Qantas to fly to Delhi from Sydney & Melbourne

[AIRwin]

4 state/territory capitals connected to the Indian capital - catching up with SIN...

 

[TheInsider]

Possibly, or they will switch it to non-stop once more 787s are available.

I agree, if loads and revenue are good out of MEL and SYD and not picking up much traffic via the stop overs then they will ditch them, too many expenses to go via somewhere.
Obviously at the moment it's due to range issues.

 

[dajop]

The big boost, and reason for these routes coming into being, but also the medium term threat for these routes is the vastly reduced schedule on the traditional routes to India (via SIN, KUL, BKK and HKG).

Currently SQ, CX and MH are not operating regular commercial passenger services to India. IIRC, MH resumes limited services some time during December. TG is operating 6x week (split between DEL and BOM) - but of course limited services into Australia.

If, or perhaps rather when, these four carriers recommence services, the competition will be greater and the incentive to fly QF will be less, particularly those heading for anywhere other than DEL/NW India, which basically will require flying over the destination and in some instances (eg BLR, MAA, CCU), significant backtracking.

Not sure if these are short term market fillers or a long term play on behalf of QF.

 

[Mattg]

My prediction is that MEL-DEL will stay in the longer term, filling the void left by Air India. I'm not so sure about SYD-DEL, but who knows. If it does stay, you would think it will eventually be retimed and switched to a 787.

 

[dajop]

My prediction is that MEL-DEL will stay in the longer term, filling the void left by Air India. I'm not so sure about SYD-DEL, but who knows. If it does stay, you would think it will eventually be retimed and switched to a 787.

I forgot about AI, what Tata may do with Air India is the unknown as well as the impact of the AirAsiaX restructuring if that eventuates.

 

[jrfsp]

My prediction is that MEL-DEL will stay in the longer term, filling the void left by Air India. I'm not so sure about SYD-DEL, but who knows. If it does stay, you would think it will eventually be retimed and switched to a 787.

Isnt AI back? or is that just SYD?

I see UL is continuing to fly both SYD and MEL

 

[Mattg]

Isnt AI back? or is that just SYD?

Air India currently does not have any flights scheduled to Australia Melbourne.

They were previously doing 3-4 flights per week each to SYD & MEL using 787s, albeit with fewer premium seats than Qantas has on its 787s.

 

[jrfsp]

Nope, Air India currently does not have any flights scheduled to Australia.

They were previously doing 3-4 flights per week each to SYD & MEL using 787s, albeit with fewer premium seats than Qantas has on its 787s.

Direct flights between Delhi-Sydney to start from November 15

India’s national-carrier Air India has announced plans to resume direct, non-stop flights between Delhi and Sydney from November 15. As per the reports, the flights will operate thrice a week. This move comes after the Australian flag-carrier Qantas announced to make new flights operational on...

timesofindia.indiatimes.com

I can see AI301 has been operating for a week or so now

 

[Mattg]

Direct flights between Delhi-Sydney to start from November 15

India’s national-carrier Air India has announced plans to resume direct, non-stop flights between Delhi and Sydney from November 15. As per the reports, the flights will operate thrice a week. This move comes after the Australian flag-carrier Qantas announced to make new flights operational on...

timesofindia.indiatimes.com

I can see AI301 has been operating for a week or so now

Oh, good pickup! I checked towards the end of last month and there were no AI flights on sale then - but I see from the article you linked that they announced the resumption of SYD-DEL flights on 29 October. 3x per week by the look of it.

All the more reason to suspect QF won't stick around on the SYD-DEL route, I guess!

 

[jrfsp]

Oh, good pickup! I checked towards the end of last month and there were no AI flights on sale then - but I see from the article you linked that they announced the resumption of SYD-DEL flights on 29 October. 3x per week by the look of it.

All the more reason to suspect QF won't stick around on the SYD-DEL route, I guess!

From what i read they resumed fairly spontaneously without much fanfare.

For the DEL route i think it will come down to price, im guessing AI will be cheaper so just how many would want to pay for QF remains to be seen, especially when SQ etc can offer lots more 1 stop destinations.

 

[Mattg]

From what i read they resumed fairly spontaneously without much fanfare.

This would never happen with Qantas!

 

[justinbrett]

The wording on the media release is interesting: "Flights from Melbourne to Delhi will initially operate via Adelaide ..." (my emphasis). It would appear that this could be another pressure point on PER airport authority to get the issues their resolved and all west-bound LH using that hub again, in which case the SA Indian population would need to transit via PER both ways as opposed to via SYD/MEL on the return as they currently would need to.

Regards,

BD

It will initially operate via Adelaide, and then later it will be cancelled and won't operate at all.

Makes perfect sense to me.

 

[Hvr]

It will initially operate via Adelaide, and then later it will be cancelled and won't operate at all.

So an F lounge run from MEL to celebrate the final flight MEL-ADL-DEL?

It's been done before.

 

[jakeseven7]

Some of the coverage from today:

Qantas supercharges Delhi flights​

Strong demand for Delhi has prompted Qantas to add flights from Melbourne for the first time in the airline’s 101-year history, with more new international routes set to be added.

No Cookies | Herald Sun

No Cookies

www.heraldsun.com.au

Qantas Delhi flight sees ‘fastest booking surge’​

Australian flag carrier Qantas will connect Delhi with Sydney and Melbourne from December. Australia has approved both the
made-in-India Covaxin and Covishield.

Australia International Students News: Australia opens for fully vaccinated international students; Qantas Delhi flight sees ‘fastest booking surge’ | India Business News - Times of India

Qantas Doubles Down On Delhi With New Flights From Melbourne​

Qantas is rediscovering India. In October, the airline said it would start thrice-weekly services between Sydney and Delhi in early December. Qantas followed that up on Monday, announcing it would also begin Melbourne – Delhi flights before Christmas.

Qantas' Fresh Focus On Delhi With New Flights From Melbourne

simpleflying.com

 

[TheInsider]

Over 200 already booked on the first Melbourne flight.

 

[dajop]

If it does stay, you would think it will eventually be retimed and switched to a 787.

Would that be a 787 painted white or one painted silver?

 

[Must...Fly!]

Would that be a 787 painted white or one painted silver?

It's a long flight, I think while the transit restrictions are unknown and relatively complex, Qantas can make point to point routes work that couldn't pre-covid.

 

[TheInsider]

It's a long flight, I think while the transit restrictions are unknown and relatively complex, Qantas can make point to point routes work that couldn't pre-covid.

It would take a bit for JQ to take over, especially with GHAs and IT systems.

 

[Melburnian1]

I agree, if loads and revenue are good out of MEL and SYD and not picking up much traffic via the stop overs then they will ditch them, too many expenses to go via somewhere.
Obviously at the moment it's due to range issues.

Re claimed 'range' issues, Air India used to fly 'express' from MEL to DEL, albeit with a B788 IIRC.

Indians are resistant to paying higher fares so longer term it's difficult to see QFi with its high costs being successful. That would make the second time QFi withdrew from India, as its initial foray years ago with connecting flights in SIN eventually failed.

 

[TheInsider]

Re claimed 'range' issues, Air India used to fly 'express' from MEL to DEL, albeit with a B788 IIRC.

Yes, but QF are using an A330.