Should QF9 be re-routed

[ajw373]

The only other airlines flying Aus (SYD specifically) to LHR are BA and Virgin Atlantic with one flight a day each. Qantas has double that with A380 capacity.

Now yes other airlines (EK/EY/SQ/TG/MH etc etc etc) may well be able to offer through routing several times a day, but only because they are flying through their home HUB ports where they can combine end to end passengers with passengers from dozens of other flights thus making it viable.

News in today Virgin Atlantic are pulling out of Oz. So that makes just QF and BA left as true end to end operators.

 

[willjd]

The only other airlines flying Aus (SYD specifically) to LHR are BA and Virgin Atlantic with one flight a day each. Qantas has double that with A380 capacity.

Now yes other airlines (EK/EY/SQ/TG/MH etc etc etc) may well be able to offer through routing several times a day, but only because they are flying through their home HUB ports where they can combine end to end passengers with passengers from dozens of other flights thus making it viable.

Wouldn't that make a great case for moving QF9 back to Singapore where Adelaide / Perth / Brisbane / Darwin etc can feed into this service and allow those not in Sydney or Melbourne to Travel to LHR on QF metal the whole way? From what i understand QF doesnt have a suitable aircraft (e.g. 777) that could fly from Perth / Adelaide to Dubai to connect to Europe...

Travelling between Melbourne / London a few times a year i would hate to see the MEL-LHR cancelled.

What i would love to know is have loads decreased since the move to Dubai from Singapore?

 

[dajop]

What about retiming QF9/10 to depart MEL mid-late evening (or even after midnight) and depart LHR mid morning, routed via either DXB or SIN? They could then do an immediate turn around from QF 1... ie QF1-QF10-QF9-QF2 ... and in the process only need 5 instead of 6 A380's to service Australia-LHR. Or even using this pattern to offer double daily SYD-LHR and use the spare A380 to ply MEL-SIN with connections at SIN to BA, AF, EK, QR & AY ....

 

[ajw373]

Wouldn't that make a great case for moving QF9 back to Singapore where Adelaide / Perth / Brisbane / Darwin etc can feed into this service and allow those not in Sydney or Melbourne to Travel to LHR on QF metal the whole way? From what i understand QF doesnt have a suitable aircraft (e.g. 777) that could fly from Perth / Adelaide to Dubai to connect to Europe...

Travelling between Melbourne / London a few times a year i would hate to see the MEL-LHR cancelled.

What i would love to know is have loads decreased since the move to Dubai from Singapore?

Basic problem is there isn't enough demand to justify it. Even when Qantas did fly through Singapore there were still only 2 A380's going onwards to LHR.

As for the cancellation of flights MEL-DXB-LHR, as mentioned above it is a seasonal thing, very few flights effected and nothing new. Was done before when flying through SIN and is done on other routes too.

 

[Brettmcg]

An even more basic problem AFAIK is that the QF/EK MCA would prevent QF from flying to Europe via Asia. Happy to be corrected on that, but I'm pretty sure EK insisted on that term.

Wondering if a MEL-SIN-DXB-LHR might make sense?

 

[markis10]

An even more basic problem AFAIK is that the QF/EK MCA would prevent QF from flying to Europe via Asia. Happy to be corrected on that, but I'm pretty sure EK insisted on that term.

Wondering if a MEL-SIN-DXB-LHR might make sense?

KUL would make a lot more sense, especially as its a OW hub, and traffic from the middle east to KUL is huge (its EYs biggest route).

 

[MALMCK]

The wife and I travel to UK with QANTAS most years and this year will be the first that does not route through Singapore, where we have always stopped off on the way back for 4~5 days as we love the place.
I cannot imagine staying in Dubai in the same way. We travel J class and none of the flights direct from Adelaide have horizontal flat beds so we go to Melbourne for A380 flights. Having an alliance with Emirate and having some flights route through their hub has some validity, especially when you want to visit European countries, but to cut out Singapore as a primary alternative seems a little over the top as a reaction and would outwardly appear to be a back door way of further promotion of Jetstar over QANTAS. One can only assume that AJ is simply implementing the strategic plan that the board has agreed to, which can make you question at times their competence.

 

[maxwelljames]

I hope that Qantas are advised of the results of the Poll. No doubt about the wishes.

 

[fiscal]

With the announcement today that PER-SIN is to be dropped in early 2015, it seems to spell the end to any thoughts of using SIN as a minor hub.

 

[mannej]

The wife and I travel to UK with QANTAS most years and this year will be the first that does not route through Singapore, where we have always stopped off on the way back for 4~5 days as we love the place.
I cannot imagine staying in Dubai in the same way. We travel J class and none of the flights direct from Adelaide have horizontal flat beds so we go to Melbourne for A380 flights. Having an alliance with Emirate and having some flights route through their hub has some validity, especially when you want to visit European countries, but to cut out Singapore as a primary alternative seems a little over the top as a reaction and would outwardly appear to be a back door way of further promotion of Jetstar over QANTAS. One can only assume that AJ is simply implementing the strategic plan that the board has agreed to, which can make you question at times their competence.

Wouldn't you be able to use the QF/EK alliance to still do the same?

 

[justin23]

I'd love to know how many people who fly to LHR actually need to fly there. My last europe trip I flew into FRA and it was a much better experience from my point of view.
Problem is people tend to gravitate to the Sydney-LHR route, when really if they trained the people better and offered alternatives, they'd probably take them.

As I live in CBR, i'm always looking for options to fly via MEL, BNE or DRW where possible.

 

[MALMCK]

Wouldn't you be able to use the QF/EK alliance to still do the same?

No, the problem is that Adelaide is only direct serviced with aircraft that have inclined flat beds in J class, even the Singapore Airlines service which is probably the highest quality that we get.
The 777-300er that seems to be common long range airframe airlines use for Adelaide is not configured as horizontal flat bed. EK only have this from Dubai onwards.

 

[mannej]

No, the problem is that Adelaide is only direct serviced with aircraft that have inclined flat beds in J class, even the Singapore Airlines service which is probably the highest quality that we get.
The 777-300er that seems to be common long range airframe airlines use for Adelaide is not configured as horizontal flat bed. EK only have this from Dubai onwards.

If you were going via MEL as you indicated yes you could.

 

[MALMCK]

That is what we do, we look down at Adelaide as we fly over it going to from Melbourne overseas to Europe. After this trip we may have to look at alternative services from either Mel or Syd to UK via Singapore if Dubai is a one off type stop over.

 

[Isochronous]

No, the problem is that Adelaide is only direct serviced with aircraft that have inclined flat beds in J class, even the Singapore Airlines service which is probably the highest quality that we get.
The 777-300er that seems to be common long range airframe airlines use for Adelaide is not configured as horizontal flat bed. EK only have this from Dubai onwards.

Try CX!

The loss of PER-SIN is really disappointing.

 

[fiscal]

Try CX!

The loss of PER-SIN is really disappointing.

Does not leave us with much does it. We cannot just pop over the Melbourne, so it looks like it is SIA for now.

 

[romawin]

Should go to another destination....

Germany would be the obvious choice

QF 1 and QF 9 to Heathrow should be rerouted through Asia. I have always flown QF 1 but object to having to go through security twice in transit and through a marketplace in Dubai in the middle of the night to get back on the plane. Moreover business class lounge in Emirates just like a standard airport departure gate with terrible free food and no reading material I have changed from being a loyal business class customer of Qantas to other Asian airlines and BA to avoid Dubai.

 

[Isochronous]

QF 1 and QF 9 to Heathrow should be rerouted through Asia. I have always flown QF 1 but object to having to go through security twice in transit and through a marketplace in Dubai in the middle of the night to get back on the plane. Moreover business class lounge in Emirates just like a standard airport departure gate with terrible free food and no reading material I have changed from being a loyal business class customer of Qantas to other Asian airlines and BA to avoid Dubai.

SIN is a much better O&D market than DXB, but aren't the QF flights timed to pick up EK feed from India/Ceylon/Pakistan and that part of the world?

 

[RozInAus]

Singapore for sure. It's a better more relaxing transit experience in many ways. The transit areas are not over-lit, brash and noisy and the airport staff are friendlier, more knowledgeable and pleasant. Signage is streets ahead. I don't like the attitude of many Dubai airport staff towards women. Singapore for me.

 

[hdfb]

I understand because of QF/EK MCA QF can not fly to Europe via Asia, but when/if this deal will be renegotiated, QF need to discuss this as an option which not only will help the viability of QF but also provide benefits to EK. Asia has the fastest growing middle class than any other continent, it makes absolutely no sense that a world class carrier with an impeccable safety record and global recognition has a dwindling presence there.