AFR rumour [confirmed] - SQ to launch SIN-CBR-WLG

[Mattg]

The customs/ABF officials don't work there permanently, they have "day jobs" in the Canberra HQ. It has been possible to clear international aircraft in Canberra for decades, think about all the foreign military and VIP movements into Canberra.

Ah, that makes sense! Good to know. I had wondered what all those staff did during the day when there are no international flights.

 

[ajd]

Ah, that makes sense! Good to know. I had wondered what all those staff did during the day when there are no international flights.

During the day they walk around Civic *in uniform* for reasons I can't quite fathom. Actually, most of the ABF officers I see on the street also have patches saying "CUSTOMS MARITIME" or something to that effect, which is even more bizarre in central Canberra...

 

[Virgin Bart]

During the day they walk around Civic *in uniform* for reasons I can't quite fathom. Actually, most of the ABF officers I see on the street also have patches saying "CUSTOMS MARITIME" or something to that effect, which is even more bizarre in central Canberra...

For those entering on Lake Burley Griffin.

 

[ajd]

For those entering on Lake Burley Griffin.

Gotta stop them boats.

 

[kewpid]

Flying the CBR-SIN leg in March on SQ flight number. Does anyone know if I could use the VA lounge with a Single Entry lounge pass prior to departure? The T&Cs suggest it needs to be a VA number so might be SOL...

 

[ajd]

Singapore Airlines to review Singapore to Canberra to Wellington route - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

 

[Eggsbenedict]

Have managed 6 J class SIN- CBR in Jul, 5 booked in one go with 1 waitlisted which cleared less than a month later.

 

[NZflygirl]

Singapore Airlines to review Singapore to Canberra to Wellington route - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

I find that quite interesting they need the Wellingtonian group for the economics of the flight. From what I read WLG feel hard done by not getting the feed and planes that AKL and CHC do. It's still a one stop to SIN but probably a slightly easier transit than AKL which I think is already quite good. Just taking a stroll to the next terminal. Ah well, hope they stay.

 

[Mattg]

Perhaps as part of the review they might consider revising the schedule to something like this:

SQ291 SIN 19:30 - CBR 06:15+1/07:30 - WLG 12:45
SQ292 WLG 15:00 - CBR 16:50/18:05 - SIN 23:10

This would increase the European connections available from SQ292 from about 2 to 10+, and of course the CBR-SIN would also no longer be a redeye, making it a more attractive option for some (while still allowing for a full day's work before departing CBR).

It would also save on crew/hotel costs as the crew could do a same-day return trip to Wellington. Currently the crew need to stay 2 nights in Canberra, do the 3 hour flight to Wellington, stay 2 nights in Wellington, and then the same on the return - which seems rather inefficient.

 

[ajw373]

Perhaps as part of the review they might consider revising the schedule to something like this:

SQ291 SIN 19:30 - CBR 06:15+1/07:30 - WLG 12:45
SQ292 WLG 15:00 - CBR 16:50/18:05 - SIN 23:10

This would increase the European connections available from SQ292 from about 2 to 10+, and of course the CBR-SIN would also no longer be a redeye, making it a more attractive option for some (while still allowing for a full day's work before departing CBR).
.

Yeah but would kill Asian connections, which I think is the main purpose of the flights,

 

[Meggsy]

My boss flew this flight CBR - SIN last night. Talking to him today he estimated there was only 70-80 pax in total on board. You would have to question how long that is sustainable once the subsidies run out.

 

[kamchatsky]

My boss flew this flight CBR - SIN last night. Talking to him today he estimated there was only 70-80 pax in total on board. You would have to question how long that is sustainable once the subsidies run out.

Well ACT Government and Canberra airport better keep subsidising it ...... May be use it as part of the ACT tourism marketing strategy or something .....

 

[Mattg]

Yeah but would kill Asian connections, which I think is the main purpose of the flights,

That's true. You would lose some of the short-haul Asian connections in the outbound direction, but you would still have connections to PVG, PEK, ICN, NRT, KIX, DEL, BOM etc., not to mention 11 European destinations. Not sure whether that makes up for the loss of connections to KUL, BKK, HKG etc.

 

[Melburnian1]

My boss flew this flight CBR - SIN last night. Talking to him today he estimated there was only 70-80 pax in total on board. You would have to question how long that is sustainable once the subsidies run out.

December 2016 is presumably a busier month than March 2017 for passengers, although the latter means that the flights have had three more months to get known by prospective passengers, travel agents and online third party booking services. March 2017 is also not a school holiday month.

In that December, BITRE said that from Singapore to Canberra, there were 1775 inwards passengers who alighted there, while 2819 boarded in Canberra to travel to Singapore (or beyond.)

There were 968 inwards passengers from Wellington to Canberra and 1342 passengers who travelled from Canberra to Wellington on the outbound flight ex Oz.

It appears that in total 2743 used the Wellington - Canberra leg (which I believe includes those just travelling to Canberra, or going to Singapore or beyond) while from Canberra to Wellington total patronage appeared to be 4161.

I haven't looked up the days for December 2016 but I assume there were about 18 flights in each direction.

BITRE has yet to publish 2017 monthly figures.

SQ should stick with it for two or three years as barring a severe economic downturn, generally what occurs is as more travellers get to know about such flights, the numbers using them (subject to the fares being considered reasonable value) tend to rise.

Surely there must be plenty of public servants, diplomats, politicians and lobbyists who would find a CBR - WLG and return nonstop flight very, very useful. For residents of southern Sydney suburbs like Macarthur or Campbelltown, it could also be good, as it would be for residents of Yass, Cootamundra and even Wagga Wagga.

In the end, as well as bottoms on seats, yields are important. It is hard to imagine this route carrying much freight.

 

[ajw373]

Just did a quick count and between 7am and 10am there are 30 SQ and MI flights leaving T2 and about 14 SQ flights leaving T3 excluding those to Australian destinations.

That's quite a few. And as I said the main aim of the cbr flights is Asian connections. If you are going to Europe flying through another port doesn't make much difference especially at the pointy end where you will stand a far greater chance/choice of getting long haul product. Not SQ regional.

 

[kamchatsky]

I just wonder if the route is changed to say A350, would it be more economic for them? After all it uses less fuel, and maybe better seats will entice more people flying on that route?

 

[Boris spatsky]

Government agencies are now mainly best fare of the day. If it is cheaper going through Sydney or Melbourne to Wellington then they have to. I reckon QF and VA know this and are selling their government fares as such. I don't know anyone in government who has used this route more than once - they all seem to get rerouted through other ports to SIN and WLG.

 

[kermatu]

Type of aircraft is a factor for the J traveller. 3 associates of mine (1 Govt, 2 non-Govt) have flown back from Europe to SIN to CBR in the past couple of months and all been 'surprised' that the overnight leg to CBR was not on a true lie-flat bed. While appreciating the direct connection I gather they would all be OK with a flight to MEL and then connecting to CBR if the price is just about the same and they get a good night's sleep before getting to the office (albeit maybe an hour later).

Chicken and egg I guess - put your better aircraft on the higher-yield routes, or put your better aircraft on a route to make it a better yield. If QR do end up flying out of CBR I can't see SQ being able to compete for the European destinations (business travel).

 

[NZflygirl]

My recent flight WLG-CBR was >95% or more full. Difficult to find a spare seat although had one next to me. J had quite a few. I think 50-60 got off in CBR. Very old decor. Massive box under aisle seat. IFE old. I like SQ but I remain unsure about flying via WLG vs SYD to CBR.

 

[Melburnian1]

From my reading of the BITRE's Table 3 for February 2017, outbound from CBR to WLG, seat occupancy was 66.3 per cent: 2830 of 4256 available seats (with 23 flights operated in February) were occupied. This includes all passengers travellng to WLG, irrespective as to whether they joined in CBR or SIN, and similarly all passengers on board departing from WLG to Oz, including those continuing to SIN.

Inbound, from WLG to CBR, 2610 seats were occupied giving a seat occupancy rate of 61.3 per cent.

Both SQ and we observers need to give this route a few more months to become better known. February is a low travel volume month but it is better for comparisons than December or January.

Provided the economies do not crash, over time, routes such as this should increase in patronage (assuming fares are competitively priced.) It is however yield - reasonable or poor - that ultimately determines a route's fate.