Qantas Launching MEL - HNL from May 2025

[Flyfrequently]

QF3 used to originate in MEL?

IIRC @AIRwin all our MEL-HNL flights on Q metal were via SYD in the last 20+ years

 

[Saab34]

Wish the HA 787 would come to Melbourne!

 

[Mwenenzi]

QF media release 9:15 03-09-2024--> QANTAS DISCOUNTS 50,000 SEATS ACROSS THE AMERICAS TO MARK LAUNCH OF MELBOURNE TO HONOLULU FLIGHTS

Qantas is adding further capacity to the US with the launch of direct flights from Melbourne to Honolulu from early-May 2025*.

On sale from today, the new service will boost capacity to the USA by adding more than 40,000 seats per year to the Hawaiian capital, in addition to existing Sydney to Honolulu services with Qantas and Jetstar which collectively operate eight times per week. The new Qantas flights will operate three times per week with an Airbus A330 aircraft. Coincing with the launch of the new Qantas service, Jetstar will cease its current twice weekly Dreamliner 787 Melbourne to Honolulu flights from 30 April 2025, with the aircraft to be depolyed on another long-haul route
<snip>

 

[justinbrett]

IIRC @AIRwin all our MEL-HNL flights on Q metal were via SYD in the last 20+ years

I think they’re referring to MEL-SYD-HNL

In the 60s it was SYD-BNE-AKL-NAN-HNL-SFO (and sometimes on to JFK and LHR). I think later it changed to MEL-SYD….

 

[tomlee1986]

I think they’re referring to MEL-SYD-HNL

In the 60s it was SYD-BNE-AKL-NAN-HNL-SFO (and sometimes on to JFK and LHR). I think later it changed to MEL-SYD….

I was thinking that one too… did that route ever exist??

 

[Flyfrequently]

I think they’re referring to MEL-SYD-HNL

In the 60s it was SYD-BNE-AKL-NAN-HNL-SFO (and sometimes on to JFK and LHR). I think later it changed to MEL-SYD….

My misunderstanding @justinbrett thought OP meant MEL-HNL direct.

 

[jase05]

This looks like a good move by QF.
Gives another option to avoid their ugly sibling

 

[justinbrett]

I assume this will be deconflicted with QF103/4 and offer a daily flight from either SYD or MEL? That would be smart.

MEL might also be better for connections, I know during AEDT getting connecting flights from QF104 can be difficult.

 

[jakeseven7]

Great news! Sad poor old BNE didn’t get it though, my taxpayer dollars must be drying up

 

[Mattg]

Jetstar has told travel agents that "The aircraft [taken off MEL-HNL] will be redeployed to another long-haul route which we are very much looking forward to announcing in the near future."

 

[SYD]

Jetstar has told travel agents that "The aircraft [taken off MEL-HNL] will be redeployed to another long-haul route which we are very much looking forward to announcing in the near future."

Possibly the opposite direction? As hinted here a while back?

https://newsroom.jetstar.com/jetstar-announces-major-revamp-of-its-boeing-787-international-fleet/

 

[05flyer]

Possibly the opposite direction? As hinted here a while back?

The mention of Sri Lanka is very interesting given this announcement recently.
https://www.executivetraveller.com/news/sri-lanka-australian-visa

 

[aikman]

Jetstar has told travel agents that "The aircraft [taken off MEL-HNL] will be redeployed to another long-haul route which we are very much looking forward to announcing in the near future."

For purely selfish reasons please let it be MEL-MNL

 

[justinbrett]

Jetstar has told travel agents that "The aircraft [taken off MEL-HNL] will be redeployed to another long-haul route which we are very much looking forward to announcing in the near future."

I wouldn’t rule out BNE-HNL. Even SYD-LAX at a stretch (pun intended).

But otherwise I’m guessing something in Japan.

 

[jase05]

I wouldn’t rule out BNE-HNL. Even SYD-LAX at a stretch (pun intended).

But otherwise I’m guessing something in Japan.

I reckon you might be right there.
BNE-HNL is the obvious one but perhaps it’s too obvious.

 

[05flyer]

I reckon you might be right there.
BNE-HNL is the obvious one but perhaps it’s too obvious.

Alternatively MEL-KIX, given the popularity of Japan at the moment.

Wouldn’t have thought there’d be too many people flocking to Hawaii as a budget destination with the exchange rate the way it is, even with JQ low fares.

 

[justinbrett]

Wouldn’t have thought there’d be too many people flocking to Hawaii as a budget destination with the exchange rate the way it is, even with JQ low fares.

You’d be surprised. The QF flights are usually heavily booked, and I imagine there is a lot of demand for BNE since HA suspended the route.

But JQ have made recent comments about their desire to fly to the mainland.

 

[Saab34]

They are going for engineering checks. Well known internally inside the engineering department! All kicks off Q2 next year. Been years in the planning and will be years in the making also. Each 787 is planned to be offline for 3 months. Teething problems on return can be expected like most mid life D checks

I would probably expect some tweaks to the network anyway. Japan is underperforming it seems across the board, Vietnam is suffering overcapacity. Some quiet reductions will be had also. New additions can be expected. No secret that UL is performing strongly on its Australian routes.

 

[Ansett Nostalgic]

BNE-CMB would be interesting.

 

[Himeno]

You’d be surprised. The QF flights are usually heavily booked, and I imagine there is a lot of demand for BNE since HA suspended the route.

But JQ have made recent comments about their desire to fly to the mainland.

The US mainland? I thought the config of the JQ 788s prevented them flying to the North American mainland with a reasonable load.