Oh man....I have a flight booked SCL - AKL in a couple of months, and reading this thread and all the others re engine problems in the fleet, my confidence in the 787 (for a transpacific flight without alternates in case of emergency ) is not the best right now... Anyway, fingers crossed...

ojjunior wrote:

dcajet wrote:

Yes - per FR24. Empty, of course

https://www.flightradar24.com/data/airc ... r#11257786

Good Lord, that's a heck of a boring flight isn't it?
Sadly incomplete flight info.. would love to see how long it really took...

Well, a SYD-EZE is around 13 hours so I'd say a BNE-GIG should be on the 15 to 16 hours region. Certainly not doable on a commercial basis. but with an empty 777-200ER, perfectly doable.

juliuswong wrote:

thgsr08 wrote:

Well, LATAM confirmed the 747 from Wamos, HOWEVER it came with another new. 2 772 ex-SIA are joining LA's fleet soon.
The ideia of 4 LATAM Brasil's 77W could be expeculation or thrue, no one knows.

First ex-SQ B772ER has landed. Delivery 23-24 April 2018 from Alice Springs to GIG via BNE.

Boeing 777-212 MSN28532 LN407
Formerly with VIM Airlines as VP-BDR, Singapore Airlines as 9V-SVH
You will get the previous generation purple coloured, angled flat bed called Spacebed and those thick cushion blue and purple Y seats.

Is there any news related to this? Got interested in knowing more details about the planes, config and future routes. Would assume that these would join JJ fleet, taking advantage of the existing crew.

reffado wrote:

https://ponteaerea.net/2018/04/24/latam-realiza-devolucao-de-boeing-777-300er/

Brazilian Aviation Blog is now reporting PT-MUI is en route to AUH, for maintenance and return to lessor.

Not sure about accuracy considering everyone seems to have a different view of what LATAM will do with the 77W fleet, but this would match their 2017 annual report filing, which stated they would go into 2019 with 9 77W aircraft, instead of 10.

I think you are correct. It has been listed for sale/ lease for past one month. The bird is owned by BBAM.

http://www.myairlease.com/available/ava ... _lease_777

prchan wrote:

juliuswong wrote:

thgsr08 wrote:

Well, LATAM confirmed the 747 from Wamos, HOWEVER it came with another new. 2 772 ex-SIA are joining LA's fleet soon.
The ideia of 4 LATAM Brasil's 77W could be expeculation or thrue, no one knows.

First ex-SQ B772ER has landed. Delivery 23-24 April 2018 from Alice Springs to GIG via BNE.

Boeing 777-212 MSN28532 LN407
Formerly with VIM Airlines as VP-BDR, Singapore Airlines as 9V-SVH
You will get the previous generation purple coloured, angled flat bed called Spacebed and those thick cushion blue and purple Y seats.

Is there any news related to this? Got interested in knowing more details about the planes, config and future routes. Would assume that these would join JJ fleet, taking advantage of the existing crew.

No. This aircraft will join LA fleet, probably on SCL-AKL-SYD/IPC-PPT routes, affected by the ETOPS140.
The config is C35Y247.

dcajet wrote:

ojjunior wrote:

dcajet wrote:

Yes - per FR24. Empty, of course

https://www.flightradar24.com/data/airc ... r#11257786

Good Lord, that's a heck of a boring flight isn't it?
Sadly incomplete flight info.. would love to see how long it really took...

Well, a SYD-EZE is around 13 hours so I'd say a BNE-GIG should be on the 15 to 16 hours region. Certainly not doable on a commercial basis. but with an empty 777-200ER, perfectly doable.

@ojjunior: Yes, an empty B777-200ER can do it without much trouble, like what @dcajet mentioned. Note that ASP is a storage facility set up more recently. There are few ex-Air NZ B763ER, SQ B777 and QF 763ER that went there to storage.

I don't know how LATAM's passengers have or will react to these wet leases, but Avianca's operation with temporary leased A330s from WAMOS and Evelop has caused MAJOR upset among customers, many of which have flooded social media and newspapers with complaints and videos about the clearly inferior hard and soft product among these aircraft compared to Avianca's usual 787-8s.

Avianca even had to publish a disclaimer in their website specifying the (very basic) features and services provided onboard these aircraft, and they claim to offer discounted fares on flights operated by these airplanes.

Avianca has been regularly flying wet leased A330s on its Medellin and Cali to Madrid flights since the 2017 pilot strike went on in September, and continued to do so when all the 787 engine trouble began. At least one of the daily BOG-JFK flights is being operated by a WAMOS A330 as well. Fortunately all three daily BOG-MAD flights and daily BOG-BCN have stayed solid as 787s throughout these months.

Southamerica wrote:

I don't know how LATAM's passengers have or will react to these wet leases, but Avianca's operation with temporary leased A330s from WAMOS and Evelop has caused MAJOR upset among customers, many of which have flooded social media and newspapers with complaints and videos about the clearly inferior hard and soft product among these aircraft compared to Avianca's usual 787-8s.

Avianca even had to publish a disclaimer in their website specifying the (very basic) features and services provided onboard these aircraft, and they claim to offer discounted fares on flights operated by these airplanes.

Avianca has been regularly flying wet leased A330s on its Medellin and Cali to Madrid flights since the 2017 pilot strike went on in September, and continued to do so when all the 787 engine trouble began. At least one of the daily BOG-JFK flights is being operated by a WAMOS A330 as well. Fortunately all three daily BOG-MAD flights and daily BOG-BCN have stayed solid as 787s throughout these months.

Well, I think it's fair complaining when you don't know the reason the airline is doing it. Business travelers should be the most affected due to differences of seats and general confort provided by these aircrafts.
If I was one of these passangers, I'd be thanking them for changing the aircraft - safety, only.
I've flown LATAM several times and altought it changes the regular schedule, long delays - more than 16h at SYD and no assistance - they're my favorite airline - LA&O6 - and people should recognize they're making a huge effort to make it work without the only widebody they have - in this case, the Chilean one.
I think to make it easier, they should make it clear to passangers, when they're buying tickets or flights to be operated by these "spare" aicrafts.

Anyway, NZ is having the same issue but at least its fleet consist in others 772 and 77W to replace the problematic 789s.

juliuswong wrote:

reffado wrote:

https://ponteaerea.net/2018/04/24/latam-realiza-devolucao-de-boeing-777-300er/

Brazilian Aviation Blog is now reporting PT-MUI is en route to AUH, for maintenance and return to lessor.

Not sure about accuracy considering everyone seems to have a different view of what LATAM will do with the 77W fleet, but this would match their 2017 annual report filing, which stated they would go into 2019 with 9 77W aircraft, instead of 10.

I think you are correct. It has been listed for sale/ lease for past one month. The bird is owned by BBAM.

http://www.myairlease.com/available/ava ... _lease_777

Very sad.

Southamerica wrote:

I don't know how LATAM's passengers have or will react to these wet leases, but Avianca's operation with temporary leased A330s from WAMOS and Evelop has caused MAJOR upset among customers, many of which have flooded social media and newspapers with complaints and videos about the clearly inferior hard and soft product among these aircraft compared to Avianca's usual 787-8s.

Avianca even had to publish a disclaimer in their website specifying the (very basic) features and services provided onboard these aircraft, and they claim to offer discounted fares on flights operated by these airplanes.

Avianca has been regularly flying wet leased A330s on its Medellin and Cali to Madrid flights since the 2017 pilot strike went on in September, and continued to do so when all the 787 engine trouble began. At least one of the daily BOG-JFK flights is being operated by a WAMOS A330 as well. Fortunately all three daily BOG-MAD flights and daily BOG-BCN have stayed solid as 787s throughout these months.

Poor passengers. We can't actually blame them when they were expecting 787 with all the latest on-board gadgets, IFE.....the promise of "a whole new level of comfort and in-flight experience". However, they ended up getting nothing but a very basic service and seat. Looking through google images, Wamos A330 J class is a mix of last generation seat, few level step down from their current J offering on board 787. Two ex-Monarch Airlines are equipped with ex-LH J seat, the lone ex-Air Europa with ex-AF old J seat and the latest two additional A332 are ex-airberlin.

reffado wrote:

[threeid][/threeid]

juliuswong wrote:

thgsr08 wrote:

Well, LATAM confirmed the 747 from Wamos, HOWEVER it came with another new. 2 772 ex-SIA are joining LA's fleet soon.
The ideia of 4 LATAM Brasil's 77W could be expeculation or thrue, no one knows.

First ex-SQ B772ER has landed. Delivery 23-24 April 2018 from Alice Springs to GIG via BNE.

Boeing 777-212 MSN28532 LN407
Formerly with VIM Airlines as VP-BDR, Singapore Airlines as 9V-SVH

Will these be a temporary measure or will they be painted into LA livery and all?

Not sure? But when it was leaving Brisbane it was still in the VIM Airlines livery...


https://www.flickr.com/photos/flyingist ... ed-public/

Also this is my first post!

flyingisthebest wrote:

reffado wrote:

[threeid][/threeid]

juliuswong wrote:

First ex-SQ B772ER has landed. Delivery 23-24 April 2018 from Alice Springs to GIG via BNE.

Boeing 777-212 MSN28532 LN407
Formerly with VIM Airlines as VP-BDR, Singapore Airlines as 9V-SVH

Will these be a temporary measure or will they be painted into LA livery and all?

Not sure? But when it was leaving Brisbane it was still in the VIM Airlines livery...


https://www.flickr.com/photos/flyingist ... ed-public/

Also this is my first post!

Welcome to A.net. Brace yourself and have loads of fun!

Nice catch btw, stunning picture of VP-BDR!!

flyingisthebest wrote:

reffado wrote:

[threeid][/threeid]

juliuswong wrote:

First ex-SQ B772ER has landed. Delivery 23-24 April 2018 from Alice Springs to GIG via BNE.

Boeing 777-212 MSN28532 LN407
Formerly with VIM Airlines as VP-BDR, Singapore Airlines as 9V-SVH

Will these be a temporary measure or will they be painted into LA livery and all?

Not sure? But when it was leaving Brisbane it was still in the VIM Airlines livery...


https://www.flickr.com/photos/flyingist ... ed-public/

Also this is my first post!

Nice catch, indeed! I assume this is a short-term lease by LA, but I have to wonder why the aircraft is still registered to VIM and painted in its colors. Didn't they go belly up?

Some photos of VP-BDR leaving BNE from one of the local spotter Facebook groups:
https://m.facebook.com/groups/694170733 ... 9909269937

Skyliners is reporting PT-MUH has gone to AUH for lease return but this must be an error as it’s still in service

RB211trent wrote:

Skyliners is reporting PT-MUH has gone to AUH for lease return but this must be an error as it’s still in service

It is PT-MUI the one that went to AUH

reffado wrote:

flyingisthebest wrote:

reffado wrote:

[threeid][/threeid]

Will these be a temporary measure or will they be painted into LA livery and all?

Not sure? But when it was leaving Brisbane it was still in the VIM Airlines livery...


https://www.flickr.com/photos/flyingist ... ed-public/

Also this is my first post!

Nice catch, indeed! I assume this is a short-term lease by LA, but I have to wonder why the aircraft is still registered to VIM and painted in its colors. Didn't they go belly up?

Yea, VIM Airlines bankruptcy happened overnight after a long slow death. All aircraft were repossessed by lessors and flown out almost immediately for storage, therefore livery was not removed. Actually that might only be a sticker.

They are few ex-SQ B772ER that LA can pick up from the desert if they want to standardise their leased temporary birds.

EC-MDS is the Jumbo picked for LATAM's operations.
It is now sporting a different Wamos Air livery, a grey livery identical to the one used on the A330 EC-MTT. Seems to be a special livery celebrating their 15 years of operations.

However, an Argentinian (or Chilean, can't remember now) aviation blog said that this grey livery was a request of LATAM, to avoid confusion of Wamos Air birds with local SKY Airlines planes, which use similar colors in their liveries.

I wonder if LATAM has ever considered a few new 748s for South American hot and heavy ops?

JackMeahoff wrote:

I wonder if LATAM has ever considered a few new 748s for South American hot and heavy ops?

They have 77Ws which are not restricted anywhere they fly. The 789/A359 is where they are going size wise. If they wanted more lift they would add 77Ws.

airzona11 wrote:

JackMeahoff wrote:

I wonder if LATAM has ever considered a few new 748s for South American hot and heavy ops?

They have 77Ws which are not restricted anywhere they fly.

Can't carry nearly as much cargo as the Queen as well as 50-75 fewer passengers.

JackMeahoff wrote:

airzona11 wrote:

JackMeahoff wrote:

I wonder if LATAM has ever considered a few new 748s for South American hot and heavy ops?

They have 77Ws which are not restricted anywhere they fly.

Can't carry nearly as much cargo as the Queen as well as 50-75 fewer passengers.

77W carries more cargo. They only have a limited need for 6 77W that they nearly phased out. 748 is unfortunately not in the realm of possibilities.

JackMeahoff wrote:

I wonder if LATAM has ever considered a few new 748s for South American hot and heavy ops?

Almost none of the South American airports were LATAM operates long haul with widebodies (EZE/GRU/GYE/LIM/SCL) are hot/high etc. BOG being th exception due to is height

There are very few routes, if any, on the LATAM network, where a 748 makes sense. They can all be better/more efficiently served with the 77W/A350/787/767 current fleets. Further, why would any airline in its right mind go for a plane that clearly has been a complete flop in terms of sales/market demand? LATAM would got go for one even if it were free and came wrapped around with a nice pink bow.

dcajet wrote:

JackMeahoff wrote:

I wonder if LATAM has ever considered a few new 748s for South American hot and heavy ops?

Almost none of the South American airports were LATAM operates long haul with widebodies (EZE/GRU/GYE/LIM/SCL) are hot/high etc. BOG being th exception due to is height

There are very few routes, if any, on the LATAM network, where a 748 makes sense. They can all be better/more efficiently served with the 77W/A350/787/767 current fleets. Further, why would any airline in its right mind go for a plane that clearly has been a complete flop in terms of sales/market demand? LATAM would got go for one even if it were free and came wrapped around with a nice pink bow.

Accurate. Even as they downgrade 77W capacity evidences the 747 is too much plane. In fact, one could argue that the 747 has always been too much plane in South America. Even RG's operations with the type were relatively short lived, albeit mismanagement was also involved.

reffado wrote:

dcajet wrote:

JackMeahoff wrote:

I wonder if LATAM has ever considered a few new 748s for South American hot and heavy ops?

Almost none of the South American airports were LATAM operates long haul with widebodies (EZE/GRU/GYE/LIM/SCL) are hot/high etc. BOG being th exception due to is height

There are very few routes, if any, on the LATAM network, where a 748 makes sense. They can all be better/more efficiently served with the 77W/A350/787/767 current fleets. Further, why would any airline in its right mind go for a plane that clearly has been a complete flop in terms of sales/market demand? LATAM would got go for one even if it were free and came wrapped around with a nice pink bow.

Accurate. Even as they downgrade 77W capacity evidences the 747 is too much plane. In fact, one could argue that the 747 has always been too much plane in South America. Even RG's operations with the type were relatively short lived, albeit mismanagement was also involved.

I guess back in the 70s and 80s. the 747 made partial sense, at least for RG & AR. The only alternative was the DC-10. Back then, competition wasn't nearly as strong as it is today, and today's travelers demand frequency over capacity. In the case of AR, the only two routes where the 747 made sense were EZE-MAD and EZE-AKL-SYD. For the rest of the network, the 747 was too much.

No one knows where the 747 will be deployed?

Swadian wrote:

No one knows where the 747 will be deployed?

SCL-LIM-LAX apparently.

phatfarmlines wrote:

Scanorama wrote:

When will see a LATAM 77W painted in the new livery?

Is the plan still to get rid of the 77W in favor of a 787/350 fleet majority?

There is a report, PT-MUI is now in AUH, likely it will be retired.

Man i was hoping for the 744 to be in LA colors. I saw a mock-up of a 747 with the tail and big billboard logo on the front where the fuselage is taller and it looks gorgeous.
(Something close is the first return for ‘LATAM 747’ on google images, the one I saw had a bit taller lettering and it was a 747/400.)

dcajet wrote:

In the case of AR, the only two routes where the 747 made sense were EZE-MAD and EZE-AKL-SYD. For the rest of the network, the 747 was too much.

Well, you just made the case for AR to use 747s on at least two routes.

748 has almost double the seating capacity of AR's A330-200s.

JackMeahoff wrote:

dcajet wrote:

In the case of AR, the only two routes where the 747 made sense were EZE-MAD and EZE-AKL-SYD. For the rest of the network, the 747 was too much.

Well, you just made the case for AR to use 747s on at least two routes.

748 has almost double the seating capacity of AR's A330-200s.

And also AR lost mega bucks with those 747s...

LATAM Argentina will loan/transfer 2 A320s to LATAM Chile to cover for fleet shortages due to the ongoing issues with the 787 fleet. LATAM Argentina will increase flying with its remaining fleet of 13 A320s and 3 767s to cover for the two 320s going to Chile.

This is the LATAM official PR:

LATAM Airlines Argentina

Información sobre cambios en la flota Airbus 320

Buenos Aires, 7 de mayo de 2018. – LATAM Airlines Argentina informa que, a fines de mayo de 2018, transferirá a casa matriz dos aeronaves Airbus 320. Esta decisión está vinculada a las necesidades operacionales del holding LATAM frente a las demoras generadas a nivel industria por el programa de mantenimiento preventivo de los motores Rolls-Royce de los Boeing 787.

De tal manera, a partir de ese momento la flota local quedará conformada por 13 aviones Airbus 320 y 3 aviones Boeing 767.

En esta misma línea, cabe destacar que dicha situación no representa riesgo alguno en la seguridad de la operación.

Por otra parte, la transferencia de estos aviones no tendrá impacto en las fuentes laborales del personal de la Compañía, ni afectará la oferta doméstica y regional de LATAM en Argentina, cuyo itinerario se cumplirá optimizando la utilización diaria de los aviones.

LATAM Airlines Argentina ratifica su compromiso con los más altos estándares en seguridad y calidad de servicio.

juan885 wrote:

thgsr08 wrote:

LATAM Chile has wet-leased a WAMOS Air 747 to temporarily replace some 787 stored after their engine issue.
The 747 comes to help the airline to keep flying to routes where Dreamliners use to do so, together with another 4 A332,
also wet-leased couple weeks ago and are now flying GYE-MAD, BOG-JFK, GYE-JFK, BOG-SCL..

LA doesn't fly BOG-JFK, only AV. Which btw, are also using a WAMOS A332 on one out of their two daily flights BOG-JFK for months now. Anyone know why?

Sorry for the late. The answer is the ACDAC strike (obviously not the real reason), but them firing the pilots while not having enough backup for them, so they just get cheap Wamos leasing, which has awful 330 planes, dirty, bad seat recline, etc etc., while still charging as much as AV does.

And to make things even better, plenty of the affected sacked pilots were 787 certified, so they had to get boeing pilots to supply those (which has raised several concerns in the US, and will most likely get Boeing to pull back the assistance).

thgsr08 wrote:

Southamerica wrote:

I don't know how LATAM's passengers have or will react to these wet leases, but Avianca's operation with temporary leased A330s from WAMOS and Evelop has caused MAJOR upset among customers, many of which have flooded social media and newspapers with complaints and videos about the clearly inferior hard and soft product among these aircraft compared to Avianca's usual 787-8s.

Avianca even had to publish a disclaimer in their website specifying the (very basic) features and services provided onboard these aircraft, and they claim to offer discounted fares on flights operated by these airplanes.

Avianca has been regularly flying wet leased A330s on its Medellin and Cali to Madrid flights since the 2017 pilot strike went on in September, and continued to do so when all the 787 engine trouble began. At least one of the daily BOG-JFK flights is being operated by a WAMOS A330 as well. Fortunately all three daily BOG-MAD flights and daily BOG-BCN have stayed solid as 787s throughout these months.

Well, I think it's fair complaining when you don't know the reason the airline is doing it. Business travelers should be the most affected due to differences of seats and general confort provided by these aircrafts.
If I was one of these passangers, I'd be thanking them for changing the aircraft - safety, only...

It wasnt a safety issue, it was a revenge against the union because of the 50% reduction in operations due strike. They leased because they dont have enough pilots rated for both the 787 nor for high ETOPS rating, which is why you get Evelop and Wamos.

Now, the worst part is that even the people that buy business for BOG-JFK got shafted on AV244 due Wamos being crappy even on the "business" class, so its super sad.