New Qantas route - PER to JNB QF65/QF66

[Daver6]

Are there e gate immigration desks at T3?

Departures yes, arrivals no.

 

[N860CR]

Probably just a bit of a bullying tactic to try to force PER to allow use of the domestic terminal. I’d hazard a guess that these flights are close to fully booked so it’ll be a real headache to reaccommodate at the last minute.

That said, I’m sure qantas will just say “terribly sorry, here’s a refund”.

 

[Rabs97]

Probably just a bit of a bullying tactic to try to force PER to allow use of the domestic terminal. I’d hazard a guess that these flights are close to fully booked so it’ll be a real headache to reaccommodate at the last minute.

That said, I’m sure qantas will just say “terribly sorry, here’s a refund”.

Perth no longer has a specific “international” and “domestic” terminal. Qantas has used their T3 terminal for international flights as it has customs and quarantine facilities.

It’s probably more on how to get more customs staff at the terminal, as there are less international flights from T3 a full complement of CIQ staff aren’t rostered on at all times.

QF wouldn’t get rid of these two routes, both monopolies and with government support. As the AFF article posted today revealed ticket sales have been very strong at least on the JNB sector. These are routes Qantas have wanted to do for years and would hardly give them up at the last minute due to a problem with Customs staff. My guess is it’s just an issue with the Border Force not being able to roster as many staff on as QF would like at those extra times. There is a general worker shortage all across the country.

 

[Danger]

We got in touch with Qantas about this, and they also told us that it's just a temporary pause on ticket sales.

Qantas Pauses Perth-Johannesburg Ticket Sales

Update (25 October): Due to issues with Border Force and customs processing inbound passengers at Terminal 3 of Perth Airport, Qantas has cancelled its

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

"Temporary" like the "temporary" suspension of spirits in J? What'd that last? A year?

 

[Rabs97]

"Temporary" like the "temporary" suspension of spirits in J? What'd that last? A year?

Temporary because not selling tickets affects the bottom line. They’ll have this problem sorted out quick IMO

 

[BobbyFlyer]

Perth no longer has a specific “international” and “domestic” terminal. Qantas has used their T3 terminal for international flights as it has customs and quarantine facilities.

It’s probably more on how to get more customs staff at the terminal, as there are less international flights from T3 a full complement of CIQ staff aren’t rostered on at all times.

QF wouldn’t get rid of these two routes, both monopolies and with government support. As the AFF article posted today revealed ticket sales have been very strong at least on the JNB sector. These are routes Qantas have wanted to do for years and would hardly give them up at the last minute due to a problem with Customs staff. My guess is it’s just an issue with the Border Force not being able to roster as many staff on as QF would like at those extra times. There is a general worker shortage all across the country.

I agree it has to do with rosters of border security staff. My ticket for Per-Cgk in June was due to leave at 7pm and return at ungodly hour of 5am, but has now been rescheduled to leave at 11am (right before Per-Sin flight at 11.40am) and gets back at around 9pm)….so timings much more border force staff friendly…

 

[justinbrett]

The flights did say subject to regulatory approval. Perhaps Border Force support is one of the prerequisites for approval.

 

[jakeseven7]

Probably just a bit of a bullying tactic to try to force PER to allow use of the domestic terminal.

That was already agreed to.

 

[jrfsp]

Border Force staff shortages? They have job adverts all over the country....looking at the salary its hardly a surprise

 

[Rabs97]

I agree it has to do with rosters of border security staff. My ticket for Per-Cgk in June was due to leave at 7pm and return at ungodly hour of 5am, but has now been rescheduled to leave at 11am (right before Per-Sin flight at 11.40am) and gets back at around 9pm)….so timings much more border force staff friendly…

Yeah I did notice that. The route becomes a midday departure from Perth and an evening arrival back into Perth from March.

My thought was that the overnight timing was to take advantage of the low utilisation of aircraft during night hours.

 

[BobbyFlyer]

Yeah I did notice that. The route becomes a midday departure from Perth and an evening arrival back into Perth from March.

My thought was that the overnight timing was to take advantage of the low utilisation of aircraft during night hours.

Yeah i thought that was reason also to use a 737 overnight, but it is difficult enough to get border force to man the T1 terminal at 5am for the first SQ flight to Sing at 6.40am let alone have to man the T4 terminal at same time with separate team...i suspect the JNB flight may require tweaking as well but thats harder given its a A330 and will have to fit into other schedules...the sooner QF moves over to T1 the better as that will make it easier overall...i hate to see how busy the QF international lounge at T4 is going to be scheduling other flights at same time...

 

[Rabs97]

Yeah i thought that was reason also to use a 737 overnight, but it is difficult enough to get border force to man the T1 terminal at 5am for the first SQ flight to Sing at 6.40am let alone have to man the T4 terminal at same time with separate team...i suspect the JNB flight may require tweaking as well but thats harder given its a A330 and will have to fit into other schedules...the sooner QF moves over to T1 the better as that will make it easier overall...i hate to see how busy the QF international lounge at T4 is going to be scheduling other flights at same time...

Qantas won’t be moving to T1 until their eastern domestic terminal has been built. The Perth Airport 2020 Master Plan said this should happen by December 2025, but as always delays will happen.

I agree in the meantime it’s just better to schedule more international flights out of T3 to justify extra Border Force staff being rostered. A win for passengers as well.

 

[jrfsp]

Qantas' Perth-Johannesburg / Jakarta Flights Upheaval - Airline Ratings

Qantas’ plans to make Perth a major western hub are in chaos with the much-touted Perth to Johannesburg service suspended

www.airlineratings.com

Disaster

 

[Mattg]

Qantas' Perth-Johannesburg / Jakarta Flights Upheaval - Airline Ratings

Qantas’ plans to make Perth a major western hub are in chaos with the much-touted Perth to Johannesburg service suspended

www.airlineratings.com

Disaster

The part I don't understand is how Perth Airport and the WA government couldn't find a way to make this work with Qantas, given they were going to be subsidising these flights!

At least PER-JNB is going ahead until next March. I suspect the flights will continue beyond that time if a compromise can be found - perhaps announcing this suspension is a bargaining tactic.

 

[jrfsp]

The part I don't understand is how Perth Airport and the WA government couldn't find a way to make this work with Qantas, given they were going to be subsidising these flights!

At least PER-JNB is going ahead until next March. I suspect the flights will continue beyond that time if a compromise can be found - perhaps announcing this suspension is a bargaining tactic.

I guess neither PAPL or WA gov are responsible for border force?

 

[oz_mark]

Surely this is due to passengers not being match fit?

 

[Daver6]

I don't understand the issue. What's so special about processing inbound pax from Africa? How come they can process those connecting in T3 but those ending in PER need to be bussed to T1? If you're going to have that silly hassle, then just go via SYD (ok, exaggerating there).

Finally, what about pax flying from Africa to SIN and connecting to QF72. Is there some special handling of these pax?

 

[oz_mark]

I don't understand the issue. What's so special about processing inbound pax from Africa? How come they can process those connecting in T3 but those ending in PER need to be bussed to T1? If you're going to have that silly hassle, then just go via SYD (ok, exaggerating there).

Finally, what about pax flying from Africa to SIN and connecting to QF72. Is there some special handling of these pax?

I suspect it's just a staffing issue. Probably weren't prepared to commit more resources to T3

 

[Rabs97]

I don't understand the issue. What's so special about processing inbound pax from Africa? How come they can process those connecting in T3 but those ending in PER need to be bussed to T1? If you're going to have that silly hassle, then just go via SYD (ok, exaggerating there).

Finally, what about pax flying from Africa to SIN and connecting to QF72. Is there some special handling of these pax?

More biosecurity requirements coming from Africa as opposed to London. ABF weren’t willing to provide more staff, or physical space in T3 wasn’t suitable for the extra requirements needed to process passengers from Indonesia or Africa. I also believe this is why there was no problem with Rome flights operating through T3 as the bio security isn’t as strict coming from Italy vs Africa/Indonesia.

Possible solutions include the state government stumping up more money for extra staff or better facilities, Qantas doing schedule work around so they can use T1 for the flights (would involve towing aircraft across the main runway which takes time, and QF now schedules their aircraft to be as efficient as possible so maybe not an option). And in the long term PAPL and the WA government need to get cracking on building the new QF domestic terminal on the eastern side so there’ll be no issues with planes being on the wrong side of the runway

 

[BobbyFlyer]

This is a totally backward move as opening to Jakarta as well would have been great for WA. Maybe this will help longer term getting QF to commit to new terminal at T1 and off its sweetheart deal at T3/T4 as this is going to be a long term constraint for them as an international west coast hub...