Richard A

AA has the oldest livery I can think of, dates back to 1969!

Actually there's a fair bit more to the story than you think so it's best you not jump to conclusions here. LH may even be able to help, yes help the airlines that the EU have slapped charges on. We'll see how this all plays out.

Well said, I'm sure it's this financial services and technology related biz travel between these two big business centres which is what's filling up the F+J seats that just isn't quite there for KUL/ZRH. Another major factor to consider in all of this is number of connections. LX=star alliance, ZRH=star alliance hub and likewise for SQ/SIN which as I see it would also help make this a popular route. Consider the sizeable catchment area (Europe, Asia, Oceania) that LX/SQ connections serve beyond their respective ZRH/SIN hubs. Although I wonder if the 2nd daily ZRH by SQ means LX will exit SIN? It would make sense in my opinion given the inconvenience of the BKK stopover. I was once told that the SIN leg wasn't profitable LX so I wonder if much has changed recently.

My guess is LHR, AMS, SYD after that perhaps a few of the successful regional routes if there's enough time for it between long-haul runs. As much as I'd like to see it, I highly doubt MH would send the A380 to AKL as it's only 5pw 772 even during the busy peak season. MH once operated a daily 744 here with but it looks like they couldn't sustain that level of capacity nor first class. Honestly though do MH really need the A380? I would have thought ~12 77Ws instead would be more appropriate.

Looks like the new long haul cabins, 777s, and changes to the longhaul network have been rather successful so far. Look forward to seeing what they've got planned for the future.

Since the aircraft is an ex UA machine (prior to going to RG), it would probably retain the same UA 777 hardware like seats and IFE equipment etc.

CGK has been daily for some time now. BNE will be 332.

I don't think it was 9V-SPS/ex. 9M-MPC as 9M-MPC's most recent flight logged was June 28th as MH017 (AMS-KUL). It was probably 9V-SPP. Look forward to seeing your pics from the flight.

Yes AKL (SQ285/6) will be seeing a lot of the ex MH aircraft. I was under the impression that they won't start running them on the AKL route until after July 1st, i.e. when the 772ER was originally meant to take over on this flight but who knows. 9M-MPC will also be leased to SQ.

Would have been a close one as I'm book on CX108 June 23rd. I'm hoping they schedule the 77W on 285/6 once the lease on the ex MH 744s ends. Then make up for the lost seats on this flight by making 281/2 a daily service.

I've read that 9M-MPE and MPC will both be leased to SQ for something like 10 months. Both have been withdrawn from MH and returned to their owner whose name I've forgotten, the owner will then lease them to SQ. SQ is running short of longhaul aircraft with the serious A380 delays and existing commitments to other airlines who SQ already agreed to sell their 744s to. SQ285/6 SIN-AKL-SIN will get one of the leased aircraft, the original plan was for the flight to be downgraded to a 772ER from July 1st but I guess SQ realized it's not an ideal solution given that this flight does quite well in all three classes.

http://www.airliners.net/open.file/1216432/L/ Hmm, right... Not only is the angle not good for the plane, but where's the heat distortion from the exhaust on the mountain? Seems a bit suspicious to me.

Hi SV, I can't quite remember where I read this or which forum it was posted on but an article said that A320s would be used. I'm curious as to whether they'll use VH- or ZK- regos. I was expecting them to merely repaint the 737s to JQ livery to be honest, although the A320 in my opinion would be a better plane as a spotter and a pax. Time will tell I suppose.

What's the point? Air NZ domestic services are already no-frills! Also it won't be long before JQ replaces QF on domestic NZL ops.

Hey SV, yeah I'm still living in Akld. Probably will be for quite some time to come I'm afraid. When do you move to HK? We should pop out to the airport for some spotting some time. According to your travel plans, it looks like I will also be in HKG when you're there in July. Fancy some spoting at HK airport if you've got time? My uncle, aunt, cousin here went up to HKG for a few days last week on CX and noted the seating was a bit cramped. I'm really not a fan of those standard pre-Koito CX Airbus fleet Y seats. Not to worry though, in the not too distant future CX will refurbish their 343s (not sure about their leased ones though) with the new J and Y seating including the long overdue AVOD for Y. Unfortunately though the 744 fleet has priority over the 343 which will be the last of the longhaul aircraft to be done. Hopefully AKL will also at some point get the 77W during the peak travel season. Edit: Also I see you'll be flying on the last SQ 744 out of AKL as the route will become all 772ERs afterwards.