Qantas to start Sydney Beijing service

[kelvedon]

Qantas is to start a daily SYD-PEK service in January using A330/200, after an 8 year absence.

QANTAS RETURNS TO BEIJING - Qantas News Room

 

[pauly7]

Cutting VA's grass for them with a decent head start...
How does this marry up to the AY flight - could be another way to get to EU?

 

[Mattg]

Great to see Qantas expanding their international network again. I've long thought that China was underserved by QF. There are so many more flights between Australia and China now than there were a decade ago, but pretty much all of these flights have been added by Chinese airlines.

Cutting VA's grass for them with a decent head start...
How does this marry up to the AY flight - could be another way to get to EU?

Unfortunately it doesn't connect well at all - requires an overnight layover on the way to Europe, and a full day layover on the return (AY flight arrives at 7am, QF back to SYD departs at midnight). Still, there's always the 72 hour visa-free transit - and it could be a good way to see some of Beijing.

 

[dajop]

Starting just in time for Lunar New Year too. Good call.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Unfortunately it doesn't connect well at all - requires an overnight layover on the way to Europe...

Not only Europe - but anywhere else in China too. Arrival of 2240 is too late to connect anywhere.

But how is this possible? Can't operate a refurb 332 to HNL because of galley issues... but SYD-PEK is ok (it's an extra 500 miles over HNL)

 

[moa999]

Suspect it's part by design. QF wants you to go via DXB for Europe and MU has much better connections from PVG to the rest of China.

Plus no doubt slot availability at PEK

 

[moa999]

But how is this possible? Can't operate a refurb 332 to HNL because of galley issues... but SYD-PEK is ok (it's an extra 500 miles over HNL)

Think that was only ever a rumour/ galleytalk

 

[Mattg]

Plus no doubt slot availability at PEK

Slot availability at PEK is a very big issue. I've heard VA have also been struggling to get a slot. It may be a case of taking what you can get.

But how is this possible? Can't operate a refurb 332 to HNL because of galley issues... but SYD-PEK is ok (it's an extra 500 miles over HNL)

I wouldn't be surprised if this was one of QF's first 787 routes.

 

[dajop]

Suspect it's part by design. QF wants you to go via DXB for Europe and MU has much better connections from PVG to the rest of China.

Yes, exactly right - it's not at all about Europe. No need to suspect, of course they want passengers to fly to Europe on their own services or JV services with EK. And besides not everyone wants to travel to Europe! But what the timing does offer is good connections through QF's hub - which is probably more important.

 

[Pleb Status]

A330 aircraft must be able to fly slightly faster on Thursdays and Sundays (according to the proposed schedule).

 

[Mattg]

A330 aircraft must be able to fly slightly faster on Thursdays and Sundays (according to the proposed schedule).

I'm assuming that this relates to ground congestion (or lack thereof) at PEK on those particular days.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I hope QF takes this opportunity to tailor its service to the Chinese market. Things like slippers for premium cabins are standard for Asian airlines. I know Chinese pax who have asked for them to be told 'Qantas doesn't offer slippers'. 50 cents a passenger can start to make the experience a bit more enjoyable.

 

[JohnPhelan]

But how is this possible? Can't operate a refurb 332 to HNL because of galley issues... but SYD-PEK is ok (it's an extra 500 miles over HNL)

QF has confirmed to AusBT that the PEK route will be served by the two unrefurbed A332s. So they have sufficient J toilets and galley space. Just Skybeds in J, rather than the new suites.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

QF has confirmed to AusBT that the PEK route will be served by the two unrefurbed A332s. So they have sufficient J toilets and galley space. Just Skybeds in J, rather than the new suites.

Thanks. I just this moment caught up on the A330 thread! With the flight times maybe premium cabins will be discounted or sold at MU rather than QF levels?

 

[boregos]

QF has confirmed to AusBT that the PEK route will be served by the two unrefurbed A332s. So they have sufficient J toilets and galley space. Just Skybeds in J, rather than the new suites.

Reason being is that those are the only two -200s that still have the flight crew rest.

 

[Melburnian1]

While as others have commented it may be due to the unavailability of landing or takeoff slots at other times, the timings for these proposed flights are poor.

A mid morning departure such as 0945 would be way preferable to arriving in PEK at 2240, while in the other direction, not arriving in Australia under mid afternoon may not suit some businessmen.

 

[Mattg]

Seats for this new route are now on sale.

There's also a fair bit of award availability, including in J.

 

[Isochronous]

SYD-PEK is an O&D service.

PEK is the capital of the world's 2nd largest economy and Australia's largest trading partner. There will be enough traffic to sustain it without connections - remember that the population of PEK is 21.7 million, which is equal to Australia's entire national population.

Connections to China are better routed via HKG or PVG. For Europe, go via DXB or SIN (where one can also buy QF-coded EK flights)

 

[docjames]

There will be enough traffic to sustain it without connections - remember that the population of PEK is 21.7 million, which is equal to Australia's entire national population.

/sarcam//

And SYD is where QF seem to think Australia's 22m live.....

 

[dajop]

SYD-PEK is an O&D service.)

Of course at the PEK end it is, but at the SYD end it is not an O&D service, being QF's hub. Not too different to HKG-PEK on CX, FRA-PEK on LH or ORD-PEK on UA. Main difference is that the number of connecting destinations is obviously much more limited through SYD vs other hubs (MEL, BNE, AKL, CBR, rural NSW) - I assume timing not great for SCL connections.