Qantas cancels Beijing flights from March 2020

[dajop]

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.

Interestingly on the OZ website you can purchase this flight in one direction in conjunction with QF/OZ via SYD in the other. I suspect though it is more about package travel from Korea that's filling it, in which case weekly is probably about right.

 

[djtech]

A majority of Chinese (especially older ones) travel to Australia with a big Chinese tour group. These tour groups often book mainland chinese airlines because it gives them comfort that they can communicate with the FAs for their needs and also receive chinese style meals. Adding to chinese not liking cold salads, they also only drink warm water unlike westerners (and Qantas) that primarily drink cold water. Not to mention, chinese airlines often have chinese films to watch whereas Qantas' infotainment system, although sufficient, has limited foreign language choices.

Qantas cut this route because they couldn't make lucrative money from tour groups (filling out economy cabin) or business travellers (who mainly go to Shanghai and fill the business cabin).

 

[moa999]

Suggested in airliners that CZ China Southern is looking to operate PKX-SYD and possibly PKX-MEL, which probably pushed QF over the edge.

Guess QF may extend their codeshare deal

 

[jase05]

but a cold salad is a definitely big NO in all situations

But it’s no ordinary salad!
Surely everyone loves a NP inspired Mesclun salad

 

[Maca44]

I have been to Beijing twice for holidays over the past 2 years, and even though it is dissappointing that Qantas is pulling out of that route there are other good carriers to use. I flew J once with China Eastern, and there were equal if not better than QF on that flight. From my own perspective after having being toBeijing, I don't think I will ever return to HKG unless its in transit, mainly because I found Beijing fascinating, the people and food great and doesn't smell like Hong Kong. The train from Shanghai is very good in any event, and they do stick to the timetable.

 

[TheInsider]

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.

And please tell me in all your wisdom, why it isn't a good use of money for the Victorian Government (or ANY other government for that matter) to subsidise the costs of flying to Australia?
The tourists literally spend billions of dollars in that economy which also create thousands of jobs.
Also why is it nearly every day and every comment you have to somehow criticise any labor government? Get over yourself.

 

[Melburnian1]

And please tell me in all your wisdom, why it isn't a good use of money for the Victorian Government (or ANY other government for that matter) to subsidise the costs of flying to Australia?

The tourists literally spend billions of dollars in that economy which also create thousands of jobs.,,

I agree travellers spend a lot, but bear in mind this route previously wasn't successful, even though operated by another Sth Korean airline, and the trial is for a very limited period (two months) and only weekly.

Not only is taxation revenue finite, international aviation is highly competitive.

It isn't perfect: there's the argument of the USA airlines (non government) that the ME3 are heavily subsidised.

Giving out more $$$ 'under the table' doesn't solve the problem: it compounds it. There's typically no transparency (i.e. no public disclosure of what's spent where) with these government handouts, so there's always the potential for corruption, however lily white we may all like to think we are in Oz.

If one company receives a government subsidy, others may want to also be on the public teat. Some airlines will be privately owned and profitable (such as QF and SQ), others privately owned and not (such as VA, D7, KE or PR) and others publicly owned whether making profits or in the worst case large losses, or not disclosing much information. Brunei's BI might be in the last category.

Also, how would governments monitor whether a subsidy led to lower fares? It may on occasion, but at times airlines may simply pocket the subsidy.

A subsidy might also just as easily encourage Australians to holiday overseas as entice foreign tourists here. In that case, little or no net gain to our economy, especially if we spend more per day on average than those who come here, and our trips have a longer median stay length.

Not so long ago, Qantas pleaded for government assistance. Fortunately it was knocked back by the Federal Government. Then QF began making profits. Any government largesse would have been a waste of money, as it was when the Victorian Coalition Government unwisely subsidised a fruit processing company that has lately been up for sale by a large beverage manufacturer.

If governments want to assist tourism, then build proper infrastructure, such as a standalone Melbourne Airport rail line in the case of the southern capital, and do it as quickly as possible conversant with good design and the availability of materials, labour and environmental/planning/acquisition considerations. That's something that if done well and intelligently will benefit all users of airlines, as well as staff like your good self, just as the Sydney Airport privately funded rail line helps travellers. The latter isn't perfect (especially with the remaining capped weekly, but expensive for day travellers station access fee) that the NSW Coalition Government now pockets about 85 per cent of at International and Domestic stations. That government has stubbornly refused to abolish this fee to the chagrin of many.

It's best that international airlines stand on their own two feet in relation to flight operations. If they can't history informs us there's often a competitor who will seize the chance to serve that market.

If a government had decided to subsidise Qantas with its SYD - PEK route, the mainland Chinese airlines rightly would have been annoyed, even if they were receiving a subsidy themselves from local Chinese governments as the contribution above suggests. They'd perceive that a subsidy from a Western government would be more per seat. Better that neither is subsidised.

NB: Above you'll see two criticisms of Coalition Governments.

 

[Isochronous]

Good news overall though - another opportunity for Australia to reduce its dependence on the Chinese economy and stem the flow of brainwashed subversives into the country threatening free speech.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

The food ex China is rarely, if ever good Dun matter which airline. And I believe it's mandatory to have your flights catered ex China - so no round-trip catering ex TYO for example.

Small things that QF really misses out on when getting to grips with the Chinese market... including no Chinese newspapers ex HKG (not sure about ex PVG/PEK), and no slippers - which are pretty much standard on Asian carriers.

 

[jase05]

The food ex China is rarely, if ever good Dun matter which airline. And I believe it's mandatory to have your flights catered ex China - so no round-trip catering ex TYO for example.

Small things that QF really misses out on when getting to grips with the Chinese market... including no Chinese newspapers ex HKG (not sure about ex PVG/PEK), and no slippers - which are pretty much standard on Asian carriers.

A couple of trips now on MF and I must say I really rate their food.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Good news overall though - another opportunity for Australia to reduce its dependence on the Chinese economy and stem the flow of brainwashed subversives into the country threatening free speech.

Classic! Just classic!

 

[sjk]

Small things that QF really misses out on when getting to grips with the Chinese market... including no Chinese newspapers ex HKG

I’ve had Chinese newspapers the last five times I’ve flown them, all within the past half year.

 

[levelnine]

Getting back on topic, is the reason for this cancellation to free up an aircraft for HND?

 

[Himeno]

Getting back on topic, is the reason for this cancellation to free up an aircraft for HND?

Unlikely. The HND flights are due to use either an existing aircraft (MEL-NRT moved to MEL-HND) or a new 787.

Maybe bringing QF33/34 (KIX) up to daily? or open a new route (ICN? which they've been talking about as a possible new route since the 787 orders started)

 

[dajop]

Maybe bringing QF33/34 (KIX) up to daily? or open a new route (ICN? which they've been talking about as a possible new route since the 787 orders started)

ADL-SIN??

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I’ve had Chinese newspapers the last five times I’ve flown them, all within the past half year.

That’s a good start then It was embarrassing to overhear a paying QF F pax in HKG being told no more Chinese papers due to ‘lack of demand’.

 

[texter]

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.

On a recent regional SQ Y flight they did have a laminated card with the pictures and description (prob in a few languages) of the two choices. I didn't see the cabin crew use them in my section however..

 

[jakeseven7]

ADL-SIN??

Too much plane... Could they stick a 737 on it and build from there like Perth? Would a 737 make it?

 

[AIRwin]

Final flight now on 8 February instead?