Qantas cuts flights from Perth to Melbourne, decreases capacity to Sydney

[esseeeayeenn]

Qantas cuts flights from Perth to Melbourne, decreases capacity to Sydney

An evening flight from Melbourne to Perth, and a morning service heading in the opposite direction, would be axed from late October, the airline said.
One flight each way between Sydney and Perth will also be downgraded from an A330 aircraft to a smaller Boeing 737.
Qantas said the moves would help support "international network changes" and would also allow it to expand capacity on some east coast services.

I don't dare hope that the "international network changes" will include an airbus on the PER<->SIN route.

As far as PER<->SYD is concerned I will continue to book to avoid 737s.
It seems that will be increasingly pushing me towards VA.

I really don't know why anyone would book in business on a transcontinental flight on a 737.
The seat is barely a business seat, and the food and beverage service is inferior because of the smaller galley.
Doesn't justify the same (exhorbitant) fare.

See also Qantas trims east-west A330 flights

 

[BAM1748]

I didn't hear that come through.

But I prefer the 737 over the 330 so will be good for me.

Matt

 

[Comoman]

I think it sucks big time - $4k J class return in a 737? I don't think so.....

 

[cove]

I went with the other guys last Friday and the QF 737 would not work for me flying into that headwind to Perth.

 

[moa999]

I think it sucks big time - $4k J class return in a 737? I don't think so.....

Will be interesting to see if differentiated pricing
(I doubt it)

 

[cove]

$4k or 72k points plus some taxes.....better go the points route......

 

[mrdctau]

Does anyone know which specific evening flight from Melbourne to Perth is being axed?

 

[Princess Fiona]

Does anyone know which specific evening flight from Melbourne to Perth is being axed?

The link in the post has the info

 

[jb747]

I went with the other guys last Friday and the QF 737 would not work for me flying into that headwind to Perth.

Why? The 737-800s cruise at pretty much the same speed as an Airbus.

 

[docjames]

Will this help them with positioning for the PER-SIN-PER flight?

 

[wandering_fred]

$4k or 72k points plus some taxes.....better go the points route......

Better yet again to go the points route with the AA FF program... :shock:

Happy wandering

Fred

 

[marki]

There was an article in the AFR yesterday you might find the answer there?

 

[Isochronous]

More international routes can only be a good thing!

 

[esseeeayeenn]

More international routes can only be a good thing!

They only said the changes would "support 'international network changes".

They didn't mention "more international routes".

 

[mrdctau]

The link in the post has the info

No it doesn't. There are more than one evening flights from MEL to PER. Which one has been cancelled? I hope it isn't QF653 which is convenient for after work and gets in at a civilised time. The earlier and later flights don't really suit me so might be less weekend trips to Perth for me.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

No it doesn't. There are more than one evening flights from MEL to PER. Which one has been cancelled? I hope it isn't QF653 which is convenient for after work and gets in at a civilised time. The earlier and later flights don't really suit me so might be less weekend trips to Perth for me.

Yes, it does.

The Melbourne-Perth flight QF773 (departing 5.05pm) and Perth-Melbourne QF802 service (departing 10.55am) will be axed from October 25, 2015.
To fill out the gap in its transcon timetable, Qantas will shuffle the departure times of flights either side of QF773 and QF802.
On the Melbourne-Perth leg QF777 will change from a 3pm wheels-up to 3.35pm, while QF481 will leave at 5.45pm instead of 6.50pm.
For Perth-Melbourne, QF762 will be pushed back to an 8am departure and QF772 to 10.05am; QF476 will leave slightly earlier at 12.55pm, with QF768 departing at 3pm instead of 4.45pm.

ICYMI there were TWO (2) links in my OP.

 

[swilk]

So a lie flat J cabin is deemed more suitable for a short flight on the east coast than a 5 hour transcontinental flight.

Strange logic!

 

[Aussie_flyer]

So a lie flat J cabin is deemed more suitable for a short flight on the east coast than a 5 hour transcontinental flight.

Strange logic!

You put the aircraft where you can fill it. Loads transcon are low and trending lower with the slowdowns in the economy. Strange logic?

 

[grrofunger]

utter bull****

time to try for a status match with VA

 

[Aussie_flyer]

utter bull****

time to try for a status match with VA

This announcement is basically one less frequency mel-per and ONE frequency on syd-per switching to a 737. I believe QF still offers more widebody flights transcon than VA even after those changes.

P.s. check the va schedules transcon during the A330 refurb period... you may see more than a few B737s mentioned