Qantas BXG-SYD (Bendigo) timetable changes

[dajop]

As we move into the summer timetable at end of October, QF are changing the Bendigo timetable from overnighting a plane in Bendigo to an afternoon return.

So moving from evening SYD-BXG, early morning BXG-SYD to an early afternoon SYD-BXG and late afternoon BXG-SYD.

Has caused some disquiet amongst the local business community, to do a day in SYD you now really need two nights accommodation rather than a same day return. Obviously lowering costs without accomodating a crew overnight but some speculate that there will be a decline in patronage and therefore an excuse for QF to exit the route (which presumably is tied in with a council subsidy agreement).

Most articles behind a paywall. But one suggests that same day return made up only 10% of the route anyway. I wonder how much involved 2 or 3 day trips though, which also would be made longer after timetable change unless returning to MEL.

Executive urges Qantas rethink via petition - Bendigo Times

Fintech CEO leads Bendigo Qantas petition to keep early and late Sydney flights, urging schedule rethink to support local business.

timesnewsgroup.com.au

QantasLink’s Bendigo-Sydney flights get major makeover - Bendigo Times

Qantas is overhauling its Bendigo-Sydney flight schedule from October 26, 2025. Learn how the retirement of morning flights will impact your travel plans.

timesnewsgroup.com.au

Paywall:

What the controversial Bendigo to Sydney flight change means for local jobs

The City confirms the outcome of its meeting with Qantas.

www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au

'I share the community's frustrations': premier criticises Qantas decision

Business trips at risk as accommodation costs now a factor.

www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au

 

[Cloud9]

I only ever use it for connecting to international flights from SYD, to be honest.

A lot of folks I've spoken to on the the way to / fro are actually commuting to Canberra for one reason or another.

 

[dajop]

I only ever use it for connecting to international flights from SYD, to be honest.

Last time I looked at to get me back home to SIN ( have family in Bendigo), the routing was BXG-SYD-MEL-SIN

With the new schedule, there won't be too many international connections outbound now either, HND & SFO only perhaps.

 

[muppet]

Really I would prefer a return to the double daily QF ran at the start, admittedly with the DH8-200 so much easier to fill.

 

[Cloud9]

Last time I looked at to get me back home to SIN ( have family in Bendigo), the routing was BXG-SYD-MEL-SIN

With the new schedule, there won't be too many international connections outbound now either, HND & SFO only perhaps.

Thats fair. To be honest, if you're just visiting, grab the airport bus and head to Tullamarine if it's SIN.

At least you've pretty much got a guarantee spa session in my experience.

 

[dajop]

Thats fair. To be honest, if you're just visiting, grab the airport bus and head to Tullamarine if it's SIN.

At least you've pretty much got a guarantee spa session in my experience.

Yeh, I've never taken the airport bus, have done the train + Uber/Taxi, same time, slightly cheaper and more services a day, and you get dropped off at T2 checkin area instead of out the back of T4...

 

[Cloud9]

Yeh, I've never taken the airport bus, have done the train + Uber/Taxi, same time, slightly cheaper and more services a day, and you get dropped off at T2 checkin area instead of out the back of T4...

Yeah. That drop in train fares has been a game changer for a lot of folk up here getting down to the big smoke.

 

[dylarr]

Very annoying change. Have already had to cancel / re-route a number of my family's trips.

They're using the stat that "only" 10% of pax (which is actually quite a lot IMO!) using the service for day trips as justification for the change, but I'd love to also see the % of pax who are connecting. A lot of travellers from Bendigo connect onto other flights, cruises etc. Arriving into SYD early evening is next to useless for most connections as a majority of destinations will have already departed (despite Qantas spruiking that they're maintaining onwards connectivity).

Really I would prefer a return to the double daily QF ran at the start, admittedly with the DH8-200 so much easier to fill.

Totally agree this would be ideal - even if they maintained the morning flights as-is, and added afternoon flights on Mon, Thu and Fri like they originally intended (also the days when leisure and extended weekend getaway demand would be at its greatest), this would strike a great balance. And the loads would probably justify it, a lot of the existing flights on these particular days have no or little availability.

Really just looks like an exercise in saving on accommodation and ground handling costs. Fingers crossed they have listened to the sharp feedback from the community and fix this in the NS26 schedule.

 

[L2.]

Well according to the 'Qantas spokesperson' quoted in this article, residents of Bendigo are not the target market for the flights that operate there:

A Qantas spokesperson said the move was to help try and boost visitor numbers from the NSW capital to central Victoria.

"We've made some changes to our schedule between Bendigo and Sydney to make it easier for people to travel to the Bendigo region for weekend getaways and extended stays," they said.

"This means that tourists visiting from Sydney can maximise their time in Bendigo and experience all the great things the region has to offer."

'I share the community's frustrations': premier criticises Qantas decision

Business trips at risk as accommodation costs now a factor.

www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au

 

[dajop]

Well according to the 'Qantas spokesperson' quoted in this article, residents of Bendigo are not the target market for the flights that operate there:

The same spokesperson quoted in the HBA/CBR/MQL base closure thread?

Some Qantas lackey gave a statement to ABC Hobart radio when the issue was blowing up there. I tried to find it on their site (no), but it included phrases like

"So we can serve the people of Hobart better .... " and "So we can respond more quickly to problems as they arise in Hobart ..."

I loved the line "It's not about cost savings or profitability, it's about setting us up for success as we go through a significant period of growth and renewal".
Do these people even read these nonsense talking points before they approve them?