QF International via Darwin

[justinbrett]

Darwin works best for SA residents who don't get direct international Qantas flights into the state if quarantine is still required.

The domestic connections, especially on the inbound flight, will be the main obstacle here.

I can't see low risk states (everyone except VIC/NSW) wanting international and domestic pax to mix - not in the short term.

 

[mviy]

The domestic connections, especially on the inbound flight, will be the main obstacle here.

I can't see low risk states (everyone except VIC/NSW) wanting international and domestic pax to mix - not in the short term.

Well SYD people should be flying mostly on the SYD-SIN-LHR.

QF10 should mainly be MEL bound passengers. They could possibly put on an extra international flight or two from Darwin on a smaller plane such as a 717 or a 737 to e.g. SYD if needed to keep international passengers separated from domestic if catering for arrivals going to places other than DRW or MEL.

 

[justinbrett]

Well SYD people should be flying mostly on the SYD-SIN-LHR.

QF10 should mainly be MEL bound passengers. They could possibly put on an extra international flight or two from Darwin on a smaller plane such as a 717 or a 737 to e.g. SYD if needed to keep international passengers separated from domestic if catering for arrivals going to places other than DRW or MEL.

You're not saying Victorian international flights are for Victorians are you?

I was referring to ADL and BNE pax returning from LHR, prior to home quarantine in QLD and SA. But yes, a 737 flight from ADL to DRW operating as international would do the trick - and perhaps BNE-SIN timed to join the SYD flight.

 

[Pushka]

The domestic connections, especially on the inbound flight, will be the main obstacle here.

I can't see low risk states (everyone except VIC/NSW) wanting international and domestic pax to mix - not in the short term.

Yes - was forgetting we will need to be residents to get accommodation prepared to allow us to safely quarantine. Bye Qantas international.

 

[mviy]

You're not saying Victorian international flights are for Victorians are you?

I was referring to ADL and BNE pax returning from LHR, prior to home quarantine in QLD and SA. But yes, a 737 flight from ADL to DRW operating as international would do the trick - and perhaps BNE-SIN timed to join the SYD flight.

Well connections on the outbound could be extra domestic flights (they wouldn't have to be international), but connections after arriving back in Australia would presumably need to be international flights.

The MEL-DRW leg on the 787 would be the only outbound domestic leg that would need to be international.

If the DRW flights go ahead it should mean that QF needs to put on more flights to/from DRW which is a good thing for the territory.

If QF could justify a second 787 flight via DRW e.g. SYD-DRW to somewhere else in Europe that would obviously help as if the timing aligns you could have passengers to SYD and MEL both going on 787 flights regardless of which overseas location they came from.

Another possibility is that everyone flies from DRW to MEL (except those stopping in DRW) and put on international flights on planes from MEL to e.g. ADL that could also get passengers arriving on e.g. SIN-MEL flights. They could possibly make space available for passengers from other airlines on these special international flights to make the numbers work if the government approves that, which I don't see why they wouldn't.

Flying LHR-DRW-MEL-BNE would be a bit weird, but if that's needed logistically to make it work, then that's what may need to happen.

What's needed is for border restrictions to be amended to allow returning international travellers to transit on special "international" flights that operate on domestic routes.

 

[jase05]

You're not saying Victorian international flights are for Victorians are you?

I was referring to ADL and BNE pax returning from LHR, prior to home quarantine in QLD and SA. But yes, a 737 flight from ADL to DRW operating as international would do the trick - and perhaps BNE-SIN timed to join the SYD flight.

Yeah, sorry QF. I think I’d rather go via SIN or the sandpit on a decent airline from ADL

 

[openseat]

Yup, what I’ve been saying for months and months. But we seem not to care anymore about tourism anymore in QLD clearly…

 

[Pushka]

Well connections on the outbound could be extra domestic flights (they wouldn't have to be international), but connections after arriving back in Australia would presumably need to be international flights.

The MEL-DRW leg on the 787 would be the only outbound domestic leg that would need to be international.

If the DRW flights go ahead it should mean that QF needs to put on more flights to/from DRW which is a good thing for the territory.

If QF could justify a second 787 flight via DRW e.g. SYD-DRW to somewhere else in Europe that would obviously help as if the timing aligns you could have passengers to SYD and MEL both going on 787 flights regardless of which overseas location they came from.

Another possibility is that everyone flies from DRW to MEL (except those stopping in DRW) and put on international flights on planes from MEL to e.g. ADL that could also get passengers arriving on e.g. SIN-MEL flights. They could possibly make space available for passengers from other airlines on these special international flights to make the numbers work if the government approves that, which I don't see why they wouldn't.

Flying LHR-DRW-MEL-BNE would be a bit weird, but if that's needed logistically to make it work, then that's what may need to happen.

What's needed is for border restrictions to be amended to allow returning international travellers to transit on special "international" flights that operate on domestic routes.

That happened during the great strike in 1989? In this case internationals acted to connect domestic cities. Qantas allowed their international flight to pick up SIL in Perth and on to Adl where her mum was within 12 hours of death. Took a bit to sort out with medical letters etc basically on the spot but she arrived just two hours before she died.

 

[wandering_fred]

Well most of WA is far more concerned when DPS will be (re)open.
And if PER is not the international connection hub then SIN would be a far better choice than DRW (or SYD if headed to the USA).
It has been too long since I was wandering
Fred

 

[Daver6]

Can't wait to see their (and QLD) tourism industry wither on the vine. They should make the move to DRW / SIN permanent

Wow...that's pretty nasty

 

[rigram]

QF1 SYD-LHR has a 90min stopover in Darwin. Unfortunately there is NO OPPORTUNITY for Darwinites to join this service. If someone from Darwin wishes to travel on this route, they would need to travel south, to then travel north. Rang Qantas and they confirmed QF1 is not bookable from Darwin to London, and that QF1 Darwin stop is a TRANSIT only.

 

[Daver6]

QF1 SYD-LHR has a 90min stopover in Darwin. Unfortunately there is NO OPPORTUNITY for Darwinites to join this service. If someone from Darwin wishes to travel on this route, they would need to travel south, to then travel north. Rang Qantas and they confirmed QF1 is not bookable from Darwin to London, and that QF1 Darwin stop is a TRANSIT only.

I wonder if they'll allow pax off the aircraft while in transit? If not, seems like a long stop for a crew change and to replenish supplies/fuel etc.

 

[Mattg]

QF1 SYD-LHR has a 90min stopover in Darwin. Unfortunately there is NO OPPORTUNITY for Darwinites to join this service. If someone from Darwin wishes to travel on this route, they would need to travel south, to then travel north. Rang Qantas and they confirmed QF1 is not bookable from Darwin to London, and that QF1 Darwin stop is a TRANSIT only.

The final arrangements for this service are not yet confirmed. We're expecting another announcement about this next week. I'm sure once the NT confirms when it will allow international travel to/from the territory, Qantas will open up seats for sale to/from DRW.

 

[rigram]

The final arrangements for this service are not yet confirmed. We're expecting another announcement about this next week. I'm sure once the NT confirms when it will allow international travel to/from the territory, Qantas will open up seats for sale to/from DRW.

I hope so..., according to this article:
If you live in the NT, don't get too excited about the international travel announcement
Anyone who arrives in the NT would need to do 2 weeks mandatory quarantine at Howard Springs....

 

[jrfsp]

I wonder if they'll allow pax off the aircraft while in transit? If not, seems like a long stop for a crew change and to replenish supplies/fuel etc.

I wouldnt be surprised if the international area is used as sterile transit.

Will make the QR lounge in DOH look appealing...

 

[Daver6]

I wouldnt be surprised if the international area is used as sterile transit.

Will make the QR lounge in DOH look appealing...

But what's the point in wasting time getting people off and back on the aircraft? Seems like a waste of time and resources.

Edit: Also by not allowing pax off in DRW it solves any issues of the NT not allowing people traveling from NSW into the territory.

 

[jrfsp]

But what's the point in wasting time getting people off and back on the aircraft? Seems like a waste of time and resources.

Quick clean , crew change? I know id want to stretch my legs before the long sector to LHR, although i know from experience the intl area of DRW is not very appealing

 

[dajop]

The hub and spoke model is dead - especially now with covid.

I read this comment from various folk before covid, which I thought was a bit overhyped and untrue, I still think it is a untrue even after covid,.

There will still be a place for hub and spoke travel, two things -
1) There are whole heap of city pairs, particularly internationally (but even domestically) that will never ever be served by direct flights. Adelaide is never going to have a direct service to Amsterdam, Ahmedabad or Atlanta. Brisbane is never going to have a direct service to Bangalore, Brussels or Busan. Melbourne will never have a direct service to Medan, Muscat or Miami. And so on. And then there's Africa, the JNB services were of limited benefit for travel to Africa, especially if not in SYD or PER, and to travel from Australia to much of Africa, Middle East was and will remain preferable.

2) You may see move more towards short haul or domestic hubs combined with an ULH flight, instead of midpoint hubs with two "medium haul" flight. These are likely to be popular with those travelling to or from one end of the hub. eg. SYD-LHR-AMS or ADL-SYD-JFK. But the hub and spoke carriers may still be preferable and competitive for those needing connections at both ends, eg ADL-DOH-AMS or ADL-SIN-AMS is almost certainly preferable to ADL-SYD-LHR-AMS.

 

[rigram]

Darwin International passenger area is pretty awful. There's a duty free shop, a small kiosk/shop and the Catalina Lounge (which is quiet basic). Lots of hard plastic seats, and no atmosphere. Those who disembark (and from my experience a 90min stopover means everyone), will be wishing they could have stayed onboard. Qantas/NT Govt will need to invest in some passenger comforts to lift this area into similar standards of other Australian ports.

 

[oznflfan]

Darwin International passenger area is pretty awful. There's a duty free shop, a small kiosk/shop and the Catalina Lounge (which is quiet basic). Lots of hard plastic seats, and no atmosphere. Those who disembark (and from my experience a 90min stopover means everyone), will be wishing they could have stayed onboard. Qantas/NT Govt will need to invest in some passenger comforts to lift this area into similar standards of other Australian ports.

With their rabid chase of COVID Zero, why bother? Darwin Airport won't get used that much. Can't half tell I'm pissed at NTG huh?