QF cancels QF95/96 and makes MEL-HKG a daily B747

[Quickstatus]

QF95/96 to be cancelled from 30 January.
Seasonal services on this route will run 3x week in March/April and June/July. This will allow a daily MEL-HKG B747 service from 30 January 2017.

A high season A330 PER-SIN will replace the usual 737 during Dec-Jan

 

[Bundy Bear]

Now that VA are starting MEL-LAX maybe best to go back to daily.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

Now that VA are starting MEL-LAX maybe best to go back to daily.

Using that 747 to hkg daily will give them more a330 capacity for the asia expansions too. Though its a downgrade in business product from the 330 suite for mel-hkg pax

 

[Quickstatus]

Using that 747 to hkg daily will give them more a330 capacity for the asia expansions too. Though its a downgrade in business product from the 330 suite for mel-hkg pax

But perhaps more certainty for premium economy passengers

 

[mangoface]

AA to add MEL-LAX? Although given Qf is still committing to doing it seasonally, probably unlikely..

 

[Mattg]

This actually makes a lot of sense, especially considering that VA are about to resume MEL-LAX flights.

 

[Rallo]

QF95/96 to be cancelled from 30 January.
Seasonal services on this route will run 3x week in March/April and June/July. This will allow a daily MEL-HKG B747 service from 30 January 2017.

A high season A330 PER-SIN will replace the usual 737 during Dec-Jan

Originally booked on QF95 received a message today from Qantas to call them , now booked on QF93 in J on the A380 I'll take that

 

[Aussie_flyer]

AA to add MEL-LAX? Although given Qf is still committing to doing it seasonally, probably unlikely..

QF are continuing to operate daily QF93/94 A380 with additional 3x weekly capacity during school holidays (QF95/96 B747)

 

[dajop]

AA to add MEL-LAX? Although given Qf is still committing to doing it seasonally, probably unlikely..

Or maybe 787 services MEL-DFW? Although in reality the new VA services are probably a key factor.

 

[Cool Cat Phil]

This announcement makes perfect sense. The 747 that was used on this route earlier in June/July (winter peak) was a phenomenonal success, with very strong loads recorded. Excellent news indeed!

 

[BD1959]

This actually makes a lot of sense, especially considering that VA are about to resume MEL-LAX flights.

One of Virgin's drivers for previously axing MEL-LAX was that it couldn't service the route 7/7, so switched the aircraft so that they were able to fully service a 2nd Australian port (BNE behind SYD); they rocognized that (business travellers especially) require flexibility. Now they announce that they will service MEL-LAX 5/7 and cut BNE to 6/7. Hmmmm....

Regards,

BD

 

[serfty]

One of Virgin's drivers for previously axing MEL-LAX was that it couldn't service the route 7/7, so switched the aircraft so that they were able to fully service a 2nd Australian port (BNE behind SYD); they rocognized that (business travellers especially) require flexibility. Now they announce that they will service MEL-LAX 5/7 and cut BNE to 6/7. Hmmmm....

Regards,

BD

It was 3 days one and 4 days the other for BNE & MEL.

Now with the discontinuance of the Abu Dhabi flights it frees up another aircraft to enable the changes.

So VA now will have an additional 8 transpacific services a week.

 

[BD1959]

It was 3 days one and 4 days the other for BNE & MEL.

Now with the discontinuance of the Abu Dhabi flights it frees up another aircraft to enable the change.

So VA now will have an additional 8 transpacific services a week.

Hi serfty,

Yes, I understand the increase in frequency over the previous "unworkable" frequencies. What causes me to frown is that VA stated that 7/7 was the requirement. Sure, economics change, and I'm sure the VA team have done their diligence on this one, still puzzles me when airlines contradict their own justifications.

Regards,

BD

 

[Isochronous]

HKG desperately needs more capacity, especially exMEL. Even CX is upgauging to A350 and 777 next year. Good move.

 

[soorox]

Hi serfty,

Yes, I understand the increase in frequency over the previous "unworkable" frequencies. What causes me to frown is that VA stated that 7/7 was the requirement. Sure, economics change, and I'm sure the VA team have done their diligence on this one, still puzzles me when airlines contradict their own justifications.

Regards,

BD

Yea, doesn't make sense either. Though one of the main drivers at the time was UA's decision to make MEL-LAX non-stop. MEL-LAX is too big to avoid and not serve non-stop, DL was thinking about launching the services themselves but I think hesitated, ultimately it was to serve the market or not at all. I'm sure if VA didn't come back we would be seeing QF/AA double daily on MEL-LAX come next year, VA/DL would have definitely lost out and it would be too late to re-enter the market.

Hopefully we see MEL-PVG launched with the free capacity from HKG, maybe MEL-BKK might come back to mainline? Seeing that CX is going 10 abreast in Y on their 77W's I think its best to avoid those flights! But the A350's will be perfect!

 

[pauly7]

Yea, doesn't make sense either. Though one of the main drivers at the time was UA's decision to make MEL-LAX non-stop. MEL-LAX is too big to avoid and not serve non-stop, DL was thinking about launching the services themselves but I think hesitated, ultimately it was to serve the market or not at all. I'm sure if VA didn't come back we would be seeing QF/AA double daily on MEL-LAX come next year, VA/DL would have definitely lost out and it would be too late to re-enter the market.

Hopefully we see MEL-PVG launched with the free capacity from HKG, maybe MEL-BKK might come back to mainline? Seeing that CX is going 10 abreast in Y on their 77W's I think its best to avoid those flights! But the A350's will be perfect!

Plus one for MEL-BKK on QF as they keep growing

 

[ajw373]

Plus one for MEL-BKK on QF as they keep growing

Could be. Read somewhere on here that EK is stopping BKK/MEL next year, so might be to 'allow' Qantas to come back onto the route.

 

[dajop]

Could be. Read somewhere on here that EK is stopping BKK/MEL next year, so might be to 'allow' Qantas to come back onto the route.

EK is stopping KUL/MEL. They've never done BKK/MEL. Trouble with BKK route is historically limited premium traffic compared to other places. For this reason for some years now it has been a JQ route.

 

[soorox]

Has QF ever operated MEL-BKK-LHR/Europe? I remember in the early 2000's a few of my BKK-MEL flights was operated with a 747, not sure on the variant but it definitely was the queen.

 

[dajop]

Has QF ever operated MEL-BKK-LHR/Europe? I remember in the late 90's/early 2000's a few of my BKK-MEL flights was operated with a 747, not sure on the variant but it definitely was the queen.

From memory in the late 90's/early 2000's it used to do MEL-BKK-FCO. I think it stopped around 2001 ish. I know in April 2002 to do MEL-BKK on QF I needed to go via SYD.