VA direct MEL-ZQN flights

[Jack_OC]

Does anyone know what the deal is with the direct MEL-ZQN-MEL flights operated by VA? They announced relatively recently that they were starting this route in Oct 2018, but checking online it seems there are no direct flights available on this route after early May 2019. So have they decided to can it already? I have searched online and can only find news stories reporting the commencement of the route, nothing about it being discontinued.

TIA!

 

[ozstamps]

For those of us here who are not alphabet soup groupies and nerds - ZQN = Queenstown NZ.

 

[Jack_OC]

For those of us here who are not alphabet soup groupies and nerds - ZQN = Queenstown NZ.

Indeed. Thanks for clarifying. BTW I will happily accept the nerd tag, although not sure about groupie!

Anyway, I’m guessing nobody so far knows the answer to my question? Maybe I will have to phone VA, although I’m never sure even that will get me the correct answer!

 

[ozstamps]

Well a meaningful heading asking a question of some kind might have seen a response? Four word headings seldom work anywhere.

Being Queenstown, were the flights set for the ski season only perhaps?

 

[Jack_OC]

Well a meaningful heading asking a question of some kind might have seen a response? Four word headings seldom work anywhere.

With all due respect, I don't think the number of words in the subject title is the issue, and realistically, people who don't know what ZQN means are unlikely to know the answer to this question.

Being Queenstown, were the flights set for the ski season only perhaps?

As I said above, the route is only launching in October, and the direct flights seem to cease in early May. In other words, right now, direct flights on this route seem to only be available outside of the ski season.

 

[jkbaus]

Does anyone know what the deal is with the direct MEL-ZQN-MEL flights operated by VA? They announced relatively recently that they were starting this route in Oct 2018, but checking online it seems there are no direct flights available on this route after early May 2019. So have they decided to can it already? I have searched online and can only find news stories reporting the commencement of the route, nothing about it being discontinued.

TIA!

I read somewhere that it is a seasonal route.

 

[Jack_OC]

I read somewhere that it is a seasonal route.

The original announcement said frequency would increase from 3 times weekly to 4 times weekly at peak times, but presumably peak times on that route means winter. Anyway, per the original announcement, it was suppposed to be a year round route, it was just the frequency that was seasonal.

 

[Jack_OC]

So I got around to phoning VA today. They confirmed that flights from early May onwards "haven't been loaded into the system yet", but the route is definitely continuing and will operate on Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays at a minimum. I asked when they would be loaded in and the answer was "who knows, but I imagine it shouldn't be too long. Maybe a few weeks or something". Very helpful!

 

[AIRwin]

Queenstown Finally (QF) - Qantas response:
GET YOUR SKIS ON: QANTAS LAUNCHES DIRECT FLIGHTS FROM MELBOURNE TO QUEENSTOWN