QF1 from SIN diversion to Baku, Azerbaijan (GYD)

[Must...Fly!]

A fair bit of covid around wouldn't help...

As for the recovery flight they have done a pretty decent job so far. Do not forget that while the engineers will be on call these people will have ot pack for a surprise multi-day international work trip departing on Christmas Eve, telling partners, children, parents, etc that instead of Christmas at home they will be in Azerbaijan in the belly of an A380...they will be paid of course but hats off to them. It's not an easy day or time of the year to be at work for many people (I say, typing from work!)

 

[Melburnian1]

My thoughts exactly. One of many signs that things are slowing down fast in this economy. I was shocked when I got to the airport and there was essentially no queue at all for security and the lounge was less than half full.

While we don't want to go OT, Melbourne Airport says that 6 January 2023 is shaping up to be its busiest day, implying pre-Christmas wasn't.

Accountants I speak with say we are almost certain to have a bad recession next year: while the number of months people book ahead for air travel may have decreased, most don't book a year in advance internationally so if there is a slowdown, it'll fairly soon display in an indicator like that.

 

[Major]

Normal crew for a long ferry would be 4 pilots, and 2 cabin crew.

How much room is there on the flight deck? Is there seating for all 4 pilots, or more?

 

[RooFlyer]

If anyone would like a Chrissy morning look around Baku, here it is in a Trip Report. Visa process I think may have been superseded!

Uncorking the Caucasus. EY F Apartment to Georgia (birthplace of wine) & Azerbaijan

Re: Uncorking the Caucasus. EY F Apartment to Georgia (birthplace of wine) & Azerbaij On to that night's accommodation - the Schuchmann winery and Chateau, a German-Georgian venture. Like Pheasants Tears (Georgian-American-Swedish), they make a lot of 'European style' as well as traditional...

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

 

[RooFlyer]

There's been mention in this thread that perhaps Qantas should have had paid agents in place at the various airports along its route for events like this - but how realistic is it to pay every year for something at a place like Baku? A QF aircraft landing at Baku is almost certainly no more than a one in thirty year event - and then you times that by the number of airports along the route taking in various flight plans depending on wind and time of year and it gets impractical I would have thought. For sure have something in place at a few major places along the way like Frankfurt in case the UK's weather gets really ugly, but not every possible airport along multiple possible routes.

I am imagining a 'global' (or regional) contract with a air services / logistics company where there would be a retainer paid and then fee for service. Certain nominated airports to be attended if a QF plane unexpectedly lands. Yes, another overhead, that airlines hate, but there must be a lot of those.

How much room is there on the flight deck? Is there seating for all 4 pilots, or more?

There were 5 on QF 32

 

[mel-world]

The relief 388, VH-OQD arrived in Baku about 4 hours ago, according to FR24 but, as it is about 0130 (0830 AEDT) there now, I guess it will leave for LHR later in the morning.

 

[SydneySwan]

I thought AJ always made a big fanfare of announcing new Qantas destinations. Someone will be getting fired in the marketing department.

 

[jpp42]

am imagining a 'global' (or regional) contract with a air services / logistics company where there would be a retainer paid and then fee for service. Certain nominated airports to be attended if a QF plane unexpectedly lands.

What makes you think they don't have this already? There was mention of a QF representative in one of the news articles. I suspect this is something like a manager from one the ground services companies (Swissport, DNATA, etc), who is appointed the QF representative and becomes the conduit of information between passengers, airport representatives, and Qantas.

 

[RooFlyer]

What makes you think they don't have this already? There was mention of a QF representative in one of the news articles. I suspect this is something like a manager from one the ground services companies (Swissport, DNATA, etc), who is appointed the QF representative and becomes the conduit of information between passengers, airport representatives, and Qantas.

Could well have done, but I doubt it, going by the number of stories of "Qanats passengers stuck at XX, no information, sleeping on floor" etc. This doesn't appear to have been one of those cases, fortunately - there was a 7 hour wait in the terminal I understand, but that's not unreasonable given the logistics of getting visas etc. Baku/Azerbaijan isn't that 'exotic' a place, really. QR fly there, as do LH, TK and a bunch of European LCCs.

 

[Mattg]

“QF1D” is now scheduled to leave GYD at 05:05 local time and arrive in LHR at 06:35.

 

[bpmsmith]

“QF1D” is now scheduled to leave GYD at 05:05 local time and arrive in LHR at 06:35.

With QF2D expected to depart LHR at 0930L.

 

[Quickstatus]

hence easier to have 'spare' planes and claim

(Moved to here)

While I appreciate that QF is saying it proactively kept aircraft in operational reserve for contingencies, I remain skeptical that the airline has indeed put in place such a company policy. Maybe demand for QF seats have reduced due to a combination of industry high fares and negative perception plus economic conditions?

I’m surprise that the Baku aircraft was no more than 75% full, on a flagship route (no the PER-LHR is not the flagship route), at a time of the year when travel is at one of its peaks.

And to counter that, the airline spins a story that they have a proactive operational contingency policy?. Especially when they have never done so in the past. I also don’t recall the CEO or the airline actually making this a big announcement. Afterall, one would think that something like this would add to a positive company perception.

Let’s see how this plays out.

 

[Melburnian1]

(Moved to here)

While I appreciate that QF is saying it proactively kept aircraft in operational reserve for contingencies, I remain skeptical that the airline has indeed put in place such a company policy. Maybe demand for QF seats have reduced due to a combination of industry high fares and negative perception plus economic conditions?

I’m surprise that the Baku aircraft was no more than 75% full, on a flagship route (no the PER-LHR is not the flagship route), at a time of the year when travel is at one of its peaks.

And to counter that, the airline spins a story that they have a proactive operational contingency policy?. Especially when they have never done so in the past. I also don’t recall the CEO or the airline actually making this a big announcement. Afterall, one would think that something like this would add to a positive company perception.

Let’s see how this plays out.

'Industry high fares' partly correct, but recently I flew to UK and back from a European city with a lengthy Asian stopover for under A$6500 return business class.

QFi's fares on some routes are not just high, but stratospheric. There are alternatives despite the mainstream media continually focusing on QFi.

 

[p--and--t]

I think there is some odd things going on across air travel. I was very surprised my domestic MEL-OOL the other day had only 100ish people on it with 3 spare seats in J and around 60 in Y. The CSM told me the return flight they were taking back only had 70 people booked - two days before Christmas!

I'm on QF1 next week and managed to get a J Classic Reward only about four weeks ago. There were at least two seats released very late.

So for all the talk about packed flights and the insane fares they've been charging, I don't think its translating in reality.

I have flown overseas twice on Xmas day pre-covid (not on QF) , and this is situation normal. The rush is the 3-4 days before Xmas day. Same as New Years Day

 

[milehighclub]

And to counter that, the airline spins a story that they have a proactive operational contingency policy?. Especially when they have never done so in the past. I also don’t recall the CEO or the airline actually making this a big announcement. Afterall, one would think that something like this would add to a positive company perception.

I have an email from 7 Dec that the company has intended to do this all along and because of the way planning works, this would've been a decision months ago to ensure the aircraft are available. In saying that, it is probably a case of being careful what you announce, as even the best intensions to minimise disruptions might not go to plan depending on the nature of it.

I'd say that 1 flight is not a particular indication of the loads around this time. I've taken a look at some flights for the next week and they are full full full.

 

[Quickstatus]

QF can and does actually do a pretty good job under the circumstances

I agree, in this particular case, getting the replacement/recovery flight in the air in less than 21 hrs has been a very good effort. Additionally, the social media engagements have been positive as well.

But once bitten twice shy….

The rush is the 3-4 days before Xmas day.

It’s the getbackbychristmas-itis.

And exactly why the Baku flight of only 356 pax at 73% capacity 3 days before Christmas is unusual

 

[jb747]

How much room is there on the flight deck? Is there seating for all 4 pilots, or more?

There are 5 seats in the coughpit, though the two outboard ones don't have much of a view of the instrumentation.

 

[Melburnian1]

I'd say that 1 flight is not a particular indication of the loads around this time. I've taken a look at some flights for the next week and they are full full full.

But effectively, QFi has cut seating capacity on the London route by 25 per cent daily, because three or four years ago there were two A388s - one from SYD and MEL daily each way - but in 2022, there's a daily A388 via SIN and a daily B789 via Per, the first ex SYD and the latter ex MEL.

So if they weren't 'full full full' at this time of year - Christmas plus school holidays, and in the other direction, English/Scottish/Welsh/Irish and Europeans wanting to escape their winter and come to perceived sunny and hot Oz - some questions would need to be asked.

 

[dajop]

Assuming AV Herald is correct, I’m surprised it’s only 356 pax given all the hype about high demand post covid plus this one being just days before Christmas.

This is really not surprising or different to typical travel patterns at this time of year. We popped over to Europe (from SIN) for just over a week at the start of December on SQ and had little difficulty getting saver Economy award waitlists to Europe to clear, but struggled to get the return clearing (the only option was CDG-SIN, everywhere else was full).

Our experience, as born out by ExpertFlyer is that Australia - Asia is packed in both directions, as is Europe-Asia but Asia-Europe is quite wide open. Not surprising given weather. Entirely as expected, and lack of capacity on the other 3 sectors limits airlines ability to fill Asia to Europe by dropping fares from the stratospheric levels they’re at. Airlines are still doing quite well.

 

[Quickstatus]

1 flight is not a particular indication of the loads around this time

Granted, n=1 does not make a trend, but on QF1 at one of the busiest travelling times of the year?

start of December

Is not really peak travelling season ex AUS - shoulder yes but not peak.