First Dreamliner service for Australia is Air India???

[markis10]

According to Airline Route:

After 16 years of service suspension, Air India from 29AUG13 returns to Australia market with Boeing 787 aircraft. From 29AUG13, the airline operates 3 weekly Delhi – Melbourne – Sydney – Delhi and 4 weekly in opposite direction. Reservation for Australia service opened on late-Friday 28JUN13 in the GDS (the airline has not yet open reservation on its own website).


Delhi – Sydney – Melbourne – Delhi eff 29AUG13 4 weekly
AI312 DEL1345 – 0630+1SYD0800+1 – 0935+1MEL 788 x357
AI311 SYD0800 – 0935MEL1050 – 1835DEL 788 x146


Delhi – Melbourne – Sydney – Delhi eff 30AUG13 3 weekly
AI312 DEL1300 – 0530+1MEL0700+1 – 0830+1SYD 788 357
AI311 MEL0700 – 0830SYD1000 – 1810DEL 788 146

http://airlineroute.net/2013/06/29/...l&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=social130629

 

[docjames]

I guess they await more aircraft and can grow their market, but 7 days into either or both would have been better.

 

[SteveJohnson]

Air India Boeing 787 starts Sydney/Melbourne tag service August 29

Will Air India take the trophy to launch Australia's first Boeing 787 Dreamliner service?
In recent years the Indian flag-carrier has made plenty of noise about resuming its flights to Australia, after a 16 year absence, but the airline now seems intent on coming back with a Boeing 787-sized bang.
Listings provided by Air India to the global distribution system (GDS) used by travel agents, and spotted by the AirlineRoute website, show a daily Boeing 787 service (tagged as AI312/311) between Delhi and both Sydney and Melbourne starting from August 29.

Air India to fly Boeing 787 to Sydney, Melbourne? - Flights | hotels | frequent flyer | business class - Australian Business Traveller

 

[Awesom Andy]

I guess they await more aircraft and can grow their market, but 7 days into either or both would have been better.

Probably hard to justify early on though. SYD-DEL is only 300 miles less than SIN-LHR, so it's a full blown long-haul service where it's a bit harder to recoup the costs involved.

 

[docjames]

Yeah, but never sure these "tag" flights work particularly well. I guess you get a presence in two markets for a marginal cost increase

 

[Awesom Andy]

Yeah, but never sure these "tag" flights work particularly well. I guess you get a presence in two markets for a marginal cost increase

Works quite well when there are no other non-stop/direct options, I would imagine?

 

[MrHyde]

With the large Indian population in Australia now, this service may work for Air India. We'd definitely be considering it for our trips to India in the future (if priced competitively).

 

[Isochronous]

I'll steer clear of Air India thanks. Will probably use MH for India out of Aus.

 

[NDiddy]

With the large Indian population in Australia now, this service may work for Air India. We'd definitely be considering it for our trips to India in the future (if priced competitively).

How does 4K return in business or $900 in Y for random dates in September ex Mel? That's mighty good pricing from my perspective!!

 

[UP4014]

How does 4K return in business or $900 in Y for random dates in September ex Mel? That's mighty good pricing from my perspective!!

It's not the price i'm concerned about.

matt

 

[SeatBackForward]

Same substandard service I bet, just with more new plane smell.

 

[whatmeworry]

Any new routes is great news! Despite how lousy the airline is. Just means their is more competition and better fares for everybody.

 

[Isochronous]

Any new routes is great news! Despite how lousy the airline is. Just means their is more competition and better fares for everybody.

Good observation - especially when new services aren't just for SYD!

 

[brett-au]

Yeah, but never sure these "tag" flights work particularly well. I guess you get a presence in two markets for a marginal cost increase

I've often thought the opposite.

Why can't Qantas fly direct to Delhi, for example.
Monday can be ex Sydney
Tuesday can be ex Melbourne
Wednesday can be ex Perth
Thursday can be ex Brisbane
etc

If you had a choice of
a) flying direct one-two day(s) a week
b) connecting via a domestic hub

wouldn't that be better than flying via SIN/KUL/etc?

And replace Delhi with Jakarta or Dili or Cape Town, etc

 

[casanovawa]

How does 4K return in business or $900 in Y for random dates in September ex Mel? That's mighty good pricing from my perspective!!

And when you consider there is the off chance that you might get to go up the front and fly the plane its an absolute steal...

 

[SeatBackForward]

And when you consider there is the off chance that you might get to go up the front and fly the plane its an absolute steal...

thats the booking fee. With AI theres no gaurantee you'll
a) get the seat you've paid for
b) get the service you've paid for
c) get to the destination you've intended to get to

or indeed

d) have an aircraft with qualified pilots show up at all.

 

[cmon0005]

Also their Business class is quite poor from colleagues reports even on their newer aircraft.

I'll be sticking with MH or CX to fly to India for the time being (or if QF ever start back again may switch back).

 

[NDiddy]

And when you consider there is the off chance that you might get to go up the front and fly the plane its an absolute steal...

I wondered what it would be like to be a FA flying a plane

I must admit that I could not believe the article when I read it. Boggles the mind!!

Last AI flight I took was in 2008 KOC-DEL - only direct flight available at the time. Was better than the Jet Airways and Kingfisher flights we had on that trip.

 

[NDiddy]

Also their Business class is quite poor from colleagues reports even on their newer aircraft.

I'll be sticking with MH or CX to fly to India for the time being (or if QF ever start back again may switch back).

Agree with you after seeing the youtube clips of the interior. Best colour scheme on an aircraft....said no one ever.

 

[joyvee]

Well if they fit it out as well as Qatar airlines it will be well worth flying in J. Heard that Royal Brunei have ordered some 787s and hope to get them some time this year. (from Melbourne office employee) JoyV