Malaysia Airlines axes A380 for Sydney, Melbourne

[delfredo]

This is totally outrages. They have accepted bookings, payments and redemptions in the past 6 months only to now change their mind on aircraft type less than 2 months before the first originally scheduled A380 flight between KL and Sydney on Nov 26th. F and J ticket holders are particularly worse off with Malaysia Airlines now deciding to use Boeing 747-400 plane instead.

MAS axes Airbus A380 for Sydney, Melbourne, boosts London & Paris - Flights | hotels | frequent flyer | business class - Australian Business Traveller

As usual, this last minute change was cleverly covered up in local Bernama media with no mention about the last minute pull out of the originally scheduled Sydney and Melbourne A380 planes to service additonal London and Paris flight. An average reader would have read that additional A380 planes are placed into the MAS service.

BERNAMA - Malaysia Airlines Introduces Double Daily A380 Service To London

 

[cove]

No prize for being the first in this case! Ouch for travellers out of Sydney!
Perth airport is still not a380 ready so we weren't even on your page with this.

 

[The Rok]

I thought Perth was A380 ready? Not that it bothers me, I would be quite happy with either EK's 777 in J or EY's 787 when they start Perth!

 

[AviatorPJ]

I thought Perth was A380 ready? Not that it bothers me, I would be quite happy with either EK's 777 in J or EY's 787 when they start Perth!

i think MH has only 1 A380 in service currently- i could be wrong?

 

[mannej]

To be honest with you, you may find it outrageous, but it is part of the airline industry.

If it makes better business sense for them to concentrate on flying the 380 to EU destinations, so be it.

It may be frustrating, but this is not limited to MH customers only.

As for PER being A380 ready, I am sure that the runway is 380 capable, however none of the gates are I am fairly sure.

 

[Must...Fly!]

not sure the taxiways can handle it without severe restrictions either a-la Manila as jb747 described in his thread, although I'm not 100% sure.

 

[mannej]

not sure the taxiways can handle it without severe restrictions either a-la Manila as jb747 described in his thread, although I'm not 100% sure.

Not as far as I know. According to the document provided, it has been ready for some time.http://www.perthairport.com.au/Files/211005_Cross-Runway_re-opens_at_Perth_Airport,_A380_Ready!.pdf

There have been 380 diversions to PER previously, it just seems the terminal isn't ready as of yet!

 

[eastwest101]

I guess there would have been more grumpy people who booked for the A380 experience? That really hurts the people who go and do the research and put in the legwork dosen't it?

I am a little suspicious about what the business case was for the A380 in Europe rather than Australia.

 

[MH_fan]

The case for turning the KUL-LHR flights into a double-daily A380 service was due to the better than expected load factors on the current MH2/3 service, which is less popular than the MH1/4 service.
The decision to upgrade the daily KUL-CDG service to the A380 may be due to the high level of premium traffic going into and out of CDG. The KUL-AMS flights are very tourist traffic heavy.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

it's a pity, an extra F option out of MEL once in oneworld would have been nice

 

[kpc]

Whilst I can understand MH's reasons, I think that if they can provide a A380 service all the way Syd-Kul-Lhr, it will be very popular with many Australians given QFs decision to go to Lhr via Dxb from April 13. Also, with MH's entry into OW end 1st quarter 2013, can you imagine visiting the QF F lounge in Syd, then stepping onboard the new MH A380 in F, getting to Kul, relaxing in the MH F lounge in Kul, and then hopping back onto your F seat on the A380 onwards to Lhr? I was going to do this with points....:mrgreen:

 

[Moopere]

I'd have thought that most, maybe all, affected J and F customers would be able to cancel for a full refund? Still pretty annoying, but hopefully not a horrible outcome. Rebook with someone else who _is_ running the 380. Vote with your wallet, as always

 

[MH_fan]

Can you imagine visiting the QF F lounge in Syd, then stepping onboard the new MH A380 in F, getting to Kul, relaxing in the MH F lounge in Kul, and then hopping back onto your F seat on the A380 onwards to Lhr?

Now that would be the most heavenly way of getting from SYD to LHR!

 

[k3nnis]

Oh well very sad that SYD won't get A380 for MH. If I had to travel to KUL direct from SYD I will go J in the 772 instead of the A330.

 

[ftm]

The GDS is showing that A380s are operating the MH122/123 from 31 March 2013. So either they haven't finished updating the schedules, or the announcement is more of a delay than a total withdrawal.

FTM

 

[k3nnis]

Let's wait and see...

 

[kpc]

There's a rumour going around that MH may not join OW after all....there is a big OW meeting and announcement planned in NY on Monday where the talk is that Qatar will be joining joining OW; interesting to see if any further announcement is made about MH joining OW and the timeframe.

 

[cove]

My Westpac points warehouse may just end up going to Kris Flyer miles.

 

[Moopere]

There's a rumour going around that MH may not join OW after all....

Mmm.This would be extremely disappointing for me - but one does have to wonder whats going on. From initial announcement through to, supposedly, 1st qtr next year will have been how long? 18 months? Seems a long time if both MH and OW were keen to do the tie up.

there is a big OW meeting and announcement planned in NY on Monday where the talk is that Qatar will be joining joining OW; interesting to see if any further announcement is made about MH joining OW and the timeframe.

I don't know that other airlines joining necessarily precludes MH, I don't see these independent activities being linked unless there is some partnership conflict. OW certainly needs to be bolstering its head count and coverage IMHO.

QF's retreat from the region has left a big big hole. CX is fine, but its a pretty eastern solution (hub) to SE Asian requirements.

 

[drron]

There's a rumour going around that MH may not join OW after all....there is a big OW meeting and announcement planned in NY on Monday where the talk is that Qatar will be joining joining OW; interesting to see if any further announcement is made about MH joining OW and the timeframe.

Flyertalk is certainly talking this possibility.Also some thinking it may be this plus a closer AA/EK agreement similiar to the QF/EK agreement.It really will be interesting but unfortunately the announcement will be very early morning Tuesday here.Hope I dont get disappointed when i wake Tuesday.