Qantas putting A330s onto MEL-CNS on Saturdays

[Mattg]

From 6th April until October, Qantas is putting an Airbus A330 onto the MEL-CNS route on Saturdays. Running on QF702/703.

Qantas Adds A330 Melbourne – Cairns Service in NS24 — AeroRoutes

Published at 0230GMT 25MAR24 Qantas in Northern summer 2024 season plans to add Widebody aircraft service on Melbourne – Cairns route, as A330-200 aircraft is scheduled on Saturdays. From 06APR24, planned A330 operations as follows. QF702 MEL0920 – 1140CNS 330 6 QF703 CNS1245 – 1715MEL 330 6

www.aeroroutes.com

A nice upgrade over the usual Boeing 737s for those heading north over the winter - especially in business class

 

[docjames]

They often used to run the 330 on 702/703 during peak demand times (Northern Summer / FNQ dry season). Usually Saturdays, although occasionally either side of school holiday peaks too.

Wonder where they’ve got the airframe from - last year (2023) IIRC they didn’t run the 330 much due to airframe availability issues.

 

[Saab34]

Bring us a 787 on some of these routes! One can dream!

 

[RichardMEL]

Bring us a 787 on some of these routes! One can dream!

JQ do on occasion...

 

[Gold Member]

Waiting for Alaska MP to deploy their new partner award chart for Intra-Australia business class. The miles required for this route drop from 20K to 15K for flights <1500 miles (MEL-CNS = 1432).

Many AS partner award charts now present the new award pricing but this region still reflects the old pricing at 20K. They did say by end of March, right? I can wait 5 days, unless one of you miscreants snags my award seat in the meantime!

 

[serfty]

In early 2002 I flew domestic CNS-MEL on a 743 ...

This one:

 

[RooFlyer]

In early 2002 I flew CNS-MEL on a 743 ...

This one:

View attachment 375482

4 Qantas B747s - sigh.

 

[Mattg]

Wonder where they’ve got the airframe from - last year (2023) IIRC they didn’t run the 330 much due to airframe availability issues.

It's probably one of the A330s that normally flies trans-continental routes Monday-Friday. (Qantas mainly runs 737s on MEL-PER on weekends, freeing up A330s)

 

[SYD]

It's probably one of the A330s that normally flies trans-continental routes Monday-Friday. (Qantas mainly runs 737s on MEL-PER on weekends, freeing up A330s)

The 2nd AY wet lease is supposed to come online in a few days? Presumably that frees up some A330 capacity also? Well, assuming they fix the engine on another…

 

[Cognac]

It's probably one of the A330s that normally flies trans-continental routes Monday-Friday. (Qantas mainly runs 737s on MEL-PER on weekends, freeing up A330s)

Seeing fewer and fewer A330s on PER-MEL routes on any day of the week lately.

 

[elanshin]

The 2nd AY wet lease is supposed to come online in a few days? Presumably that frees up some A330 capacity also? Well, assuming they fix the engine on another…

Thats supposed to be helping the SYD - HND route which completely loses the 787s. Right now its majority 330s but a 787 sometimes on the route.

Post automatically merged: Mar 28, 2024

Seeing fewer and fewer A330s on PER-MEL routes on any day of the week lately.

They barely have any 330s for the Int'l ops and if any of them hiccup, the PER ones have to cover.

 

[jase05]

They often used to run the 330 on 702/703 during peak demand times (Northern Summer / FNQ dry season). Usually Saturdays, although occasionally either side of school holiday peaks too.

We had the A330 on QF923 back in January 2022, reckon that was on a Tuesday or Wednesday.

 

[MrJetset]

In early 2002 I flew domestic CNS-MEL on a 743 ...

This one:

View attachment 375482

Flew CNS-SYD many times in F!

 

[Jet2727]

I’m on the 6 April flight in 2k at the moment! Nice surprise.

 

[Justinf]

My daughter is moving to Weipa and I am driving her car up for her as far as Cairns.
Needed a one-way flight back to Melbourne and managed to snag the Saturday A330 for $260 and got a points upgrade (27,000) to J on June 1.
The best thing is I have no car at the end and can imbibe.

 

[AIRwin]

Needed a one-way flight back to Melbourne and managed to snag the Saturday A330 for $260 and got a points upgrade (27,000) to J on June 1.

Flight time is almost as long as MEL-PER?

 

[SpudOz]

It's probably one of the A330s that normally flies trans-continental routes Monday-Friday. (Qantas mainly runs 737s on MEL-PER on weekends, freeing up A330s)

Its awful flying on 737s Melbourne/Sydney to Perth.

 

[Dmac59]

A pleasant sight to see QF703 on my booking changed to A330 in July. Was quick to acquire a Classic Reward upgrade to J when notified of the aircraft change.

 

[Murmal]

Some nice changes and some not so happy faces.
Using the A330 on any route except the shortest and less patronised is just a win-win.
The 737's (and I fear the new A220 and 30's) are like catching the 405 Ventura into the city.
An A330 to Cairns and back would be a big improvement over the 737's where many of us if we have to use them fly via SYD or BNE just to get a few more points and SC for the sufferance!
(And, no, you can't just compare the JQ A330 to the QF one. Whole difference seats, service etc)
Just IMHO, I think the A330 still beats the 787. Qantas need a better product for West - East coast and across the Tasman. Especially if travelling J.

 

[Jet2727]

This was an interesting flight, I felt for the crew. Good news is we landed approx 20 mins early into Melbourne. There was no catering on the flight. As we boarded it was suggested we purchase some food, too late for me and I didn’t eat in the lounge. Apparently the aircraft change led to a mix up. Melissa the cabin manager was excellent in difficult circumstances. I had one drink and 8 almonds, outrageous how few there are in those packs! I was in J and i do this flight regularly in J and it was a big improvement on the A330. We were met by qantas staff at the gate, given voucher cards that can be used anywhere for $30 each. There was also a manager available for passengers to speak to. I went home and had dinner, I’d had a few emergency Lindor balls keep in my bag during the flight that kept me going! The lack of food wasn’t great but there are much worse things.