Qantas, SIA call for all-night flights

[straitman]

Qantas and Singapore Airlines have called (again) for an end to the SYD curfew.

Qantas, SIA call for all-night flights

 

[bambbbam2]

Either that, or a new SYD airport.

 

[NM]

Either that, or a new SYD airport.

Or force all SYD-destined passengers to route via MEL, PER or BNE

 

[NYCguy]

Either that, or a new SYD airport.

Sigh...... Not that old chestnut?!

 

[oz_mark]

Hmm, am I right in my belief that there is an allowance for some freight planes to land overnight?

 

[NM]

Hmm, am I right in my belief that there is an allowance for some freight planes to land overnight?

Only if they have a low noise footprint, such as turbo prop aircraft. So its common to see things like 1900D ops overnight. But you are not going to see a 727 freighter operating during the curfew!

There is an allowance for a small number of arrivals between 5am and 6am each week.

 

[ejb]

Hmm, am I right in my belief that there is an allowance for some freight planes to land overnight?

That should allow all QF planes to land as they treat us no better than freight at times.

ejb

 

[Evan]

That should allow all QF planes to land as they treat us no better than freight at times.

ejb

That would explain why my upgrade to economy is still pending
E

 

[codash1099]

Only if they have a low noise footprint, such as turbo prop aircraft. So its common to see things like 1900D ops overnight. But you are not going to see a 727 freighter operating during the curfew!

There is an allowance for a small number of arrivals between 5am and 6am each week.

I wonder how the new planes (A380, 787) fit that footprint. Must be close.

 

[JohnK]

I cannot understand why this is an issue again at a time when all the talk is about cutting back services due to rising fuel costs.

And what would QF do with no curfew in SYD? Most of their important international flights are scheduled based on arrival and departure times in the UK and US anyway.

 

[NM]

I wonder how the new planes (A380, 787) fit that footprint. Must be close.

Nope. I don't think any jets may it, only turbo-props as far as I understand.

 

[dajop]

And what would QF do with no curfew in SYD? Most of their important international flights are scheduled based on arrival and departure times in the UK and US anyway.

At MEL the time around midnight is certainly a mini-peak for intl departures. Every night QF, SQ, MH, TG & CX operate departures, as do PR & FJ on selected nights (EK being a late night arrival). Good connections to Asia via Asian hubs allowing mid-late morning arrivals into Asia, and good connections for mid afternoon arrivals in Europe. I suspect if QF could operate out of SYD, QF29 would go from there.

 

[JohnK]

Good connections to Asia via Asian hubs allowing mid-late morning arrivals into Asia, and good connections for mid afternoon arrivals in Europe. I suspect if QF could operate out of SYD, QF29 would go from there.

If lifting the curfew meant that I could arrive into Asia early in the morning then I would be all for it.

 

[oz_mark]

As for my reading, Qantas are only arguing for the ability to land overnight, not for rights to takeoff at midnight

 

[JohnK]

As for my reading, Qantas are only arguing for the ability to land overnight, not for rights to takeoff at midnight

And create more fiascos for connecting passengers dumped in SYD at 1:00am, just like SIN-PER flight, waiting for connecting flights until the morning.

 

[dajop]

As for my reading, Qantas are only arguing for the ability to land overnight, not for rights to takeoff at midnight

That is true, but from my reading SQ had more an interest in the latter. But if achieved I bet they wouldn't say no.

As for landing overnight I sure it would be advantageous to QF, maybe not scheduling 1am arrivals as per JohnK's post, but certainly in landing planes before 5am (or 6am if not a "quota" flight). I've sat on the tarmac at SFO once for probably 45 mins or so, due to - as the captain described -strong tail winds meaning that we will arrive too early into SYD before the curfew is lifted.

 

[straitman]

It would be 'nice' to think that they could come up with a sensible and user friendly compromise. .... sorry I'm dreaming again :!:

 

[oz_mark]

It would be 'nice' to think that they could come up with a sensible and user friendly compromise. .... sorry I'm dreaming again :!:

In the highly political situation that is Sydney airport, you are absolutely in dreamworld!

 

[straitman]

In the highly political situation that is Sydney airport, you are absolutely in dreamworld!

As long as it stays as a dream and does not deteriorate to a nightmare then I'm OK. .... I hope :!:

 

[oz_mark]

If you take the Qantas suggestion to allow some flights to land overnight (and it seems fair to me that extending the approvals that occur for some moning flights to all nght), then they have some additional flexibilty in scheduling (e.g. can leave their departure loctaions earlier than they do now).

Problem is that the reidents may see this as the first step to weaken the curfew rules, and expect that over time they will be slowly eroded.