First 789 route MEL/LAX from Dec 2017

[Brettmcg]

[FONT=&quot]Heads Up:[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Apparently there will be an "exciting Qantas network announcement" made today (13DEC16).[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Staff were sent a memo at 10am telling them to keep an eye on qantasnewsroom.com.au for details later today.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]My source says the rumour is Dreamliner to DFW and an A380 to SFO. Not sure if I believe that, but just reporting back.
[/FONT]

 

[TheInsider]

Maybe extra Dash 8 or B717 services?!

Or the domestic services that the B787 will be operating on, before the international stuff.

There now is a 0530 MEL-SYD flight on mondays, that could go all week!

 

[RichardMEL]

no way would they schedule domestic familiarisation flying this far out.. indeed even if they say it may be QF407 on 28OCT17 or something it would probably change on the day. These sorts of things are almost always very variable.

MEL-DFW in a 789? Does it have the range? That could get very interesting

 

[TheInsider]

MEL-DFW in a 789? Does it have the range? That could get very interesting

Didn't think they would have enough aircraft to announce another international 787 route.

 

[Brettmcg]

PER-LHR was simply the first route announced, not necessarily the first to be flown.

If they're going to put the very first airframe into service as soon as they can after testing and proving (let's say 2-3 months as a conservative estimate), that then takes us to December. PER-LHR is scheduled to start in March 2018 (for which they would need two airframes to run daily services anyway).

 

[dajop]

MEL-DFW in a 789? Does it have the range? That could get very interesting

It is 17 miles shorter than PER-LHR, but ETOPS restrictions could make it a longer route. I did read a rumour somewhere (and just a rumour) that the rotation would be DFW-MEL-PER-LHR.

 

[RichardMEL]

I honestly feel the very first 787 flights in late 2017 won't stretch the aircraft legs straight away. I could see say something like PER-SIN for the summer months(remember they have a 330 doing extra services during peak times currently, so it could work and give the PER base 787 time) or possibly extras on MEL or SYD to HKG or SIN or something.

I would think that a service like MEL-DFW would be a bit of a challenge and maybe not right away, specially in the US winter months. It does seem like a logical route choice though down the track.

I'm not sure where the US bilateral is at though in terms of what capacity QF can put in at this point which may also be a factor

 

[Himeno]

I'm not sure where the US bilateral is at though in terms of what capacity QF can put in at this point which may also be a factor

Open skies, unlimited capacity.

 

[RichardMEL]

Just as an aside I think a route like SYD-ORD could be interesting. It's an AA hub so they get feed and connections there, but it's also the heart of UA and would put some real pressure on them as a bonus.

 

[mviy]

[FONT=&amp]an A380 to SFO. Not sure if I believe that, but just reporting back.
[/FONT]

That would be nice (but wish it would be from MEL not SYD). If there is a good J sale on and I'm able to book then it could even be a good opportunity to book J and try to upgrade to F. Or maybe it'll be like seasonable HKG services where the F seats are sold as J seats and available for high status travellers.

 

[TheInsider]

Nothing too exciting but still good!

Passengers flying from Melbourne to Los Angeles will be the first to experience the Qantas 787-9 Dreamliner when the inaugural international service takes-off on 15 December next year.

The Qantas Dreamliner will carry 236 passengers in a three-class configuration and complement the daily Airbus A380 service already flying from Melbourne to Los Angeles. Operating six times per week, the Dreamliner will replace the 747 service that currently operates on this route alongside the A380

The 787-9 Melbourne-Los Angeles service will operate six days a week. This takes the total number of Qantas services on the route from nine to 13 return flights per week and will give customers the convenience of a morning or afternoon departure from Melbourne on most days. As it replaces a larger, 364-seat 747 that operates twice a week, the net capacity increase is approximately 1,400 seats in total.
Fares will be on sale from Christmas Day 2016.

www.qantasnewsroom.com.au/media-releases/melbourne-los-angeles-announced-as-first-dreamliner-route

 

[RichardMEL]

bit of a let down, but it is replacing a 747 service (QF95/96) and offering (again) an afternoon(I guess) service to LAX.

see they're not really stretching the capabilities of the aircraft and have support at both ends. The capacity probably also matches more closely the demand

 

[mviy]

I wonder what they will do with the 747(s) freed up? Whether they will put it on another route or retire one of the oldest ones.

 

[Himeno]

but the QF95/96 is being withdrawn shortly to allow the 747 to operate on MEL-Aisa (I think to HKG). They've already reduced the MEL-LAX 747 in recent months to use the aircraft elsewhere (such as increasing SFO service).

 

[RichardMEL]

but the QF95/96 is being withdrawn shortly to allow the 747 to operate on MEL-Aisa (I think to HKG). They've already reduced the MEL-LAX 747 in recent months to use the aircraft elsewhere (such as increasing SFO service).

Correct, but bringing it back in an aircraft with lower capacity makes perfect sense. LAX is still a big market, but I guess the 747 could do better going to Asia, and this is probably a better fit for the demand out of MEL.

It's a move that makes a lot of sense, if not much innovation, in the short term as the type is introduced.

And it will offer a better J product than the 744 it replaces.

 

[Kendall Roy]

but the QF95/96 is being withdrawn shortly to allow the 747 to operate on MEL-Aisa (I think to HKG). They've already reduced the MEL-LAX 747 in recent months to use the aircraft elsewhere (such as increasing SFO service).

Makes sense....


Long live the queen!

 

[Cool Cat Phil]

bit of a let down, but it is replacing a 747 service (QF95/96) and offering (again) an afternoon(I guess) service to LAX.

see they're not really stretching the capabilities of the aircraft and have support at both ends. The capacity probably also matches more closely the demand

Absolutely no doubt that LAX remains very popular ex MEL.
Certainly plenty of capacity being launched on this route with VA's return on this sector due soon too, makes for interesting times in terms of Yield.
I wonder if QF will test the waters for a while on this route with the B787 before deciding on the speculated MEL > DFW?

 

[Harpoon]

Good to know not to book QF 95/96 in Y.... 3-3-3 to LA. No. No. No.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

Good to know not to book QF 95/96 in Y.... 3-3-3 to LA. No. No. No.

But the best qf j seat across the pacific

 

[mviy]

Will be interesting when they release what the PE seats are like when compared with those on the A380. QF is hyping it up, but the reality may not live up to the hype. If the PE seats are not better on the 787 then one wonders whether demand for the 787 service could be quite low in off peak periods.