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The A330-200 that experienced an engine failure on the descent into Perth on Monday night was over two decades old – and the oldest wide-body in Qantas’ fleet.
It comes a year after Qantas’ pilot union accused the airline of a failure of fleet planning by not having enough new international aircraft, and also following the Flying Kangaroo’s decision to order another 12 A350s and 787s to replace its ageing A330s.
However, both Boeing and Airbus are experiencing delays in delivering new aircraft following ongoing supply chain problems caused by COVID-19. The aircraft are currently only scheduled to arrive in FY27.
Last night, passengers on board flight QF781 from Melbourne reported hearing a loud bang as the A330-200, VH-EBA (pictured), descended into Perth.
The crew shut off the engine at fault and landed normally, with the aircraft able to taxi to the gate under its own power.
The Qantas fleet currently contains 10 A330-300s and 18 A330-200s, ranging from 21 to 11 years old; VH-EBA is the oldest A330 in the Qantas fleet, having been manufactured in October 2002. The only older aircraft Qantas operates are 15 of its 737-800s.
While emergency services met the aircraft on arrival, an emergency landing was not necessary, and a Qantas spokesperson said the airline’s engineers will now inspect the plane.
“The pilots followed the procedures for this type of incident and manually shut down the engine and requested a priority landing. These aircraft are designed to safely operate with one engine,” the spokesperson said.
“We know this would have been unsettling for customers on board and we thank them for their cooperation and understanding.”
Pilots’ union the Australian and International Pilots Association has lauded the crew for their role in landing the plane safely, with president Tony Lucas saying Qantas pilots are “very well-prepared” to manage “extremely rare” incidents such as this.
“The safety of our passengers, crew and cargo is always the priority for any pilot and we rigorously train for these unlikely scenarios,” he said.
“The QF781 crew displayed great professionalism, skill and expertise in delivering a safe outcome for everyone.
“This incident demonstrates that having two well-rested and well-trained pilots on the flight deck is the best safety feature available to aviation.”
The Flying Kangaroo is looking to replace its A330s progressively with brand-new A350s under its Project Winton fleet renewal program, with former CEO Alan Joyce last year announcing 12 additional new A350s, as well as 12 787-9 Dreamliners, to supplant the bulk of the A330 fleet.
“Both the 787 and A350 and the GE and Rolls Royce engines fitted to them are thoroughly proven and extremely capable,” said Joyce at the time.
“These are generational decisions for this company. The aircraft will arrive over a decade or more, and they’ll be part of the fleet for 20 years. They’ll unlock new routes and better travel experiences for customers and new jobs and promotions for our people.”
In a significant intervention last April, Lucas told The Australian Qantas urgently needed new aircraft for international routes.
“We’ve got 49 options (for 787s), but if you order those now, it’s probably three-and-a-half years before the jet turns up,” Captain Lucas said.
“So that means no increase in the main line fleet for the next four years, and at the same time, two A330s have just been sent to Germany to be converted into freighters. At a time when you’re short of passenger capacity, it seems a strange decision to make.”
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says:The aircraft would not have its original engines still fitted after 20 years of service, so I’m unclear as to the relevance of it being the oldest in Qantas fleet to this incident?