QF to significantly increase capacity - are we in for a flood of cheap seats?

[oz_mark]

I wonder though, which routes exactly are there currently capacity limitations? I can't think of too many off the top of my head.

Just to keep things in perspective, the analysis that lead to the comments about a 21% increase in capacity, was about year on year growth from Sep 2011 to Sep 2012 on the ten busiest routes in Australia. Some of the increase is probably already flying!

 

[drewbles]

SYD-MEL, is one of the highest travelled city-pairs in the world. Japan uses 747s domestically.

They also use an all whY config. 568 seats for a flight of under an hour. It's insane.

There is no need for an A380 to do any domestic run. They don't have enough extra seats over the current domestic 747's doing SYD-PER IMHO.

The turn around times for a 747/A380 are also vast, they're no use for quick ferry flights, and the time they'd spend on the ground are simply not financially feasible.

My 2c is that it will most likely not be a bloodbath. Neither carrier is going to take big enough losses to force the other out. I don't think it's a race to the bottom (but that's just a gut feeling).

 

[Sprucegoose]

I would say it will only be on routes where they are losing mrk share.

They did shrink capacity a while back. Are they just reversing that?

 

[MarkD]

Don't they currently position an a380 syd- Mel empty, and it has been stated before that it's not worth loading pax on domestic legs, even when it's got to go anyway. Agree, it will never happen, maybe until jetstar start getting them


Excuse the typos, this was sent from my iPhone using Fat fingers

 

[pauly7]

Don't they currently position an a380 syd- Mel empty, and it has been stated before that it's not worth loading pax on domestic legs, even when it's got to go anyway. Agree, it will never happen, maybe until jetstar start getting them


Excuse the typos, this was sent from my iPhone using Fat fingers

Could be a great marketing tool for QF if they flew it even for one sector a week.... The A380 is such a great experience they could sell it as a 'taster' of QF international!

 

[Cynicor]

I think, if they can spare any A380s, it would be used for some finals runs if the WCE make it to the AFL finals or grand final at least. Great marketing, even if the teams are flying Virgin (IIRC).

 

[lovestotravel]

Exactly the A380 will not be used on domestic sectors it makes no sense at all!

 

[SeatBackForward]

Exactly the A380 will not be used on domestic sectors it makes no sense at all!

I read the initial suggestion as being slightly tongue in cheek.

 

[samh004]

Could be a great marketing tool for QF if they flew it even for one sector a week.... The A380 is such a great experience they could sell it as a 'taster' of QF international!

If they did that I would very much hope they ran it from the INT terminal in SYD too

 

[markis10]

I read the initial suggestion as being slightly tongue in cheek.

Indeed . Or forward looking to 15 years time when such an option seems to be viable pre retirement, short term I suspect capacity will come from deferred widebody retirements and keeping those 734s going going and going. Long live Tango Hooks (VH-TJJ)

 

[lovestotravel]

Indeed .

So these comments were tounge in cheek as well ?

Qantas are also getting fokkers as well as cutting OS routes, delaying retirements would also help, they may also put an A380 on a domestic leg, stranger things have happened.

No different to the 744 domestic operations or the 743 and 74SP operations on domestic that have preceded them, while they are not ideal or optimized for uh operation, QF have a history of using such aircraft regardless in such a way.

43 and 44 as well as a couple of stand off bays.

 

[JetLagged]

Were you wearing the obligatory hi viz gear in PER?

 

[pauly7]

Great marketing, even if the teams are flying Virgin (IIRC).

Very grudgingly.. They were dragged kicking and screaming by the AFL to that contract and caused huge embarrassment and poor PR for Virgin.

 

[markis10]

Yet another article today:

The AFR says it understands Qantas is planning to add a significant amount of *capacity from July. This could mean increases of up to 13 per cent in capacity, depending on how many additional flights Virgin puts on.
Industry sources say Virgin is planning capacity increases of 17 to 18 per cent, although this figure has been disputed by another airline source.
“Our capacity plan is driven through a continued focus on yield and margin improvement opportunities on individual sectors, as opposed to an overall group market share goal,” a Virgin spokeswoman told the AFR.
That’s code for concentrating the ramp-up on key interstate business routes, like Sydney and Melbourne to Perth, as well as the Melbourne-Sydney-Brisbane corridor.

Read more: Ultra-cheap seats to flood the market
​

 

[Warks]

Yet another article today:

The AFR says it understands Qantas is planning to add a significant amount of *capacity from July. This could mean increases of up to 13 per cent in capacity, depending on how many additional flights Virgin puts on.
Industry sources say Virgin is planning capacity increases of 17 to 18 per cent, although this figure has been disputed by another airline source.
“Our capacity plan is driven through a continued focus on yield and margin improvement opportunities on individual sectors, as opposed to an overall group market share goal,” a Virgin spokeswoman told the AFR.
That’s code for concentrating the ramp-up on key interstate business routes, like Sydney and Melbourne to Perth, as well as the Melbourne-Sydney-Brisbane corridor.

Read more: Ultra-cheap seats to flood the market
​

Yes I saw that and thought is the SMH now sourcing its news from AFF?

How come they never quote "leading frequent flyer website AFF" with comments like "it is rumoured unused A380 capacity will be used for the vital SYD-CBR midday service".

 

[pauly7]

QF certainly have the capability to put on more 767 flights (yay) to replace 737 slots especially on Bris routes but also Syd-Mel. They are currently not fully utilized. I know John k will be happy if Brisbane gets more 767 action!

 

[pshepvic]

SYD-MEL, is one of the highest travelled city-pairs in the world. Japan uses 747s domestically.

Didn't JAL just retire their last 747?


Sent from my iPhone using AustFreqFly app

 

[Noob]

Very grudgingly.. They were dragged kicking and screaming by the AFL to that contract and caused huge embarrassment and poor PR for Virgin.

I assume you are refering to this article from over a year ago, before the rebrand in the Sydney Morning Herald:
http://www.smh.com.au/travel/travel...fl-plane-amid-controversy-20110124-1a2ga.html

That argument was made by one club member who had his facts wrong regarding "expansive seating for players welfare". In the article it goes on to disprove his argument by stating Virgin's economy pitch was indeed greater than Qantas, and that Virgin at the time even offered a premium economy product.

That being said, it doesn't even apply to Virgin Australia, which has business class across almost the entire fleet so in the future maybe double check!

Qantas fanboi

 

[whatmeworry]

Looks like no A380 for the domestic market.

Qantas will increase capacity significantly on domestic routes in the coming months as it seeks to repel Virgin's assault on its lucrative corporate travellers. The airline will boost services during peak hours on key business routes between Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, while reintroducing Boeing 747-400 jumbos to the Sydney-Perth route and putting more wide-body Airbus A330 aircraft on the Melbourne-to-Perth run.

As part of an attempt to slash a further $400 million in spending next financial year, Qantas has delayed the delivery of two new A380 superjumbos by almost four years. Investors expressed reservations about Qantas delaying the delivery of the A380s, saying it was pursuing short-term gains at the expense of business growth over the longer term.

Costly battle for corporate flyers

 

[markis10]

Looks like no A380 for the domestic market.





Costly battle for corporate flyers

I am shocked...not. One day it will happen when they are close to being pensioned as they have done for every other wide body in the fleet, wonder what 747 they will use for Perth now?