Qantas considering establishing new international hub at AKL

[LionKing]

Qantas Calling This Neighbouring Country Its New Home

Qantas (QF) and its low-cost subsidiary Jetstar (JQ) are ramping up their presence in New Zealand, signaling a deeper strategic expansion beyond the Trans-Tasman market.

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 (QF) and its low-cost subsidiary Jetstar (JQ) are ramping up their presence in New Zealand, signaling a deeper strategic expansion beyond the Trans-Tasman market.

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.

 

[RooFlyer]

Let’s not confuse the JQ reduction (which had no place in a high cost luxury market) with a lack of demand.

Did I read this correctly? Hawaii is a 'high cost, luxury' destination? I guess its all relative.

 

[Mwenenzi]

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.

Verifiable source?
QF flights out of NZ compared to out of AU?
AKL-JFK was because of aircraft limitations
Look at the route maps.

ORD has been possible QF destination for a while. But cannot see east coast AU-AKL-ORD working (post 5), even with a shorter long haul
However an AKL air side I to I transit is better an SYD D to I transit

A map from the Great Circle Mapper

A map from the Great Circle Mapper

www.gcmap.com

 

[justinbrett]

Did I read this correctly? Hawaii is a 'high cost, luxury' destination? I guess its all relative.

What are you disagreeing with? (Or just because it’s me?)

It’s high cost, I don’t think that’s debatable.

There are many high end properties there, I think that’s well known. You can find many run down properties but they’re still high cost.

There were no superlatives used. Merely categorisation. It’s not a budget destination.

 

[RooFlyer]

What are you disagreeing with? (Or just because it’s me?)

It’s high cost, I don’t think that’s debatable.

There are many high end properties there, I think that’s well known. You can find many run down properties but they’re still high cost.

There were no superlatives used. Merely categorisation. It’s not a budget destination.

Hawaii is a mass market. Millions of tourists per year. (okay, I’m guessing those figures but it’s a hell of a lot.)

You now talk about high-end properties. That wasn’t what we are discussing here - you were describing the market for the state as luxury and high cost

A mass market like Hawaii,(also New York, Las Vegas etc) will have many segments. Budget, midmarket high-end etc. You can certainly do Hawaii on a modest budget with package deals and of course paying in USD it’s nowhere as near as expensive as for an Australian

Hawaii is full of American and other nationalities’
families and budget conscious travellers as well as some who indulge in the luxury segment. I’d be struggling to call the vast hotels on Waikiki luxury but like I conceded, it’s relative.

Talking about the state as a whole. This shouldn’t be a contentious thing.

 

[justinbrett]

Hawaii is a mass market. Millions of tourists per year. (okay, I’m guessing those figures but it’s a hell of a lot.)

You now talk about high-end properties. That wasn’t what we are discussing here - you were describing the market for the state as luxury and high cost

A mass market like Hawaii,(also New York, Las Vegas etc) will have many segments. Budget, midmarket high-end etc. You can certainly do Hawaii on a modest budget.

Hawaii is full of American and other nationalities’
families and budget conscious travellers as well as some who indulge in the luxury segment. I’d be struggling to call the vast hotels on Waikiki luxury but like I conceded, it’s relative.

Talking about the state as a whole. This shouldn’t be a contentious thing.

You can get cheap hotels in the Maldives too.

The vast majority of hotels in Hawaii are not within the classification of “budget”, not by price (but possibly by amenities). Las Vegas too. This has been widely discussed that neither location is affordable for the budget traveller.

Our of curiosity when was the last time you were in Hawaii?

I mean, by all means market Hawaii as a budget destination but it makes you look completely out of touch. Most, if not all, travel media I follow describe Hawaii as a high cost destination post covid. My Amex statement can confirm this.