More flights to HKG and MNL

[Red Roo]

From 26 October 2015*, Qantas will operate an additional four Sydney-Hong Kong services each week, on top of the current daily services available from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.
Services from Sydney to Manila will increase from four to five per week between early December 2015 and late March 2016 to offer more capacity during the peak holiday season.

QANTAS ADDS MORE FLIGHTS TO HONG KONG AND MANILA - Qantas News Room

*Flights subject to regulatory approval

 

[SeatBackForward]

This is good news!

 

[davec]

If these new services to HKG are to be operated by the 330 refurbs, does that mean all the existing services will be finished by then?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I think the question is whether the airline can meet their obligations in terms of reliability? So many reports of delays and knock-on delays. Is the fleet overstretched?

 

[eminere]

If these new services to HKG are to be operated by the 330 refurbs, does that mean all the existing services will be finished by then?

I am hoping this doesn't result in my year-end flights to and from Singapore being operated by non-refurbs.

 

[yohy?!]

looks like a price war to HK may be triggered by QF attempting to win back some of the ground from CX after previous axed frequencies - will be watching closely for keenly priced fares

 

[SeatBackForward]

Now when will a third night flight TO HKG, and day flight FROM HKG be introduced

 

[Awesom Andy]

I think the question is whether the airline can meet their obligations in terms of reliability? So many reports of delays and knock-on delays. Is the fleet overstretched?

The A380 fleet is probably a little stretched, although they seem to have enough A330s and 737s (which can cover for domestic routes and switch the A332s to international destinations) to increase capacity. If all else fails, they can simply postpone the A330 refurb program by a month (when most workers are off anyway) and do some flying in the peak holiday season when most pax aren't travelling in (or paying for) J.

 

[PaulST]

Tough question for me in March next year. Fly in the 747/A388 in PE and try for a points upgrade to J, or fly in an A330 in Y and hope for a points upgrade to (a superior) J?

 

[Mr_Orange]

The return flight virtually mirrors the existing HKG-SYD flight.... wtf why?

Why not schedule an overnight outbound and a daytime return?

 

[davec]

And the outbound SYD-HKG is a pretty similar time as the existing also. What a missed opportunity I think!

As Mr Orange suggests, have a overnight SYD-HKG and a day HKG-SYD on offer....

 

[amaroo]

Just got the email - excellent stuff!

 

[jamesatfish]

No improved/varied timings for the HKG flights so no advantage from a connection point of view, and still no sign of F returning to Qantas' Asian routes. Guess you can't please everyone.

 

[JohnK]

Tough question for me in March next year. Fly in the 747/A388 in PE and try for a points upgrade to J, or fly in an A330 in Y and hope for a points upgrade to (a superior) J?

I think better chance with first option.

 

[Isochronous]

The afternoon departure exSYD is good - 1340 instead of 1000 - means one can try the F lunch menu instead of just breakfast. But we really need an overnight flight ex-Australia. Maybe ex-MEL would be a better chance.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

Received the email - twice.
A bit like rubbing salt in the wound.
This won't "offer my business more options" as my business is based in Perth.
Maybe the email should have been targetted to the Sydney membership.

 

[Awesom Andy]

And the outbound SYD-HKG is a pretty similar time as the existing also. What a missed opportunity I think!

As Mr Orange suggests, have a overnight SYD-HKG and a day HKG-SYD on offer....

Overnight SYD-HKG sounds great, but the day HKG-SYD flight means something like a 7-9am departure, with a 6-9pm arrival. A bit of delay, and you would miss the curfew as well. CX has 1 such flight and they can rely on European lunch-time-departure transit pax, but I can't see how QF could ever fill up that flight if it existed. It might have worked back when QF had HKG-LHR but QF88 would find it difficult to survive on its own. CX has 3 overnight HKG-SYD but only 1 day time HKG-SYD so that is also a good indicator of where the demand currently is.

 

[jgm]

The afternoon departure exSYD is good - 1340 instead of 1000 - means one can try the F lunch menu instead of just breakfast. But we really need an overnight flight ex-Australia. Maybe ex-MEL would be a better chance.

You won't get that from Air Sydney!

 

[SeatBackForward]

Overnight SYD-HKG sounds great, but the day HKG-SYD flight means something like a 7-9am departure, with a 6-9pm arrival. A bit of delay, and you would miss the curfew as well. CX has 1 such flight and they can rely on European lunch-time-departure transit pax, but I can't see how QF could ever fill up that flight if it existed. It might have worked back when QF had HKG-LHR but QF88 would find it difficult to survive on its own. CX has 3 overnight HKG-SYD but only 1 day time HKG-SYD so that is also a good indicator of where the demand currently is.

Similarly CX only has the one o/n flight from SYD also, I would prefer QF o/n to HKG then have the option to overnight from HKG on QF too. Just means there is more flexibility. Shame QF has opted for similar timings, bit like their LAX to SYD options also.

 

[Mattg]

No doubt a result of the downgrade of some PER flights to 737s.

Good to see more capacity to MNL though. Those flights are almost always full.