Qantas looking at direct flights to Brazil

[dajop]

Now there is an interesting tack - fifth freedom between GRU and GIG.

It's how LAN manage to make GIG work, not sure which degree of freedom they have. But that's only in 320's and 767's, but I'm pretty sure that when I flew it in 2006 (GIG-GRU-SCL), noone got off the plane only new passengers joined. IIRC, there were (then) some European carriers serving the cities this way as well.

 

[kpc]

It's how LAN manage to make GIG work, not sure which degree of freedom they have. But that's only in 320's and 767's, but I'm pretty sure that when I flew it in 2006 (GIG-GRU-SCL), noone got off the plane only new passengers joined. IIRC, there were (then) some European carriers serving the cities this way as well.

In 2005 when I did the route, on Lan SCL-GRU-GIG, no passengers got on at GRU; some got off, and those bound for GIG stayed on board at GRU.

 

[samh004]

Be nice if they did it sooner rather than later.
I'm stuck with ADL-SYD-SCL-GIG return in November with LAN.

Impossible!

On LAN it would be more like ADL-SYD-AKL-SCL-GRU-GIG.... SYD-SCL and SCL-GIG are not non-stop flights.

Just think of the SC’s, always think of the SC’s.

 

[JohnK]

I don't get it! Replace one poor choice with another possible poor choice.

Why not concentrate on the lucrative Asian and European markets instead of trying to let JQ ruin it for them....

 

[Fantic125]

Impossible!

On LAN it would be more like ADL-SYD-AKL-SCL-GRU-GIG.... SYD-SCL and SCL-GIG are not non-stop flights.

Yes, that is correct - having flown it last year I am aware there is a 90 min (approx) stop in AKL, a 4~5 hr stop in SCL and then a 30 min (approx) stop in GRU to offload passengers (which is a total PITA as ongoing pax to GIG aren't allowed off and they also switch off the a/c).

I just wasn't cough enough to add the additional stops in my initial comment....

And unfortunately it's only 160 SC's travelling discount economy...

 

[adrian]

My fear is that the visa procedures for Brazil may deter a lot of Australian passports holders, especially last minute travellers. After going through the process twice in recent years - showing bank accounts, dummy flight books, and handing over my passport for a week - I have put Brazil in my isn't-worth-the-hassle pile. Did I have to use money-order as well??? Can't quite remember, but it definitely made the Chinese visa I picked up last week look easy.

On the other hand, I really hope it works for QF. It is a long way there any other way. I just have a feeling the flights will end up quite empty.

 

[dajop]

Interesting about QF & Brazil rumours, over on FT there is talk that SQ has been granted approval for 3xweekly flights SIN-BCN-GRU with Spanair codeshare on the flights from BCN-GRU. Wonder if it will materialise though.