the
soon-to-be gone monopoly on being the only int'l carrier with direct
routes to Australia, when V Australia starts up in December. Currently,
it only has 1 daily flight to MEL from both SFO and LAX, so whichever
gets the A380 will score an additional two routes to/from MEL, if they keep
the B744 already used on that route.
BL.
- --
Brad Littlejohn | Email: tyk...@sbcglobal.net
Unix Systems Administrator, | tyk...@ozemail.com.au
Web + NewsMaster, BOFH.. Smeghead! :) | http://www.wizard.com/~tyketto
PGP: 1024D/E319F0BF 6980 AAD6 7329 E9E6 D569 F620 C819 199A E319 F0BF
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----
Version: GnuPG v1.4.9 (GNU/Linux)
iD8DBQFImUN7yBkZmuMZ8L8RAiY0AKDzm6BC1PZdcMDv/3Fu4OO3VJjFhQCfd995
vkVOIHcGuFnxslrKMMO4VJI=
=ofkE
-----END PGP SIGNATURE-----
--
misc.travel.air-industry is a moderated newsgroup. Please mail messages to
mt...@airinfo.aero, and see http://mtai.airinfo.aero for the FAQ and policies.
I see this as media hype on some planning differences between LAX and
QF. My guess is that LAX is fully ready for initial 380 service, but
Qantas may want additional A380 capacity faster than LAX had planned
for. (the article mentions ramping up capacity by 2012, perhaps Qantas
may want that gate capacity earlier).
It also depends on who else might wish to fly 380s to LAX which might
cause scheduling problems with 380 gates.
.
Qantas receives its first A380 Sept 19th, so the implementation plan
of two weekly flights to LAX
from Oct 20th seems leisurely. When frequency goes up to five weekly
with the delivery of the
second aircraft, it looks as if both aircraft will be on the ground at
LAX on Wednesdays, spending
most of the day there.
LAX has, I understand, two A380-suitable gates ready, and a total of
eight building.
Two gates would permit Qantas to fly twice daily: it currently
operates up to six flights daily on
the route, one going on to JFK. 5 weekly nonstops operate to Sydney:
all are currently with 744s.
United's operations to the South Pacific with 744s
Other airlines with A380s on hand are Emirates and Singapore. Neither
has announced planned
LAX flights.
Could the alleged problems deal with where to park the 2 A380s during
the day ?
It is my understanding that QF has a hangar where it can perform some
maintenance during the lenghty idle times at LAX. Could it be that the
380s don't fit those hangars and LAX has not provided any suitable
parking spaces ?
It isn't necessary for an aircraft to stay at the gate all day. It can
be towed to a parking position elsewhere when it has a long layover. You
could even argue that it's an abuse of the gate facilities to block
them, especially when in short supply.
--
Roland Perry
That should have read: up to six flights daily nonstop to the
South Pacific, including one originating at JFK, in addition to
5 nonstops weekly to Sydney out of SFO.