QF may pull out of LHR

[gilby08]

Qantas eyes Europe after UK runway back flip | ATW Online

Qantas has warned that it will be seeking new hubs in Europe and thus new travel destinations because of the UK’s recent decision to halt further runway development at London Heathrow and Gatwick on environmental grounds.
Speaking exclusively to ATW's Eco-Aviation Today, Qantas CEO Alan Joyce said the airline, while not ruling out other destinations in the UK, is now eyeing Berlin and Madrid as hubs for future growth. “Certainly the UK is important but we have to look for other gateway opportunities, and with Air Berlin joining oneworld Berlin will be a natural fit,” he said. “We are also looking at Madrid with British Airways to build its operations there with the pending merger with Iberia. Airlines are now making decisions around these new environmental taxes and restrictions such as runways,” he noted.

Yes title is a little misleading, but wouldn't be suprised if QF chose another european airport to start up operations in.

Anyway what are people's opinions on Air Berlin?

 

[ozavanti]

I must admit that i view this as more the usual hot-air O'Learyism we are getting used to seeing from esteemed Irishman acting as heads of Airlines rather than the truth.

I can't imagine too many F, J or Y+ passengers who would want to fly into the UK for business being happy to add another 2-3 hour stop-over in a European hub before landing at LHR.

Not only that but for those budget conscious passengers, I would imagine that there would want to be a fair saving in the ticket price before they would consider it as well.

As a side issue would be interesting to see how much traffic ends up re-routing to LHR through FRA and CDG at present.

Overall I view this as playing right into the hands of QF competition, but perhaps its a way for QF to open dialogue with BAA to decreased charges.

 

[samh004]

Confusing title, but I’d welcome the move to fly into Berlin when Air Berlin comes aboard. If they provide good facilities there, it would be a good stop to avoid the dramas at LHR.

 

[dajop]

Title of this thread should only be allowed to be posted 1 day of the year... April 1.

Whilst it is natural for QF to look for other places in Europe to hub with partners, (and frankly MAD doesn't make sense geographically as it is further than LHR, Berlin seems more sensible), the day QF pulls out of LHR will be the day that LHR closes down, or the day QF stops flying.

 

[docjames]

Hell will freeze over before QF pulls out of LHR.

Having said that, there's plenty of scope for expanding into Berlin, CDG, MAD etc and linking with OW partners for intra-europe connections. And as the 789s come on board, they may have the aircraft to achieve that where the 744s / A380s were/are too big.

 

[Worldtraveller8888]

For there to be much truth to it, QF would have to be having capacity constraints into LHR. With the 380 gradually taking over from the 744, that shouldn't be a problem for a while. And I still don't think QF use all their LHR slots, so there might be some more room there too.

Additional ports in Europe are likely - just not with QF aircraft. More like JQ.

 

[gilby08]

The title of the thread was only meant to be something similar to a NoNews headline.
Was only meant to be light-hearted.

 

[JohnK]

New hubs in Europe? I can see myself flying in/out of Madrid on a regular basis. Yeah right.

No thanks. Sure LHR may have some minor issues but it is a much better transit/stopover point than some of the alternatives.

 

[anat0l]

Like most of the others here, the headline is immediately quite misleading.

QF pulling out of LHR? Has the world collapsed? Geez.... :-|

In any case, I for one would welcome new Euro hubs. It would be interesting to see the volume of pax who merely transit at LHR. I would like to think that this number is sizable - perhaps not the majority, even if we do not include pax who transfer to UK domestic flights. I haven't yet had huge operational issues at LHR, but I'm sure there are enough people who would prefer to transfer at a slightly less congested (and cheaper!) airport than LHR.

BER sounds like a good choice - great location relative to most of the rest of Europe and especially if the new Berlin-Brandenburg Airport makes for a good oneworld hub. MAD sounds a little more off-key (huge distance away from most of Europe - only reason to go there would be for Spain and possibly North Africa, if even then).

In saying that, if a new hub was selected for BER, I don't see QF sending services here with 388s any time soon In fact, as another member said, it may just be a JQ destination, or they will codeshare with AB.

 

[NYCguy]

... If a new hub was selected for BER, I don't see QF sending services here with 388s any time soon...

... Because the passengers who buy high-yield tickets would be more interested in getting to FRA (or MUC, and maybe DUS) than BER. There just isn't enough business done in Berlin at the moment. It's one of the major problems that Berlin has - not enough rich people live there, and apart from the cultural attractions, there is no compelling reason to visit.

 

[kezsco]

I'd love QF to fly to BER. LHR is currently a necessity for me to get me to my final destination. BER would be a more convenient and less costly transit.

I think there would be many others in the same position as I. Having said that, I believe that QF could fly to all three... LHR, FRA and BER. BER wouldn't be before 2012 anyway (the new airport), so there may just be enough demand by then... who knows.

 

[Oneworldplus2]

I'd love QF to fly to BER. LHR is currently a necessity for me to get me to my final destination. BER would be a more convenient and less costly transit.

+1
I have that problem when flying to Berlin or Budapest.

Airport Berlin Brandenburg International BBI
I think that the new BBI airport is due to open in 2012. Looks good from the pictures so far.

 

[medhead]

While the headline is misleading, (understandable from news Ltd) I note the quote implies that there will be no extra capacity at London. It seems to me that both suggestions make sense considering the OW partners. But I'd like MUC personally. I'd also think JQ would look towards southern europe.

New hubs in Europe? I can see myself flying in/out of Madrid on a regular basis. Yeah right.

No thanks. Sure LHR may have some minor issues but it is a much better transit/stopover point than some of the alternatives.

Ah see you need to do what I did, get yourself a spanish sister in law.
It's working for my brother a well since he is the swimming champion of her village. Maybe he might make the olympic team

 

[YQY]

The tile of this thread should be changed.

Another part of the equation is the UK's distance-based Passenger Duty Tax, which disadvantages Qantas against operators such as Emirates that hub from Dubai.

Why don't Qantas fly to the UK via Dubai? It would be shorter flight as well. I would prefer a flight via Dubai etc as opposed to SIN, BKK etc.

 

[dajop]

Why don't Qantas fly to the UK via Dubai? It would be shorter flight as well. I would prefer a flight via Dubai etc as opposed to SIN, BKK etc.

I'd take a wild guess that there'd me more Australians travelling to Asia for business and holidays than to Middle East, and thus QF can support services that hub in Asia (SIN, and now HKG as well - if you exclude ADL) from all the main Australian cities, that wouldn't be viable all the way to DXB.

 

[JetLagged]

Without making any comment on the article in question, I for one would welcome both BER and MAD as other possible hubs - flying direct to BER rather than having to waste time at FRA is a winner for touring the Germanics. Also, MAD is good for southern Europe, and also has direct flights to JFK, so direct to the Americas.

Bring it on, Joycie!

 

[Jobu]

Why don't Qantas fly to the UK via Dubai? It would be shorter flight as well. I would prefer a flight via Dubai etc as opposed to SIN, BKK etc.

Wish EK would join OneWorld... would fill a nice gap.

 

[flychrisfly]

Wish EK would join OneWorld... would fill a nice gap.

Royal Jordanian are in Oneworld with connections to many European cities. Network is not as extensive as EK but with a regular QF feeder things could change.

Also, it's hard to tell but it seems that AB do not have a large hub at Berlin. Dusseldorf and Munich seem more highly employed.

 

[Jobu]

Royal Jordanian are in Oneworld with connections to many European cities. Network is not as extensive as EK but with a regular QF feeder things could change.

Does QF even have a feeder to Amman?

RJ hardly compares to EK, which has direct flights out of Australia, covers a large gap in Africa (RJ doesn't come close) and has some nice options out of West Aus to North and South America.

To even get to Amman you pretty much have to fly EK or *A or via somewhere, which doesn't help Oneworld Aussies very much.

JOBU

 

[mannej]

Does QF even have a feeder to Amman?

RJ hardly compares to EK, which has direct flights out of Australia, covers a large gap in Africa (RJ doesn't come close) and has some nice options out of West Aus to North and South America.

To even get to Amman you pretty much have to fly EK or *A or via somewhere, which doesn't help Oneworld Aussies very much.

JOBU

QF to HKG/BKK then you can get onto an RJ flight from either of those two ports

I know that certain people like using RJ J between BKK and HKG as it can be quite cheap and good SC's wise (unless things have changed)