Qantas considering establishing new international hub at AKL

[LionKing]

Qantas Calling This Neighbouring Country Its New Home

Qantas strengthens its position in New Zealand with expanded Trans-Tasman operations, hub development in Auckland.

aviationa2z.com

So Qantas is looking at restoring AKL-LAX and also launching Samoa and Tonga from Auckland.

I hope Qantas can also consider using A321XLR to launch AKL-HNL. It is only 8 hours 7400km distance, which I suppose this would allow NZers to connect with Alaska Hawaiian to more US destinations?

 

[Mwenenzi]

Qantas Calling This Neighbouring Country Its New Home

Qantas strengthens its position in New Zealand with expanded Trans-Tasman operations, hub development in Auckland.

aviationa2z.com

So Qantas is looking at restoring AKL-LAX and also launching Samoa and Tonga from Auckland.

I hope Qantas can also consider using A321XLR to launch AKL-HNL. It is only 8 hours 7400km distance, which I suppose this would allow NZers to connect with Alaska Hawaiian to more US destinations?

From FT https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/qantas-frequent-flyer/2205228-akl-lax-returning.html
By djsfynn (ExecTrav)

Just to clarify that Wallace didn't "drop any hints" about LAX-AKL in that article. He didn't mention the route at all.
The sole mention of AKL-LAX was made by the journalist:

Qantas’ Auckland-Los Angeles flight that was discontinued in 2012 could be a candidate for being restored when there is sufficient aircraft capacity. Qantas is fully aware of how profitable the route is for Air New Zealand and the aggressive approach of ‘’flying on top of’’ its rival would fit in with its current strategy.

Now AKL-LAX could be something which Cam shared 'on background' with Grant Bradley (the journo), but at face value AKL-LAX appears more of a speculation by the writer.

No chance QF will AKL HNL. Just look at the at the QF group reductions to HNL. AS/HA fly HNL-AKL seasonably
In NZ Qantas is seen as the big ugly Aussie.

Hub? Looked at the map of AKL compared to other places?
AKL-JFK is only because current aircraft do not the range SYD/BNE- JFK

A map from the Great Circle Mapper

A map from the Great Circle Mapper

www.gcmap.com

 

[jakeseven7]

IN NZ Qantas is seen as the big ugly Aussie..

Yet the NYC flights are picking up a decent whack of Kiwi originating traffic and growing. It’s taken everyone by surprise.

I’ve got tonnes of Kiwi relatives and they think Air NZ is a joke and will happily fly other airlines like Emirates, Qantas, Cathay over Air NZ.

 

[jrfsp]

AA already fly AKL-LAX (seasonally) as joint venture, I don't see any need for QF to replace them, especially at the moment when they don't have any spare aircraft to fly it.

 

[elanshin]

If anything they'd fly something like AKL-ORD or MIA. Those should both be in the 787-9 range but given the lack of aircraft and there aren't more 787-9s i doubt we'll see too much in the way of expansion for a while.

Pacific islands is a maybe if they think NZ isn't being properly served there.

 

[mbe1510]

Poor Adelaide and Melbourne missing out again if Qantas goes ahead with this
More seriously, the Kiwi running Qantas International — who used to be a senior exec at Air New Zealand — clearly reckons there’s more money to be made flying out of Auckland than Australia.

 

[justinbrett]

AKL-JFK is only because current aircraft do not the range SYD/BNE- JFK

A map from the Great Circle Mapper

A map from the Great Circle Mapper

www.gcmap.com

QF has already indicated it would like to continue AKL-JFK even after sunrise JFK services start.

I’ve flown the route multiple times this year and surprised by how many kiwi accents I heard on the JFK-AKL leg; I think it’s also popular with Americans who want to visit NZ who are in the oneworld ecosystem.

No chance QF will AKL HNL. Just look at the at the QF group reductions to HNL. AS/HA fly HNL-AKL seasonably

QF has more HNL services than ever to HNL after launching the MEL route (total 9x weekly in Jan). Let’s not confuse the JQ reduction (which had no place in a high cost luxury market) with a lack of demand.

 

[downtheback]

QF has more HNL services than ever to HNL after launching the MEL route (total 9x weekly in Jan). Let’s not confuse the JQ reduction (which had no place in a high cost luxury market) with a lack of demand.

When the dollar was high, HNL was a cheap(er) destination and easy to fill JQ seats. Now that the dollar has dropped again, it has become quite expensive.

Doesn't stack when the flights (each way) are the same cost as one nights accomodation. Market has gone more premium again so QF group has been able to adjust.

 

[justinbrett]

When the dollar was high, HNL was a cheap(er) destination and easy to fill JQ seats. Now that the dollar has dropped again, it has become quite expensive.

Doesn't stack when the flights (each way) are the same cost as one nights accomodation. Market has gone more premium again so QF group has been able to adjust.

Agree, but also now with HA joining oneworld (or rather being merged into an existing member), it makes it an attractive oneworld hub so flying QF to HNL and connecting to the mainland can be a good option, without requiring accommodation in HNL (although I like to overnight before connecting to QF104).

I wouldn’t rule out year round services on AKL-HNL, thought I’d say it’s more likely on AS with a QF codeshare than QF metal.

 

[elanshin]

Agree, but also now with HA joining oneworld (or rather being merged into an existing member), it makes it an attractive oneworld hub so flying QF to HNL and connecting to the mainland can be a good option, without requiring accommodation in HNL (although I like to overnight before connecting to QF104).

I wouldn’t rule out year round services on AKL-HNL, thought I’d say it’s more likely on AS with a QF codeshare than QF metal.

I wonder if that's a potential future XLR route. I dont think a Max8 can reach (just outside of the range) so AS probably won't single aisle it and I imagine they have better options deploying the HA widebody fleet out of SEA to other high value destinations. Do a rotation such as SYD/MEL - AKL - HNL on one of their XLRs.

Edit: Also on JQ/QF swapping, its more the destination and market has changed. ICN has proved to be a much more cost conscious market and HNL has become a much more expensive market so effectively doing a swap on the routes between JQ and QF caters better to their respective demand.

 

[cambriamarsh]

From FT https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/qantas-frequent-flyer/2205228-akl-lax-returning.html
By djsfynn (ExecTrav)

No chance QF will AKL HNL. Just look at the at the QF group reductions to HNL. AS/HA fly HNL-AKL seasonably
In NZ Qantas is seen as the big ugly Aussie.

Hub? Looked at the map of AKL compared to other places?
AKL-JFK is only because current aircraft do not the range SYD/BNE- JFK

A map from the Great Circle Mapper

A map from the Great Circle Mapper

www.gcmap.com

Not so sure of that comment re the big ugly Aussie. Without QF and JQ, Air NZ's prices would be even more extortionate.

 

[DAC1]

On the topic of AKL-JFK, I found this article very interesting reading.

Air New Zealand getting eaten alive by Qantas

Last year we did an analysis of Qantas’s decision to reroute its New York flights through Auckland, replacing their historic Los Angeles-New York tag-on flight.

www.analyticflying.com

 

[Willy2212]

Yet the NYC flights are picking up a decent whack of Kiwi originating traffic and growing. It’s taken everyone by surprise.

I’ve got tonnes of Kiwi relatives and they think Air NZ is a joke and will happily fly other airlines like Emirates, Qantas, Cathay over Air NZ.

I agree, Air NZ is seen as a joke with high airfares and constant cancellations. Jetstar has become a real alternative for domestic travel in NZ, and Qantas international fares leave Air NZ for dead