Qantas to expand Asia services and rejig US services from April 2016

[MarcB]

Just came across this on the QF Agents site...

Qantas will add more seats on routes to Asia from March 2016, responding to strong demand in the region.

The extra capacity will come from upgrading three of Qantas’ seven weekly Melbourne-Hong Kong services from an Airbus A330 to a Boeing 747 aircraft which features our A380 inflight product. This is a 2.5 per cent increase in Qantas’ total capacity to Hong Kong.

Qantas expects to use the A330 aircraft freed up by the Hong Kong changes to add further capacity on another Asian route, with several markets under consideration.

To enable the Asian growth and better reflect demand in the U.S. market, Qantas will reduce Sydney-Los Angeles flights from 10 per week to seven per week from April 2016.

Qantas customers will continue to have the option of twice daily flights between Sydney and Los Angeles, with American Airlines to begin services on the route in December 2015, while Qantas will also begin Sydney-San Francisco services next month. Customers will also continue to have the option of nine flights per week from Melbourne to Los Angeles and daily flights from Brisbane.

To meet strong demand on the Dallas/Fort Worth route, Qantas’ A380-operated services from Sydney to Dallas/Fort Worth will increase from six per week to daily from April 2016, connecting more Australians to American Airlines’ biggest hub.

 

[Comoman]

PER - SIN from 737 to A330? One can only hope.....

 

[Himeno]

To meet strong demand on the Dallas/Fort Worth route, Qantas’ A380-operated services from Sydney to Dallas/Fort Worth will increase from six per week to daily from April 2016, connecting more Australians to American Airlines’ biggest hub.

Wait, aren't the A380s fully committed with the current MEL/SYD-DXB-LHR, MEL/SYD-LAX and SYD-DFW flights, with the only reason they are able to do summer SYD-HKG being that the 12th isn't under heavy maintenance?
What are they changing to get that last frame?

 

[Isochronous]

747 on MEL-HKG? YES!

Does this mean I will be able to book PE on a direct MEL flight now?

 

[TomVexille]

747 on MEL-HKG? YES!

Does this mean I will be able to book PE on a direct MEL flight now?

I would assume so

 

[Isochronous]

And what will they do with the spare A330? MEL-PVG direct would be nice!

 

[homemade]

Just came across this on the QF Agents site...

Qantas’ A380-operated services from Sydney to Dallas/Fort Worth will increase from six per week to daily from April 2016, .

I wonder if this will result in some short term FF availability?

 

[Flying Fox]

ADL - SIN using an A380

 

[Danger]

It's nice to see the 747s on another route.

To enable the Asian growth and better reflect demand in the U.S. market, Qantas will reduce Sydney-Los Angeles flights from 10 per week to seven per week from April 2016.

I'm surprised a reduction in SYD-LAX is possible under the agreement (or whatever it's called) that saw the ACCC sign off on the deal.

 

[soorox]

Changes see SYD-LAX reduce to x1 Daily, operated by x6 weekly A380 and x1 weekly 744 service. That is where the extra A380 frequency is coming from for DFW to become daily.

Also great news to see QF up-gauging selected MEL-HKG flights to 744, demand definitely outstripping supply on that route.

 

[defurax]

747 on MEL-HKG? YES!

Does this mean I will be able to book PE on a direct MEL flight now?

Since it will only be operated by a 747 thrice weekly I wonder if they will sell PE, but it's good news nonetheless, more J seats for upgrades!

 

[Isochronous]

Since it will only be operated by a 747 thrice weekly I wonder if they will sell PE, but it's good news nonetheless, more J seats for upgrades!

And hopefully more award availability too!

 

[Aussie_flyer]

Since it will only be operated by a 747 thrice weekly I wonder if they will sell PE, but it's good news nonetheless, more J seats for upgrades!

I dont see why they wouldn't. They sell it via Sydney now so they can have it direct 3 times a week.

 

[defurax]

I dont see why they wouldn't. They sell it via Sydney now so they can have it direct 3 times a week.

For the same reasons they don't sell F when SYD-HKG is operated by a 380. Dedicated cabin crew, catering, high probability of aircraft swap in case of delay, etc.

Hopefully, PE will be available on these three days. I might still fly via SYD for the extra SC!

 

[Aussie_flyer]

For the same reasons they don't sell F when SYD-HKG is operated by a 380. Dedicated cabin crew, catering, high probability of aircraft swap in case of delay, etc.

Hopefully, PE will be available on these three days. I might still fly via SYD for the extra SC!

The A380 is not a year round thing, HKG is not a current F destination. HKG already has PE catering arrangements. I think being that it is already sold SYD-HKG it will more than likely be sold MEL-HKG.

 

[Dr Ralph]

Qantas will reduce Sydney-Los Angeles flights from 10 per week to seven per week from April 2016.

Is this because of the drop in the currency?

 

[defurax]

Is this because of the drop in the currency?

More likely the extra capacity from AA flying LAX-SYD. The extra 747 will be used to fly to SFO.

 

[Happy Trails]

Is this because of the drop in the currency?

It's reportedly a factor:

The airline confirmed today its routes to and from Asia had been the biggest contributors to international revenue growth so far in 2015-16.
In contrast, demand for US travel is expected to flatten next year in response to the weaker dollar.

Qantas rejigs network to put bigger planes on popular Asian routes

 

[amaroo]

Is this because of the drop in the currency?

Seems logical...

 

[QFflyermelbourne]

I can't imagine for a minute they will add PE to MEL-HKG. A massive logistical pain to plan for it only three days a week and makes it difficult to book for business people who would ideally need it daily.

Very interesting to see that not only are they only going one daily SYD-LAX but that once a week it will be 747. I can't say I am surprised. There is more capacity now with daily UA x 2, QF x 3 (with SFO and Dallas), AA x1, DL x 1, VA x1 than under the height of the Australian dollar parity when every man and his dog was taking a US vacation. Not to mention those connecting through NZ and a surprising amount going the long way through the sandpit as well as CX and other Asian connections.

It's a massive amount of seats daily when you also add in the BNE and MEL direct services...