Qantas Project Sunrise goes ahead, 12 new A350-1000s ordered

[Aeryn]

They also said they'd fly BNE-ORD at one point, among many others.

Covid killed that, a shame cause after NY, Chicago is my next most visited US city. I'd love to see this revived, ORD is far more appealing than LAX or SFO for me, and would avoid a transfer in DFW.

 

[elanshin]

Covid killed that, a shame cause after NY, Chicago is my next most visited US city. I'd love to see this revived, ORD is far more appealing than LAX or SFO for me, and would avoid a transfer in DFW.

I have to imagine it's because of a lack of planes and now US demand sentiments.

I wonder if they would relaunch ORD, would they do AKL -ORD to compliment AKL-JFK catch the NZ market at the same time and use the new AKL lounge.

 

[LionKing]

I have to imagine it's because of a lack of planes and now US demand sentiments.

I wonder if they would relaunch ORD, would they do AKL -ORD to compliment AKL-JFK catch the NZ market at the same time and use the new AKL lounge.

I just don't think there's any business case to open any new US port for now.
I would even say, if SYD/MEL-JFK direct is launched in 2027, very likely we will see a reduction in SYD-AKL-JFK to 2 - 3 weekly, which I hope it will spare a B789 for MEL-SIN route to replace JQ B788 for more profitable routes, such as HKG.

 

[elanshin]

I just don't think there's any business case to open any new US port for now.
I would even say, if SYD/MEL-JFK direct is launched in 2027, very likely we will see a reduction in SYD-AKL-JFK to 2 - 3 weekly, which I hope it will spare a B789 for MEL-SIN route to replace JQ B788 for more profitable routes, such as HKG.

No I do not expect a reduction on AKL - JFK. You forget this is catching all the NZ traffic too because QF is slaughtering NZ on this route.

There are plenty of business cases to explore US expansion. Just because the current administration has problems doesn't mean that by the time you can launch a route they'd still be around. It takes quite a bit of time and planning to launch something like ORD.

Also whilst we understand you have a favouritism for HKG, there are lots of other lower hanging fruits. CX is exceptionally dominent to HKG and for the price conscious, the mainland carriers are exceptionally competitive as a 1 stop option.

 

[moa999]

And the reason CX is dominant is that HKG is often a transit airport to multiple Chinese destinations.

Suspect CX doesn't give QF particularly good codeshare rates, and they don't really need to as CX fly to almost all Australian ports so they don't need reciprocity. Hence QF also has codeshare options with MU and CZ.

 

[dajop]

No I do not expect a reduction on AKL - JFK. You forget this is catching all the NZ traffic too because QF is slaughtering NZ on this route.

As well as MEL and BNE traffic, with the easier transfer at AKL vs SYD.

 

[SYD]

As well as MEL and BNE traffic, with the easier transfer at AKL vs SYD.

BNE still has an LAX option that would be quicker than AKL (and LAX has improved a lot and the return transit is a dodle).

We’re looking a QF3/4 NYC 2nd half of 2027. I’m monitoring the schedule to see what pans out. I wouldn’t be upset if we book via AKL but get moved to a PS flight!

 

[dajop]

BNE still has an LAX option that would be quicker than AKL (and LAX has improved a lot and the return transit is a dodle).

As does MEL, but obviously both involving 5-6 hrs on AA each way which could be an upgrade or downgrade vs QF depending on cabin and POV!

 

[dajop]

Not realistic and lhr-syd arrives 2nd day after departure not 1st day.

,
It's what they will be doing (again come Nov) with QF9/10 and QF 93/94 which does MEL-PER-LHR-PER-MEL-LAX-MEL with 2 or 2:15 turn arounds in PER and MEL. But from a commercial attractiveness POV, the LHR it might need to be an early afternoon (say 2-3pm) departure that would get into SYD before curfew. Can't see a late evening departure due to both curfews.

 

[SeatBackForward]

et into SYD before curfew

There's always WSI as a backup now!

 

[Aeryn]

There's always WSI as a backup now!

Alternative for different flights not a back-up landing spot for existing flights except in case of genuine emmergency, which curfew is not. If you book a flight to SYD you obviously dont want to end up at WSI, and planes scheduled to land at SYD are also schedule to depart SYD, so plane would have to be repositioned which will become costly if a regular occurrence.

 

[Saab34]

That is going to be the case often as they are all essentially arriving very close together, it will take them 2 years to get through a D check program once that time comes.

Not sure where the A350 fleet will be going for heavy maintenance. I guess the longer range they can fly it anywhere non stop for a check.

 

[leesionn]

And she’s out for test flight number 2 now - currently over the Gulf of Lion

 

[exceladdict]

We’re looking a QF3/4 NYC 2nd half of 2027. I’m monitoring the schedule to see what pans out. I wouldn’t be upset if we book via AKL but get moved to a PS flight!

Hoping the scs are the same either way?

 

[SYD]

Hoping the scs are the same either way?

They usually are.

Currently the calculator has 280 for SYD-JFK in discount J. Which is the same for SYD-AKL-JFK in discount J.

It’s the same for QF1/2. Doesn’t matter if you get say QF81 to SIN and then QF1 to LHR.

 

[justinbrett]

I wonder if they’ll renumber QF1/2 (via SIN) a season before they launch the sunrise flights? I bit like how HNL got renumbered to 103/104 before they launched the new JFK (via AKL) flights.

I just don't think there's any business case to open any new US port for now.
I would even say, if SYD/MEL-JFK direct is launched in 2027, very likely we will see a reduction in SYD-AKL-JFK to 2 - 3 weekly, which I hope it will spare a B789 for MEL-SIN route to replace JQ B788 for more profitable routes, such as HKG.

Didn’t stop them launching LAS!

But no, very much disagree. JFK is hugely successful for them.

No I do not expect a reduction on AKL - JFK. You forget this is catching all the NZ traffic too because QF is slaughtering NZ on this route.

I heard a rumour NZ were considering pulling out of the route and leaving it to QF. I think NZ make a loss on the route whereas QF make a profit, thanks to their premium heavy configuration.

 

[AIRwin]

I wonder if they’ll renumber QF1/2 (via SIN) a season before they launch the sunrise flights?

And:

Post in thread 'Melbourne to London via SIN?'

Aug 16, 2025

Right, exactly. So will Qantas continue to anchor QF1 and QF2 in Sydney? That’s my question. It would seem logical to switch it to Melbourne once the direct flight from
Sydney commences.

QF1/2: SYD-LHR-SYD
QF81/82: SYD-SIN-SYD
QF35/36/37/38: consolidated into MEL-SIN-LHR-SIN-MEL?

• AIRwin

• 

 

[dajop]

Didn’t stop them launching LAS!

But no, very much disagree. JFK is hugely successful for them.

Of course it will.

I think people are reading way too much into the media/social media hype, the April stats (Australian arrivals into US down 14% YOY) have been mentioned on AFF and in the media, but in that there is no accounting for traffic from US to Australia, easter timing in 2026 vs 2025 nor the withdrawal of Jetstar from HNL over that period.

Also the JFK market might well be different to the market for west coast and other-US travel. Aside from the wealthy business traffic, its just rolls differently. I know when I was younger, before I'd ever travelled internationally, I had an aspiration to visit New York, but not the (rest of the) US.