Qantas Airways is speeding up retirement of six older Boeing 747s while bringing forward delivery of three 747-400ERs.The carrier says it will retire its two 747SPs in November and December this year, while four 747-200s will be retired in 2003 instead of 2006-7 as planned. This is partly due to maintenance costs, but also to slowing global economic conditions. Qantas is, however, bringing forward deliveries of three 747-400ERs. It announced an order for six last year, to be delivered between 2002 and 2006. It says now that three will be delivered between late 2002 and early 2003,followed by the remainder in the first half of 2003.
Source: Flight International
