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QF have run some freight flights in occasionally during the pandemic.This is one route I've always thought Qantas would eventually launch. Pricing is a steep compared to Rex's community fare (which is $199 o/w) but competitive with the Promo and Saver fares which seem to start at $299/$368.40 o/w respectively.
Qantas has operated into Broken Hill a couple of times over the last year. I'm assuming they have been charters.
The Q200 was flown into BHQ back in May last year. The Q400 was flown in July last year.
QF2298: Live Flight Tracker - Real-Time Flight Tracker Map | Flightradar24
QF2299: Live Flight Tracker - Real-Time Flight Tracker Map | Flightradar24
Q300 VH-SBI flew in yesterday and is still on the ground. Probably to support the announcement activities.
Live Flight Tracker - Real-Time Flight Tracker Map | Flightradar24
A fair chunk of air freight and post for Broken Hill comes via ADL and Rex gets some good money from thatQantas probably saw the outrageous fares that Rex were charging and thought they wanted some of that, twice a wekkk might be good start and might do for some but not all (probably dependant on Dash 8 -300 availability as the -400 is too much capacity).
Since Covid struck, Rex have cut back a lot of frequency and redirected all their SYD-BHQ services via DBO which adds significant time and cost to commuting in and out of Broken Hill. A lot of these problems were outside Rex's control (SA, QLD and VIC state border closures) but Rex were certainly price gouging on the SYD-BHQ routes, although not so much on the ADL-BHQ routes, to the point where it often made sense to bypass SYD altogether and reroute travel via ADL if state borders allowed it.
I imagine many in the mining industry and in NSW Health are sick of subsidizing Rex's loss-making jet operations and will be using these new Qantas services (if competitive and flight times work) as having competition is advantageous. The only issue is that if Rex ceases their SYD-BHQ services then that route will become a QF monopoly. I would imagine that Rex would maintain their ADL-BHQ services (often via MQL) even if they pull up stumps on SYD-BHQ.
Qantas probably saw the outrageous fares that Rex were charging and thought they wanted some of that, twice a week might be good start and might do for some but not all (probably dependant on Dash 8 -300 availability as the -400 is too much capacity).
Since Covid struck, Rex have cut back a lot of frequency and redirected all their SYD-BHQ services via DBO which adds significant time and cost to commuting in and out of Broken Hill. A lot of these problems were outside Rex's control (SA, QLD and VIC state border closures) but Rex were certainly price gouging on the SYD-BHQ routes, although not so much on the ADL-BHQ routes, to the point where it often made sense to bypass SYD altogether and reroute travel via ADL if state borders allowed it.
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Qantas challenging Rex in Broken Hill after 18-year run for regional carrier
Regional Express Airlines' 18-year monopoly on flights to and from Broken Hill is over as QantasLink emerges as competition.www.abc.net.au
Wanted to get the train in the past, but both ways would be painful. This could be a fun way to spend a day or two.
At the bottom of this article, it says "The ABC has reached out to Rex for comment."
I'm looking forward to seeing what Rex has to say. In anticipation, I've made a bingo chart. Wonder if I can get five in a line?
View attachment 270681
At the bottom of this article, it says "The ABC has reached out to Rex for comment."
I'm looking forward to seeing what Rex has to say. In anticipation, I've made a bingo chart. Wonder if I can get five in a line?
View attachment 270681
You hit the bullseye with 'predatory', 'lossmaking', 'unsustainable' and 'anti-competitive' going by this report in 'The Australian' tonight:
"...Rex was not so enamoured with the idea of competition on Broken Hill routes, with deputy chairman John Sharp declaring the Qantas was aimed at putting the smaller carrier out of business.
“Broken Hill has always been a single airline market, because the market’s not big enough to justify more than one operator,” said Mr Sharp.
“Qantas can’t make a profit on these small routes, there’s no possibility of them making a profit on these small routes and their only purpose is to punish Rex by attacking us in our regional market and trying to force us to retreat from the domestic airline business by undermining us in our traditional business.”
It was estimated that about 28,000 people a year flew in and out of Broken Hill.
Since the pandemic erupted, Qantas has added 52 new domestic and regional routes as other parts of its network were mothballed.
Fares to Broken Hill will start from $189 one way on sale until February 21, jumping to $269 beyond that date."