Qantas today confirmed an updated schedule for its international network to ensure minimum disruption to passengers following the grounding of its Airbus A380 fleet.

The new forward schedule enables Qantas to accommodate customers on services across its entire international network over the coming weeks, regardless of when A380 aircraft re-enter service.

"While Qantas is committed to bringing its A380s back into service as soon as possible, this contingency schedule has been designed to provide certainty for customers planning to travel in the near future," the Australian carrier said in a statement.

"The Qantas Group has a fleet of over 250 aircraft across domestic and international operations and all Qantas aircraft are being utilised to minimise schedule disruptions."

Boeing 747s have been replaced by A330s on the Sydney to Narita route and A330s have been replaced by B767s on Perth to Singapore services. B747s have also been replaced by A330s on the Sydney to Hong Kong route. These changes will enable Qantas to operate 747s on long-haul international services previously operated by the A380.

For the period of 5 to 11 November, Qantas operated 505 of the 512 scheduled services across its international network.

Minor changes have been made to aircraft operating certain domestic services in order to provide alternate capacity on the Qantas international network.

Qantas is continuing an intensive inspection program on all Rolls-Royce engines in its A380 fleet and Qantas engineers have removed three engines to undertake further examination.

Engineers have been investigating the engines in detail and how their components and design perform under operational conditions, as opposed to the original out-of-factory expectations.

The European Aviation Safety Authority (EASA) today issued an Airworthiness Directive for all Rolls- Royce Trent 900 engines. Qantas' ongoing inspection program is fully compliant with this directive.

The specific checks mandated by the directive were already being carried out by Qantas in conjunction with Rolls-Royce.

Qantas' A380 aircraft will not return to service until there is complete certainty that the fleet can operate safely, the carrier said.