QF to HKG or USA Cairns

[dfcatch]

Even JQ in J not that bad if bulkhead seats, done that twice out of SYD. Wonder what the flight time would be CNS/HNL?.

I think it's a long way off.

I was just floating it as a more realistic possibility than QF direct CNS-LAX flights.

 

[markis10]

Even JQ in J not that bad if bulkhead seats, done that twice out of SYD. Wonder what the flight time would be CNS/HNL?.

Around 7 hours, or half of the time the GUM connection takes

12:35 AM CNS - 5:15 AM GUM
Continental 99




connecting to

6:30 AM GUM - 5:40 PM HNL
United 200

 

[Limewood]

Around 7 hours, or half of the time the GUM connection takes

Yikes how good would that be just 7 hours WOW!, arr well back to the real world.

 

[markis10]

Yikes how good would that be just 7 hours WOW!, arr well back to the real world.

It was not that long ago QF operated to HNL and LAX ex CNS, it failed.

 

[NM]

It was not that long ago QF operated to HNL and LAX ex CNS, it failed.

Mostly due to the fact that its all leisure travelers who are only interested in the cheapest fares. Very few people willing to pay extra for the flexible fares that allow the airline to operate with some profit margin.

Yes, they managed to fill they aircraft, but when its heavily discounted fares it still runs at a loss.

 

[Limewood]

It was not that long ago QF operated to HNL and LAX ex CNS, it failed.

I've been here 19 years and I don't remember it what year was it?

anyways a lot more bods live here now, but I was thinking of a gateway not just locals, still a pipe dream but I'm allowed to have one

 

[NM]

I've been here 19 years and I don't remember it what year was it?

anyways a lot more bods live here now, but I was thinking of a gateway not just locals, still a pipe dream but I'm allowed to have one

My guess would have been more than 20 years ago. They used 747-200 aircraft. Could have even been the Combi sharing the load with freight. Was popular with American tourists, mostly on package deals, so the profit margins were not there to make it viable.

 

[dfcatch]

Being selfish for a moment (and forgetting that I have selfish indulgence reasons for transiting via SYD )......

I would love for there to be more QF options from CNS - both Dom and Int, including:

- Domestic flights to BNE/SYD/MEL (and return) in the evening (even if DJ were to bring some of these back it would be great).

- Int QF flights to AKL

- Int QF flights to HKG/SIN, perhaps as a tag flight (although SIN tag is covered by JQ), and CX covers the HKG tag ex-BNE

- I can imagine JQ to HNL



But the reality is that there has to be the commercial demand.

And as much as I'd love to see it - I feel that all the near-future growth in CNS will be non-QF.

And I have no intention of flying China Eastern, China Southern, China Northern, China Western, China Mongolian, China blah blah.........

 

[Limewood]

Thanks for that NM, I thought as much.

When I read not long ago thought I must be missing something, 20 years is a long time ago and much has changed as we all know since then.

back to my dreamin

No China air for me either... I'm sticking with QA.

 

[marks]

I'm out of BNE and I can never understand why I have to go via SYD or MEL to get to asia (ie. BNE to BKK) on QF. I'd transit in CNS anyday over SYD. No wonder SQ does so well out of BNE.
They built(or major revamp) the international terminals in CNS & TSV when the casinos where approved. Both casinos were under whelming ventures. Nothing has changed since from a tourist perspective. (Miltary business is another story)
There is a migration of people towards the north with the mining boom. Using CNS as a hub, it should attract an instant market.
Just thinking of all the flights to CNS now, if they made the fees (passenger, landing, rent, etc) very competitive, I'd think they would attract this market overnight. And who wouldn't want a stop-over on the reef?

One interesting point about the tourism air market is when the dollar is high, cashed up aussie want out for holidays. When the dollars is low, everyone wants to come to australia and aussies still holiday but in australia. Nth Qld is always high on the list for this influx internationally and domestic. CNS should definitely take hold of this.

I waiting here patiently after my rant to see these flights materialise....

Cheers

 

[turtlemichael]

The tourism problems for Cairns and TNQ go well beyond the presence or absence of air services, though they are a part of it. The way the place has been marketed, where it has been marketed, how tourists are treated when here, exchange rates, lack of top quality infrastructure etc all add to the current malaise. I am hoping these things are cyclical.

 

[dfcatch]

Aussie Dollar, Aussie Dollar, Aussie Dollar, Aussie Dollar, Aussie Dollar, Aussie Dollar, Aussie Dollar...........

They are the top 7 reasons for current tourism problems in Cairns.......

There are others of course (as you allude to), but they are miniscule in comparison.


All which means - to stay on topic - is that QF increasing Int services to/from CNS??....... I honestly can't see it. (As much as I share Limewood's desire for it to happen)

 

[markis10]

My guess would have been more than 20 years ago. They used 747-200 aircraft. Could have even been the Combi sharing the load with freight. Was popular with American tourists, mostly on package deals, so the profit margins were not there to make it viable.

The LAX service was operating in 1999, I used to catch it from SYD as a D pax, while I also used to catch the 767 from BNE that went on to HNL, again it was a D. they went along with the SIN service when Australian was restarted as a Y service.

 

[turtlemichael]

Aussie Dollar, Aussie Dollar, Aussie Dollar, Aussie Dollar, Aussie Dollar, Aussie Dollar, Aussie Dollar...........

They are the top 7 reasons for current tourism problems in Cairns.......

There are others of course (as you allude to), but they are miniscule in comparison.


All which means - to stay on topic - is that QF increasing Int services to/from CNS??....... I honestly can't see it. (As much as I share Limewood's desire for it to happen)

Yes, staying on topic I can't see any increase in QF services in the foreseeable future. And the problems pre-date the current stratospheric dollar. That has just made them worse.

 

[turtlemichael]

The LAX service was operating in 1999, I used to catch it from SYD as a D pax, while I also used to catch the 767 from BNE that went on to HNL, again it was a D. they went along with the SIN service when Australian was restarted as a Y service.

Didn't it change near the end of its days to a one way route? You went the other say via Sydney?

 

[Limewood]

How about we all write to Qantas and ask if they can just do CNS outbound to HNL or Lax (SFO even better) as we are leaving in our droves anyway due to current exchange rate.

 

[simongr]

Currently CX is the only direct carrier from Cairns to Hong Kong, flights are usually chockers, Y and J (coffin) seats are awful recon QA is missing out on loads of dosh.

What is wrong with the CX coffins? It is a great J service unless you are a fat porker. Decent food, consistent crew, great IFE and no intrusive seat buddies.

 

[Limewood]

What is wrong with the CX coffins? It is a great J service unless you are a fat porker. Decent food, consistent crew, great IFE and no intrusive seat buddies.

Your one of the 1st that likes the "J class coffins" if so good then why did CX change them in most of its aircraft coming to OZ and elsewhere (like LAX/HKG/LAX) (except Cairns that is), seat cushion so uncomfortable and could not talk to the good woman seated next to me, very narrow seat for most, and if she sat opposite in J aisle seat all and sundry could hear our conversation. Then the CX non adjustable Y seats known as worst seats ever. We should not have to put up with such discomfort. However CX service cannot fault, but I'll take a QA seat any day. Bring it on Qantas, sorry another pipe dream