Qantas to increase domestic capacity in 2012/13

[amaroo]

Where has this 744 capacity come from that perviously they withdrew?

BKK along with BA's withdrawal of their 744 on this route - all the low hanging juicy F/J award seats are gone with it:evil:

 

[el_rooto]

The thing that saddens me is the continual cut backs of QF Long Haul international mainline...

When are the first 787's due?

 

[serfty]

BKK along with BA's withdrawal of their 744 on this route - all the low hanging juicy F/J award seats are gone with it:evil:

First/Business awards being "low hanging" is indicator of the real problem - low revenue.

 

[amaroo]

First/Business awards being "low hanging" is indicator of the real problem - low revenue.

I'm still trying to get over it

 

[seanpodge]

Hedge your bets - FRA?

In all seriousness though, what should they be doing to improve the financial viability of QF? Everyone (including me) if quick to criticise what they do wrong, but what would you suggest they do to fix it? (And not non-viable solutions like 'get rid of expensive staff' etc).

1) Stick to providing a premium service, and target the emerging Asian economies for this. These economines have $$ and people who want it. Routes to Kuala Lumpur, More Indian destinations??
2) Pushing further down the Jetstar model is not going to work, Asian companies will whip QF's pants when it comes to cost cutting. Stick to providing quality.
3) Sacrifice the long hauls to Europe if need be, get decent partners (OW or not ) to do the final hops around Europe

Agree. Maybe they should shift from LHR to somewhere on the continent like BER (although their current OW partners (except Air Berlin) don't really provide an obvious focal point beyond BA at LHR). The winding down of European destinations isn't too surprising given that all European airlines except BA have stopped flights to Australia.

Trying to make the international network less SYD centric might also help. I'm sure many people start looking elsewhere once they realise that their QF booking involves a terminal transfer at SYD. I'd think that many people starting at PER and ADL, for example, would much prefer to transfer at MEL than SYD.

 

[pauly7]

Happy with the A330 increases Mel/Per and more 763's on the golden triangle. Suits my travel patterns perfectly.

Hope they hold onto FRA until July selfishly, then they can move it to Berlin

Edit: just saw the 747 news as well. Triple win for me.

 

[docjames]

Trying to make the international network less SYD centric might also help. I'm sure many people start looking elsewhere once they realise that their QF booking involves a terminal transfer at SYD. I'd think that many people starting at PER and ADL, for example, would much prefer to transfer at MEL than SYD.

This x1,000,000,000.

You'd think their "premium airline" would get the new fleet (787s) and be able to offer direct flights with frequency to their SIN hub or on to LAX and onward to EU. But no, transit SYD for just about everything.


Agree that the backtracking from LHR is also an issue now people realise they can fly straight out of their own city, one stop in DXB/AUH/DOH/SIN/HKG/BKK etc (you name it) and then fly straight into their destination, saving 2+hr connection in SYD (or rarely, MEL or BNE), and usually at least 3+hr connection at LHR, not to even mention the extra flying time.

 

[Happy Trails]

I'm still trying to get over it

I'll be doing cold turkey too, but it was good while it lasted.

 

[cove]

I would like to go PER-LAX direct on the 787 to eliminate landing in Australia unnecessarily to clog up SYDNEY or MELBOURNE airports. Perth does not even have a business class lounge as QF have treated us as an afterthought even though it would be a real profit centre right now.

 

[el_rooto]

Great Circle Mapper

Its a *really* long way, 9319 miles...

What about direct but with a stop in CNS or TSV?

Great Circle Mapper

Edit:

Today I learned that Perth is actually closer to london (9009mi) than it is to LAX:

http://www.gcmap.com/mapui?P=per-lhr

 

[Timba-Jet]

Hmmm so, a few months ago announcement made to get rid of inefficient 747 services SYD-PER, now it is announced they are back as though they were never now.

On the plus side, it does makes sense for QF to go into battle to protect Domestic business, but wish QFi gets a bit of the pie.

 

[Captain Paul]

I would like to go PER-LAX direct on the 787 to eliminate landing in Australia unnecessarily to clog up SYDNEY or MELBOURNE airports. Perth does not even have a business class lounge as QF have treated us as an afterthought even though it would be a real profit centre right now.

I agree.
I used to travel PER - NRT - North America regularly until Qantas ruined that last year by stopping the Perth - Japan direct flights. Why travel to North America from Perth via SYD and LAX when you have a domestic transfer in two locations. NRT was convenient because American Airlines and Japan Airlines serviced just about every North American City I needed to get to. Cancelling PER - NRT also ruined many a West Aussie's Japanese ski holiday. So sad to see only two Qantas international destinations out of Perth, HKG and SIN. C'mon Qantas if you don't fly to the destinations we want we can't support you!

 

[Paddy55]

This x1,000,000,000.

You'd think their "premium airline" would get the new fleet (787s) and be able to offer direct flights with frequency to their SIN hub or on to LAX and onward to EU. But no, transit SYD for just about everything.


Agree that the backtracking from LHR is also an issue now people realise they can fly straight out of their own city, one stop in DXB/AUH/DOH/SIN/HKG/BKK etc (you name it) and then fly straight into their destination, saving 2+hr connection in SYD (or rarely, MEL or BNE), and usually at least 3+hr connection at LHR, not to even mention the extra flying time.

Agree - SYD Flounge is getting way too crowded these days