Qantas flights to Tonga

[Mattg]

It looks like Qantas will be flying from Sydney to Tonga every Thursday for the next 3 months, using A330s.

Australia’s Qantas to start weekly flights to Tonga

Nuku'alofa, Tonga: Weekly flights will resume between Tonga and Australia starting on 7 July to September.

matangitonga.to

Flights are QF335 SYD 09:30 - TBU 17:05 and QF336 TBU 18:35 - SYD 21:20.

Tonga's international border is still closed due to COVID-19 and apparently you need to register with the government of Tonga to be able to book a ticket on QF335. So, I wonder what the purpose of this flight is? Perhaps mainly freight?

The linked article says "These flights are operated under Australia’s Pacific Flights Program."

I also note that TBU is not recognised as a destination on the Qantas website so I can't find any way to book a ticket.

 

[offshore171]

https://www.transparency.gov.au/annual-reports/department-foreign-affairs-and-trade/reporting-year/2020-21-10

Reading between the lines of the above Australia’s Pacific Flights Program looks like it's a regional development program, or soft diplomacy. I think NZ has similar programs.

Essentially to counter the PRC's tentacles reaching into the Pacific island nations.

 

[drron]

Bringing in the fruit pickers? Certainly were a lot of Tongans for the cherry and berry seasons early this year in NW Tasmania.

 

[RooFlyer]

Wonder where Qantas found the spare plane and crews - they are cancelling domestic schedules all over the place through lack of these (or so I read).

An interesting last line in that story:

Meanwhile, Tonga has not announced when its international border will re-open.

 

[nancypants]

Hopefully they will extend this once the border is open

 

[justinbrett]

That's a big plane for a thin route. It's in 737 range.

Also why no flights to APW? Are we less worried about them with the US territory right next door?

 

[dylarr]

Inventory zero'd out on all flights as well... strange with the inaugural supposedly departing in just a few days time.

 

[RooFlyer]

With the government paying, and the border closed, I guess Qantas doesn't care how large the plane and how empty it is.

 

[eminere]

Transport Israel Folau to his new national team

He probably has a moral religious objection to stepping foot on a Qantas plane.

 

[kevinyhli]

There had been regular QF charters between TBU and SYD/BNE for the past 18 months at least - all part of a government program.

 

[AIRwin]

https://www.qantasnewsroom.com.au/media-releases/qantas-adds-tonga-as-a-new-holiday-destination-to-its-pacific-islands-network/

 

[tdimdad]

The QF booking page shows zero point and zero SC earned from these flights. Is that another trick from the QF IT work experience kids or how come?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

The QF booking page shows zero point and zero SC earned from these flights. Is that another trick from the QF IT work experience kids or how come?

Charter flight or government flight exception?

 

[Mattg]

The QF booking page shows zero point and zero SC earned from these flights. Is that another trick from the QF IT work experience kids or how come?

That's normal when a new route is launched.

The Qantas media release specifically says:

Qantas Frequent Flyers can earn and redeem Qantas Points on Tonga flights as well as earn status credits.

 

[eminere]

The QF booking page shows zero point and zero SC earned from these flights. Is that another trick from the QF IT work experience kids or how come?

It's probably just not been updated yet.

 

[Mattg]

It's probably just not been updated yet.

The website has now been updated with points/status credit earn.

At this stage flights are only scheduled up to the end of October, though.

 

[AIRwin]

I noticed the return flight QF190 from TBU was diverted to BNE last night and only continued onwards to SYD this afternoon as a domestic flight QF590

 

[docjames]

Loads are apparently good on this flight - and airfares are $$$ too….

Anyone with first hand experience?