Rex launches Sydney-Canberra Saab 340 flights [now axed]

[kookaburra75]

Firstly it'd be interesting to know what went into that $200m figure. $200m / 160k seats = $1250 input into the economy per seat which does seem like a lot for a brand new route of just 236km's.

Haven't you watched Utopia....

Having a look at the master plan the airport apparently contributes a total of $5b to the GRP. Rex's new route seems quite impressive to be able to come in and pick up ~4% of that.

Canberra is an odd market, in that the passenger mixed is skewed with those who live here travelling for work and not really adding to the local GRP, while leisure passengers do add to the GRP. If Rex can pick up a good share of the passenger market travelling to Canberra for weekends to the National Gallery exhibitions etc, then there would be a greater input into the local economy.

You also have to take into the account the Airport has a large business park (which doesn't require local ACT Government approvals being Commonwealth land), which also contributes more into the local economy that those pesky aircraft.

I wonder what it actually costs Qantas and Rex per seat on these SYD-CBR flights, I'd argue it almost seems as if rex is gouging given they're somehow able to operate MEL-OOL a ~2hr 1238km flight for $65 but the 50 minute 236km flight costs $99. One would think because it's being operated by a prop plane it'd be cheaper to operate as well.

You have forgotten to add the "Canberra Tax" i.e. 'what the market can bear...' factor. A cashed up local workforce, well above the national average coupled with their travel budgets being connected to 'spending' budgets as compared to a business that has to consider the business value of the travel i.e. is it worth it? It would be interesting to find out what the fixed component of a flight is - what is the base cost just to fill a plane, take off, land and unload, without taking into account the flight time/distance?

 

[henrus]

Haven't you watched Utopia....

Yeh, I love that show. I think it could do with a 5th season perhaps this time focusing on covid impacts (although I think people would complain about it being too real).

If Rex can pick up a good share of the passenger market travelling to Canberra for weekends to the National Gallery exhibitions etc, then there would be a greater input into the local economy.

You also have to take into the account the Airport has a large business park (which doesn't require local ACT Government approvals being Commonwealth land), which also contributes more into the local economy that those pesky aircraft.

Yep, It was a bit of tongue in cheek, I don't think Rex alone will contribute 4% anytime soon with the current schedule.

There aren't many flights that allow for a weekend away, 3x on a Friday evening and 3x on a Saturday morning over but just 3x from 3-6pm ish on Sunday back. In total, we're talking between 108-216 seats capable of taking people from SYD to CBR for the weekend. My guess is the ACT probably has more than 200 people driving in the territory from Sydney each weekend meaning these flights don't represent much in the big picture.

 

[repete]

Not a definite stat, but I reckon about 85% full on Rex's 6:30am CBR-SYD service this morning. That was until they had a flat battery and couldn't start the plane! Just over an hour later we re-boarded and departed at perhaps about 65% capacity!! Was happy with the service on board but some room for improvement in other areas.

 

[AIRwin]

Not a definite stat, but I reckon about 85% full on Rex's 6:30am CBR-SYD service this morning. That was until they had a flat battery and couldn't start the plane! Just over an hour later we re-boarded and departed at perhaps about 65% capacity!! Was happy with the service on board but some room for improvement in other areas.

Did the remaining 20% end up taking the bus?

 

[repete]

Did the remaining 20% end up taking the bus?

Some aborted their trip altogether (didn't help that news was filtering through about new COVID cases in Sydney) and some went to book on alternate airlines (well Qantas I guess). They were the ones I knew about. Car/bus certainly would have been quicker in the end from original airport check-in time to landing in SYD!

 

[AIRwin]

Some aborted their trip altogether (didn't help that news was filtering through about new COVID cases in Sydney) and some went to book on alternate airlines (well Qantas I guess).

Next QF flight was at 8:45 so bus would not only have been quicker but cheaper...

 

[henrus]

Not a definite stat, but I reckon about 85% full on Rex's 6:30am CBR-SYD service this morning

EF shows 21 onboard, no idea how many seats a Rex SAAB actually has though?

Rex's site lists "30-36 seats", the seat map shows 35 seats, some online photos show no middle seat down the back so 33 seats, is each one configured differently for maximum confusion?

Also how was "the lounge"?

 

[repete]

EF shows 21 onboard, no idea how many seats a Rex SAAB actually has though?

Rex's site lists "30-36 seats", the seat map shows 35 seats, some online photos show no middle seat down the back so 33 seats, is each one configured differently for maximum confusion?

Well that's interesting... my estimation figures from a quick scan of the plane weren't too bad I was working off 'about 20' being on board, whereas initially around 30.
Interesting about the back too - this one did have a middle seat. I remember thinking it looked like the back row of a bus when I hopped on! Thanks

 

[Mattg]

Well thanks to Rex, most Qantas CBR-SYD flights are now 717s and 737s.

I just flew SYD-CBR on a QF 737. There can't have been more than 30 passengers.

 

[Melburnian1]

Yeah, especially since Murray's also now says "we do not guarantee you'll get an empty seat next to you". Doesn't exactly fill me with confidence when we're still in a pandemic. (I realise you might also have to sit next to someone on a plane, but that trip is only ~50 minutes and everyone needs to wear a mask.)

On the train, at least you get a guaranteed two seats to yourself and the journey is reasonably comfortable.

Since you wrote that, NSW TrainLink have apparently begun booking all seats and (where applicable, not Sydney to Canberra) sleeping berths.

Agree it was luxurious to have a guaranteed 'shadow' next to oneself, but all good things must...

(and by the way) travelling Sydney to Moss Vale is not strictly 'suburban' (although most trips use a suburban train Sydney - Campbelltown, changing there to Endeavour railcars) as south of Macarthur is considered 'interruban'.

Post automatically merged: May 13, 2021

Well thanks to Rex, most Qantas CBR-SYD flights are now 717s and 737s.

I just flew SYD-CBR on a QF 737. There can't have been more than 30 passengers.

Why do you say "thanks to Rex"?

Doesn't QFd have the option to operate Q400s between SYD and CBR or even smaller Q300s/Q200s if it chooses?

 

[Mattg]

Why do you say "thanks to Rex"?

Doesn't QFd have the option to operate Q400s between SYD and CBR or even smaller Q300s/Q200s if it chooses?

Before Rex came onto the route, QF had mostly Q300s/Q400s with a couple of 717s per day in peak times. Since Rex came on the route, Qantas has upgraded many of the flights to 717s and has even introduced 737s on some services. I would speculate that without Rex on the route, they wouldn't be doing this.

 

[dajop]

Before Rex came onto the route, QF had mostly Q300s/Q400s with a couple of 717s per day in peak times. Since Rex came on the route, Qantas has upgraded many of the flights to 717s and has even introduced 737s on some services. I would speculate that without Rex on the route, they wouldn't be doing this.

Qantas upping capacity to drive out Rex? Never!! Not at all, just that the Q300s were needed elsewhere haha.

Although maybe in this instance likely scenario is filling the void left by VA’s withdrawal?

 

[jakeseven7]

Qantas upping capacity to drive out Rex? Never!! Not at all, just that the Q300s were needed elsewhere haha.

Although maybe in this instance likely scenario is filling the void left by VA’s withdrawal?

Yup I believe the Dash8 fleet is now fully utilised apart from a couple they have in the paint shed quickly converting back from JQ NZ to QFLink to launch the increased Bendigo / Burnie services and seasonal snow routes

 

[henrus]

Qantas upping capacity to drive out Rex? Never!! Not at all, just that the Q300s were needed elsewhere haha.

Exactly, the QF Q300's are needed to operate the following routes:

 

[Mattg]

Rex announced this morning that it will stop operating the SYD-CBR route at the end of this week.

https://www.rex.com.au/BlobViewer/BlobViewer.aspx?attachtype=MR&filename=2F52426A6C774D6549697136636D7976366E744347726D534C496C50677854545034562B6A585371336A714143314E3438492B4B7353663076506245317A4F35

 

[dajop]

Where are the aircraft being redeployed to? With this and exit from MEL/ABX there must be some spare capacity in the Saab fleet or the fleet is being shrunk.

 

[Mattg]

Not surprising looking at today's loads (as an example). SYD-CBR this morning had 9 pax. The first two CBR-SYD flights today had 10 and 6 pax. Hardly worthwhile.

VA's flights (also on Saab 340s, operated by Link Airways) have been considerably more full today.

 

[dajop]

Not surprising looking at today's loads (as an example). SYD-CBR this morning had 9 pax. The first two CBR-SYD flights today had 10 and 6 pax. Hardly worthwhile.

They’re amazing loads compared to the jet services! 9 pax on a Saab = 45 pax on a 737!

 

[Harrison_133]

Not surprising looking at today's loads (as an example). SYD-CBR this morning had 9 pax. The first two CBR-SYD flights today had 10 and 6 pax. Hardly worthwhile.

VA's flights (also on Saab 340s, operated by Link Airways) have been considerably more full today.

Ever since VA restarted the route, the Rex numbers seemed to have dropped off dramatically. I’ve seen many occasions where the ZL service had 3 or 4 pax onboard, while the VA/Link Saab is full, if not close to it. Goes to show the value of an actual frequent flyer program and lounge offerings in capital city markets.

VA seem to have found a good partner in Link. They’re up to 10x daily weekday services now. Rex’s 3x daily offering was always going to struggle with QF’s frequency and VA back in the market.

 

[henrus]

There are still promo fares on Sundays final flight. If anyone wants to fly Rex CBR-SYD one last time