Editorial - MEL/BNE liberalisation

[dajop]

In their editorial today, The Age have attacked the fed govt on their protection of QF, particularly in the MEL & BNE markets.

Whilst Sydney is of the most interest for tourists and business visitors to Australia, and therefore SYD the airport that is of most interest to both International and Australian based carriers, surely some consideration must be given to MEL/BNE. And if the supposedly "national" carrier cannot commercially justify direct services from those cities, then a more liberal approach may find some foreign airlines which can make such routes work (or in some instances it may not).

eg. why (apart from safety concerns, if there are any) can't Qatar Airways serve MEL? Especially given that we have recently lost 10 services a week between MEL and Europe (BA & Austrian). Or is this a special case that we don't want misguided foreigners to confuse Qantas with Qatar (or in the case of the LOTFAP Quantas with Quatar ).

Can't help but think the oft-repeated jibe about the "Minister for Qantas" has a ring of truth about it....

 

[NM]

I thought the decision for Qatar Airways to use SYD for their Australian destination was made by Qatar Airways because that is where they perceive they will have the best chance of making it a viable route. I do not believe they chose SYD because the Australian Government would not allow them to operate to MEL or BNE.

As far as I know, the only "protection" by the Australian Government on routes from BNE and MEL are exactly the same as the protection on routes from SYD and only include flights to/from North America.

 

[dajop]

I thought the decision for Qatar Airways to use SYD for their Australian destination was made by Qatar Airways because that is where they perceive they will have the best chance of making it a viable route. I do not believe they chose SYD because the Australian Government would not allow them to operate to MEL or BNE..

From what I can tell (admittedly from the media at large, which is not always particularly diligent at checking their facts) Qatar have not been yet granted access to SYD either. Some time ago they announced they were launching MEL services and then they disappeared without trace and both Vic Govt & Melb Airport complained that the Fed Govt would not allow rights for Qatar to fly to Melbourne. You sure that you're not thinking of Etihad, which was originally looking at options, but have now set their sights on SYD ?

 

[Dave Noble]

I thought the decision for Qatar Airways to use SYD for their Australian destination was made by Qatar Airways because that is where they perceive they will have the best chance of making it a viable route. I do not believe they chose SYD because the Australian Government would not allow them to operate to MEL or BNE.

From Sydney morning Herald...

The Qatar Government is also due to hold talks. It was refused flights into Melbourne last year.

New airline picks Sydney - Business - Business - smh.com.au

Dave

 

[NM]

From what I can tell (admittedly from the media at large, which is not always particularly diligent at checking their facts) Qatar have not been yet granted access to SYD either. Some time ago they announced they were launching MEL services and then they disappeared without trace and both Vic Govt & Melb Airport complained that the Fed Govt would not allow rights for Qatar to fly to Melbourne. You sure that you're not thinking of Etihad, which was originally looking at options, but have now set their sights on SYD ?

Ahh, I think I am thinking about the recent announcement about Etihad Airways rather than Qatar.

 

[Standby]

Its been interesting watching the privatised airports whinge when a carrier decides they are going to reduce/pull out...this has nothing to do with the Govt..SQ and MH are reducing Freq to BNE...Why because they cant get the yield.load mix they need to make a buck...same with MEL...these are rational businesses making a business decision...now heres a thought if BNE and MEL really wanted more Int flights they could cut their outrageous fees they charge airlines and customers to persuade an airline they are worthy of their custom...be brave ..absorb the security/passenger handling fees/baggage screening/insurance etc etc ..help reduce fares out of MEL to London by100 over SYD and see what airlines do...take a gamble they may spend it on Duty free...JQ went to AVV to keep MAP honest in the first place...plus they got a discount.
These private airports arent worried about state tourism just their profits...

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Its been interesting watching the privatised airports whinge when a carrier decides they are going to reduce/pull out...this has nothing to do with the Govt..SQ and MH are reducing Freq to BNE...Why because they cant get the yield.load mix they need to make a buck...same with MEL...these are rational businesses making a business decision...now heres a thought if BNE and MEL really wanted more Int flights they could cut their outrageous fees they charge airlines and customers to persuade an airline they are worthy of their custom...be brave ..absorb the security/passenger handling fees/baggage screening/insurance etc etc ..help reduce fares out of MEL to London by100 over SYD and see what airlines do...take a gamble they may spend it on Duty free...JQ went to AVV to keep MAP honest in the first place...plus they got a discount.
These private airports arent worried about state tourism just their profits...

Slightly simplistic. MH has been culling routes left and right due to their financial mess. SQ has a different problem in that the extended delays of the A380 mean it is caught badly short of aircraft (the new 77Ws being delivered roughly matching 744s sold to other airlines) and so having to juggle a/c around the routes.