Change to QF international route

[maninblack]

It's out...on the QF website newsroom. No big surprises I guess, in fact less changes than I expected.

And yes Sydney gets the A380 first...what a surprise

LAX QF staff were told this last week but I was sworn to secrecy by my contact there.

 

[oz_mark]

It's out...on the QF website newsroom. No big surprises I guess, in fact less changes than I expected.

And yes Sydney gets the A380 first...what a surprise

LAX QF staff were told this last week but I was sworn to secrecy by my contact there.

I see the following - and this looks to me as though SYD will follow MEL. How do you get Sydney first out of this?

He said in addition to the Asian flight changes, Qantas would reduce its B747-400 Sydney-Los Angeles services from 17 to 15 per week, following the commencement of A380 flights on the route at the end of the year.

"Using the larger A380s on a spread of our USA services will enable us to grow Melbourne-Los Angeles capacity and maintain our total current capacity levels from Australia to the USA."

 

[oz_mark]

Hmm, what are they going to do with the freed up QF 330's. Looks like they are withdrawing flights, are they just going to use them less?

 

[maninblack]

I see the following - and this looks to me as though SYD will follow MEL. How do you get Sydney first out of this?

Qantas would reduce its B747-400 Sydney-Los Angeles services from 17 to 15 per week, following the commencement of A380 flights on the route at the end of the year.

"...on the route.."

Seems a blatant statement to me! As they are only getting a few A380's by year end what else could it mean?

 

[maninblack]

Hmm, what are they going to do with the freed up QF 330's. Looks like they are withdrawing flights, are they just going to use them less?

I assume that they will replace 763's on some services and/or be switched around with International A332's which will replace 763's on some services.

 

[serfty]

... And yes Sydney gets the A380 first...what a surprise ....

I agree with oz_mark, I am not convinced this was indicated.

IMHO, "on the route at the end of the year" refers to "Sydney-Los Angeles"

... He said in addition to the Asian flight changes, Qantas would reduce its B747-400 Sydney-Los Angeles services from 17 to 15 per week, following the commencement of A380 flights on the route at the end of the year.

"Using the larger A380s on a spread of our USA services will enable us to grow Melbourne-Los Angeles capacity and maintain our total current capacity levels from Australia to the USA." ...

The MEL/LAX A380 services are due to begin in September a couple of months before the SYD/LAX services.

Not that I'm in a hurry to fly in one anyway (I'd prefer them to clock up a few million operational hours before I'd be happy the venture onto one).

 

[JohnK]

Not that I'm in a hurry to fly in one anyway (I'd prefer them to clock up a few million operational hours before I'd be happy the venture onto one).

I am in no hurry to travel in an A380 anytime soon either. Hopefully most routes will still retain a choice of aircraft.

When is QF planning to introduce the A380s to LHR services? Unless QF introduces SE Asia only services there does not appear much choice of aircraft in SYD-SIN/BKK/HKG flights unless routing through BNE/ADL/PER.

 

[Evan]

When is QF planning to introduce the A380s to LHR services?

My guess is a while yet but you never know. 3 in 2008, 1 in early 2009. So that wont even replace all the USA routes. 4 more soonish after s i guess they may end up on the LHR type routes.

E

 

[serfty]

Current Qantas A380 Delivery Schedule (from the Wiki):

¤ VH-OQA 2008 Aug
¤ VH-OQB 2008 Oct
¤ VH-OQC 2008 Nov
¤ VH-OQD 2008 Dec
¤ VH-OQE 2009 Q2
¤ VH-OQF 2009 Q3
¤ VH-OQG 2009 Q4
¤ VH-OQH 2010 Q1
¤ VH-OQI 2010 Q1
¤ VH-OQJ 2010 Q2

 

[simongr]

Not that I'm in a hurry to fly in one anyway (I'd prefer them to clock up a few million operational hours before I'd be happy the venture onto one).

Where's your spirit of adventure man?

Oh and in the same article:

"Using the larger A380s on a spread of our USA services will enable us to grow Melbourne-Los Angeles capacity and maintain our total current capacity levels from Australia to the USA."

Seems clear that MEL-LAX is on the menu for the A380 but neither city will dominate the schedules...

 

[serfty]

Given there's currently only the one 3+ class MEL-LAX that 'spread' will be easy. (There's the 2-class MEL-AKL-LAX.)

Contrast that with SYD-LAX's 2¼ daily flights.

 

[simongr]

The only ways to increase the services from MEL are to put teh A380 on SYD-LAX and increase the service MEL from 1 to 2 or put the A380 on MEL-LAX. Is it really likely that there an immediate doubling of seats from MEL?

 

[serfty]

No doubling of seats that I can perceive from announcements made by Qantas.

Once the 'smoke' clears the current plan is to have the daily A380 (4 Class) and 744 (2 Class) plying the MEL-LAX route. (Instead of the 744's [2 & 3 Class]).

Ironically, I may need to go to the USA in November and QF93/QF94 are my main options. If I wish to ensure I avoid the A380 I'd need to use QF25/26 or go via SYD.

 

[simongr]

What a bizarre situation - I am looking at how to route via MEL to have a better chance of scoring an A380 and you are routing via SYD to avoid it - madness!

 

[ANstar]

R class seems to be loaded on most 3 class 744 Routes.

LHR.LAX etc

 

[maninblack]

Where's your spirit of adventure man?

Oh and in the same article:



Seems clear that MEL-LAX is on the menu for the A380 but neither city will dominate the schedules...

On the menu, yes. But not as the First Course

 

[maninblack]

No doubling of seats that I can perceive from announcements made by Qantas.

Once the 'smoke' clears the current plan is to have the daily A380 (4 Class) and 744 (2 Class) plying the MEL-LAX route. (Instead of the 744's [2 & 3 Class]).

Ironically, I may need to go to the USA in November and QF93/QF94 are my main options. If I wish to ensure I avoid the A380 I'd need to use QF25/26 or go via SYD.

I think you will find that once the A380 commences it's SYD-LAX service, QF will remove the A332 (which will be useful elsewhere) service AKL-LAX and likely replace the MEL-AKL-LAX route with 3 class 744.

 

[serfty]

I think you will find that once the A380 commences it's SYD-LAX service, QF will remove the A332 (which will be useful elsewhere) service AKL-LAX and likely replace the MEL-AKL-LAX route with 3 class 744.

Hnce this phrase:

... Once the 'smoke' clears the current plan ...

The only thing I have not seen announced is whether it's to be a 3 or 2 class 744 plying the MEL/AKL/LAX route.

FWIW, while employing expert flyer in relation to this; QF93/QF94 are showing R0 F9 ... so for that matter are QF107/QF108/QF11/QF12.

 

[ANstar]

FWIW, while employing expert flyer in relation to this; QF93/QF94 are showing R0 F9 ... so for that matter are QF107/QF108/QF11/QF12.

I think R class has been added from 1 OCT to all routes that are currently served by a 3 class aircraft. (ie HKG, LHR, LAX etc)

 

[simongr]

So they are loading the fare class but not putting any availability in - seems kind of sensible.