Qantas to Launch SYD-AKL-JFK (June 2023)

[justinbrett]

This would likely to be due to how easy it is to get to AKL from other cities, making NYC accessible by avoiding (multiple) stops in the USA.

Given the success of PER>LHR/FCO/CDG, meaning there is ample appetitie for a stop closer to home THEN a direct flight , I wonder what this means for project sunrise? Might mean my hopes of DRW being a gateway into/out of Australia becomes a reality ( )

I meant there’s a lot of kiwis on the flight.

 

[evanb]

Given the success of PER>LHR/FCO/CDG, meaning there is ample appetitie for a stop closer to home THEN a direct flight , I wonder what this means for project sunrise? Might mean my hopes of DRW being a gateway into/out of Australia becomes a reality ( )

To some extent, DFW is already becoming QF's gateway into/out of the US, or at least it's quickly catching up to and displacing LAX. That will continue with the A380 return to SYD-DFW, increased frequency of MEL-DFW (up to daily for part of the year) and AA on BNE-DFW.

Initially SYD-AKL-JFK was just a replacement for LAX-JFK, allowing BNE and MEL to connect via AKL instead of LAX (although that configuration varied between BNE and SYD origination over time). Not only is AKL a better transit experience than LAX, but it allowed QF to adjust their LAX schedules to increase aircraft utilisation (not all flights now require morning arrivals into LAX to make the JFK connection).

Whatever they picked-up ex-AKL or via domestic connections at AKL was a bonus, however they seemed to pick up a lot more than expected, in addition to onward connections from JFK to LHR and Europe. The latter was seemingly a big surprise, making it far more lucrative. Suspect that is what has pushed QF to talk-up maintaining AKL-JFK even once SYD-JFK and/or MEL-JFK goes non-stop.

 

[evanb]

I meant there’s a lot of kiwis on the flight.

MIDT puts AKL pax at 20% itself, nevermind other NZ traffic. SYD originating is about 40%.