New domestic routes

Status
Not open for further replies.
That 3rd destination appears to be Sydney to Ballina Byron.

Looks like one of the tiles on the Qantas homepage has flipped:

"Launching flights between Sydney and Ballina (Byron), sale on now
Flights commence 29 March 2020 subject to government and regulatory approval.”

No word on Orange or Griffith.
 
Sponsored Post

Struggling to use your Frequent Flyer Points?

Frequent Flyer Concierge takes the hard work out of finding award availability and redeeming your frequent flyer or credit card points for flights.

Using their expert knowledge and specialised tools, the Frequent Flyer Concierge team at Frequent Flyer Concierge will help you book a great trip that maximises the value for your points.

I wonder if there will be an few "Beagles" regularly sniffing there way through the luggage and gate area of the Ballina Byron flight 😆
 
Byron area has a high number of high net wealth individuals with residences in the area - surprised it’s taken so long for QF to start this route.
 
Byron area has a high number of high net wealth individuals with residences in the area - surprised it’s taken so long for QF to start this route.

Following a well trodden and proven strategy of letting the airport suffer with Jetstar for a while, then let VA come in and upgrade pax a bit, then swoop in and steal all of the premium high yielding passengers from VA. OOL was the same, Bali the same.
 
I note the QANTAS-Link Sydney - Byron flights will be operated by Eastern (a subsidiary of QANTAS). But, not all regional routes operated by QANTAS-Link are operated by QANTAS or subsidiaries. SYD-OOL, for example, is contracted out to Cobham Aviation.
 
It depends on the aircraft type as the different fleets are specific to certain operators,

The Dash-8 Q200/Q300 fleet is operated by Eastern Australia Airlines
The Dash-8 Q400 fleet is operated by Sunstate Airlines
The 717 jet fleet is operated by National Jet Systems (Cobham)

The first two (EAA and Sunstate) are fully owned Qantas subsidiaries.

National Jet Systems (Cobham) are the only 3rd party operator that fly under the Qantas brand. All the others are Qantas owned.
 
Byron area has a high number of high net wealth individuals with residences in the area - surprised it’s taken so long for QF to start this route.
Agree , should has resumed years ago . I think it wont take long for it to move to a Q400 /737, sometime later in the year , especially during peak periods.
 
I note the QANTAS-Link Sydney - Byron flights will be operated by Eastern (a subsidiary of QANTAS). But, not all regional routes operated by QANTAS-Link are operated by QANTAS or subsidiaries. SYD-OOL, for example, is contracted out to Cobham Aviation.
Qantas mainline (B737) operates most of the Sydney- OOL services - I think only 1 a day is Cobham (B717), maybe more on the weekend
 
I wonder if there will be an few "Beagles" regularly sniffing there way through the luggage and gate area of the Ballina Byron flight 😆
The only dogs I have seen at Ballina Airport are companion animals for visually impaired people. I have been flying to/from BNK since the airport opened in 1987
 
Following a well trodden and proven strategy of letting the airport suffer with Jetstar for a while, then let VA come in and upgrade pax a bit, then swoop in and steal all of the premium high yielding passengers from VA. OOL was the same, Bali the same.
QF are only operating a timetable to suit business customers at present. Early morning departure from BNK and about a 17:10 departure from SYD. Most of the people that fly into BNK on JQ to go to Byron are the younger less cashed up tourists. They also do not do due diligence on their destination. One taxi driver told me that a young couple hailed a taxi wanting to go into town. The driver asked them whereabouts in Ballina. They told him they wanted to go to Byron. He told them it was 35km and would cost about $100 from BNK to Byron Bay. They immediately got out of the taxi and tried to get on the Byron Easybus.
 
This is a good move by Qantas. I live in the area and regularly commute to Sydney. The flights might skim a few pax off JQ and VA services (I usually see a smattering of Q-tagged bags on JQ and Virgin flights), but given they both time flights towards leisure pax, I doubt it'll hurt them too much.

REX are the ones who will likely suffer the most as their daily services currently offer the only option for a day-return trip to Sydney (with aircraft sitting on the tarmac overnight at BNK). They charge like wounded bulls on the route, so it'll be interesting to see if their fares come down to compete with QF. Mind you on QF it's a 20 year old rattly turbo-prop vs a 30 year old one on REX with similar in-flight service, so it's not a huge upgrade for regulars on this route. Fingers crossed it's be a success for QF and we'll see 717s and eventually mainline 737s take over.
 
Qantas mainline (B737) operates most of the Sydney- OOL services - I think only 1 a day is Cobham (B717), maybe more on the weekend

There appears one in the am for B737, the remainder (several) are all B717
's.
 
Mind you on QF it's a 20 year old rattly turbo-prop vs a 30 year old one on REX with similar in-flight service, so it's not a huge upgrade for regulars on this route.

I imagine the most significant difference would be the ground experience at SYD T3.
 
The Frequent Flyer Concierge team takes the hard work out of finding reward seat availability. Using their expert knowledge and specialised tools, they'll help you book a great trip that maximises the value for your points.

AFF Supporters can remove this and all advertisements

I imagine the most significant difference would be the ground experience at SYD T3.
Precisely. QP access is the main difference plus the fact that T2 is a zoo at the best of times... Though the pain of T2 can be minimised by using the 'secret' security entrance right behind the ground floor REX boarding gates :)
 
It will be interesting how they will actually fit these flights into the schedule.

Would've thought a jet would be better (especially with a J option, giving premium customers a choice other than JQ - example, the Cobham/QantasLink 717s on MCY & HTI).
 
From the 1st May

A mix of Q200/Q300

SYD-OAG

QF2015 – 10.30 – 11.20 MWTFSa
QF2017 – 14.00 – 14.45 Su
QF2017 – 16.55 – 17.45 MTWTF

OAG-SYD

QF2016 – 11.40 – 12.30 MWTFSa
QF2018 – 15.10 – 16.00 Su
QF2018 – 18.25 – 19.15 MTWTF
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Enhance your AFF viewing experience!!

From just $6 we'll remove all advertisements so that you can enjoy a cleaner and uninterupted viewing experience.

And you'll be supporting us so that we can continue to provide this valuable resource :)


Sample AFF with no advertisements? More..

Recent Posts

Back
Top