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

[Awesom Andy]

Maybe QF have leased an aircraft?

I can't really see it happening. Also, the seat map doesn't match to any MH configs. I'm pretty sure it's a website glitch.

 

[hutch]

I can't really see it happening. Also, the seat map doesn't match to any MH configs. I'm pretty sure it's a website glitch.

Or old mate is flying to Singapore on MH before connecting to QF

 

[Himeno]

Actually I guess we were all wrong with QF set to announce MEL-SIN going x10 weekly, with a new QF37/38 afternoon service departing at 16:05 arriving in SIN at 22:15, the return QF38 service departs SIN at 23:35, arriving back to MEL at 09:00.

Then why ask for the 3 extra HKG rotations if they aren't going to use them?

 

[dzinh]

Its not a glitch as it's the QF A330-300 Seatmap which also happens to the the QF seat selection page.
The routing is booked as a KUL (MH) - SIN (QF) - MEL hence why the indications of which airline will be operating which leg.

 

[soorox]

It's time to play the guessing game again folks! QF is rumoured to be adding a new Asian A330 route/destination soon, due to start some time after October. Anyone know more?

 

[Himeno]

It's time to play the guessing game again folks! QF is rumoured to be adding a new Asian A330 route/destination soon, due to start some time after October. Anyone know more?

QF got an extra 3 flights/week to HKG in November (28 total, up from 25), with the extra 3 flights to be active by April 2017. It was assumed a few months ago that QF would be using the A330 released by changing 3 weekly MEL-HKG to 747 to increase the 2nd SYD-HKG flight to daily, but then those 3 flights went to SIN. So QF still has 3 flights to HKG allocated that have yet to be used.

 

[Isochronous]

PER-HKG please!

 

[Cynicor]

I'd probably use PER-HKG if it wasn't a 737, like the reincarnated PER-SIN

 

[hutch]

Ah, the return of PER-HKG! Never say never...

I'd vote for a new destination for Roo metal... maybe ICN?

Alternatively, could be an opportunity to improve the utilization of metal into Tokyo... a SYD morning and night service to / from Tokyo rather than having a plane sit there all day.

But, I guess SYD-HKG double daily is probably the likely outcome.

 

[Himeno]

Ah, the return of PER-HKG! Never say never...

I'd vote for a new destination for Roo metal... maybe ICN?

Alternatively, could be an opportunity to improve the utilization of metal into Tokyo... a SYD morning and night service to / from Tokyo rather than having a plane sit there all day.

But, I guess SYD-HKG double daily is probably the likely outcome.

QF currently has 500 seats/week to Korea, which it sells under a codeshare on OZ. There are another 7000 seats/week available for QF to request. When the 787s were first ordered, there was talk of QF flying to ICN, but I don't see that happening until a 2nd batch of 787-9s is ordered and arrives.

There are currently 2 day flights to TYO (QF from BNE and JL from SYD, both to NRT) and 2 night flights to TYO (QF and NH from SYD, both to HND). All 4 return to Australia overnight. No more flights can go to HND unless more slots are opened for Australian flights. However NRT and other Japanese airports are unlimited access. Though I don't see QF adding more NRT flights, at least not from SYD or BNE.

 

[hutch]

There are currently 2 day flights to TYO (QF from BNE and JL from SYD, both to NRT) and 2 night flights to TYO (QF and NH from SYD, both to HND). All 4 return to Australia overnight. No more flights can go to HND unless more slots are opened for Australian flights. However NRT and other Japanese airports are unlimited access. Though I don't see QF adding more NRT flights, at least not from SYD or BNE.

My uneducated, armchair CEO thoughts are:

SYD-HND morning departure from Sydney with a night-time arrival into HND. Plane turns around and operates HND-SYD like it currently does, but would probably be an hour or so later.

SYD-NRT night time departure (as per old SYD-NRT flight) with an early morning arrival into NRT. Plane turns around a few hours later and operates a daytime NRT-SYD service which arrives into SYD around 8:30pm.

Frees up a plane which sits on the ground at Tokyo all day and provides two options for passengers.

Of course, I know this is unlikely to happen.

 

[Mattg]

How about SYD-PEK?

I'd say that QF would be unlikely to add a second daily flight from Sydney to Tokyo at this point as they have just added the BNE flight, and ANA has further increased capacity in that market with the recent addition of their own SYD-HND flight.

PER-HKG could be possible, I guess.

 

[AIRwin]

I'd probably use PER-HKG if it wasn't a 737, like the reincarnated PER-SIN

Doubt the B738 has that range in any case?

 

[Himeno]

Doubt the B738 has that range in any case?

PER-SIN 3,896 km
SIN-HKG 2,555 km
PER-HKG 6,007 km

Boeing quoted max range of 738 5,765 km
A 737-800 from Perth would need to stop somewhere like Singapore or Bangkok to get to Hong Kong.

 

[moa999]

I don't see SYD-HND changing.
QF pay for the expensive HND slots to make it attractive for business travellers.

Business travellers want to arrive in the morning to get in a full day of meetings, and fly out at night after a full day (sometimes on the very same day)

I don't think Japan offers 5th freedom so don't think any ability to use the time.

 

[Himeno]

I don't see SYD-HND changing.
QF pay for the expensive HND slots to make it attractive for business travellers.

Business travellers want to arrive in the morning to get in a full day of meetings, and fly out at night after a full day (sometimes on the very same day)

I don't think Japan offers 5th freedom so don't think any ability to use the time.

Australian carriers have limited 5th freedom rights through NRT. My understanding is that they are limited to locations within Asia with a max of 79 "units" per week. A "unit" is based on aircraft size starting from 1 unit for 762, 787 and narrow bodies up to 2.5 units for A380s.

HND slots themselves don't cost anything. They are allocated to airlines based on government negotiations between the Japanese MLIT and the local national body (such as the AU DOI or the US DOT). Landing and parking fees at HND however are quite expensive, but not that much different to the fees at NRT.

I think that if Australia ends up with another HND slot, we may very well end up seeing a double daily 787 with day and night options in each direction.

 

[moa999]

I think that if Australia ends up with another HND slot, we may very well end up seeing a double daily 787 with day and night options in each direction.

Agree if you get double slots that would seem sensible

 

[Isochronous]

NRT-ICN tag would be nice!

 

[njba]

What're the merits of DFW versus LAX? Ease of onwards connections?

 

[Himeno]

What're the merits of DFW versus LAX? Ease of onwards connections?

DFW has more flights to more destinations on QF partners then LAX. The connections at DFW are also some what easier then at LAX (although the T4-TBIT connector is improving that now that it's open, at least when connecting to T4-T8).