QF announce non-stop Perth-London B787 Services

[Quickstatus]

Re: Qantas: non-stop Australia (Perth)-Europe (London) Boeing 787 flights set to soar

Given the 787 were purchased to replace 747s that need to be retired, it is likely the 3 787 frames that operate MEL-PER-LHR-PER-MEL will replace the 2 A380 frames currently doing MEL-DXB-LHR-DXB-LHR.

The two A380 frames can be redeployed to SYD-HKG and MEL-HKG, freeing up 2 747 frames to be retired.

i reckon the next 4 x 787 will go to MEL-DFW and MEL-LAX. This would allow the A380 MEL-LAX to be cancelled and redeployed to retire another 2 747s

I'm not sure which routes would support an A380 which has F cabin and I think overall 25% more seats apart from HKG.

Maybe some new routes yet to be developed to North Asia with an A380? Maybe a reconfig as suggested by Himeno without F cabin but the new J suites. Or maybe with F cabin especially with Chinese appetite for high end brands

JNB and SCL do not currently have F service in any airline that operates those routes. A few of the current 747 are relatively new and should be able to operate these 4 engine routes for quite a few years yet.

 

[mviy]

Re: Qantas: non-stop Australia (Perth)-Europe (London) Boeing 787 flights set to soar

Maybe a reconfig as suggested by Himeno without F cabin but the new J suites

That would be bad. There would be some angry F passengers downgraded to J to e.g. LAX as their A380 was swapped with one without F. If they do put the A380 on routes without F they should keep the F seats and sell them as J for high status passengers and provide J service.

 

[Lionel Hutz]

Re: Qantas: non-stop Australia (Perth)-Europe (London) Boeing 787 flights set to soar

ABC news reported PER-LHR will be operated with 4 x 789's, Premier of WA tweeted 14 flights a week https://twitter.com/ColinBarnett/status/807817473374363648

Looks like a daily double from PER, guess that means QF 9 / 10 MEL-LHR will go as reported in AusBT Qantas to axe Melbourne-Dubai-London Airbus A380 QF9/QF10 flight? - Australian Business Traveller

Big news for Perth and for QF if correct!

 

[kamchatsky]

Re: Qantas: non-stop Australia (Perth)-Europe (London) Boeing 787 flights set to soar

Well it makes sense to force QF to do daily double if QF wants WA Government to spend that much money on airport upgrades and funding of the immigration officers.

I wouldn't mind trying it, but for me HKG or SIN transfer is better than say PER.

I wonder if A350XWB can go this range? Would be a much better aircraft for Y passengers than 787.

 

[pauly7]

Re: Qantas: non-stop Australia (Perth)-Europe (London) Boeing 787 flights set to soar

Wonder if QF will sell premium Y on MEL-PER-MEL domestic legs or just allocate to premium tier FF's...

 

[docjames]

Re: Qantas: non-stop Australia (Perth)-Europe (London) Boeing 787 flights set to soar

Some "political interpretation" there by the WA premier to make it sound like more for their investment.

14 flights per week is one daily in each direction so only daily.

 

[coriander]

Re: Qantas: non-stop Australia (Perth)-Europe (London) Boeing 787 flights set to soar

"Qantas has made an in-principal agreement to move all of their domestic and international services to a new terminal at Airport Central by 31 December 2025."

Shouldn't that read "in-principle"? Or will they be employing an ex-headmaster?

 

[GoldCanyon340]

Re: Qantas: non-stop Australia (Perth)-Europe (London) Boeing 787 flights set to soar

I wouldn't mind trying it, but for me HKG or SIN transfer is better than say PER.

Up until last year I always went through HKG but now I'm on the EK bandwagon with perennial cheap fares ex-OSL. Onboard shower and true dine on demand are big plus points for me.

 

[bosox76]

Re: Qantas: non-stop Australia (Perth)-Europe (London) Boeing 787 flights set to soar

Put me down as a MEL based passenger who would hate to lose the A380 service. Plus the loss of the FLounge on flights to LHR/Europe also be a major downer.

This may be a stupid question so I apologise in advance but couldn't they fly the MEL-PER from and into the international terminals and have the fast tracked clearance with the "D" on boarding passes like they used to do in MEL and SYD when people used to do when taking the JQ flights for those only on the domestic legs. This would negate the need for spending money on new services at the domestic terminal, have the added benefits of allowing passengers to use the international J/F lounges in Melbourne and in Perth. Might even be a selling point for the route. Fly domestic experience international benefits. Or is this just not doable?

 

[Quickstatus]

Re: Qantas: non-stop Australia (Perth)-Europe (London) Boeing 787 flights set to soar

ABC news reported PER-LHR will be operated with 4 x 789's, Premier of WA tweeted 14 flights a week https://twitter.com/ColinBarnett/status/807817473374363648

Looks like a daily double from PER, guess that means QF 9 / 10 MEL-LHR will go as reported in AusBT Qantas to axe Melbourne-Dubai-London Airbus A380 QF9/QF10 flight? - Australian Business Traveller

Big news for Perth and for QF if correct!

Sorry, how can 4 airplanes operate 14x 17.5 HR flights per week?

 

[mviy]

Re: Qantas: non-stop Australia (Perth)-Europe (London) Boeing 787 flights set to soar

If the MEL-PER flight left from the International terminal in MEL that would be great. This would be good for WP and above and alleviate some concerns with a discontinued A380 service (if that unfortunately happens) but only if travelling from MEL on the 787 flight MEL-PER

However whether enough passengers flying MEL-PER would be willing to go through international security and what QANTAS would think about the cost of providing lounge access to these are other questions.

 

[dajop]

Re: Qantas: non-stop Australia (Perth)-Europe (London) Boeing 787 flights set to soar

Sorry, how can 4 airplanes operate 14x 17.5 HR flights per week?

Easily, that's 35 hrs of flying for a return, leaves 13 hours on the ground, for a 2 day cycle.

Two for 2x daily departures on Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun, Tue, Thu, Sat
Two for 2x daily departures on Tue, Thu, Sat, Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun

 

[kitkatff]

Re: Qantas: non-stop Australia (Perth)-Europe (London) Boeing 787 flights set to soar

Is this a direct slap in the face to EK, with AJ saying that QF passengers would rather fly via PER to avoid using EK at all? Flying say ADL-PER-LHR will be no quicker than flying ADL-DXB-LHR so that excuse can be taken out of the equation. Flying say ADL-PER will also be on a 73H so this will be a significant downgrade as well compared to anything EK offers. [FONT=&amp]
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the other thing is that with the EK alliance for the last few years, people have realised they don't need to go to LHR to hit Europe, they can go anywhere out of DXB (or DOH), so just 2 flights, rather than 3. Honestly, 17.5 hours, then facing LHR immigration, then another flight to go to where you want to go, meh ...

 

[Lionel Hutz]

Re: Qantas: non-stop Australia (Perth)-Europe (London) Boeing 787 flights set to soar

Sorry, how can 4 airplanes operate 14x 17.5 HR flights per week?

If it is true (maybe the reporting is wrong), one 789 does a 17 hour flight, lays over for a few hours in LHR dependent on what slots they use, return to PER approx 17 hrs as well. All done in 48 hours. Daily service with 2, daily double with 4.
At 17 hours a day a very high utilisation rate, however reportedly Finnair does something similar with their A350's.

 

[GoldCanyon340]

Re: Qantas: non-stop Australia (Perth)-Europe (London) Boeing 787 flights set to soar

Honestly, 17.5 hours, then facing LHR immigration, then another flight to go to where you want to go, meh ...

I was absolutely appalled by LHR immigration at T3 and T5 this year for non-EU/UK passport holders. I arrived into LHR five times between June and August and in the 'Express Lane' waited between 45 and *75* minutes to get through. I've now paid the cost to renew my British passport simply to save my mental state and go through the e-gates.

LHR arrivals for AUS passport holders is a Third World country.

 

[dajop]

Re: Qantas: non-stop Australia (Perth)-Europe (London) Boeing 787 flights set to soar

At 17 hours a day a very high utilisation rate, however reportedly Finnair does something similar with their A350's.

What is QF's A380 utilisation rate at the moment? It's pretty high too. Although if they can MEL-DXB-LHR it will go down as they'll then have an A380 sitting on the ground in London for ~ 14 hrs.

 

[bosox76]

Re: Qantas: non-stop Australia (Perth)-Europe (London) Boeing 787 flights set to soar

If the MEL-PER flight left from the International terminal in MEL that would be great. This would be good for WP and above and alleviate some concerns with a discontinued A380 service (if that unfortunately happens) but only if travelling from MEL on the 787 flight MEL-PER

However whether enough passengers flying MEL-PER would be willing to go through international security and what QANTAS would think about the cost of providing lounge access to these are other questions.

Personally I would definitely be willing to go through international security to access the F lounge. And judging by the volume of people who used to seek out the JQ flights from MEL-SYD and vv I'm guessing I'm not the only one.
The cost would be mitigated by the "loss" of the A380 passengers that were on the MEL-DXB-LHR flight. Assuming that flight gets axed (which appears a fait accompli unfortunately)

 

[mviy]

Re: Qantas: non-stop Australia (Perth)-Europe (London) Boeing 787 flights set to soar

LHR arrivals for AUS passport holders is a Third World country.

I hoped Brexit would mean passengers from Commonwealth countries would be looked after better but I don't think it'll change now.

It will be interesting to see if QANTAS sells flights to continental Europe via the new PER-LHR route.

 

[Quickstatus]

Re: Qantas: non-stop Australia (Perth)-Europe (London) Boeing 787 flights set to soar

Easily, that's 35 hrs of flying for a return, leaves 13 hours on the ground, for a 2 day cycle.

Two for 2x daily departures on Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun, Tue, Thu, Sat
Two for 2x daily departures on Tue, Thu, Sat, Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun

Yes understand all that.

However unless the 789 does not need maintenance the airline will at least need 4 +1. Just like A380 is 10+1 fleet. There is always a +1 in MNL except for the peak period when all are in service.

The only way they can do 14 per week with only 4 is to make it less than 14/week for some of the year. AKA "seasonal" service.

Additionally operating the 789 as a MEL-PER-LHR return will take more than 4 airframes to accomplish the 14/week

Now of course the airline wants more than 4 so it should be ok

 

[opusman]

Re: Qantas: non-stop Australia (Perth)-Europe (London) Boeing 787 flights set to soar

If it's all about the F lounge then the SYD lounge is much nicer than MEL anyway, so going via SYD should not be a huge burden.