Capital express

[emirates777]

Any news on how the capital express is fairing? (Sin-cbr-wlg vv). Any idea on the loads?

 

[reilic]

Y class was almost packed for the SIN-CBR leg on 2 Nov.
Even had lone pax at bassinet row.

 

[emirates777]

I did a bit of searching on google. Unconfirmed rumours says SQ are very happy with the route and there is strong demand between SIN-CBR in particular. There is even talk of extending this to a daily soon!

A friend of mine just got back last week from the Maldives flying on the Capital Express and mentioned the plane was full (including J class) and mostly made up of Chinese tourists.

Looks very promising.

 

[Abdul_A350]

I flew SIN-CBR on a Sunday night in late October and it was a very light load in J, everyone had a spare seat next to them, and there were still some pairs unoccupied. Not sure about Y.

A friend from the Singaporean government also flew the return leg and said he probably would not do it again because of the seat and the red-eye timing.

I also did not like the J seat, but arriving into CBR was quite wonderful by comparison with SYD despite being asked to open my suitcase.

 

[JessicaTam]

Thread moved to SQ sub-forum

 

[Mattg]

I hear that this flight is going pretty well, although SIN-CBR seems to be getting more traffic than CBR-WLG.

I have family in both CBR and AKL who will be using this service regularly should it continue to get to NZ as it's more convenient than going via SYD/MEL for them.

We'll know for sure how well it's going in a few months when BITRE releases its monthly load stats.

 

[davidj]

A friend of mine just got back last week from the Maldives flying on the Capital Express and mentioned the plane was full (including J class) and mostly made up of Chinese tourists.

Interesting... I wonder why the tourist demand for Canberra?

 

[dk4]

Interesting... I wonder why the tourist demand for Canberra?

I know it's unAstralian to say Canberra is anything more than a dump for politicians...but IMO it actually quite an amazing little city to visit in Spring or Autumn, especially compared to bigger national capitals around the world. With all of the major draw-cards scattered around the lake in a circular sort of fashion, it is even possible to walk everywhere if you are fit enough.

DK4's Canberra In A Day - Self Guided Walking Tour

Walk out of your Civic hotel and through Commonwealth Park on the side of the lake and up to the top of the hill and start at the National Capital Exhibition, you'll get a great view of the lay of the land and the history behind how/why Canberra was built.

Then walk under the bridge, west along the lake to the National Museum of Australia, for a quick and somewhat quirky understanding of, well, Australia! Stop and have morning tea there on the sides of the lake.

Then back track a little (damn they need a pedestrian bridge there ) around the bay and cross the Commonwealth Avenue bridge, darting off to take a look at the National Library of Australia (and if you have younger ones, Questacon).

Next walk up through the National Rose Garden past the Aboriginal Tent Embassy to old Parliament House and take a quick walk though the Museum of Australian Democracy, for a refresher on our political history, before heading up Federation Mall to Parliament House (which is the best way to approach it IMO). If you time your arrival well, try and snag a free tour. (But only stay for the start of it, they can be a bit long winded.)

After seeing the House of Reps and Senate, leave Parliament House and walk straight down to the lake via Reconciliation Place, and have lunch at a cafe on the water or at the National Portrait Gallery, High Court or National Gallery of Australia (and have a wander around each of them once your belly is full).

Then cross back over the lake at the Kings Avenue Bridge and walk over to the National Carillon, for a look at it as you pass by, and continue around the lake to the start of Anzac Parade. Walk up Anzac Parade, this may take some zig-zagging across the road to view the various memorials on either side of the road which may interest you, and continue on up to the Australian War Memorial.

Allow enough time to see the exhibitions in the War Memorial but be there for closing, as it is an extremely moving event. Then walk a few blocks back to your Civic hotel, and find somewhere for dinner.

 

[Abdul_A350]

The Chinese embassy is also an attraction for Chinese tourists for some reason I do not fully understand. There are often tour buses at the China Tea Club in North Lyneham, too. Seems a long way to come for a Chinese meal.

have lunch at a cafe on the water or at the National Portrait Gallery, High Court or National Gallery of Australia

On a related note, I had lunch at Water's Edge last week and thought the food was very good albeit on the pricey side.

 

[dk4]

The Chinese embassy is also an attraction for Chinese tourists for some reason I do not fully understand.

Some of the embassies have done a great job putting up unique looking buildings. The embassy area is part of DK4's patented day 2 - Canberra Self Driving Hire Car Tour, also taking in the Australian National Botanic Gardens, Black Tower, National Arboretum, National Zoo and Aquarium, Government House Lookout, the Lodge....etc

 

[get me outta here]

Because they don't know that the rest of the country send us their idiots and then blames the locals?

Interesting... I wonder why the tourist demand for Canberra?

 

[Abdul_A350]

This will be a nice addition:

Qatar Airlines announces flights to Canberra with its list of new 2017/18 destinations

 

[get me outta here]

Great. Now to use VA points to book EY...

 

[RoMambai]

Took the express earlier this month and won't be doing it again soon. The seat was uncomfortable and the bulkhead separating the second J class cabin and the main cabin was not filled in making it feel even more of a bus. A screaming baby with lungs like a Jamaican sprint star didn't help. Will continue to route through MEL from here onwards.

 

[Abdul_A350]

Singapore Airlines records low passenger numbers on Canberra flights - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

on average, each of the six flights from Wellington to Canberra in September held just 94 passengers (35 per cent)

direct service between Canberra and Singapore (...) was 68 per cent full

 

[trooper]

I thought this service was going to be very handy... I go to NZ regularly.... but for pistol shooting competitions...

..and was dismayed to find SQ will not carry firearms at all.....one of only TWO airlines I'm aware of.... so... NZ from SYD still!

 

[moa999]

Early days but not promising stats

 

[dajop]

Early days but not promising stats

Hard to draw conclusions just based on first two weeks of operation, as only relying on outbound passengers initially, passengers purchasing return fares I imagine won't all be turning around and coming back on same or next day ...

 

[glasszon]

According to ausbt looks like this route is dead and will be replaced by MEL-WLG instead, can't say it is too surprising.

Although anyone know why they kept the route to WLG? I can't imagine they are making much money extending the route to WLG.

 

[get me outta here]

This looks like another thread on the similar topic.