The gradual decline of Qantas International - a pictorial story.

[wandersen]

I flew QF to Harare in March 1999. I guess this was not long before the route was cut as things were just beginning to go significantly downhill when I arrived (I think hyperinflation had just taken the Zim$ from 5 to the US$ to 30 to the US$ in a week). It was a tag flight to JNB. So my flight at the time was BNE-SYD-PER-JNB-HRE and from there the plane flew back to Perth.

 

[docjames]

Interesting - I wasn't aware that Qantas ever flew to Harare (and am still a little bit surprised that they ever did).

It was when Apatheid meant flights to Sth Africa were forbidden, and Zim was actually one of (probably the most) prosperous nation in Africa....

Was in the era of sanctions against South Africa and before Zimbabwe became a total basket case. Died shortly after SA opened up and really not something i'd blame QF for cancelling.

Of all the flights they've cancelled, HRE would be the most appropriate.

Thinking of Qantas International today in light of recent announcements - felt a bit sad when I reviewed the routes they have pulled out of... there's probably way more.


Late 90's - Sydney-Perth-Harare flights:
Photos: Boeing 747-3... Aircraft Pictures | Airliners.net

Was actually either early 2000 or 2001 IIRC.



Also, the MAN flight was never economic on a flight-only basis, it was to get the aircraft out of LHR due to ground fees which made it relatively economic.

 

[dajop]

Thinking of Qantas International today in light of recent announcements - felt a bit sad when I reviewed the routes they have pulled out of... there's probably way more.

To be fair, you need to account for additional routes flights as well, some that come to mind that certainly weren't there in the mid 1990s or earlier including the new non-stops: MEL-LAX , SYD-JNB, SYD-SCL, BNE-LAX, SYD-DFW plus the on again/off again LAX-JFK.

But there are plenty of others within recent memory that have disappeared, the ones that spring to mind include:
Japan: Nagoya, Sapporo, Fukoka & Osaka all ex CNS I think
Intra Asia Routes: SIN-BKK, SIN-KUL, SIN-HKG, BKK-HKG, SIN-DPS, SIN-CGK (all abolished for years but now revived under 3K codeshares!)
Canada: The shortlived HNL-YYZ & HNL-YVR that operated after CP went down the gurgler.
Melbourne routes: BKK, CHC, CGK, NRT and even at one point JNB!

 

[cmon0005]

Here's a thread I started a few months ago on future of sub-continent routes (after QF withdrew QF51/52 SIN-BOM).
http://www.australianfrequentflyer....ion/future-of-sub-continent-routes-37449.html

I've got a whole bunch of suggestions in there. SQ are already cashing in on the route and on J pax since QF left, just check the loads on SQ.
They only now have a sub-standard route using 9W codeshare with 12 hour stopover in SIN. not good enough.

 

[infinity]

To be fair, you need to account for additional routes flights as well, some that come to mind that certainly weren't there in the mid 1990s or earlier including the new non-stops: MEL-LAX , SYD-JNB, SYD-SCL, BNE-LAX, SYD-DFW plus the on again/off again LAX-JFK.

But there are plenty of others within recent memory that have disappeared, the ones that spring to mind include:
Japan: Nagoya, Sapporo, Fukoka & Osaka all ex CNS I think
Intra Asia Routes: SIN-BKK, SIN-KUL, SIN-HKG, BKK-HKG, SIN-DPS, SIN-CGK (all abolished for years but now revived under 3K codeshares!)
Canada: The shortlived HNL-YYZ & HNL-YVR that operated after CP went down the gurgler.
Melbourne routes: BKK, CHC, CGK, NRT and even at one point JNB!

Lets not forget Australian Airlines

Wherever that fits in the puzzle????

 

[Fruitcake]

The entire QF international network out of CNS is of course now gone - Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya all had direct QF services from CNS at various points. Then of course there was CNS-HNL and CNS-(DRW)-SIN.

 

[Travelqueen]

Totally agree with you.... Never for me either

 

[Isochronous]

Lets not forget Australian Airlines

Wherever that fits in the puzzle????

AO was much better than Deathstar - from the plane decal/painting to the product, name, and brand. Jetstar just oozes cheap and nasty.

 

[JBH]

AO was much better than Deathstar - from the plane decal/painting to the product, name, and brand. Jetstar just oozes cheap and nasty.

Would have to agree, AO were great, I recall doing a few LHR-SIN then SIN-DPS on AO sectors in 2004/05, the AO food/service was far better than BA/QAN! free flowing beverages and the AO crew were motivated/super friendly....

 

[EmilyHoward]

Time moves on and things change including route cancellations. Remember some of the international airlines are government or part government owned and subsidized heavily.

EH