[Conjecture]Qantas to move European base to Berlin (BER)?

[Oneworldplus2]

I just got a rumour from a friend of mine who was on European holiday recently and he was speaking to a bunch TXL ATC guys.

The new Berlin_Brandenburg_Airport is due to open 2012 and he was told that QF will be moving from LHR to BER, (including some QF A380's to the new airport).

This is rumour and l take all these with a handful of salt, lol. Interesting none-the-less what is going around.

 

[TimB]

Qantas to move European base to Berlin (BER)

Slightly OT

This should probably be moved to a new thread.

I just got a rumour from a friend of mine who was on European holiday recently and he was speaking to a bunch TXL ATC guys.
The new Berlin_Brandenburg_Airport is due to open 2012 and he was told that QF will be moving from LHR to BER, (including some QF A380's to the new airport).

This is rumour and l take all these with a handful of salt, lol. Interesting none-the-less what is going around.

QF moving from LHR to BER doesn't make sense, as QF will lose all its connections/codeshares with BA from LHR.

What would make sense is for QF to move from FRA to BER, since Air Berlin is joining OneWorld in 2012, and will operate out of BER. That will significantly improve QF's connections to other cities in Europe. Also, BER is about 220 miles closer to SIN than FRA, so the travel time will be reduced slightly as well, with less backtracking if heading to southern or eastern Europe.

 

[Oneworldplus2]

Qantas to move European base to Berlin (BER)?

Hi TimB,
Just a rumour that l got from a friend.
I would like to see QF fly to BER in the future, but l think it will be with a Orange Star, not a Red Roo on the tail.

 

[QF WP]

Qantas to move European base to Berlin (BER)

This was originally from oneworlsplus2 in another thread, so I have moved to here and the discussion can continue.

From my viewpoint, I'd love it - BER is one of my must visit cities.

 

[nlagalle]

Re: Qantas to move European base to Berlin (BER)

Moving from FRA to BER would make sense in the OW scheme.. it's another hub for them thanks to Air Berlin.

I can't see them dropping LHR, they may look at more flights from BER to reduce the UK taxeveryonewhofliesoutofthecountry levy.

Perhaps it is part of the announcement?

 

[dk4]

I can only hope that Qantas is about to announce an end to its network strategy of TWO-STOP BACK-TRACK LHR-TERMINAL-SHUFFLE to Europe, and finally acknowledges London as an end-of-line destination.

And also, finds a way to increase network reach, efficiency & service, while also reducing ticket prices, via increased intra-alliance co-operation/joint-ventures, off-shoring and Jetstar.

 

[tallboy]

There were reports in the international aviation press last year that QF were openly considering a third destination in Europe, and that the frontrunners were BER and Madrid.

Both make sense for different reasons, and actually I would like to see both added. FRA could easily be dropped as it is not really a decent hub with other ow carriers and the new BER airport would certainly be an improvement with Air Berlin coming online.

The ow alliance also needs a direct link from the Iberian peninsula to Asia, rather than the current forced transit via the expensive LHR (mostly) or FRA.

 

[Oneworldplus2]

...so the travel time will be reduced slightly as well, with less backtracking if heading to southern or eastern Europe.

I can only hope that Qantas is about to announce an end to its network strategy of TWO-STOP BACK-TRACK LHR-TERMINAL-SHUFFLE to Europe, and finally acknowledges London as an end-of-line destination.

I agree 100%.
Nothing worse than flying 'over' your final destination and arriving back there some 4 or 5 hours later (QF/BA - SYD-SIN-LHR-TXL).

l would welcome direct flights to BER from SIN/BKK/HKG and to also make BER a hub for OW (for Air Berlin, JQ Asia possibly too).

 

[ozmille]

as long as the planes don't have the big orange star this would be very nice. Then all I need is Air Berlin to start flying to BRU not that I want much...

 

[Oneworldplus2]

as long as the planes don't have the big orange star this would be very nice. Then all I need is Air Berlin to start flying to BRU not that I want much...

JQ J could be cheaper than QF J. Unless you start 'adding on' bundles...

 

[goldy]

Re: Qantas to move European base to Berlin (BER)

From my viewpoint, I'd love it - BER is one of my must visit cities.

Why does QF need to move its base there for you to visit? You can get there any number of which ways already.


Not that I think its at all plausible, but how would a daily SIN or BKK to BUD work out, given its home to OW partner Malev? SIN-BUD is 270nm shorter than TXL and if QF to MA connection times can be streamlined to offer something similar to AY at HEL, it could be a very useful hub for eastern europe and the near east. Id also like to see QF in MAD, or IB in Asia, but like others, dont expect to see it in my lifetime.

 

[ozmille]

JQ J could be cheaper than QF J. Unless you start 'adding on' bundles...

Haven't flown any jetstar yet but from pictures I would say StarClass is more like QF prem Y and not sure the fares would be a big difference.

 

[simongr]

*Class to HNL - $7000 for two adults and one child
QF J to HNL - $9000 per person

 

[Oneworldplus2]

Haven't flown any jetstar yet but from pictures I would say StarClass is more like QF prem Y and not sure the fares would be a big difference.

Definitely. QF Y+ with J points/sc. However, l don't think that your after SC's. Your after comfort.

 

[ozmille]

Definitely. QF Y+ with J points/sc. However, l don't think that your after SC's. Your after comfort.

To be honest I prefer a flat bed to Europe. And the recent "enhancement" on JQ fares where you now have to pay a ridiculous premium to get status credits makes it expensive for a whY+ experience.

*Class to HNL - $7000 for two adults and one child
QF J to HNL - $9000 per person

true. But I said whY+ (which is basically what you get on QF for this sector). Have been trying to think of a route where QF offer whY+ and jetstar starclass to do a comparison but can't think of any. Closest I came was MEl BKK starclass (in the GDS) base fare of 2500 and QF whY+ via SYD base fare of 2100...

 

[dajop]

Haven't flown any jetstar yet but from pictures I would say StarClass is more like QF prem Y and not sure the fares would be a big difference.

And the recent "enhancement" on JQ fares where you now have to pay a ridiculous premium to get status credits makes it expensive for a whY+ experience.

Nope. With or without points Jetstar works out a whole heap cheaper than QF Y+ on MEL-SIN.

MEL-SIN return, random dates in September:

Jetstar "Business" class: $1368 without FF points/SC, $1768 with J class FF pts/SC
Qantas Premium economy: "Sale" $2593 or "Saver" $2931. with Y+ class FFpts/SC.

And I don't know why anyone would pay $2931 for Y+ b/w MEL-SIN, when for only $200 more you can get proper J on Emirates.

 

[ozmille]

MEL-SIN return, random dates in September:

Jetstar "Business" class: $1368 without FF points/SC, $1768 with J class FF pts/SC
Qantas Premium economy: "Sale" $2593 or "Saver" $2931. with Y+ class FFpts/SC.

I stand corrected, that is a big difference :shock:

 

[Oneworldplus2]

Re: Qantas to move European base to Berlin (BER)

Not that I think its at all plausible, but how would a daily SIN or BKK to BUD work out, given its home to OW partner Malev? SIN-BUD is 270nm shorter than TXL and if QF to MA connection times can be streamlined to offer something similar to AY at HEL, it could be a very useful hub for eastern europe and the near east. Id also like to see QF in MAD, or IB in Asia, but like others, dont expect to see it in my lifetime.

Yes, the QF routes have been shrinking for a while now and JQ is really blossoming (JQ + JQ Asia).
A quick guess and QF only fly's to;
BKK
SIN
HKG

FRA
LHR

JFK
LAX
DFW
EZE

(Did l miss any?)

 

[nlagalle]

Re: Qantas to move European base to Berlin (BER)

Yes, the QF routes have been shrinking for a while now and JQ is really blossoming (JQ + JQ Asia).
A quick guess and QF only fly's to;
BKK
SIN
HKG

FRA
LHR

JFK
LAX
DFW
EZE

(Did l miss any?)

NRT and JHB? not counting the NZ connections either AKL CHC etc.

Shanghai, Mumbai

 

[dajop]

Re: Qantas to move European base to Berlin (BER)

(Did l miss any?)

JNB, CGK, MNL, NRT, PVG, BOM, plus NZ.