Qantas cancels Beijing flights from March 2020

[yzstyle]

Just saw the news, Qantas will cease operating services to and from Beijing (QF107 and QF108) for travel commencing in March 2020. No more direct flights on QF.

 

[p--and--t]

I was wondering when that would happen.

Repeated specials pricing a return for 100's less than a return to SIN or other much closer destinations.

Beijing often cheaper than flying to Cairns.

 

[sxc]

It would be good if Qantas had a one world partner that, you know, had a network in China?

 

[AIRwin]

Wonder where the A330 will be deployed to?

 

[drron]

Well I am hoping on PER-BNE QF934 in august next year.

 

[downloadingdata]

It would be good if Qantas had a one world partner that, you know, had a network in China?

Well they do have China eastern with extensive code shares across a number of cities.

 

[woodborer]

Wonder where the A330 will be deployed to?

Wonder where the aircraft going to Haneda is coming from?

 

[sxc]

Well they do have China eastern with extensive code shares across a number of cities.

You probably didn’t see the tongue in my cheek.

 

[AIRwin]

But I do see the tongue in @woodborer 's cheek...

 

[moa999]

It would be good if Qantas had a one world partner that, you know, had a network in China?

From Aus, PEK isn't really a transfer point given its geographic position.
QF or oneworld partners (both in skyteam and departing) can get you pretty much anywhere in China from HKG and PVG.

Anyhow solves the problem as to whether to move to PKX for Qantas, as both MU and CZ have mostly moved.

 

[dajop]

Not that it's such an issue for QF, due to many A330's, but in another thread discussing why not services to India (BLR) in the context of Virgin Australia's financial woes, one of the things I noticed you can't service India from east coast Australia with a single aircraft. In the QF Asia network, PEK is the only destination where the aircraft can't arrive back in SYD within 22.5 hrs (in fact it arrives back in 24:45). I think everywhere else in the medium haul network, an aircraft (in theory) can do a turn around to operate the same service the next day (including HNL) (although for some destinations, eg. HND they don't).

 

[MEL_Traveller]

From Aus, PEK isn't really a transfer point given its geographic position.

Not helped by the 2215 arrival into PEK And, IIRC, the route got an unfair share of the 2-2-2 angled lie flats?

Air China's flight departs SYD 2040, sleep all night and arrive at 0440 - plenty of time to clear immigration and either go to work, or connect.

 

[Melburnian1]

Always dangerous to assume, but is it correct that "anywhere" in Oz to PEK would be a low yielding route because of domination by mainland Chinese tourists, and competition from the major mainland Chinese airlines whose costs per seat kilometre must be a significantly lower than QF?

There must be some government traffic to PEK ex OZ but Shanghai and Hong Kong may attract more businessmen and women, so (forgetting about the protests in HKG that have distorted the market), yields per ASX may be higher.

 

[Oubline]

This is sad. I took this flight before and despite the late night arrival it was a thoroughly pleasant way to travel to China, even in economy. There’s something great about being able to fly Qantas directly.

 

[pauly7]

Shanghai has a lion share of corporates

 

[featheast]

Not really surprising. Even I am a Qantas Gold for many years, as a Chinese, based in MEL, I prefer fly to China using China Easter business class, or China Southern Economy class.
The lack of Chinese speaking flight attendants, and lack of authentic Chinese food options make Qantas a really bad choice for Chinese travellers.
I used to try to convince my family and friends come to Australia try Qantas, the feedback is generally negative after the flight, unfortunately. Plus the transit in SYD from int to dom is just too terrible for people who can't speak English.

 

[Melburnian1]

...The lack of Chinese speaking flight attendants, and lack of authentic Chinese food options make Qantas a really bad choice for Chinese travellers...

So not even a single flight attendant speaking Mandarin? And no 'decent' Chinese food when catering is loaded in PEK? Surprising.

While anti-dumping legislation (for other products, not aviation) can be hypocritical given how Australia's best interests are served by trade that's as free as possible, interesting that Neil Hansford partly blames 'dumping' of seats by mainland Chinese carriers for this relatively short lived QF route's demise:

'They’re just dumping seats': Qantas to axe Beijing flights amid glut

Qantas will drop its Sydney to Beijing service from March, blaming a lift in the capacity of Chinese carriers on the route and soft demand from premium passengers.

www.brisbanetimes.com.au

 

[featheast]

So not even a single flight attendant speaking Mandarin? And no 'decent' Chinese food when catering is loaded in PEK? Surprising.

While anti-dumping legislation (for other products, not aviation) can be hypocritical given how Australia's best interests are served by trade that's as free as possible, interesting that Neil Hansford partly blames 'dumping' of seats by mainland Chinese carriers for this relatively short lived QF route's demise:

'They’re just dumping seats': Qantas to axe Beijing flights amid glut

Qantas will drop its Sydney to Beijing service from March, blaming a lift in the capacity of Chinese carriers on the route and soft demand from premium passengers.

www.brisbanetimes.com.au

On my few experiences flying between SYD and PVG on QF economy, there are but only a couple or so, probably one in each section of economy cabin. I didn't really pay much attention since I can talk in English, but for other travellers, who can't speak English at all, it's gonna be hard to wait and find the handful Mandarin speaking FA. It's also always fun to watch during the food & drink ordering process.
As the food, regardless where it's loaded, it's not really catered for Chinese travellers, most of the fellow Chinese don't really worry about the $5 wine even served in CZ first class, but a cold salad is a definitely big NO in all situations.


As the dumping seats, it will be a slightly different story from Chinese side. Many of the new added flights are sponsored by local city government to try to make the city looks more "glorious" with long-haul international flights. It's more a way for the city mayor to show off his contribution which will benefit their future career. We have seen many flights of this type axed after the subsidy (usually 3 years) is over, but there are many more to come, since every 2nd tier city would love to be a global city. I doubt there is much motivation for defeating QF or other carriers by adding more seats.

 

[Melburnian1]

...As the dumping seats, it will be a slightly different story from Chinese side. Many of the new added flights are sponsored by local city government to try to make the city looks more "glorious" with long-haul international flights. It's more a way for the city mayor to show off his contribution which will benefit their future career. We have seen many flights of this type axed after the subsidy (usually 3 years) is over, but there are many more to come, since every 2nd tier city would love to be a global city. I doubt there is much motivation for defeating QF or other carriers by adding more seats.

Fascinating post, but don't worry, in Oz we have State Premiers who stupidly think it's a good use of public money to subsidise international airlines.

The Victorian government is giving away taxpayers' funds to Asiana for - wait for it - a weekly flight that will be trialled for only two months between ICN and MEL. Weekly flights aren't useful to a lot of passengers, and this is a route that's been tried before by competitor KE - and from which it withdrew.

I didn't know mainland Chinese don't like cold salads so that's interesting.

If you can add more observations to AFF from a non-Caucasian perspective, many of us would find them extremely interesting.

I knew a QF female flight attendant who worked on the A332s/A333s for a few months. She said to me with disdain about mainland Chinese "serving them meals and drinks was really difficult as (rolling her eyes) none of them speak English."

I've very rarely seen an international airline have photos of the choices, but like window displays of food, it's a practical solution to language barriers.

 

[AIRwin]

I've very rarely seen an international airline have photos of the choices, but like window displays of food, it's a practical solution to language barriers.

But then again the actual meal may not resemble what is in the photo...