Qantas to keep FRA till October 2013; BA Singapore codeshare to continue

[Platinum A332]

Latest Qantas News

Qantas has also made a series of other adjustments to its international flight schedule, focused on giving customers more choice and flexibility. Qantas services to Frankfurt will continue until October 2013 and flights to Singapore will be timed so that they connect better with onward flights within Asia.

SUMMARY OF SCHEDULE CHANGES

ROUTE CHANGE FOR TRAVEL FROM 31 MARCH 2013

Sydney–Singapore–London and Melbourne–Singapore–London: Flights will operate via Dubai instead of Singapore, en route to London. Direct services to Singapore will remain but timings will improve.

Sydney–Singapore: Four new dedicated Singapore services per week, timed to better connect to onward flights within Asia.

Melbourne–Singapore: Dedicated Singapore service, seven times a week, timed to connect better to onward flights within Asia.

Singapore–London: Qantas services on this sector will cease. Qantas will codeshare on British Airways flights to provide connections via Singapore for travellers on Qantas services from Australia.

Interesting Developments. So 7 flights per week from Melbourne maintained to Singapore, and there will be 11 flights per week from Sydney?

 

[oz_mark]

What does the new schedule look like?

Route	Flight No.	Departure	Arrival	Aircraft
SYD-SIN	QF0081	0940*	1600	A330
SYD-SIN	QF0005	1550*	2200	B747
MEL-SIN	QF0035	1340*	1920	B747
BNE-SIN	QF0051	1340	1930	B747
PER-SIN	QF0077	1155	1725	A330
PER-SIN	QF0071	1535	2105	A330
ADL-SIN	QF0081	1500*	2100	A330
SIN-FRA	QF0005	2330	0615+1	B747
SIN-LHR (BA)	QF3345 (BA12)	2255	0500+1	B747
SIN-LHR (BA)	QF0319 (BA16)	2325	0530+1	B747
SYD-DXB	QF0001	1605*	0035+1	A380
MEL-DXB	QF0009	1530*	2330	A380
DXB-LHR	QF0009	0110	0540	A380
DXB-LHR	QF0001	0205	0635	A380

[TD="colspan: 5"]These schedules remain subject to regulatory approvals, operational assessment and obtaining the required Airport Slots. Australia to Singapore and Europe
[/TD]

Extracted from the FAQ: http://www.qantas.com.au/agents/dyn/qf/policies/NetworkChangeFAQs041012.pdf

 

[MrJetset]

Why would anyone traveling to the Middle East want to land at DXB at 00:35? Even with a several hour layover, it would be impossible to sleep prior to arriving at the final destination.

 

[dajop]

Why would anyone traveling to the Middle East want to land at DXB at 00:35? Even with a several hour layover, it would be impossible to sleep prior to arriving at the final destination.

Does it really matter that it's 00:35. Most people will either have it as early morning on their body clock (4:30-7:30am) ie oz time, or evening if trying to adjust to European time. The time at the layover point is really not terribly meaningful.

 

[mannej]

How about getting QF72 retimed into PER?

A 4:40 arrival into PER isn't great for loads apparently.

 

[Bundy Bear]

Why would anyone traveling to the Middle East want to land at DXB at 00:35? Even with a several hour layover, it would be impossible to sleep prior to arriving at the final destination.

The flights via DXB are dependent on the slots that Qantas have available at LHR.

I would be very surprised to still see a 747 running QF0051, and the QF0081 flight isn't right; I guess it will be routed SYD-ADL-SIN

SIN-FRA-SIN might see out the European 2013 summer season, but anything is possible.

 

[TheInsider]

I'm a bit surprised about the MEL-SIN timings. Atleast MEL gets to see the 744 back again

 

[markis10]

I'm a bit surprised about the MEL-SIN timings. Atleast MEL gets to see the 744 back again

I wonder whats going to make that happen, in terms of existing 747 routes?

 

[TheInsider]

I wonder whats going to make that happen, in terms of existing 747 routes?

Well there isn't going to be the QF5 SYD-SINvv any more. AFAIK it's only SIN-FRA?

 

[Platinum A332]

One less aircraft retirement?

Well there isn't going to be the QF5 SYD-SINvv any more. AFAIK it's only SIN-FRA?

QF5 is being maintained (from my understanding) as SYD-SIN-FRA. But this means two flights in close succession coming home SIN-SYD. I think this may change.

 

[docjames]

Does it really matter that it's 00:35. Most people will either have it as early morning on their body clock (4:30-7:30am) ie oz time, or evening if trying to adjust to European time. The time at the layover point is really not terribly meaningful.

There are so many flights into / out of DXB at that time of the morning it's just "normal".

Ever been to DRW? Same issue.....

 

[markis10]

Well there isn't going to be the QF5 SYD-SINvv any more. AFAIK it's only SIN-FRA?

Once they are down to 9 it will be interesting, SYD-JNB takes 3, SYD-NYC takes 3, and BNE-LAX takes 3 .

 

[TheInsider]

Is the 'commercial policy' available anywhere?

Customers who are unsatisfied with their reaccommodated flight may refer to the Commercial Policy to consider other options that are being made available to affected customers. This includes customers on Any Seat Award bookings

 

[cmon0005]

Looks like the MEL-SIN, and SYD-SIN flights are already loaded for booking, just checked QF site in May next year.

Although connections to India are no better as only option to fly there is Mel-PER-SIN-BOM same as before...

So much for better connections to Asia.

 

[Platinum A332]

Once the alliance is approved, could Qantas change the flight via Singapore to operate via Dubai? Perhaps as a Brisbane-Dubai-Frankfurt route?

If Qantas is keeping FRA for another 6 months, it surely is not losing *that* much money, if any.

The schedule improvements for passengers from Sydney and Melbourne are marginal (unfortunately) - Sydney customers can only connect 4 times per week onto Asian destinations. Like a poster above mentioned, the connections from Melbourne are still poor.

 

[docjames]

Once they are down to 9 it will be interesting, SYD-JNB takes 3, SYD-NYC takes 3, and BNE-LAX takes 3 .

Leaving none for DFW? Perhaps LAX-JFK will switch to 380 or more likely use the 744 from BNE.

 

[dot]

I just don't understand the new MEL-SIN and BNE-SIN timing - this was QF's opportunity to make it easier for pax to connect in SIN, but arriving at 1920/1930 is too late for many options to some ports. Options to MNL, CGK and others are limited by such a late arrival. At least it is early enough to make it to KUL on the same day without having to overnight in SIN.

On the ADL-SIN QF81 question - QF81 will run direct ADL-SIN two days a week - Tue, Thu 1500/2100, while SYD-SIN QF81 will run drect on the other days (Sun, mon, Wed, Fri, Sat) 0940/1600

 

[markis10]

On the ADL-SIN QF81 question - QF81 will run direct ADL-SIN two days a week - Tue, Thu 1500/2100, while SYD-SIN QF81 will run drect on the other days (Sun, mon, Wed, Fri, Sat) 0940/1600

On Saturdays it will also operate via ADL.

 

[codash1099]

How about getting QF72 retimed into PER?

A 4:40 arrival into PER isn't great for loads apparently.

It's PER. QF doesn't care.

 

[Brettmcg]

Once the alliance is approved, could Qantas change the flight via Singapore to operate via Dubai? Perhaps as a Brisbane-Dubai-Frankfurt route?

If Qantas is keeping FRA for another 6 months, it surely is not losing *that* much money, if any.

According to the recently published BITRE Traffic statistics for June and July:


- In June QF carried 5% more passengers into FRA compared with this time last year. In July QF again carried 5% more passengers and 22% more freight into FRA compared with July 2011.


- Seat utilisation in July for QF from Germany into AUS was at 96.6% and 77% from AUS to GER. In June inbound seat utilisation was at 80.2% and outbound at 94.6%


Based on these kinds of figures I find it difficult to believe that anything other than inefficient, retirement-age 744s could be the reason for huge losses on this route.