Potential QF9 fuel stop in Singapore?

[TeaKozy]

Interesting how this will play out.

Qantas to divert some flights after Iran missile attack

Qantas will consider re-routing some flights to Europe as several major airlines avoid airspace around Iran after Iran launched a missile attack on US-led forces in neighbouring Iraq.

www.theage.com.au

90 passengers will be bumped from Qantas' 236-seat Boeing Dreamliners on the leg from Perth to London to reduce weight and enable the jet to travel the longer route, a Qantas spokesman said. The detour will add 40 to 50 minutes to the flight time.

Return flights from London can operate with a full passenger load thanks to favourable prevailing winds.

Qantas is considering operating QF9 to London with a fuel stop in Singapore so it can operate with a full passenger load, the spokesman said.

Can't imagine being able to charge as much of a premium if no longer non-stop.

 

[Daver6]

Hmmm....hopefully this gets sorted out quick smart. I'll be on QF9 towards the end of the month with a connecting flight in LHR.

On the other hand, I'm in Y. reducing the load by 90 pax will make Y much more pleasant.

And if they need to stop off somewhere to top up with fuel, wouldn't somewhere like India make more sense as being more direct than via SIN?

 

[Bundy Bear]

Or Dubai, would it better than Singapore.

 

[milehighclub]

And if they need to stop off somewhere to top up with fuel, wouldn't somewhere like India make more sense as being more direct than via SIN?

There will have to be a crew change at some point. Makes sense to use a port where they are set up (and in case of irregular ops).

 

[docjames]

On the other hand, I'm in Y. reducing the load by 90 pax will make Y much more pleasant.

And if they need to stop off somewhere to top up with fuel, wouldn't somewhere like India make more sense as being more direct than via SIN?

Expect that if they have to reduce load by 90 pax, they’ll go via SIN.

Also expect they’ll go via SIN as they have an established presence there. Which is beneficial in event of any operational issues. In addition to above.

 

[jase05]

Or Dubai, would it better than Singapore.

Unless Iran carry out their threats to bomb Dubai

 

[Ansett]

Interesting that they are looking at adding a stop in Singapore.

Qantas diverts flights away from Iran

Qantas may add Singapore or Hong Kong stopover to Perth-London flight

Qantas will divert its QF9 and QF10 flights around Iranian airspace, but the longer route will require some compromises.

www.executivetraveller.com

 

[levelnine]

Well that sort of defeats the point of PER-LHR doesn't it?

 

[downgraded]

Expect that if they have to reduce load by 90 pax, they’ll go via SIN.

Also expect they’ll go via SIN as they have an established presence there. Which is beneficial in event of any operational issues. In addition to above.

QF9 is MEL-LHR, would a SIN stop be as well as, or instead of a PER stop? They could fly PER pax to SIN to connect...

 

[jb747]

Hmmm....hopefully this gets sorted out quick smart. I'll be on QF9 towards the end of the month with a connecting flight in LHR.

On the other hand, I'm in Y. reducing the load by 90 pax will make Y much more pleasant.

And if they need to stop off somewhere to top up with fuel, wouldn't somewhere like India make more sense as being more direct than via SIN?

Nothing about stopping in India is a good idea.

Or Dubai, would it better than Singapore.

Way too close to the action.

Expect that if they have to reduce load by 90 pax, they’ll go via SIN.

Also expect they’ll go via SIN as they have an established presence there. Which is beneficial in event of any operational issues. In addition to above.

If they reduced the load by 90 pax, the idea would be to continue to go direct. Going via Asia allows a full passenger load.

 

[docjames]

If they reduced the load by 90 pax, the idea would be to continue to go direct. Going via Asia allows a full passenger load.

That was my point (poorly expressed) - keep the pax, stop in SIN.

 

[jase05]

If they reduced the load by 90 pax, the idea would be to continue to go direct. Going via Asia allows a full passenger load.

From your extensive knowledge which option would cause the least damage to QF financially, that is what they will go for I’d imagine

 

[Mattg]

Already being discussed here: Potential QF9 fuel stop in Singapore?

 

[Choosethedrew]

I wonder how they choose which pax to offload - cheapest tickets?!

 

[milehighclub]

So many problems to have to deal with this extra stop if it goes ahead.

As you know it does MEL-PER-LHR-PER-MEL-SFO/LAX. The extra flight time is going to throw that out. That takes 4 aircraft. You could use 2 aircraft to do PER-SIN-LHR and 2 to do MEL/USA.

The aircraft at some point also has to get to Australia for a variety of reasons. So most likely would be PER/SIN/LHR. QF9/10 to/from MEL/PER can easily be replaced with an A330 or passengers moved to other services.

Another problem will be catering in SIN. Whilst 747/330/380 equipment is interchangeable, the 787 has it's own equipment of which won't be available in SIN, at least initially and could take some time to get it there. One possible solution is the catering is changed to allow for more to be loaded ex PER with no requirement for a change in SIN.

This happened a few years ago when JNB catering had strikes and they were able to double cater out of SYD for 4 services on a 747! A huge challenge but was achievable but required big changes in all cabins to the service.

Whilst not ideal, it would seem that offloading 90 pax and sending them via SIN/DXB for a short term basis is the quickest and least complicated fix.

 

[Quickstatus]

Why? QF9 did PER-LHR nonstop on 1jan and used northern airways via Singapore, Northern India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and flew north of Iranian Airspace

 

[Daver6]

I wonder how they choose which pax to offload - cheapest tickets?!

I'd imagine it would be a two pronged approach. Firstly, perhaps ask for volunteers. This might be sweetened with compensation or upgrades via a different route. Otherwise, I reckon status would come in to play.

 

[Quickstatus]

Why?. QF9 flew a northern air route overflying SIN, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan avoiding Iranian airspace to the north. Nonstop PER-LHR 1Jan2020
The airline has also done this northern route via Sri Lanka and avoid Iranian airspace.
Via SIN About 300nm longer than great circle route
Via Colombo about 200 longer than great circle.

I would suggest the airline would rather go nonstop and adjust the payload to suit.

 

[jb747]

Why?. QF9 flew a northern air route overflying SIN, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan avoiding Iranian airspace to the north. Nonstop PER-LHR 1Jan2020
The airline has also done this northern route via Sri Lanka and avoid Iranian airspace.
Via SIN About 300nm longer than great circle route
Via Colombo about 200 longer than great circle.

I would suggest the airline would rather go nonstop and adjust the payload to suit.

Just because an aircraft has the ability to fly a route on one day, does not mean that capability exists every day. That day could well have been a combination of light load and good winds on that route.

The 90 passengers mooted, 9 tonnes at the start of the flight, would convert to about an hours worth of fuel at the end.

As a passenger, I'd like to be on the other side of the Himalayas...

 

[Quickstatus]

a ASA

As a passenger, I'd like to be on the other side of the Himalayas...

Could you please elaborate ?