Qantas does Vegas direct

[markis10]

This December, Qantas will become the first airline in the world to operate a non-stop route between Australia and Las Vegas.
The new seasonal Sydney–Las Vegas service will run through to March 2027 and will save customers up to five hours in travel time by eliminating the need for connections through another US city.
This becomes the 101st destination on the Qantas network and the airline’s eighth city across North and South America, joining Los Angeles, San Francisco, Honolulu, Dallas, New York, Vancouver and Santiago.
Available for booking from today, the service will operate during some of the city’s biggest global events and expos including the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), the world’s largest and most influential tech show, and as Vegas plays host to the National Rugby League’s (NRL) annual season kick off Las Vegas Festival, which has quickly become a flagship event for Australian and international sports fans. Las Vegas is also home to world-class entertainment including residencies from some of the biggest names in music and serves as a gateway to attractions like the Grand Canyon and the broader American southwest regions.
For the past two years the airline has operated charter flights in partnership with NRL from Australia’s East Coast to Las Vegas to get Aussie fans to games. Flights took off this week and, for the third year, in a row are fully booked.
Qantas International CEO Cam Wallace said strong customer demand for international travel is driving the airline's expansion of seasonal services to destinations like Las Vegas.
“Australians' appetite for international travel continues to be incredibly strong. Rome and Sapporo have shown us there's real demand for seasonal services to destinations people want to visit at certain times of year, and we're continuing to expand those direct connections around the world,” Mr Wallace said
"Our historic fleet renewal is giving us the flexibility to deploy aircraft where we see demand, opening up route possibilities that simply weren't there before. Las Vegas becomes our 101st destination and is a great example of how we're using that capability. This growth also creates real opportunities for our people, particularly our pilots and cabin crew, as we expand where we fly,” said Mr Wallace.
President and CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, Steve Hill said Qantas’ new nonstop service from Sydney is a testament to the strength of the Australian market for Las Vegas.

https://www.qantasnewsroom.com.au/media-releases/qantas-makes-history-with-first-ever-direct-flights-from-australia-to-las-vegas

 

[hutch]

Seasonal services between Sydney and Las Vegas announced and to commence 29th Dec for approx 3 months

https://www.qantasnewsroom.com.au/m...er-direct-flights-from-australia-to-las-vegas

Well, I guess I'm eating my hat

 

[Saab34]

Just a tad over 2 months, and 3 per week. Definitely seem like they are testing the waters at the moment.

 

[Quercus]

Vegas suffering from a big downturn/perception problem. More and more Australian travellers rightly avoiding the US market. Vegas must be giving them a lot of money as this seems like a pretty absurd idea. Plenty of untapped opportunities in Europe and Asia that are a safer bet and actually respond to customer demand.

 

[jase05]

At around $20k return it seems a bit steep but maybe some sales after the DSC period

 

[justinbrett]

Knock me down with a feather...

 

[mbe1510]

Can't help but feel Qantas is about 10 years too late to be flying into Vegas. 2015-2020 I think they would have had no issues filling the planes but can't remember the last time I knew someone who went to Vegas for leisure. Loads will be interesting to watch. Missed opportunity to not have timed it for the Las Vegas GP.

 

[Aeryn]

I just dont get this. LAS is a lackluster destination unless you are a gambler and terrible for connections. Everything is fake.

If QF have spare aircraft for this surely finally launching the ORD flights which covid killed would have been better? Chicago is a great city to spend time in, hosts just as many business conventions as LAS and ORD is a major AA hub.

Or reinstating SYD-ICN or flying QF metal to Vietnam or replacing the AY leases so that horrible J seat can be avoided.

 

[justinbrett]

Can't help but feel Qantas is about 10 years too late to be flying into Vegas. 2015-2020 I think they would have had no issues filling the planes but can't remember the last time I knew someone who went to Vegas for leisure. Loads will be interesting to watch. Missed opportunity to not have timed it for the Las Vegas GP.

I was there last week for leisure...

Heaps of Aussies on my LAS-LAX flight as well (as there always are). Vegas numbers are definitely down but we're talking 10-15% max, not 50-80%. Still heaps of people in Vegas, and heaps of Aussies.

AUD/USD improvement above 70c is going to make a big differences as well.

That said, I'm still surprised QF can maintain a widebody flight. AS pulling out of LAS-LAX has made connections difficult (flying to BNE requires a 7 hour top in LAX) as AA are still only doing 3 flights a day. Otherwise I expected QF to start codesharing on HNL-LAS (3x widebodies - more oneworld seats on that route than LAX-LAS).

QF may well be expecting ex-US pax to make the flight sustainable as this is the peak season for US-AU travel.

 

[AIRwin]

Just a tad over 2 months, and 3 per week. Definitely seem like they are testing the waters at the moment.

Or hand off to JQ

 

[jase05]

I just dont get this. LAS is a lackluster destination unless you are a gambler and terrible for connections. Everything is fake.

If QF have spare aircraft for this surely finally launching the ORD flights which covid killed would have been better? Chicago is a great city to spend time in, hosts just as many business conventions as LAS and ORD is a major AA hub
Or reinstating SYD-ICN or flying QF metal to Vietnam or replacing the AY leases so that horrible J seat can be avoided.

I don’t profess to know a lot about the ins and outs of US travel but you do seem to raise some valid points.
Would other US ports make more sense?

 

[Warragul]

Or reinstating SYD-ICN

I thought QF were losing money on this (not enough pointy end and full Y paying pax), hence flick it JQ. If this is correct why reinstate a loss maker so soon after ceasing services?

 

[Aussie_flyer]

I was in Vegas for pleasure a few months ago too. I always include it in my US itineraries. I may use this service.

Lots of experts in here but qantas knows how many people are booking tickets to Vegas, give them a bit of credit they're not idiots.

 

[Saab34]

Lots of experts in here but qantas knows how many people are booking tickets to Vegas, give them a bit of credit they're not idiots.

The risk is small, it’s what 30 flights each way across the period? Some are in peak period like conferences and sporting events, then we have the Australian holiday period in Jan.

I’d imagine they will go out somewhat full. It’s probably more a matter could they make more moving this elsewhere during this period, so the route probably needs to prove itself, widebody aircraft need to pull their weight in peak holiday periods

 

[SYD]

The risk is small, it’s what 30 flights each way across the period? Some are in peak period like conferences and sporting events, then we have the Australian holiday period in Jan.

I’d imagine they will go out somewhat full. It’s probably more a matter could they make more moving this elsewhere during this period, so the route probably needs to prove itself, widebody aircraft need to pull their weight in peak holiday periods

I wouldn’t be surprised if the NRL aren’t kicking something. Either directly or committing to X amount of seats etc.

But as mentioned above, QF know exactly where peeps are flying onto when they book direct thru QF channels. If they’re seeing a lot of PAX booking thru to XYZ and they can make work - they will.

That’s how/why they returned to SFO. It was reported at the time that it was the #1 destination being booked that QF didn’t actually fly to.

 

[justinbrett]

I was in Vegas for pleasure a few months ago too. I always include it in my US itineraries. I may use this service.

Lots of experts in here but qantas knows how many people are booking tickets to Vegas, give them a bit of credit they're not idiots.

It’s also an unofficial hub, even though no AA aircraft or crew are based there, you can fly to most major cities from there.

Even if the demand for direct doesn’t fill the plane, it can be supplemented by onwards travel.

Some probably need to update their impressions of vegas - it’s not just slot machines. Sports, A list concerts, Grand Canyon, conventions, club scene, foodie scene, you get tired of vegas you’re tired of life. But each to their own.

 

[DC3]

LAS is a lackluster destination unless you are a gambler and terrible for connections. Everything is fake

 

[markis10]

I just dont get this. LAS is a lackluster destination unless you are a gambler and terrible for connections. Everything is fake.

Or you work for the defence department or are going to some of the major conventions held there like CES and the motor dealers expo.

 

[Aeryn]

Some probably need to update their impressions of vegas - it’s not just slot machines. Sports, A list concerts, Grand Canyon, conventions, club scene, foodie scene, you get tired of vegas you’re tired of life. But each to their own.

Agree to disagree.

Sports dont interest me, those A list concerts can be attended in far more interesting cities (those in residency dont appeal) and IME the food isn't great much better eats in other US cities.

You can easily go to the Grand Canyon (also a one and done destination imo) without going via Vegas.

Id rather watch a Broadway musical in NYC then a Vegas tribute show. I like to walk without being baked to a crisp; I like to dine out in authentic neighborhood restaurants without having to navigate through a casino floor and find coffee shops that arent chains. Giant resorts arent my cup of tea either.

For me there isnt anything I can do in Vegas that I cant do better in other US cities; I have zero interest in gambling. A mandatory work trip/conference aside I wouldn't add LAS to any future US personal funded itinerary.

YMM(and does)V.

 

[FlyingKangaroo]

I am similarly humbled (I guess the NRL charter data was commercially useful ) but if there is a month to run direct flights to Las Vegas it's January. I work for one of those tech companies that's (to my displeasure) obsessed with holding an annual kickoff in Las Vegas every year and it's consistently been $3000+ r/t in Y and $6500+ r/t in PY per pax to get our employees there, year over year, and we don't even go over the CES.

Our team would fill almost a full plane each way as just one fairly mid-sized company. Get a few similarly sized companies and bigger companies to do the same and boom and you've already just filled most of January at a premium. And they'll be able to charge an even bigger one for the nonstop.

If they have the capacity, it seems like a smart move. Proof will be in any extension (or perhaps it becomes a niche seasonal route.)