BA and QF to return to KL??

[markis10]

PETALING JAYA: Three legacy carriers are making a comeback to the KL International Airport (KLIA) over the next two months with one returning after three decades to tap into the pent up demand for air services.
And their comeback could also trigger the return of two more airlines - British Airways (BA) and Qantas.
The three legacy carriers are Air France, which is returning after 30 years, Turkish Airlines and Philippines Airlines (PAL), both coming back after a 10-year absence.
Those in the know claimed that BA officials were in Kuala Lumpur recently to check out the facilities and were in talks with Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) officials.
What transpired was not clear, but they said that BA had been exploring, and they did not discount a return sooner, if not, by 2015.
“It could be this or next year, if not 2015. It is waiting for some of its existing arrangements with other airlines to lapse before flying into KLIA,” said a source.
Both BA and Qantas pulled out of KLIA in 2000.

Timely for British Airways and Qantas to return to KLIA

 

[eastwest101]

PETALING JAYA: Three legacy carriers are making a comeback to the KL International Airport (KLIA) over the next two months with one returning after three decades to tap into the pent up demand for air services.
And their comeback could also trigger the return of two more airlines - British Airways (BA) and Qantas.
The three legacy carriers are Air France, which is returning after 30 years, Turkish Airlines and Philippines Airlines (PAL), both coming back after a 10-year absence.
Those in the know claimed that BA officials were in Kuala Lumpur recently to check out the facilities and were in talks with Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) officials.
What transpired was not clear, but they said that BA had been exploring, and they did not discount a return sooner, if not, by 2015.
“It could be this or next year, if not 2015. It is waiting for some of its existing arrangements with other airlines to lapse before flying into KLIA,” said a source.
Both BA and Qantas pulled out of KLIA in 2000.

Timely for British Airways and Qantas to return to KLIA

Good find, obviously the article has a bit of its own agenda there but raises a valid point that maybe KLIA was a logical transit point and that BA are starting to think the same thing as well. Its geographic location and pretty solid airport infrastructure make KLIA an important airport for the Australian, SE Asian, India etc. Add to that the end of the BA/QF partnership and other Airline alliances wheeling and dealing and things start to look pretty interesting.

Its a shame that they went with the separate LCCT terminal though - though LKIA2 being opened in late June should resolve some problems. If they had gone with the everything under one roof in the first place then they could have rivaled SIN as being one of the best airports in SE Asia.

BAC owners also take note that KLIA2 was built in the space of 3-4 years, and KLIA1 terminal completed in 5 years.

 

[deadfish]

Would be good for KUL. The place feels like a ghost town at times, at least by major Asian airport standards.

 

[markis10]

Would be good for KUL. The place feels like a ghost town at times, at least by major Asian airport standards.

I agree, and its felt that way since it was built IMHO. Low cost accommodation, quick trips into town, less air traffic delays and holding are just a few of the things that must now push a few airlines to reconsider, and KLIA2 is looking pretty impressive!

 

[Awesom Andy]

KLIA is not a bad airport at all. It even has its own waterfall inside the terminal (although it's not big by any standard).

 

[Isochronous]

I guess if there is QF metal it will probably be 1x daily SYD-KUL. I wish they would give PER some more. MEL no doubt will be stuck with the EK codeshare.

 

[bossreggie]

KL is a city I have only ever been to the airport in. I'd love it if QF was to fly there.

Could I do a QF flight number on EK metal?

It's on my list of cities to visit. My sister goes there a couple of times a year with her children. They go to some beach resort in Malaysia. She flies Y and she says it costs about the same as taking the kids to Queensland and they all prefer the resort and service in Malaysia.

 

[markis10]

KL is a city I have only ever been to the airport in. I'd love it if QF was to fly there.

Could I do a QF flight number on EK metal?.

From Melbourne you can!

 

[moa999]

I have always said that for business traffic (and hence yield) - SIN >>> KUL, which always makes KUL a difficult route (although perhaps easier with an A330)

Then it comes down to aircraft for QFi. The only "deliveries" are:
- A330s back from Jetstar, which are reliant on the 788s, and will probably only be used to replace retired domestic 767s and the remaining older 747s
- A380s deferred to 2016 and beyond
- B789 options from 2016 (if exercised).

And then you have future retirements of 747s. So the only way QF could fly to KUL is by dropping other routes.
The only two possibilities I can think of are:
CGK - Already down to low frequency versus Garuda, and presumably getting smashed on comparable cost base
PVG (Shanghai) - Similarly competing against the Chinese can't be easy. Potentially they will just codeshare on direct with MU or funnel pax through HKG onto KA.

--
bossreggie.

Malaysia is quite a nice city,
and for me as a Sydney resident, going to the KL F1 is cheaper than going to MEL,
and its a far better track for getting views.

 

[markis10]

I have always said that for business traffic (and hence yield) - SIN >>> KUL, which always makes KUL a difficult route (although perhaps easier with an A330)

Then it comes down to aircraft for QFi. The only "deliveries" are:
- A330s back from Jetstar, which are reliant on the 788s, and will probably only be used to replace retired domestic 767s and the remaining older 747s
- A380s deferred to 2016 and beyond
- B789 options from 2016 (if exercised).

And then you have future retirements of 747s. So the only way QF could fly to KUL is by dropping other routes.
The only two possibilities I can think of are:
CGK - Already down to low frequency versus Garuda, and presumably getting smashed on comparable cost base
PVG (Shanghai) - Similarly competing against the Chinese can't be easy. Potentially they will just codeshare on direct with MU or funnel pax through HKG onto KA.
.

No need to cut routes at all from a fleet respective, JQ A330s are returning from this month, it's not 787 dependant and in fact flags the reality that JQs future profit is from short hop single aisles. I fully expect soon we will see an announcement of some wet leased 77ws on the DFW route, freeing up three ERs as well. Will QF return to KL, I am betting BA will before QF which explains the lounge situation at SIN and the comments about current "existing arrangements with other airlines coming to an end".

 

[Aussie_flyer]

The B738 could do PER-KUL I know that's an extremely unlikely one though.

 

[cmon0005]

I think we're more likely to see a codeshare on MH, before we see a QF aircraft flying direct to KUL.

My only other prediction I made last year was if they made all SIN flights go (SYD, MEL,.etc)-SIN-KUL effectively making SIN a stopover and KUL the end point then in the reverse KUL-SIN-"SYD".
This way they could feed into SIN for onward connections as well as KUL for MH codeshare options within Asia. Seems logical but then again....

 

[bossreggie]

bossreggie.

Malaysia is quite a nice city,
and for me as a Sydney resident, going to the KL F1 is cheaper than going to MEL,
and its a far better track for getting views.

Well. Message me next year if you're going and you remember. If you like maybe we can go to the GP together.

I'm a total car nut. One of my passions.

 

[mella2007]

Well. Message me next year if you're going and you remember. If you like maybe we can go to the GP together.

I'm a total car nut. One of my passions.

Are you going to the GP in London in June? Looking at getting Mr Mella tickets as a surprise but no idea with Silverstone what is considered a good spot

 

[bossreggie]

Are you going to the GP in London in June? Looking at getting Mr Mella tickets as a surprise but no idea with Silverstone what is considered a good spot

I have only been twice, and both times as a guest of Mercedes-Benz. I will certainly be in Europe then but haven't even looked at the GP.

If you gjve me a week or so. I will see if I can get some corporate tickets for you.

They're better for 2 reasons. 1) Fully catered. 2) Free!! #DoubleWin

 

[mella2007]

I have only been twice, and both times as a guest of Mercedes-Benz. I will certainly be in Europe then but haven't even looked at the GP.

If you gjve me a week or so. I will see if I can get some corporate tickets for you.

They're better for 2 reasons. 1) Fully catered. 2) Free!! #DoubleWin

Incredibly generous...I want to buy one for him and one for one of my staff on either the Sat or Sun (29th or 30th June) (I will be in LHR with my staff for a week). Please PM me and let me know the cost

 

[bossreggie]

Incredibly generous...I want to buy one for him and one for one of my staff on either the Sat or Sun (29th or 30th June) (I will be in LHR with my staff for a week). Please PM me and let me know the cost

If I am able to get them, there won't be any cost to me, so there would be no cost to you. They would also be for both days.

They never give me a "single" ticket, so the one for your staff member would be fine.

 

[mella2007]

If I am able to get them, there won't be any cost to me, so there would be no cost to you. They would also be for both days.

They never give me a "single" ticket, so the one for your staff member would be fine.

Many thanks. Just keep me posted via PM in case I don't check this thread and I'm sure the boys can shout you dinner and drinks if you happen to be there that weekend.

 

[Awesom Andy]

Malaysia is quite a nice city,
and for me as a Sydney resident, going to the KL F1 is cheaper than going to MEL,
and its a far better track for getting views.

I can say the same about SIN. It's cheaper for me go fly to KUL and go to the F1 there, then to go to the local race in SIN. SIN is getting the reputation of the "modern day Monaco", and while I don't dispute that, it makes it a lot more costly.

Anyway, early bird tickets are available until 30 April, so if you are thinking of heading to SIN this year, now would be the time to start planning - especially when QF is on sale, if you don't mind flying in Y.

However, as poshy as the SIN race claims to be, you generally get a better view of the race in Sepang. And in SIN, the most likely overtaking point doesn't actually have a grandstand...

 

[Isochronous]

I think we're more likely to see a codeshare on MH, before we see a QF aircraft flying direct to KUL.

My only other prediction I made last year was if they made all SIN flights go (SYD, MEL,.etc)-SIN-KUL effectively making SIN a stopover and KUL the end point then in the reverse KUL-SIN-"SYD".
This way they could feed into SIN for onward connections as well as KUL for MH codeshare options within Asia. Seems logical but then again....

That's still a 2-stop proposition though, and would involve having to get off the plane and re-board. Would QF be allowed to pick up new passengers in SIN for the short flight? Would kill off 3K on the route though.