Qantas 747 to evacuate Australians from Cairo

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PS - Hasn't Egypt been on the "Do Not Travel" recommendation list for a while???

Actually, it was at "High degree of caution" last week until Wednesday (IIRC) when it changed to "Reconsider your need to travel" and has only been elevated to "Do not travel" over the weekend. The reason I know is because I was supposed to be there last week (arriving 23Jan11, departing 28Jan11) so I was watching the state before things errupted. Ironically, the main reason for me not going was also the spark that kicked things off. Tuesday the 25th was National Police Day (only the second time it has been celebrated as a public holiday) and taking a whole day out of my week made the trip marginal in terms of feasibility - it was also the spark that initiated the unrest due to the Egyptian public being disenchanted with the behaviour and alleged corruption of the police force.

The situation has escalated way beyond juts the Police force and speaking with an Egyptian colleague, he tells me that this situation has been brewing for 3-4 years.

As it is, I am booked to be in CAI on 7Mar11 - naturally I am keeping a very close eye on things...

 

[Danger]

It's an interesting point about the Government paying and wether any credit should be directed to QF. There's nothing on the QF website which would suggest to me that QF is doing anything special here.

That said, QF does seem to have a long history of getting Australians out of trouble: BKK, two Bali bombings, maybe something in India. I remember reading a book about Qantas in the Sydney F Lounge last November where there were a couple of pages dedicated to evacuations. It read as though the flights were done free of charge. There was a particularly interesting article on QF's involvement with Cyclone Tracey and how they airlifted some extraordinary amount of people in one flight.

 

[anat0l]

No good deed goes unpunished...

Don't do anything at T-0 hour and you get criticised.

Do something to address the issue - late or not late - and you get criticised.

Sometimes I wonder how human are Australians... and whether I should feel proud to be a citizen of this nation...


Then again, I should stop reading No News - they know how to make every humanitarian story utterly inhumane and depressing.

 

[dk4]

Couldn't care less how much the government is paying for the charter, they have a long standing process, relationship and no doubt rate card for this sort if thing with Qantas. I'm sure it is appropriate.

LOL Perhaps the kind of special deal sorted out, to use public money, behind the private closed doors of the chairmans lounge?

There was a particularly interesting article on QF's involvement with Cyclone Tracey and how they airlifted some extraordinary amount of people in one flight.

During this time Qantas was our National Airline, not a private business.

 

[pauly7]

LOL Perhaps the kind of special deal sorted out, to use public money, behind the private closed doors of the chairmans lounge?.

Well wherever but DJ has one too, probably sorted out, to use public money, behind the macca's in the virgin departure terminal

 

[pauly7]

Sometimes I wonder how human are Australians... and whether I should feel proud to be a citizen of this nation...


Then again, I should stop reading No News - they know how to make every humanitarian story utterly inhumane and depressing.

Hah agree - but make that every story!! Guess negative is easy and sells.... If I'm having a tough time on no news sometimes you'll find some commentary on here equally whiny / exaggerated and repetitive

 

[serfty]

I would have thought FRA as the 2 or 3 class 744 configuration they endeavour to fly there generally has more seating available.

However, LHR would generally have better onward connections for Oz Nationals and of course, there is the occasional subbing with the 4 class to FRA.

 

[pauly7]

240 already registered for the flight. Think Qantas will be making more than one flight perhaps!

I always wonder in these situations how they allocate the premium seating? First in best dressed??

 

[markis10]

240 already registered for the flight. Think Qantas will be making more than one flight perhaps!

I always wonder in these situations how they allocate the premium seating? First in best dressed??

Premium seating will be held for deadheading crew I suspect, more than likely one crew in and one crew out, cannot imagine the crew wanting to overnight! It would make good sense for them to do it this way as there is now other contingency possible given its not a normal RPT destination, and no clear expectation on how long it will take to turnaround, imagine some ground support crew will be onboard as well.

 

[NM]

Looks like even our prime minister is not certain if LHR or FRA:

Ms Gillard said the charter of a Europe-based jet by the Government would begin on Wednesday and would be free for those evacuated. It will take them to Frankfurt and London.

Both are obviously feasible and will achieve the same end goal. Its even possible they could use both for additional capacity. London has the crew base but may cost more in terms of slots, fees etc. London has more QF aircraft sitting around.

Note its not scheduled to happen until Wednesday. I guess we will find out for certain then. But it really does not make much difference unless you are in the flight and want to know where to book your next accommodation.

 

[markis10]

Its a busy week for Qantas with the extra CNY flights to HKG.

 

[Nigelinoz]

Second Qantas jet set for Egypt evacuations | News | Business Spectator

More than 400 Australians are due to touch down in Germany on Wednesday having fled strife-torn Egypt.
The Australian federal government-chartered Qantas flight 6020 is due to arrive in Frankfurt at 7.30pm on Wednesday (5.30am Thursday AEST) carrying 412 passengers, an airline spokeswoman told AAP on Tuesday.
The 747 jumbo could be seen waiting on Frankfurt's terminal two tarmac, from where it will leave for a round-trip to Cairo on Wednesday - a flight of some three-and-a-half hours each way.
On its return Australian consular officials are due to meet the flight, on which Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd said more than 400 Australians had registered to fly.
Twenty-seven Australians have already flown to Germany aboard two Canadian emergency flights from Cairo, where deadly protests against President Hosni Mubarak's regime continue to rage.
About 1200 Australians have registered their presence in Egypt with the Cairo embassy.

 

[NM]

It seems that QF6 (FRA-SIN-SYD), which normally operates daily services, is not operating Wednesday, Thursday or Saturday this week. But QF5 seems to still be operating each day. So there may be an abundance of QF 747's on the ground at FRA this week??

Perhaps they are expecting lots of CAI flights?

 

[ChrisBNE]

It seems that QF6 (FRA-SIN-SYD), which normally operates daily services, is not operating Wednesday, Thursday or Saturday this week. But QF5 seems to still be operating each day. So there may be an abundance of QF 747's on the ground at FRA this week??

Perhaps they are expecting lots of CAI flights?

There is also a QF6020 loaded for the 03FEB11, but not the 04FEB11.

 

[Danger]

Qantas has today issued a media release outlining their involvement - About Qantas - Media Room - Media Releases.

The release makes it clear that the flight from CAI to FRA is funded by the Government; however, QF is providing free onward travel to Australia for those having travelled on the evacuation flight. So points for QF after all.

 

[AaronBradford]

Have any images of the aircraft in Cairo surfaced at all?

 

[Danger]

This report suggests the first planeload left half empty.

 

[RollyB]

First up, Qantas spin doctors aside, I think the first question the media should be asking, assuming that the goverment is funnelling tax payer money towards this endeavour is -

Would Etihad, Emirates, Singapore Airlines... have done the job for a better price? (Or weren't they even asked? :shock

And as for this "national carrier" business; isn't Qantas a sharemarket listed company, operating for the profit of its private shareholders?

As a very small private Qantas shareholder, I would like to think that I was getting some of that 'profit' you mention. But alas, any dividends in recent years have been so small as to be not worth mentioning, and last year - non-existent!

 

[markis10]

Second flight on hold with the aircraft going U/S in FRA

Aussies delayed in Cairo as Qantas jet suffers mechanical problem

Hundreds of Australian travellers stranded in strife-torn Cairo have been forced to hang on into another day after the Qantas jet assigned to retrieve them developed a mechanical problem and was grounded in Frankfurt.
The plane has been delayed by 13 hours after requiring a new brake part, which had to be flown in from the United Kingdom, a Qantas spokeswoman said.

 

[mannej]

Second flight on hold with the aircraft going U/S in FRA

Aussies delayed in Cairo as Qantas jet suffers mechanical problem

Must be the overseas maintenance...:shock: