Qantas announces major ADL capacity increase and new routes

[RichardMEL]

E190 is a big plus, specially up front for solo pax in the A seats. Always booked those. when an option. Much comfier and bigger windows than the CR7/9 equivalents and frankly would prefer for the ride than a 737.

One thing that bums me out a bit is the schedule (current anyway) for ADL-OOL and r/t is not the best for leisure - with early departures both ends (specially 7a ex ADL) and before noon ex OOL is not super kind to holiday makrers but if the price is right. I'd consider connecting OOL-ADL-MEL if the pricing could work tbh. That's just me

E190's can have a hot galley installed for J meals but unsure what these will offer in terms of service which could also be a factor for some, but even in Y a very nice comfy a/c for these routes. A good choice I reckon.

 

[jase05]

But if Qantas wanted to introduce a service to Broken Hill, I would be all for it!

Poor old Broken Hill gets the rough end of the stick from everyone

 

[Carrots]

One thing that bums me out a bit is the schedule (current anyway) for ADL-OOL and r/t is not the best for leisure - with early departures both ends (specially 7a ex ADL) and before noon ex OOL is not super kind to holiday makrers but if the price is right. I'd consider connecting OOL-ADL-MEL if the pricing could work tbh. That's just me

Just looking at some ADL ASP flights return. I do have to wonder if they're taking the piss! The pricing is anything but right

 

[jase05]

Just looking at some ADL ASP flights return. I do have to wonder if they're taking the piss! The pricing is anything but right

Yep, have looked at a couple of dates in June we were interested in and $1300 one way in J when VA are doing it for $499

 

[Carrots]

Yep, have looked at a couple of dates in June we were interested in and $1300 one way in J when VA are doing it for $499

Exactly what I was just looking at (although mid July). $399 each way with VA in J on a saver fare vs $1200 each way with QF. Cheapest QF fares for same dates in Y is $686 return. Absolute madness.

 

[AIRwin]

Further good news for SA with the current tourist boom that is sweeping the state. Best 3 months ever in the state and CBD hotel occupancy the highest in the nation. A real buzz around the state currently

Rex is offering a $100 credit towards car hire by booking a fare to some of their destinations in SA:

Fly Drive Promotion

 

[dajop]

With overseas destinations off the table for now, Adelaide & SA is indeed a great domestic tourism destination.

Just booked flights into ADL for second half of next month. Will be staying their for 14 nights, will snag some accommodation, not sure where yet, but the price is locked in at $285.71/night for 2 (which includes 3 meals a day ).

 

[AIRwin]

$149 launch fare sale ends tonight

Back to $219

 

[jakeseven7]

Another render, still haven't seen any live shots of QFLink's new aircraft type.

 

[flydoc]

No sign of the QF colours on the route yet.

Saw VH-UYO (QQ livery) operating QF1958/1955 DRW-ASP-ADL this morning.

VH-UYB (RAAF Centenary livery) just leaving ADL for DRW as QF1950 at 1325 ACST, approx 2 hours late.

VH-UYW (QQ livery) operating QF1956 ADL-ASP.
Cabin crew in QQ uniform.

 

[BNEFlyer]

No sign of the QF colours on the route yet.

Saw VH-UYO (QQ livery) operating QF1958/1955 DRW-ASP-ADL this morning.

VH-UYB (RAAF Centenary livery) just leaving ADL for DRW as QF1950 at 1325 ACST, approx 2 hours late.

VH-UYW (QQ livery) operating QF1956 ADL-ASP.
Cabin crew in QQ uniform.

VH-UYZ (in QQ livery) operated ADL-ASP QF1954 this morning (80 mins late) and it has a "Operated on behalf of QANTASLINK" sticker next to the front door.

 

[flydoc]

Flew the inaugural QF1956 today as above. Opportunistic mini TR:

seated 5A. 40 odd minutes late departing, as were many of the other inaugural flights operated by QQ on behalf of QF on the centre corridor today. Scheduled 1h 50min flight time blew out to 2h 25min, attributed to strong headwinds

3 on the flight deck, 3 cabin crew.

Loading: 7/10 in J, including a plain clothed but not so secret shopper in 4E who got up, mask on chin after departure, chatted with the cabin manager, helped configure the J service cart and pottered in the forward galley before consuming a J meal and industriously recording the performance of the cabin crew on multiple QFLink - badged assessment forms. Approx 70/84 in Y.

J cabin service started almost 1 hour into the flight although those pax sat looking at the wine on the cart for a good 30 min before the bottles were opened. Choice of an egg & beetroot salad or a ‘traditional’ pork sausage roll. Upon enquiry by 2F ‘no spirits in J’ , but the sparkling Grant Burge Pinot Chardonnay was of course available along with a 2017 Yarra Valley Chardy and a 2014 SA Shiraz.

Y service- packeted cheese and crackers +/- selection of non alcoholic hot or cold drinks; QF centenary serviettes. Cheerful FA’s volunteered that ‘this is a bit different, we normally do mining runs’ (!)
2 pax in Y presumably with status were offered a complimentary glass of wine after the J service was completed.

No IFE or wifi obviously but otherwise a perfectly adequate flight overall, notwithstanding the NT fare tax

A new line in the Landing announcement: ‘QantasLink acknowledges the traditional owners of this land’. A thoughtful touch IMO, particularly at the start of reconciliation week. Will be interesting to see if it lasts.

From crew (as yet unverified from publically available info): 5 aircraft from the QQ fleet of 30 E190s are nominally available for the Centre runs (3 scheduled to operate and 2 in reserve). VH-UYO was originally to operate this flight back north but developed a tech issue on the ASP-ADL sector earlier.
Other QQ E190s have apparently been doing charters for Air North ex DRW/CNS

 

[Mattg]

Flew the inaugural QF1956 today as above. Opportunistic mini TR:

seated 5A.

5A must be the front row of economy. What was the legroom like?

 

[flydoc]

5A must be the front row of economy. What was the legroom like?

Yes. Not formally measured but nice and roomy. A compact half height bulkhead behind 4A so a clear view forward into Business

 

[jakeseven7]

Any interior pics? (given the exterior is still not painted....)

 

[HS-TQE]

Interior of the ex-COPA, now QQ E190s.

Would assume it'll be largely untouched (perhaps only a upholstery change and paper/sticker QFLink branding) when painted into QQ colours.

HP-1556CMP | Embraer 190-100IGW | Copa Airlines | Stefano Rota | JetPhotos

Ready for its flight to Panama.. HP-1556CMP. Embraer 190-100IGW. JetPhotos.com is the biggest database of aviation photographs with over 6 million screened photos online!

www.jetphotos.com

 

[dylarr]

Here's a detailed trip report from Paul Stewart on YouTube:

 

[AIRwin]

Looks like CNS launch delayed to 2 September and TSV to 30 August...

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Much more difficult to fly at the moment, even if a person has got the 2nd covid vaccine innoculation, still/probably have to do home quarantine on return after the "trip".
Maybe it would be good to look again at these flights and others, after the 70% of Aussies have been vaccinated, and our domestic borders reopen, touch wood.

 

[flydoc]

QF mainline appear to have taken back the ADL-ASP route from today: scheduled to operate with B738 , old flight numbers reinstated, back to single daily return service - late morning departure, afternoon return. Schedule change currently until late October.

Wonder what swung it? Poor loadings on the twice daily QQ operated E190 services? Wonder where those aircraft are being redeployed to?