QF to launch SYD DFW from 16 May and axe SFO

[Standby]

Travel daily advises x4 PW to DFW using 744 acrft from 16May.
Will allow 13 new connectiong in US and Mexico with AA.
SFO stops 14May (how long before JQ extend their HNL services to SFO??)

 

[Red Roo]

Here's the official press release, it will be loaded onto qantas.com later today.

In addition to being a new port, the DFW services will open up more connectivity options via one of oneworld's largest hubs, particularly good for travellers through Central and Eastern USA.

QANTAS TO LAUNCH SERVICES TO DALLAS/FORT WORTH FROM
SYDNEY, STRENGTHEN TIES WITH AMERICAN AIRLINES

SYDNEY, 14 January 2011: Qantas today announced it will launch direct services
from Sydney to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) from 16 May 2011,
giving Australians unprecedented access to destinations across the United States.
The route will see Qantas operate direct outbound flights from Sydney to DFW (as
QF7), returning to Sydney via Brisbane (as QF8). DFW is the primary hub of Qantas'
fellow oneworld alliance member, American Airlines, and the two carriers will soon
seek to expand their commercial relationship.

Qantas will offer four return flights to DFW each week, featuring a three-class Boeing
747 aircraft. Direct Sydney-San Francisco (SFO) services will be discontinued on 14
May 2011, but SFO will remain part of Qantas’ network as a codeshare destination.
Qantas Chief Executive Officer, Mr Alan Joyce, said DFW will be an excellent
addition to the Qantas network and enable Qantas to strengthen its relationship with
American Airlines.

“This new service is great news for both Australian and American travellers,” Mr
Joyce said. “It will connect Qantas customers to one of the USA’s major hub
airports, benefitting both business and leisure travellers. Flying to DFW is an
important step for Qantas as we expand and improve our international services.”
DFW is the fourth-largest and fastest-growing metropolitan area in the United States
and an important centre of business and tourism. It welcomed over 56 million
passengers in 2009, with 59 per cent of those passengers continuing onward to other
destinations.

From DFW, American Airlines and its regional airline partner, American Eagle,
operate nearly 750 flights to 186 destinations worldwide. DFW is American’s largest
hub and it offers easy connections to American’s four other cornerstone markets of
Chicago, Miami, New York and Los Angeles.

“Alongside our entry into DFW, Qantas and American Airlines intend to deepen their
existing relationship and will be seeking regulatory approval from the Australian
Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and other relevant authorities for
this expanded commercial relationship,” Mr Joyce said.

“We have worked closely with American Airlines over many years, and with the
commencement of services to Dallas/Fort Worth we look forward to taking our
partnership to a new level and providing new and enhanced benefits for consumers
in Australia and the United States.”

The enhanced commercial agreement between American Airlines and Qantas will
involve coordination of operations between Australia/New Zealand and the United
States and deliver considerable benefits for Australian and US consumers. It will
give Qantas a stronger and more balanced network footprint in the United States and
provide more choice and convenience for travellers.

Thirteen new US destinations and three Mexican destinations* will join the Qantas
network through new American Airlines-operated codeshare services, meaning
Qantas will codeshare with AA to a total of 51 destinations in the US, Canada and
Mexico.

Once the new alliance comes into place, it will provide a joint platform for the airlines
to increase DFW services to a daily frequency.

“We welcome the addition of services to Australia at DFW by our valued oneworld
partner, Qantas,” said Gerard Arpey, American’s Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer. “An expanded relationship and deeper commercial cooperation with the
premier Australian carrier will benefit consumers, the employees, shareholders and
financial supporters of both airlines and will greatly enhance the services offered to
passengers by oneworld carriers.”

As part of the new commercial arrangement, AAVacations, the wholly owned tour
operator of American Airlines, will look to launch a comprehensive range of
Australian and Asia-Pacific land, air and integrated vacations for the US market,
designed to grow US leisure travel to Australia and the region.

In further positive news for Australian and US travellers, Qantas will also increase the
frequency of its Los Angeles-New York service (QF107/108) from six times per week
to daily, from June 2011.

* In the U.S: Albuquerque, Boise, Cleveland, Washington DC (Reagan National), El
Paso, New York (LaGuardia), Kansas City, Oklahoma, Phoenix, San Antonio, Salt
Lake City, Sacramento, Tucson. In Mexico: Cancun, Guadalajara, Mexico City.
Issued by Qantas Corporate Communication (Q5060)

 

[wingspan]

I'm ambivalent about this. On the one hand, the better connections to Mexico and beyond (I'm particularly happy about Guatemala being just a connection away) are fantastic. But there is just something really lovely about SFO and being able to get there from Sydney. The simple rerouting via Honolulu is possible, of course, but still, the direct flight was nice.

 

[ChrisBNE]

Re: QF to DFW Direct - now available to book

Yep definitely loaded into the GDS today.

 

[Kendall Roy]

Shame it's not A388 ops.

That said, avoiding LAX

 

[Kendall Roy]

Also, will be interesting to see if this has any impact on 107/108 ops between LAX/JFK in the long run.....

 

[SFSC]

A DCIR22 syd-dfw-yvr-nrt-hkg-mnl-syd would be 21458 miles distance

 

[anat0l]

Fascinating that this service is able to operate from SYD to DFW non-stop (although 1 stop required upon return). Almost tempted to say it beats CO's IAH-AKL attempt to the punch (except it's not a new aircraft, i.e. 744).

Would this be QF's longest route now?

On that note, it's a shame that it's a 3-class 744 (J/W/Y), i.e. a low premium carriage route. I'm sure the bean counters did the sums and said it may not be a high premium carriage route for a 4-class 744 / 388, but that's a real shame.

Also, it's only a 4 times a week service.

Still, the convenience factor is there.

 

[YQY]

There isn't a AA Flagship lounge in DFW. Other Oneworld carriers only have business lounges in DFW. I'm all for avoiding LAX,

Hope Qantas will introduce F Lounge in DFW.

 

[Paddy55]

I'm ambivalent about this. On the one hand, the better connections to Mexico and beyond (I'm particularly happy about Guatemala being just a connection away) are fantastic. But there is just something really lovely about SFO and being able to get there from Sydney. The simple rerouting via Honolulu is possible, of course, but still, the direct flight was nice.

Agree, wingspan. SYD-SFO has always been a very convenient way of getting into the US, especially as I've often visited the Silicon Valley area for work.

However, I've been through DFW a few times in the past 15 months now and that airport is just great to get around in... and it's not LAX

Paddy

 

[Kendall Roy]

Here's the official press release, it will be loaded onto qantas.com later today.

Hi Red Roo,

Will QF load additional codeshare options into the GDS to cities such as YYZ based on QF times around DFW?

SYD-DFW-YYZ is a hell of a lot more attractive then SYD-LAX-YYZ

Cheers

 

[samh004]

I’m not sure if Milage Monkey used nautical miles or miles, but it would seem the A380 could do the route if it was in miles, perhaps with the improved variant coming in 2013.

 

[drewbles]

Re: QF to DFW Direct - now available to book

Travel Daily

Qantas to launch services direct to US South Qantas has just officially confirmed it will launch new direct services between Sydney and Dallas/Fort Worth from 16 May, as exclusively revealed by Travel Daily yesterday. QF will offer a four times weekly service using Boeing 747 aircraft on the route, which returns via Brisbane to Sydney. The move will see flights from Sydney to San Francisco discontinued as of 14 May 2011

I loved flying to SFO. Time to book one last hoorah! anyone with me?

 

[SFSC]

A DCIR22 syd-dfw-yvr-nrt-hkg-mnl-syd would be 21458 miles distance

From fiddling further with the monkey - mileage that is

syd-dfw-yvr-nrt-tpe-hkg-mnl-syd covers 21473 miles and brings 700 SC.

Most of the above would be better to start from than SYD depending on currency movements and cost of positioning.

 

[Skyring]

Agree, wingspanHowever, I've been through DFW a few times in the past 15 months now and that airport is just great to get around in... and it's not LAX

Two big pluses.

This is a bloody long hop! I've flown DFW to SFO a couple of times and it's a pleasant couple of hours over some amazing scenery.

Looks like I'll be taking one of the last SFO-SYD flights when I leave the USA after the Route 66 thing in early May. I'm going to be sorry to lose this convenient leg - having to transfer in LAX fills me with gloom.

I love DFW. Quite apart from the "I'mbackinTexas" footlong smile on my face, it's a delightful terminal to browse around in for shopping and dining, and the train thingie is quick and frequent and convenient to cover the well-laid out terminal complex. The international arrivals hall isn't the dismal police state of LAX, but instead has helpful videos showing what to do, and welcoming volunteers in ten gallon hats eager to assist.

Two sour notes: there isn't a Flagship Lounge in DFW - though that's no great loss - but the worst part was that the Ben and Jerry franchise had no Cherry Garcia.

 

[markis10]

Good to have another international flight option ex BNE to SYD, pity it appears to be three class and one way only.

 

[Keith009]

No more PE in Skybed to SFO for me then - the main reason why I've always gone via SYD to be on the 744 rather than LAX on A380. As they say, all good things have to come to an end.

 

[VirginiaF]

I love DFW as much as I love SFO, and I think it goes without saying that any entry into USA other than LAX is a good thing. That being said, I have to agree with other posters - sad SFO being taken away, and the limitations imposed by 3 class metal to DFW. NZ and VA are looking more appealing by the minute especially once the Trans-Tasman code sharing starts up (but alas, not oneworld).

 

[Skyring]

I love DFW as much as I love SFO, and I think it goes without saying that any entry into USA other than LAX is a good thing.

SFO and DFW are two airports that work well. Not up to the standard of some of the newer Asian terminals, but still, in a nation that hosts horrorisities like LAX and JFK, they stand out as paragons of elegance.

DFW-SYD is a sector that will probably feature prominently in my future travels, for those times when I can't get back to JFK to do the big one home.

 

[biga1]

Qantas to drop SF route

Qantas to drop direct flights to San Francisco instead preferring Dallas.

As this is my first post, I'm unable to include a link but this is running in both the SMH and the Australian as of around one hour ago.