Passenger Numbers - Qantas SYD/LAX up or down in 2024

[bertair]

Are the passenger numbers up or down with Qantas SYD/LAX so far in 2024 ?
Are the A380s flying at capacity of less ?
A friend recently flew and informed me that they thought the cabin (J) was at only around 60-70% capacity in both directions.

 

[justinbrett]

Are the passenger numbers up or down with Qantas SYD/LAX so far in 2024 ?
Are the A380s flying at capacity of less ?
A friend recently flew and informed me that they thought the cabin (J) was at only around 60-70% capacity in both directions.

This is always the slowest time of the year for travel (late Jan - Apr).

It will start to pick up now that it's warming up in the northern hemisphere (and cooling down here).

 

[levelnine]

There was a good analysis of United's Pacific operations on Cranky Flier the other day.

The TLDR is the American carriers (especially United) have flooded Australia & NZ with capacity, decimating load factors.

While that will affect Qantas less due to its customer base, I wouldn't be surprised if it is hurting a bit too. Plenty of colleagues are taking up United on their attractive J fares — just today a QF WP was telling me how they were chuffed at the $8K UA J fare they got for their next US trip, over $4K less than QF.

 

[Gold Member]

While that will affect Qantas less due to its customer base, I wouldn't be surprised if it is hurting a bit too. Plenty of colleagues are taking up United on their attractive J fares — just today a QF WP was telling me how they were chuffed at the $8K UA J fare they got for their next US trip, over $4K less than QF.

It amazes me that loyal Qantas flyers will happily pay the Qantas "Premium" tax for an inferior experience. If Qantas' prices were competitive, I can understand the loyalty and attraction with the broader ecosystem of domestic operations, status benefits and Oneworld etc. But with the Low Cost Carrier experience at premium prices they're just having a laugh at us. They're relying upon their rusted on loyal cohort to look past their shattered brand, fraudulent and insincere behaviour, and hoping that we won't bother comparing prices with other carriers. And it seems to be working for the most part.

Great to hear that your QF WP connection saw the light, levelnine!

 

[elanshin]

It amazes me that loyal Qantas flyers will happily pay the Qantas "Premium" tax for an inferior experience. If Qantas' prices were competitive, I can understand the loyalty and attraction with the broader ecosystem of domestic operations, status benefits and Oneworld etc. But with the Low Cost Carrier experience at premium prices they're just having a laugh at us. They're relying upon their rusted on loyal cohort to look past their shattered brand, fraudulent and insincere behaviour, and hoping that we won't bother comparing prices with other carriers. And it seems to be working for the most part.

Great to hear that your QF WP connection saw the light, levelnine!

There are alot of reward flights and upgrades for a lot of the people up front.
In economy honestly it's eh across the board unless you go to something like JL. In Y, QF prices are comparable or cheaper.

 

[CaptJCool]

QF USA & Canada Red Tail sale is on now

There was a good analysis of United's Pacific operations on Cranky Flier the other day.

The TLDR is the American carriers (especially United) have flooded Australia & NZ with capacity, decimating load factors.

While that will affect Qantas less due to its customer base, I wouldn't be surprised if it is hurting a bit too. Plenty of colleagues are taking up United on their attractive J fares — just today a QF WP was telling me how they were chuffed at the $8K UA J fare they got for their next US trip, over $4K less than QF.

Sydney to

Vancouver $5,999
Seattle $8,106 (methinks an easy bus trip down to Seattle would defo be selling for $2,000 (NOT)
LA or San Fran $7,299

looks like competition is at work.,,,,

you might find some of the info about flight loadings at the BITRE website

Aviation Statistics

Domestic and international aviation statistics including airline activity, domestic on time performance, domestic airfares index, airfreight, airport traffic

www.bitre.gov.au

 

[exceladdict]

Ah, for the days of the capacity wars and you could fly PER<>east coast AU for under $200 on your pick of carrier... yes, competition is a good thing.

inferior experience

But what would be the best experiences across cabins AU<>US, if price wasn't a thing?

 

[I love to travel]

Ah, for the days of the capacity wars and you could fly PER<>east coast AU for under $200 on your pick of carrier... yes, competition is a good thing.


But what would be the best experiences across cabins AU<>US, if price wasn't a thing?

I think overall Delta.

 

[Bjet]

Well, at that time, pax took their transit flights at either LAX and SFO. But now Qantas has got more north american cities flights - LAX, SFO, HNL, DFW, YVR and JFK.

 

[RSVKanga]

Any ideas on what 787 route QF compromised in order to partially reinstate the 787 for BNE-LAX?

 

[aus_flyer]

Any ideas on what 787 route QF compromised in order to partially reinstate the 787 for BNE-LAX?

Not sure what you're talking about

 

[RSVKanga]

Not sure what you're talking about

BNE-LAX is now a mixture of 787s and A330s (previously only A330s). But considering QF’s incredibly strained 787 fleet, those aircraft must have come off another route at least partially

 

[aus_flyer]

BNE-LAX is now a mixture of 787s and A330s (previously only A330s). But considering QF’s incredibly strained 787 fleet, those aircraft must have come off another route at least partially

Interesting. I had a look at forward schedules and I can only see A330s.

 

[jrfsp]

BNE-LAX is now a mixture of 787s and A330s (previously only A330s). But considering QF’s incredibly strained 787 fleet, those aircraft must have come off another route at least partially

Temporary for a few weeks to cover for A330 maintenance

 

[frodo]

This is always the slowest time of the year for travel (late Jan - Apr).

It will start to pick up now that it's warming up in the northern hemisphere (and cooling down here).

International Airline Activity—Monthly Publications

These reports cover monthly international aircraft, passenger, freight and mail movements, flights, available seats, seat load factors and airline market shares. Details are provided for airline, country, city pair and airport.

www.bitre.gov.au

Slow time for outbound travel, but from the published load factors, it looks like QF was at 83% capacity inbound from the US in January, which is peak season for inbound travel. This is the lowest inbound load factor for all of QF's destinations (apart from flights to Pacific island nations).

Most other destinations and airlines were operating at 90-95% capacity inbound for January.

Having said that, United and Delta had an even lower seat utilisation for the same period, so there is just an oversupply of flights to the US at the moment as mentioned by @levelnine.

 

[justinbrett]

International Airline Activity—Monthly Publications

These reports cover monthly international aircraft, passenger, freight and mail movements, flights, available seats, seat load factors and airline market shares. Details are provided for airline, country, city pair and airport.

www.bitre.gov.au

Slow time for outbound travel, but from the published load factors, it looks like QF was at 83% capacity inbound from the US in January, which is peak season for inbound travel. This is the lowest inbound load factor for all of QF's destinations (apart from flights to Pacific island nations).

Most other destinations and airlines were operating at 90-95% capacity inbound for January.

Having said that, United and Delta had an even lower seat utilisation for the same period, so there is just an oversupply of flights to the US at the moment as mentioned by @levelnine.

I did say late January - I’m talking Australia Day and beyond. Ie, after school holidays is over. The rest of January is busy for obvious reasons.

 

[CaptJCool]

I did say late January - I’m talking Australia Day and beyond. Ie, after school holidays is over. The rest of January is busy for obvious reasons.

Yeah
I’m thinking there’s this phenomenon of
“Taking long leave” so no one is able to travel immediately upon resumption of work because

They have no paid leave time left

And as well as business travel goes, it takes some time to get back into the “swing of things” and to feel the need to then arrange the next face to face catch-ups (noting the dent in some businesses of Zoom and the like). One USUALLY doesn’t just go back to the office after the long summer break and the next day head off to the USA for a chinwag or conference they just heard about. it takes some pre-planning and financial approvals etc

 

[ausfox]

I travelled MEL LAX and returned during April. Full J each way. 380 out and 78 back.

 

[Ansett Nostalgic]

When does QF get more 787s?

 

[justinbrett]

I travelled MEL LAX and returned during April. Full J each way. 380 out and 78 back.

School holidays?