QF to fly BENDIGO to SYD!

[BgoFlyer]

The service is proving so popular around weekends that a second flight has been scheduled today.
QLK 1409 is heading to Bendigo from Sydney this morning, and QLK1410 (with passengers, since I checked ticketing), returning at 11:20.

Anecdotally, flights around the weekend are full, and mid-week typically 65-95% loading.

 

[Cessna 180]

This is good news.

If there was one departing Bendigo around mid morning and returning in the arvo, I may use it a bit.

The timing at the moment still does not suit me and I drive past Bendi to MEL.

 

[dylarr]

I think there is some religious congregation in Bendigo this weekend that Qantas have perhaps added capacity for. I wanted to book flights for this weekend about two months ago and the flights were ridiculously expensive even back then and I couldn't figure out why. Looks like Qantas responding to strong forward bookings by scheduling the extra flights.

 

[pauly7]

The service is proving so popular around weekends that a second flight has been scheduled today.
QLK 1409 is heading to Bendigo from Sydney this morning, and QLK1410 (with passengers, since I checked ticketing), returning at 11:20.

Anecdotally, flights around the weekend are full, and mid-week typically 65-95% loading.

They are very strong loads for QFLink if accurate and sold at a reasonable price - those dash 8’s don’t need many bums on seats to make money.

 

[BgoFlyer]

3 more weekly return flights commence on March 30. Will run Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays. Basically a midday turnaround in Bendigo (ex- Sydney 10:30, ex-Bendigo 12:30):

REGIONAL VICTORIA THE WINNER AS QANTASLINK LAUNCHES MORE FLIGHTS

Keep up to date with Qantas' latest news and information, media releases, articles, images and more with the Qantas News Room.

www.qantasnewsroom.com.au

Anecdotally, it seems to be a popular FIFO worker route. The Fosterville Gold Mine expansion is perhaps a factor.

 

[dylarr]

3 more weekly return flights commence on March 30.

Wonderful news. Awesome to see a morning ex-SYD service, and the option to leave BXG a little later without having to wake up for a 6:35am flight!

Wonder if this has anything to do with the 5 additional Q300’s QantasLink now has at their disposal thanks to the withdrawal of regional NZ Jetstar services. The first of which, VH-TQK, operates its first revenue service later today (SYD-CBR) after leaving Flying Colours Townsville in QantasLink livery only just yesterday.

 

[dylarr]

The first of which, VH-TQK, operates its first revenue service later today (SYD-CBR) after leaving Flying Colours Townsville in QantasLink livery only just yesterday.

<avgeek>
The earlier flight plans with VH-TQK were re-filed with different aircraft so its been on the ground in Sydney all day today, however the flight plan for tonights QF1407/QLK407 has just been filed and it looks like VH-TQK will be operating it. So Bendigo should be the first destination to receive revenue pax from any of the recently repatriated Q300's that were flying around NZ only a couple of weeks ago in Jetstar colours.
</avgeek>

Edit: Maybe not. Fight plan has been re-filed with a different aircraft!

 

[Mattg]

Interesting to see them also adding 4x weekly SYD-MQL flights from next March. Similar schedule to Bendigo; out from Sydney in the evening, and back to Sydney in the morning.

 

[pauly7]

That’s a lot of seats for small markets but great to see expanding regional routes.

 

[dylarr]

It's obviously been a bit quiet on the Sydney (SYD) - Bendigo (BXG) front with the route having been unfortunately (but understandably) mothballed since late March.

When it was running I flew this route regularly so have been checking the schedule often. Over the last few months initially everything was cancelled thru June, then to mid-July, then finally everything cancelled up until September.

From September, the Bendigo route is being gradually reintroduced with 3 return flights a week (ex-SYD in the AM, with quick turnaround and flying back to SYD initially). The October schedule is currently at pre-Covid levels with 10 return flights a week, including the 3 additional services that were announced and supposed to start in April this year but never able to eventuate. I suspect as we get closer to October the schedule will be slimmed.

What is really interesting though: over the last few days, Qantas have scheduled 1 return flight a week in August using a Q400 (Sunstate), operating only on Friday only (14th, 21st, 28th August). Ex-SYD in the AM with quick turnaround in BXG. I suspect there is some kind of error here, as there is no security screening in Bendigo, so if these flights are indeed operating, I'd expect to see the aircraft swapped out to a Q300.

 

[Melburnian1]

It's obviously been a bit quiet on the Sydney (SYD) - Bendigo (BXG) front with the route having been unfortunately (but understandably) mothballed since late March.

When it was running I flew this route regularly so have been checking the schedule often. Over the last few months initially everything was cancelled thru June, then to mid-July, then finally everything cancelled up until September.

From September, the Bendigo route is being gradually reintroduced with 3 return flights a week (ex-SYD in the AM, with quick turnaround and flying back to SYD initially). The October schedule is currently at pre-Covid levels with 10 return flights a week, including the 3 additional services that were announced and supposed to start in April this year but never able to eventuate. I suspect as we get closer to October the schedule will be slimmed.

dylarr, great update.

Timely that you've posted as if you check under 'airport and airline delays/cancellations' and then 'Qantas' you'll see I picked up that on Monday 29 June 2020, QF1409 was supposed to operate from SYD down to Bendigo, but in the end was cancelled. It was listed on the SYD airport website that like all the other airports tends to only show flights that were 'cancelled' close to departure date.

The ongoing lockdown (until 29 July, at least) of more than 30 Melbourne northern and northwestern suburbs doesn't help transport providers, air or surface looking for patronage and rebuilding of schedules.

IIRC, adding security screening in Dubbo (protested by Regional Express, but due to Qantas' Q400s) added $9 per single trip to passenger fares. For someone travelling twice a month return for 10 months of the year, assuming it's charged both ways including inbound, that's an impost of $360. Shows how quickly these 'little extras' add $$.

 

[dylarr]

I picked up that on Monday 29 June 2020, QF1409 was supposed to operate from SYD down to Bendigo

Interesting. I wonder why this happened. One explanation I can think of is when the flights were cancelled initially, Qantas just zero'd out all the inventory in GDS but left the flights scheduled in the system. This had the effect of removing them from sale, but left passengers itineraries intact, I assume whilst they went through and mopped up all the impacted PNRs. Then eventually they were completely removed from the schedule. Maybe this one slipped through the cracks and managed to sneak into Sydney Airport's systems... I'm not sure but I don't think they were ever selling seats for June 29th.

twice a month return for 10 months of the year, assuming it's charged both ways including inbound, that's an impost of $360

It certainly is significant when you lay it out like that.

City of Greater Bendigo Council has been really pushing for funding to expand the RPT terminal and introduce security so that the Q400 can operate. They got $465,000 federal funding from the regional airports grant this year. Not even close to what would be needed to upgrade the terminal and introduce security screening so I can't see it happening for the foreseeable future anyway. They'll be using the funds to expand and strengthen the RPT apron.

Bendigo Airport to receive funding injection

$465,000 of Federal Government funds for Bendigo Airport

www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au

 

[Melburnian1]

... Maybe this one slipped through the cracks and managed to sneak into Sydney Airport's systems... I'm not sure but I don't think they were ever selling seats for June 29th...

A very likely explanation!

 

[Melburnian1]

...
From September, the Bendigo route is being gradually reintroduced with 3 return flights a week (ex-SYD in the AM, with quick turnaround and flying back to SYD initially). The October schedule is currently at pre-Covid levels with 10 return flights a week, including the 3 additional services that were announced and supposed to start in April this year but never able to eventuate. I suspect as we get closer to October the schedule will be slimmed...

The September proposed timetable would be cheaper to operate as it avoids the need for crew to stay overnight in an hotel or motel.

If anyone is nervous about the virus, it also further minimises any potential 'transmission problems.'

However the September schedule would be unattractive to many business travellers I'd guess.

 

[Cessna 180]

A late morning/ lunchtime departure would actually suit me perfectly.

 

[BgoFlyer]

Sounds like flights are starting again to Bendigo on December 7. And going with the daytime SYD-BXG 9:30, and 12:00 BXG-SYD roundtrip too.

 

[dylarr]

Sounds like flights are starting again to Bendigo on December 7. And going with the daytime SYD-BXG 9:30, and 12:00 BXG-SYD roundtrip too.

I'm so happy about this. I've already booked tickets. Really looking forward to finally catching up with the family in Bendigo!

 

[NSun]

Fantastic news - I know a number of businesses from Bendigo found those flights so useful for commuting to Sydney and I once even took the flight as a "long way" to get to Melbourne and quite enjoyed the experience.

 

[jakeseven7]

Fantastic news - I know a number of businesses from Bendigo found those flights so useful for commuting to Sydney and I once even took the flight as a "long way" to get to Melbourne and quite enjoyed the experience.

Will never happen but would be great if they did a milk run MEL-Bendigo-SYD!

Actually you might be able to do that via Mildura depending on timing.... to both Syd and ADL when it launches.

 

[BgoFlyer]

Here's QLK1410 taking off from Bendigo Airport yesterday in rather cold and blustery weather. Apparently it'll be going back to the original schedule from February (arrive BXG 19:15, depart 6:30 the next morning).