New Qantas route to Vietnam?

[Longtoo]

Qantas is thought to be the key reason to reject Qatar's application for more flight to Australia. Yet the government has recently approved many more flights between Australia and Vietnam, only to be used by airlines from Vietnam such as Vietnam Airline and Vietjet. There is high volume air traffic between the two countries. Although it seems to be mostly low cost, Vietnam Airline and Vietjet can take market share away from Qantas, beyond destinations in Vietnam. For example, J class from Sydney to Paris or London via Vietnam airline is much more cost competitive than Qantas and with decent hard product and service. Budget travelers can fly from SED/MEL to many Asian cities via Vietjet at dirt cheap fares. Qantas flies to BKK, CGK, MNL, why wouldn't they consider to fly to Vietnam?

 

[moa999]

Too low yield for QF I suspect. Similar to KUL.

JQ has flown to Vietnam however, and used to have a part owned Jetstar subsidiary (also part owned by VN) but it was closed with assets transferred to VN during Covid.

 

[AIRwin]

JQ has flown to Vietnam

JQ still flying between MEL/SYD and SGN

 

[Longtoo]

JQ still flying between MEL/SYD and SGN

Good point. i agree. JQ would compete with Vietjet for the low cost market.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

QF would prefer pax go via SIN.
They have 3K from there to many airports in Asia.
Would be cheaper for them too.
---
Some days a week JQ does SYD - SGN direct.
Guess too that JQ has a lower cost base structure than QFi to fly to some airports, so QF is happy to let JQ do it.

 

[elanshin]

In the ideal world they would especially as Vietnam is emerging more as the new cheap labor workforce and taking away some of the business from China.

But QF currently has an aircraft shortage problem. There are probably other routes they would like to launch or have higher frequency that they can't right now.

 

[http_x92]

There is a QF code still on the JQ flight (similar to coughet), but yes it is not operated by Qantas. Going to SGN is okay but it doesnt look like there are QF codes on other VN flights if you want an extra (albeit small) amount of SCs onto other destinations in Vietnam.

QF does sell connecting VN flights but no status credits as VN is in Skyteam.

 

[dylarr]

There is a QF code still on the JQ flight (similar to coughet), but yes it is not operated by Qantas. Going to SGN is okay but it doesnt look like there are QF codes on other VN flights if you want an extra (albeit small) amount of SCs onto other destinations in Vietnam.

QF does sell connecting VN flights but no status credits as VN is in Skyteam.

Yes I actually really miss Jetstar Pacific/BL for this reason - the Max Bundles were cheap and great status credit earners and the actual product was good due to the inclusions of the bundle. They were a great airline for getting around Vietnam domestically especially if you were aligned to QFF.

 

[AIRwin]

Jetstar Pacific/BL

Sounds like its current/former incarnation Pacific Airlines has suspended operations

 

[Longtoo]

indeed, they run out of money. Their aircraft lease has not been renewed. Ever since QF abandoned the Vietnamese market, Pacific has always been a poor cousin of VN airline.

 

[Saab34]

It was a loss making venture with QF also. Struggled to compete with the growing Vietjet.

Bit like Jetstar getting belted by Scoot in Singapore, and vice versa, Tiger getting destroyed by Jetstar down under.