Extra Aus-China Seats

[docjames]

With the new rights between China and Australia, especially BNE, will VA get any of these rights?

More flights between China and Australia

Immediately, the airlines of both countries will be able to offer up to 10,500 seats per week between Australia's major airports and China, and the capacity will be raised by a further 4000 seats from November.
Seat allocations were previously capped at 8500.......


....

Of the additional seats for Chinese airlines, 2000 are earmarked for flights in and out of Brisbane

Clearly some of this will be allocated to (various) chinese airlines, but I'm kind-of hopeful VA will get an allocation, given that a certain other Australian international carrier only wants decent flights ex-SYD.....

 

[dajop]

Seat allocations were previously capped at 8500.......

How is this number derived?

Looking at the star alliance/oneworld timetables I have on my desktop:
QF daily A330 PVG-SYD
CA 5xweekly SYD-PEK
CA 4xweekly SYD-PVG
CA 5xweekly MEL-PVG.

There's 21 services a week on A330 - that's about 6100 seats, then there's China Eastern and China Southern that both serve SYD and MEL (and to MEL there's at least 11 services between the two carriers, surely more than the 2400 it would take to reach the cap?)

 

[docjames]

Interesting, unless there is an ability to "average" numbers (which I cant imagine being the case) or some flights are being sold to less than 100% physical capacity.....

Anyway, I just cant imagine QF flying BNE-PVG or MEL-PVG in the near future, let's hope VA can get some of the increased allocation. You'd think BNE and MEL would work well for their 777 rotations.....

 

[2muchplastic]

BNE-PVG on any (almost) airline would be good - it would save me a whole chunk of time getting to my usual stamping grounds....

 

[N860CR]

I can't see QF adding anymore seats. It hasn't been too long since they cut back on the China flights, and now that the HK routes have been retimed to allow better connections onto KA, I think that will suit them fine.

The last few SYD-PVG-SYD flights I've done have been very empty, esp in the J cabin. One one flight I was one of only 4 people in the J cabin, and 2 were non-rev.

 

[2muchplastic]

Don't forget that it is Expo 2010 in Shanghai. This will lead to a fair chunk of extra demand.

 

[777]

VA could theoretically fly to Shanghai or Beijing and connect with Virgin Atlantic on to London could they not? It would be an interesting option. I hope they take it up.