QF's COVID-19 minimal network schedule

[Melburnian1]

The disincentives from various states' 'leaders' (use that word advisedly) re their populace to travel to Sydney (and the reverse for NSW residents) is starting to result in cancellations. This will (sadly) increase.

Prospective travellers are s==t scared of being caught 'in the wrong state', unable to get back.

What a way to get rid of employment!

 

[Melburnian1]

With the NSW/Vic border closure and other implications, no surprise that tomorrow (Monday 21 December) QFd has cancelled many flights on the SYD - MEL route in each direction - see the usual cancellations/delays thread - but what is odd is that all the cancellations are in the morning (up to and including 1200 'high noon').

I don't know if the airport software has yet to be advised by QFd of afternoon cancellations.

Can anyone shed some light?

By Tuesday, it won't be unexpected to see SYD-MEL and v.v. down to one or two flights a day in each direction. Few will be eligible to travel.

 

[oznflfan]

With the NSW/Vic border closure and other implications, no surprise that tomorrow (Monday 21 December) QFd has cancelled many flights on the SYD - MEL route in each direction - see the usual cancellations/delays thread - but what is odd is that all the cancellations are in the morning (up to and including 1200 'high noon').

I don't know if the airport software has yet to be advised by QFd of afternoon cancellations.

Can anyone shed some light?

By Tuesday, it won't be unexpected to see SYD-MEL and v.v. down to one or two flights a day in each direction. Few will be eligible to travel.

Booked and paid for a long weekend in March for Round 1 AFL. Round 1 announced today, and happy that I get to see my Dockers play at MCG on that Saturday. Still, concern about not being able to get back home troubles me a tad.

 

[Melburnian1]

Booked and paid for a long weekend in March for Round 1 AFL. Round 1 announced today, and happy that I get to see my Dockers play at MCG on that Saturday. Still, concern about not being able to get back home troubles me a tad.

In Covid-19 terms, March is far, far into the future so who knows - you may be OK. Alan Joyce can't tell you, nor can ScoMo or Greg Hunt, so what chance does that give the likes of me making any prediction?

 

[Melburnian1]

With the ongoing Victorian Government closure of Victoria's border with NSW, on Tuesday 5 January 2021, QFd only operated three northbound MEL: - SYD flights, plus a special that I assume was for the Australian/Indian cricket teams.

 

[Melburnian1]

Just for interest, I looked at what Google says is the current QFd 'own metal' timetable from MEL to SYD (northbound).

While the Victorian closure to Sydneysiders et al remains, QFd in that direction is down to only 16 weekly flights: an average of fewer than three flights northbound a day. It's typical seating capacity of about 600, given that the 1930 hours MEL - SYD is typically formed by the A333 that originates in PER (and earlier in the day, does SYD - MEL at 0700 then MEL - PER at 0935 hours).

JQd claims it operates 112 MEL - SYD flights northbound a week but from observation, many are cancelled so Google does not reflect reality.

Competitor VAd suggests it

Who would have thought this a year ago?

 

[Melburnian1]

On Wednesday 13 January 2021, the sole ADL to SYD QFd flight was QF738 (B738 VH-XZE) as the other five 'own metal' were all cancelled.

There were six J and 53 whY passengers on board.

All the J passengers were QF staff. My informant commented that the 'entitlement mentality at QF persists', despite the large number of job losses to date.

The small number of passengers today reflects these ill-advised, job-destroying state border closures that see Australians separated from each other. With Sydney and environs the equivalent of a pariah state to the other state leaders, few of us are eligible to travel if in this flight's case from states other than NSW (unless we want to spend 14 days in quarantine).

Isn't it unusual to see no passengers (whether paying cash or travelling on points/points plus cash) in J on QFd?

 

[AIRwin]

All the J passengers were QF staff. My informant commented that the 'entitlement mentality at QF persists', despite the large number of job losses to date.

But the J seats were unsold and would have been empty anyway...

 

[Melburnian1]

But the J seats were unsold and would have been empty anyway...

Why doesn't QFd upgrade passengers?

Whether QF or some other transport operator, air or surface, it's a bad look to have staff travelling in the premium accommodation on (in this case) a relatively short domestic flight (different from say a seven or eight hour flight to southeast Asia where it's essential that the flight deck staff receive the best rest they can) while passengers (some of whom would be very frequent flyers with QFd) are shoved down
the back.

 

[jakeseven7]

Why doesn't QFd upgrade passengers?

Whether QF or some other transport operator, air or surface, it's a bad look to have staff travelling in the premium accommodation on (in this case) a relatively short domestic flight (different from say a seven or eight hour flight to southeast Asia where it's essential that t6he flight deck staff receive the best rest they can) while passengers (some of whom would be very frequent flyers with QFd) are shoved downb the back.

So you are proposing QF pick a fight with their staff over their benefits and look to rewrite the company policy for a period of time..... hmmm I don't think so!

 

[milehighclub]

My informant commented that the 'entitlement mentality at QF persists', despite the large number of job losses to date.

I am curious how your informant came to this conclusion? Just because they sat in J, they are all entitled?

 

[Melburnian1]

I am curious how your informant came to this conclusion? Just because they sat in J, they are all entitled?

mile, sorry, don't know.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Thursday 14 January 2021, QFd in the end only timetabled 23 domestic flights from Sydney.

A year ago on a similar day, there would have been at least 30 flights down to MEL alone.

JQd must be notifying airports of cancellations later than QFd, as JQd had 59 theoretical flights ex SYD showing publicly via the airport site today, but has (or is to) only operate(d) eight.

Diabolical for QF's financial position but there's little the company can do about it.

The understandable and sensible pleadings of Mr Joyce have fallen on deaf ears as far as many politicians are concerned.

It'll take a change of mindset by various State Premiers to alter the situation. The next barrier will be convincing prospective users that they are 'safe' from the threat of their state (again) quickly shutting its border with another state, and thus stranding people as we're seeing at present in the case of Victorians locked out of their own state.

 

[milehighclub]

270 cabin crew need to be stood down again from domestic because of the reduction in flying.

 

[oz_mark]

The understandable and sensible pleadings of Mr Joyce have fallen on deaf ears as far as many politicians are concerned.

It'll take a change of mindset by various State Premiers to alter the situation. The next barrier will be convincing prospective users that they are 'safe' from the threat of their state (again) quickly shutting its border with another state, and thus stranding people as we're seeing at present in the case of Victorians locked out of their own state.

And there seems to be little chance that a change of mindset will happen.

 

[Melburnian1]

And there seems to be little chance that a change of mindset will happen.

No chance, as when I was typing it yesterday, there was a media report where Daniel Andrews from Victoria had reiterated that if 'he received health advice' (although many know it's all about 'politics'), he 'wouldn't hesitate to again close the state's borders'.

This ensures many prospective travellers (including me) take interstate travel by any means off the agenda. Too much risk of being 'caught'. And as milehighclub highlights, this unjustified policy from State Premiers costs jobs: not just at the airlines, but in surface transport/hotels/motels/Air BnBs/wholesalers in foodservice/restaurants/cafes/tour operators/Uber and taxi drivers et al.

 

[jb747]

The problem with the border closures is the widespread, and almost whimsical nature of them. Closed to areas that have never had any incidence of CV. Closed to Victorians, who live in Melbourne, but have not been out of the border zone. Wide open (without any permits) to NSW (border zone) residents, who’d like to go to Melbourne.

I wonder if there have been any deaths directly associated with these closures. Not just Qld’s silly “Qld hospitals are for Qlders”, but road accidents. Thousands must have undertaken the stupid race to Victoria when the borders closed. And now we’re hearing of people taking routes through the deep outback, in an attempt to avoid NSW.

 

[Melburnian1]

The problem with the border closures is the widespread, and almost whimsical nature of them. Closed to areas that have never had any incidence of CV. Closed to Victorians, who live in Melbourne, but have not been out of the border zone. Wide open (without any permits) to NSW (border zone) residents, who’d like to go to Melbourne.

I wonder if there have been any deaths directly associated with these closures. Not just Qld’s silly “Qld hospitals are for Qlders”, but road accidents. Thousands must have undertaken the stupid race to Victoria when the borders closed. And now we’re hearing of people taking routes through the deep outback, in an attempt to avoid NSW.

Those risks have been discussed in some mainstream media articles, and are arguably a heck of a lot greater than any risk of you or others contracting this novel coronavirus. The publican at a very remote town was in 'The Australian' commenting on the stupidity of drivers using 2WD cars to deviate via such remote roads, with no nearby assistance available if a breakdown occurred.

 

[Melburnian1]

AJ is 100 per cent correct in what's he's told 'The (Weekend) Australian' tonight:

Victoria’s border closure to Sydney has become personal for Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce, who has revealed his brother and his family are among thousands of people unable to return home.

In a strongly worded statement calling out Victoria’s government, Mr Joyce said it was hard to understand the decision to allow more than 1000 people in from overseas for the Australian Open, while denying residents the right to return with some basic precautions.

As a result of the border closure, Qantas and Jetstar had cancelled almost 3000 flights between Sydney and Melbourne, with significant social and economic consequences.

Mr Joyce said it seemed Australia had become a victim of its own success in managing the Covid crisis, with some states now pursuing eradication rather than suppression.

“That frankly is putting a lot of broader social and economic things at risk. We have to be able to walk and chew gum at the same time,” said Mr Joyce.

“Eradication is going to be impossible, particularly while we’re also bringing Aussies home from hot spots overseas..."

 

[NSun]

Borders shutting fast with little notice (and in WA's case retrospectively applied laws) is one thing. The other is staying shut even after weeks of zero cases.