Australia signs Open Skies agreement with India

[jb747]

I flew there occasionally when I was an SO/FO on the classic 747, and then quite a bit once I moved to the 767. I tried as much as I could to avoid having to slip there, but most of the 767 trips were actually overnight returns from Singapore, so you were only there for an hour or two.

 

[dajop]

Realistically, it's an LCC route....

Yes, if at all. Much more suited to intermediate hubs. The problem with India-Australia flights has always been the number of Australian and Indian cities. So someone travelling from MEL-BLR is not going to travel on a SYD-BOM service, and connect at both ends, much more convenient to transit at SIN, KUL, BKK, HKG or even CMB now.

 

[SeatBackForward]

Yes, if at all. Much more suited to intermediate hubs. The problem with India-Australia flights has always been the number of Australian and Indian cities. So someone travelling from MEL-BLR is not going to travel on a SYD-BOM service, and connect at both ends, much more convenient to transit at SIN, KUL, BKK, HKG or even CMB now.

Still recon QF ought to make DRW their major hub /tongue-in-cheek

 

[Quickstatus]

Nice idea the open skies, but I wonder the demand? AI barely seems to be able to make it work (they were rumoured to be losing a substantial amount of money. QF doesn't fly it anymore. Maybe one of the Indian LCCs could lease an aircraft for it - but they'd need more than 2 frames to be able to run a daily service which could push out their costs.

May suit the Air Asia group. I5 only has the A320. Any LCC wanting to fly this route would need a 787 or a longer range A330-xx_ that can do 6400 nm (almost an AKL-LAX) plus the headwinds when flying west
Alternatively BOM-KUL-OZ

 

[kermatu]

I've often wondered why direct flights to India weren't high on the list for new routes for QF (and others) given location en route to Europe, popular holiday destinations in their own right and large Indian communities in Australia.

There's plenty of wealth at the top end in India - and even a small percentage = large number of potential pax. That said, the middle class is (as I understand it) still a huge area of potential growth but it hasn't quite taken off as expected, so that's probably a limiting factor.

I reckon the point made up-thread is a good one, that transiting via SIN (for example) offers much greater connectivity to more cities in both countries. Still, I'd love to see a QF MEL or SYD to BOM flight!

 

[dajop]

May suit the Air Asia group. I5 only has the A320. Any LCC wanting to fly this route would need a 787 or a longer range A330-xx_ that can do 6400 nm (almost an AKL-LAX) plus the headwinds when flying west
Alternatively BOM-KUL-OZ

Ignoring economics for a moment, in theory Indigo's current fleet, which includes the A320neo, could just do MAA-PER (but perhaps not PER-MAA?), and with deliveries of A321neo coming next year, according to airbus it has a range of 7400km, could do MAA-PER and BLR-PER (6450km). But east coast is out of the question. And again, ignoring the economics.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Yes only AI offer this as a direct service at present, but even Indians have standards and AI is admittedly a very bad airline.

Getting from AUS to India is quite well serviced by connections in SIN, KUL, BKK or HKG and those routes at least offer a decent airline choice.

I think AI has a bit of an unfair rap. I have always had satisfactory flights on them. Full flat beds, generous legroom in economy (33 inches on the 787 to Australia and 34 inches on the 777s and 747s). Food was fine. Champagne was chilled

Within India they say an Air india service will always fly - despite whatever delays there may be, you'll get there eventually. In a strange way I prefer that to a cancelled flight and a scramble to get something else.

 

[kermatu]

I think AI has a bit of an unfair rap. I have always had satisfactory flights on them.

Me too. Albeit mainly within India on holidays and going back a few years. Once had a full table service* in Y on a flight from Bombay to Delhi (2 and a half hours). Was too green (and young) to fully appreciate (and enjoy) it but it still sticks in my mind as a remarkable Y flight.

*Tablecloth, choice of starter, choice of main, served separately and fresh, unlimited drinks, FAs very attentive.

 

[SeatBackForward]

I think AI has a bit of an unfair rap. I have always had satisfactory flights on them. Full flat beds, generous legroom in economy (33 inches on the 787 to Australia and 34 inches on the 777s and 747s). Food was fine. Champagne was chilled

Within India they say an Air india service will always fly - despite whatever delays there may be, you'll get there eventually. In a strange way I prefer that to a cancelled flight and a scramble to get something else.

Me too. Albeit mainly within India on holidays and going back a few years. Once had a full table service* in Y on a flight from Bombay to Delhi (2 and a half hours). Was too green (and young) to fully appreciate (and enjoy) it but it still sticks in my mind as a remarkable Y flight.

*Tablecloth, choice of starter, choice of main, served separately and fresh, unlimited drinks, FAs very attentive.

To throw in my own personal anecdotes.
1) Travelling as an unaccompanied minor a long time ago with AI - having a flight cancelled due to pilot strike, and simply being abandoned in a foreign airport.
2) Been punted off a flight due to overbooking - only to see later arriving passengers pay bribes to AI staff to secure seats.
3) Not being given check in bag receipts - when I returned to the counter, they denied it had ever been checked in. Then found it inside some managers office hidden away - but visible from an outside window.
4) Tried flying with AI in J hoping for a better experience - was served dinner before the plane had even taken off. Then the solo J attendant fell asleep in a spare J seat for the entire flight. Also had to wait 30mins despite being the only person at the J check in counter for that flight.

I have been flying to India, albeit irregularly, for the past 30+yrs, and I for one am thankful that AI is no longer the only option.

 

[dj_james]

2) Been punted off a flight due to overbooking - only to see later arriving passengers pay bribes to AI staff to secure seats.

Bribery, corruption and India go hand-in-hand.

The place is dysfunctional at best...

 

[kermatu]

I certainly recall some flights (on a couple of Indian airlines) where tickets were not honoured until money changed hands. I was just a kid and all issues were sorted by a senior airline official in Bombay my folks knew, so didn't really twig at the time.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

1) Travelling as an unaccompanied minor a long time ago with AI - having a flight cancelled due to pilot strike, and simply being abandoned in a foreign airport.

Me too! Air India was one of the few airlines that would take UMs from 5 years of age, so I flew them twice yearly, all the way from Europe. I too got stuck in an airport hotel once due to a missed connection and wandered off (at age 5!) which sparked some concern from my keepers who thought they'd lost me (they had, but somehow I made my way to the kitchen where the staff were feeding me ice cream ). Back then I guess we didn't have the same concerns we do now. But those were some of the most fun flights ever.

I still have multiple bits of AI paraphernalia from back then which I share with current crews when I fly. My feelings for AI are probably a bit biased.

 

[SeatBackForward]

I still have multiple bits of AI paraphernalia from back then which I share with current crews when I fly. My feelings for AI are probably a bit biased.

You might say, Nostalgic?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

You might say, Nostalgic?

yes. probably a better choice of words.

 

[daft009]

AI.. the only good thing about the airline is the Maharajah mascot. .
Air India - Wikipedia

Hopefully TATA take AI over and rejuvenate it ASAP as the rumours suggest.

Flying to India.. the stopover in Singapore is usually the highlight of my trip
Never would I go direct lol

 

[andyhui01]

JB - did you ever fly to India, perhaps in your 767 days?

I recall reading somewhere that apparently the Bombay flights were the least preferred routes for both pilots and cabin crew when "bidding" for rosters?

I've read this is still the case on Emirates.

 

[juddles]

Indeed - most Indians make the Scottish look like flagrant overspenders...

Realistically, it's an LCC route....

That would be an unforgettable experience - for all the wrong reasons.

Just imagine boarding - 400 Indians all trying to save by taking everything as carry-on, and EVERY SINGLE one of them arguing like crazy with the poor staff trying to enforce the carry-on rules.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Just imagine boarding - 400 Indians all trying to save by taking everything as carry-on, and EVERY SINGLE one of them arguing like crazy with the poor staff trying to enforce the carry-on rules.

So exactly the same as Americans then

 

[tennisparadies]

Flying through India is great for going to Europe too! I had a great flight on Air India through Delhi to Frankfurt. On one of the flights i had to make a 2 day stopover in Delhi which was great to cut the long trip in half and explore Delhi. Also service with the Melbourne office was great when i had to change the return! Their business is all flat also...

 

[Ho Really]

AI.. the only good thing about the airline is the Maharajah mascot. .
Air India - Wikipedia

Hopefully TATA take AI over and rejuvenate it ASAP as the rumours suggest.

Flying to India.. the stopover in Singapore is usually the highlight of my trip
Never would I go direct lol

Love the mascot. Would be nice if Tata took a majority stake. It may only happen if SIA decides to help, but then there's AI's debt that needs to be written off first. Tata also has two joint ventures currently with AirAsia India and SIA (Vistara). Is it really worth the trouble? Cheers