Qantas Abandons Haneda Slots - Unused

[logicallysynced]

Looks like IASC just posted a new decision regarding this.

Qantas asked for it to be revoked.

On 7 November 2025, Qantas applied to the International Air Services Commission (the Commission) to revoke, pursuant to section 27AA of the International Air Services Commission Act 1992 (the Act), Determination [2024] IASC 122 which allocates to Qantas one daily frequency of passenger capacity per week in each direction on the Japan (Tokyo Haneda) route.

 

[henrus]

Looks like IASC just posted a new decision regarding this.

Qantas asked for it to be revoked.

Maybe VA can get it back

 

[jase05]

Maybe VA can get it back

VSuites to Japan

 

[encryptededdy]

Could Qantas be thinking that since VA probably won't pick it up, they can just ask for this again at a later date when/if they want it again?

Otherwise I wonder what the real reason is behind not moving MEL or BNE to HND. I remember some years ago NZ gave up their HND slot citing high fees or something and switched to NRT.

 

[justinbrett]

OK, time to rename the thread "Nothing is happening".

VSuites to Japan

No wet lease - this is how this all started.

I wonder if QF will go for a JV with JL again. Almost 5 years since they first applied. VA's objection was a reason that was blocked.

 

[logicallysynced]

And here i was silently hoping they might put a 787 back on the route..

 

[HS-TQE]

VSuites to Japan

As stated previously, wet leases are not permitted on Haneda international services in/out of Japan, hence why VA operated a Queensland Government subsidised Cairns-Haneda service on their own (737MAX) metal in the first place for the duration of the subsidy period.

 

[jase05]

OK, time to rename the thread "Nothing is happening".



No wet lease - this is how this all started.

I wonder if QF will go for a JV with JL again. Almost 5 years since they first applied. VA's objection was a reason that was blocked.

QR could always hand back the ex VA 777’s

But it’s all just a bit of fu.n as VA won’t be getting wide bodies anytime soon If ever

 

[HS-TQE]

Could Qantas be thinking that since VA probably won't pick it up, they can just ask for this again at a later date when/if they want it again?

Otherwise I wonder what the real reason is behind not moving MEL or BNE to HND. I remember some years ago NZ gave up their HND slot citing high fees or something and switched to NRT.

IIRC it's about the available slot times by the HND co-ordinator, when VA ceased their CNS-HND services earlier in the year, VA's HND landing and takeoff slots were quickly snapped up by another foreign carrier, leaving less than ideal slot times had QF decided to pick up the relinquised IASC rights from VA.

 

[jase05]

As stated previously, wet leases are not permitted on Haneda international services in/out of Japan, hence why VA operated a Queensland Government subsidised Cairns-Haneda service on their own (737MAX) metal in the first place for the duration of the subsidy period.

I thought the emoji made it pretty clear it was a joke

 

[Aeryn]

Well its good news as the early morning flight HND-SYD is very useful as gets you back to Aus the same day, and is a rare Asia --> Aus day flight, so good to see its sticking around.

 

[logicallysynced]

Well its good news as the early morning flight HND-SYD is very useful as gets you back to Aus the same day, and is a rare Asia --> Aus day flight, so good to see its sticking around.

Only wish it departed a tad later so it didn’t practically necessitate an airport hotel stay over, plus allowed access to the JAL lounges which doesn’t open that early.

 

[evanb]

The rumour going around Mascot is that Qantas asked for an extension. The usual informal back and forth and IASC told them they wouldn't grant an extension. Furthermore, when requesting the last extension they provided assurances to IASC which they've been unable to fulfil. As such, IASC were prepared to revoke, however by Qantas requesting it it places them in a better position to apply again in the future.

It's not a zero risk strategy since Japan could now choose to withdraw the frequency and give it to another country. A reminder that Haneda allocations aren't governed by the bilateral which simply requires reciprocity. It's up to Japan to decide how many are made available to each country and they can reallocate at any time.

 

[ozflier]

The rumour going around Mascot is that Qantas asked for an extension. The usual informal back and forth and IASC told them they wouldn't grant an extension. Furthermore, when requesting the last extension they provided assurances to IASC which they've been unable to fulfil. As such, IASC were prepared to revoke, however by Qantas requesting it it places them in a better position to apply again in the future.

It's not a zero risk strategy since Japan could now choose to withdraw the frequency and give it to another country. A reminder that Haneda allocations aren't governed by the bilateral which simply requires reciprocity. It's up to Japan to decide how many are made available to each country and they can reallocate at any time.

So, I am guessing my currently booked BNE-NRT-BNE flights in January will remain on the current schedule.

 

[DejaBrew]

Looks like IASC just posted a new decision regarding this.

Qantas asked for it to be revoked.

Awesome! Looks like we can book our Qantas flights with complete confidence for this year's NRT Lounge Crawl! Oh, wait...

So, I am guessing my currently booked BNE-NRT-BNE flights in January will remain on the current schedule.

I'd say it's a safe bet.

 

[Himeno]

They had to post it a short time after I went looking for updates.

I guess they weren't going to get it going by the end Nov deadline and didn't think IASC would approve another extension?

 

[Himeno]

It's not a zero risk strategy since Japan could now choose to withdraw the frequency and give it to another country. A reminder that Haneda allocations aren't governed by the bilateral which simply requires reciprocity. It's up to Japan to decide how many are made available to each country and they can reallocate at any time.

That isn't going to happen.
Australia has open skies with Japan and access to unlimited flights to the other country except to HND.
The HND slots are allocated in pairs to a stated other country with airlines of the other country getting a slot to fly to HND and a JP airline getting a slot to fly from HND to that other country.
The JP side of the AU HND slots are in use. In order for the 3rd AU slot to be revoked by Japan, they would have to strip either NH or JL of one of their slots.

The original night slot was allocated to Australia for 1.5 years before Qantas took it up for operations starting end July 2015

 

[evanb]

That isn't going to happen.
Australia has open skies with Japan and access to unlimited flights to the other country except to HND.
The HND slots are allocated in pairs to a stated other country with airlines of the other country getting a slot to fly to HND and a JP airline getting a slot to fly from HND to that other country.
The JP side of the AU HND slots are in use. In order for the 3rd AU slot to be revoked by Japan, they would have to strip either NH or JL of one of their slots.

The original night slot was allocated to Australia for 1.5 years before Qantas took it up for operations starting end July 2015

Where did I say it was going to happen? All I said is that it's not zero risk, because it's not guaranteed by the bilateral and is based on reciprocity. The only way to guarantee it is through generating a historic reclaim to the slot which they're now not able to do. So yes, on the slim chance that NH and/or JL hatch a plan and convince the Japanese government to switch it to another country then the risk is there.

And no, it's not the 3rd slot that can be revoked. It's the right to apply for that slot and generate historic reclaim.

 

[Quickstatus]

All I said is that it's not zero risk

The difference in opinion is whether as you suggest > zero risk or as @Himeno suggests zero risk, not that you say it's going to happen

What are the loads on NH/JL at the moment as this might give some insight into what Nh/JL would like to do. The exit of QF in this slot can only improve or maintain NH/JL loads

 

[evanb]

The difference in opinion is whether as you suggest > zero risk or as @Himeno suggests zero risk, not that you say it's going to happen

What are the loads on NH/JL at the moment as this might give some insight into what Nh/JL would like to do. The exit of QF in this slot can only improve or maintain NH/JL loads

It's not a difference of opinion. It's the misunderstanding of the peculiarnes of the Haneda arrangement that people have and the general misunderstanding of how slots actually work.