Future of Sub-continent routes

[SeatBackForward]

I feel this is incredibly short sighted by QF. Although my suspicion is that once the 788s arrive BOM or DEL might end up being served with an orange tail (due to IMO perceived "cheap seats only wanted" image of India within QF).

I hope not. India is ripe for milking premium travel from. There's money there, and people who *want* to be treated like filmstars..

Any update on AI and serving MEL? It was announced with much fanfare but start date seems to have died completely (? permanently).

See here:Air India to launch Delhi-Melbourne flight as it eyes Sydney service - Wings Down Under

Air India has set 28 June as the new start date of a daily Delhi-Melbourne service, which will be the only direct flight between the two countries, after a much on-and-off again experience with the route owning to a wavering Indian government.

The carrier tells Flightglobal's Air Transport Intelligence that it is now evaluating a service to Sydney. "Air India is planning to add more international destinations to its operations. In Australia, the other destination being looked at is Sydney," a company spokesman says.

The carrier had planned to start the Melbourne route last October but then canceled it. This February it received traffic rights.

Although the carrier has not specified its exact schedule or what equipment it will be using, it is understood Air India will be operating the 777-300ER to Melbourne airport, who says it is the right Australian city for Air India to serve.

 

[SeatBackForward]

This recently on SMH:Cashed-up Indians head to 'brag destination' Queensland

Cashed-up Indians head to 'brag destination' Queensland
April 4, 2012

Cashed up Indian DINKS (Double Income No Kids) who see Queensland as a "brag destination" are the latest targets for tourism operators.

Tourism Queensland (TQ) boss Anthony Hayes says high spending Indian couples aged 25 to 40 are willing to part with wads of cash for experiences they can't get at home, such as the romance of a road-trip.

 

[cmon0005]

I feel this is incredibly short sighted by QF. Although my suspicion is that once the 788s arrive BOM or DEL might end up being served with an orange tail (due to IMO perceived "cheap seats only wanted" image of India within QF).


Any update on AI and serving MEL? It was announced with much fanfare but start date seems to have died completely (? permanently).

I don't think JQ would be a good idea for BOM, for a few reasons, Air Asia even with their low cost base didn't see value in running low-cost airline to India, space is at a premium hence airport fees are up there, there is still business demand from what I could see.

Other failings in the current QF offering is lack of Y+ on the route/not able to book Y+ all the way through at the moment on the QF website (eg. can only do all Y or all J, even though there is Y+ available on the SIN-SYD/MEL leg), not frequent enough to cater to Business pax, the payment gateway on the QF india booking engine is aweful (you pay and have to wait a day or two to 'verify' your card online only then is you booking confirmed).

 

[smit0847]

I hope not. India is ripe for milking premium travel from. There's money there, and people who *want* to be treated like filmstars..





See here:Air India to launch Delhi-Melbourne flight as it eyes Sydney service - Wings Down Under

I think this will be extremely successful. There are so many Indians living in Melbourne - I imagine many would go back home once a year to visit family and if they have wealthy family in India they would do likewise.

 

[browski]

Now the only viable option to India is SQ, abliet with a 3-7+ hour stopover in Singapore, almost a 20-24 hour trip. Whereas Qantas' QF 51/52 service connecting with flights from Melb and Syd/BNE only had a stopover of 50mins - 1 hour.

From MEL, the SQ flight to BOM has a 1h 45min stop at SIN
From BOM, the SQ flight to MEL has a 1hr 15min stop at SIN

The trip overall:
MEL-BOM = 15 hours
BOM-MEL = 14 Hours

That's pretty good.

My predictions for the future are this:
1. From May when QF leaves the route, SQ market share will increase.
2. With no viable OW partner in the region, (Kingfisher no longer joining OW) and Malaysia Airlines OW joining status unknown, QF may find themselves loosing a lot of critical sales from SYD/MEL/ BNE to SIN instead with people opting to fly SQ.
3. They introduce J*, if so they can kiss any Business pax goodbye and wave them all towards SQ.
4. They will realise all of the above and "re-launch" SIN -BOM services or even SYD-BOM direct services (which they had prior to the GFC) to try to entice valuable J pax back.

Qantas are not in the business of adding destinations, they are in the business of reducing them. There will be no "Re-launching", just retirements.

Here are a few other options to consider to the sub-continent.

MEL-CMB via SIN on EK is an excellent flight.
MEL-BLR Via HKG can be done on CX and Dragon Air
BNE-SIN-MAA can be done on Etihad/Silk Air
SYD-ICN-DEL can be done on a great 1.10min stop time in ICN on Asiana
SYD-NRT-DEL can be done on QF/JAL (but I've never been able to book this with out a TA)

 

[cmon0005]

From MEL, the SQ flight to BOM has a 1h 45min stop at SIN
From BOM, the SQ flight to MEL has a 1hr 15min stop at SIN

They must have increased their frequency now, 3 flights PER DAY SIN-BOM.
Found this: Singapore Airlines to operate 2 more Mumbai flights from March - Economic Times

Seems SQ are already capitalising on QF's loss... if SQ can find value in 3 flights a day, why couldn't QF in 3 flights a WEEK.

 

[SeatBackForward]

Seems SQ are already capitalising on QF's loss... if SQ can find value in 3 flights a day, why couldn't QF in 3 flights a WEEK.

Probably cause Jetstar can't fly that far ...(yet)?

 

[smit0847]

I have it on very, very good authority (someone in marketing at J*) that they will be flying to India very soon (assume via SIN). Was told that where QF drop a route there is an expectation JQ will then pick it up.

 

[Nigelinoz]

Would Jetstar have to apply to the IASC to operate to India or can they just pick up capacity from Qantas without needing specific permission,anyone know?
Cheers
N'oz

 

[markis10]

Would Jetstar have to apply to the IASC to operate to India or can they just pick up capacity from Qantas without needing specific permission,anyone know?
Cheers
N'oz

I suppose that would depend on which Jetstar you are talking about? JQ, yes, rights are not transferable within a group.

 

[superpang]

I flew BOM - SIN - MEL on Thursday with the 12hr stop over in Singapore........Jet and QF were great in terms of service but the stopover was a killer. You arrive at 7am and the QF lounge in Singapore now does not open until 3pm.....I didn't know at the time that you can use the CX lounge (gold and plat only not QC) and there was no information at the Qantas lounge directing anyone to the CX lounge so it was a nightmare. Also no hotel is given from QF, plus back to back night flights means you will not get much sleep for two nights, especially when BOM - SIN is just under 5hrs. Overall a very tiring experience.......Will definitely be looking at other options next time.

 

[Foreigner]

Are you forgetting Thai? They have a significant number of routes to India. Most of my clients visiting India use Thai exclusively.

So far as J product goes, Thai's seating BKK-BOM is not as good as SYD-BKK, say. I would rather take SQ or CX. SQ's timing is better in both directions between Sydney and Mumbai.

 

[moa999]

I suspect its part 747 (and hopefully) 767 retirements requiring 330 redeployments and a lack of replacements (ie 787s).
Agree on the JQ thing.

Then again India would have been a perfect destination for RedQ (not that Joyce has given up on this) and again shows the advantage that SQ has on being able to offer seamless connections.

 

[cmon0005]

Upon checking SQ's loads via Class availability search and seatmaps on EF, it seems SQ's 3 flights per day (SIN-BOM) are quite heavily loaded even in J, I have checked the next weeks worth of flights.

 

[cmon0005]

QF's last flight (QF51) to BOM tomorrow evening...

I checked for flights to Mumbai from Melb on Qantas site in May (eg. May 17th, the QF3951 to SIN-BOM is not even listed anymore, only routes via HKG are listed now, either using CX to Mumbai from HKG or 9W from HKG.
Here's the hilarious part the "sale" fare one way in Y is.... wait for it.... $5133. What a joke!!! cheapest return flight is $880 Total $6033 for Y!!
Whats even more funny is that Flexi Saver is cheaper than the sale fare @ $5074?

I can fly in J the whole way on SQ direct to BOM for same or less and in 14 hours (3 times daily) vs 20+ hours on a multitude of codeshares at a huge price....

Red Roo, can you please show this thread to Management? show them what is now the reality of flying to India a major Business destination booking via QF, and SQ's now 3 flights per day... Also would be good if you could fix the pricing up correctly as mentioned above.

 

[cmon0005]

Few updates/observations I've noticed lately:

-SQ's now 3 flights per day to Mumbai are having J filled full on a regular basis according to Expertflyer.
One of their afternoon flights to Mumbai has a First class cabin now.

-When you search Qantas to Mumbai, you now get a lot of options via HKG on CX (albeit) at ridiculous prices $1100 each way and more than 20 hours travel time, still at least they have put some options in place after removing QF51.

-The $5000 one-way Y flights via HKG on 9W are still appearing on the QF booking site, this is just plain stupid?

 

[cmon0005]

Just over a year since QF stopping the SIN-BOM route and Air India find the route viable enough to fly non-stop from Delhi?

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....t-dreamliner-service-australia-air-51784.html

Also another article states that AI tried to (or is still) approaching QF about codesharing but QF not interested. Wonder if that means QF are looking at entering the market again? Air India bid for code share with Qantas

 

[SeatBackForward]

Just over a year since QF stopping the SIN-BOM route and Air India find the route viable enough to fly non-stop from Delhi?

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....t-dreamliner-service-australia-air-51784.html

Also another article states that AI tried to (or is still) approaching QF about codesharing but QF not interested. Wonder if that means QF are looking at entering the market again? Air India bid for code share with Qantas

AI are flying to DEL, not to BOM, I don't believe QF has ever flown direct to DEL? Personally, Id on't consider AI as a threat to QF. AI should be right up there with LCC's in terms of risk/service etc, little wonder QF don't want to work with them. QF should consider Jetstar connections to the subcontinent.


The difficulty in getting to India using Qantas is rather odd. I was considering QF to DXB then EK to BOM recently, certainly the timing for a morning arrival into BOM works better than connecting through HKG,SIN or KUL. The best really was the direct SYD>BOM flight that QF used to have.