Qantas' Impending Change to Tokyo Flight Schedule

[justinbrett]

If QF didn’t get the slots they needed for NS they can ask ISAC to delay the new capacity until NW.

They haven’t zeroed out any flights so I don’t think any change is imminent- and any changes that occur would be minor such as moving a NRT service to HND or vice versa. I can’t see them combing the two SYD flights into one.

I suspect the SYD flights have too many forward bookings so might be alternative solution such as only moving MEL to HND and leaving BNE at NRT until the next timetable period.

 

[elanshin]

If QF didn’t get the slots they needed for NS they can ask ISAC to delay the new capacity until NW.

They haven’t zeroed out any flights so I don’t think any change is imminent- and any changes that occur would be minor such as moving a NRT service to HND or vice versa. I can’t see them combing the two SYD flights into one.

I suspect the SYD flights have too many forward bookings so might be alternative solution such as only moving MEL to HND and leaving BNE at NRT until the next timetable period.

do they really have that much forward booking?

That was the cheapest QF has had for flights to JP since covid this week in the sale and it include big portions of 2025.

 

[Captain Halliday]

The longer qantas leaves it, the more out of pocket and inconvienced their patrons will be

Hmmm, sound familiar.

But surely they wouldn’t be seeking tickets on flights they have no intention of operating?

 

[SeaWolf]

But surely they wouldn’t be seeking tickets on flights they have no intention of operating?

Of course not! They're selling a bundle of rights on flights they have no intention of operating.

 

[justinbrett]

Of course not! They're selling a bundle of rights on flights they have no intention of operating.

You jest but that’s exactly the reason why I don’t think a change is likely in the near future.

No way they would be selling flights with no intention of operating them after just settling with ACCC over that same issue.

do they really have that much forward booking?

That was the cheapest QF has had for flights to JP since covid this week in the sale and it include big portions of 2025.

And why would they be filling seats they only have to reaccomodate in the coming weeks?

 

[GDale]

You jest but that’s exactly the reason why I don’t think a change is likely in the near future.

No way they would be selling flights with no intention of operating them after just settling with ACCC over that same issue.



And why would they be filling seats they only have to reaccomodate in the coming weeks?

Conversely, maybe that's why they're not zeroing out flights - they could be worried that zeroing out flights for new customers but not addressing customers on existing bookings at the exact same time (or shortly afterwards) may result in opening up yet another front with the ACCC? Might open up the same argument of "you knew the flights will be cancelled, yet you didn't do anything to make it right immediately, and now I've incurred unnecessary additional expense", just in a different way.

This is what I'm hoping for anyway, in preference over the thought that they won't be changing anything - got the super early morning flight booked to MEL via SYD and would love to have that changed to a red eye! Though it'll get to a point where I'd prefer certainty than the possibility of potential convenience

 

[moa999]

And an interesting post on airliners.net.

Rumour doing the rounds is Virgin have asked to keep the Haneda slot, and use QR to fly it.

 

[SeaWolf]

I don't think that rumour is credible, my understanding of the IASC process is that ship has long sailed and there's just no path for Virgin to ask to keep the slot. It's already been handed back and handed to another airline.

 

[justinbrett]

And an interesting post on airliners.net.

It's bogus. You can't wet lease for the Japan routes. We've been through this at length.

That and the slot has already been awarded to QF. No backsies.

 

[henrus]

Slot has already been determined and awarded to Qantas

https://www.iasc.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/2024-iasc-122-qf-japan.pdf

Qantas hasn't been given any exemption (as far as I can tell) so this means they need to start using this slot by 30 April.

 

[justinbrett]

Slot has already been determined and awarded to Qantas

https://www.iasc.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/2024-iasc-122-qf-japan.pdf

Qantas hasn't been given any exemption (as far as I can tell) so this means they need to start using this slot by 30 April.

But importantly QF can use the third slot any way it wants, it's not bound to the annex in the application that reduced SYD to a single flight. It could even use the third slot for JQ if it wants.

It really depends on which actual slots QF was offered for NS, if they've deemed it unviable they may have already asked for an extension. The approval came just a week before submissions for NS slots were due.

Important to note there hasn't been any QF media about the Tokyo services - all reporting has been third party. You won't find a mention of it in QF's media releases.

 

[Lucass]

Can virgin, hypothetically, get slots to narita though, or haneda, eventually a few years down the track?

 

[justinbrett]

Can virgin, hypothetically, get slots to narita though, or haneda, eventually a few years down the track?

NRT yes, no problem. HND no. Even if slots opened up they’d need their own aircraft, wet lease aircraft are not permitted.

 

[DC3]

Can virgin, hypothetically, get slots to narita though, or haneda, eventually a few years down the track?

If there are slots available to apply for, then they could always apply for them

 

[Himeno]

Can virgin, hypothetically, get slots to narita though, or haneda, eventually a few years down the track?

Australia has open skies with Japan. Australian airlines are allowed unlimited flights to any Japanese international airport (provided they can get slots at said airport), except HND.