Qantas to Merimbula

[antycbr]

QF launching Merimbula just in time for Christmas 4 x weekly on a Q300.

Qantas to launch flights to Merimbula in time for summer

Qantas has today announced it will launch flights from Sydney to Merimbula for the first time, bringing much needed competition to the route in time

www.nationaltribune.com.au

Will be interesting to see if QF start going up a raft of ZL services - they've added Orange and Ballina recently as well as Mildura prior to Covid...

 

[Mattg]

This is really going to make Rex angry! I see another complaint to the ACCC coming...

(The article calls it "much needed competition", which is probably is... but Rex will see this as "anti-competitive" since it won't suit them.)

 

[jakeseven7]

That's ok Rex will be competing soon on MEL - SYD - BNE to make up for it

Well why not for QFLink, its not like there is much interstate flying that is possible these days!

Looks beautiful!

 

[Mattg]

Looks beautiful!

Absolutely. The region needs the tourism boost too after the bushfires last summer, and now you-know-what.

 

[esquire]

This is really going to make Rex angry! I see another complaint to the ACCC coming...

(The article calls it "much needed competition", which is probably is... but Rex will see this as "anti-competitive" since it won't suit them.)

Didn't take long for the dummy spit ! from Bega District News:

"Given the small passenger numbers, and the competition posed by a secondary airline on a route where Rex has historically seen passenger numbers which do not support viable operations for two carriers, Rex wishes to provide formal notification that we will withdraw from the Sydney/Merimbula route permanently," she wrote.
"We will be redeploying the Sydney Airport slots currently reserved for Merimbula to other destinations.
"The Melbourne/Merimbula service may also be equally impacted."

 

[sudoer]

you-know-what

I suspect you-know-what might actually help tourism in the region now that you can fly there (but very few others places).

No doubt Merimbula will be seeing a very different tourist demographic this summer...

 

[sudoer]

"Given the small passenger numbers, and the competition posed by a secondary airline on a route where Rex has historically seen passenger numbers which do not support viable operations for two carriers, Rex wishes to provide formal notification that we will withdraw from the Sydney/Merimbula route permanently," she wrote.

My guess is Rex were already thinking to reassign the slot to one of the 737 routes and this was an ideal opportunity to throw Qantas under the bus while doing so.

While the Sydney crowd are unable to go on their usual FNQ summer beach getaways I feel like the Merimbula would have enough demand for two carriers.

 

[jakeseven7]

My guess is Rex were already thinking to reassign the slot to one of the 737 routes and this was an ideal opportunity to throw Qantas under the bus while doing so.

While the Sydney crowd are unable to go on their usual FNQ summer beach getaways I feel like the Merimbula would have enough demand for two carriers.

I agree, I bet you QFLink up their frequency once the news gets out.

 

[Mattg]

Didn't take long for the dummy spit ! from Bega District News:

"Given the small passenger numbers, and the competition posed by a secondary airline on a route where Rex has historically seen passenger numbers which do not support viable operations for two carriers, Rex wishes to provide formal notification that we will withdraw from the Sydney/Merimbula route permanently," she wrote.
"We will be redeploying the Sydney Airport slots currently reserved for Merimbula to other destinations.
"The Melbourne/Merimbula service may also be equally impacted."

I wonder what will happen to Moruya, since Rex normally operates Merimbula/Moruya as a triangle route from Sydney.

 

[antycbr]

My guess is Rex were already thinking to reassign the slot to one of the 737 routes and this was an ideal opportunity to throw Qantas under the bus while doing so.

While the Sydney crowd are unable to go on their usual FNQ summer beach getaways I feel like the Merimbula would have enough demand for two carriers.

You can't reassign the slots at Sydney if they are one of the ringfenced slots for regional services, this baked into the Demand Management Act which is federal legislation.

No dice Rex.

 

[antycbr]

I agree, I bet you QFLink up their frequency once the news gets out.

Look at BNK - they're 4 daily now from a standing start. Plus JQ and VA as well.

 

[AIRwin]

Launch fare of $149 on sale until 12 October

 

[OZDUCK]

The only time I flew Sydney - Marimbula was in the 1990's for a work conference. We flew on Hazelton Airlines, I think, and more importantly on a Shorts 360. This was like flying in a giant furniture van - and it didn't seem to be much faster than one. However, because of the low and slow flights we got fabulous views over the NSW coast and hinterland. It was a one stop flight with virtually a touch n go in Batemans Bay. The take-off "run" was hilariously slow. It was altogether a fun trip.

 

[NR80]

Was hoping Qantas would announce flights to Griffith to Sydney. Griffith pax numbers are higher than Orange and Merimbula and Rex fares are very high despite their community fare. I don’t understand why they keep ignoring Griffith.

 

[antycbr]

Was hoping Qantas would announce flights to Griffith to Sydney. Griffith pax numbers are higher than Orange and Merimbula and Rex fares are very high despite their community fare. I don’t understand why they keep ignoring Griffith.

Would be a good hub for the region.

I think QF would also be considering Broken Hill.

 

[Mattg]

Would be a good hub for the region.

I think QF would also be considering Broken Hill.

That would be amazing! Rex has had a monopoly on that route for years. The prices reflect that, as does Rex's aggressive attitude towards local council negotiations. E.g. Barrier Daily Truth, Broken Hill's Daily Newpaper: Rex threat

 

[Melburnian1]

That would be amazing! Rex has had a monopoly on that route for years. The prices reflect that, as does Rex's aggressive attitude towards local council negotiations. E.g. Barrier Daily Truth, Broken Hill's Daily Newpaper: Rex threat

IIRC, on occasion I've observed Regional Express fares as high as A$1100 for SYD to BHQ (but can't remember if this was a single fare, or return).

 

[justinbrett]

I’m fairly certain getting more slots at Sydney won’t be a problem for the next year or two

 

[jakeseven7]

I’m fairly certain getting more slots at Sydney won’t be a problem for the next year or two

From the sheer fact to begin with that VA2 have basically ditched half their fleet yup agree and that’s before all the inevitable cuts by other airlines too.

 

[dajop]

IIRC, on occasion I've observed Regional Express fares as high as A$1100 for SYD to BHQ (but can't remember if this was a single fare, or return).

Maybe return? Currently ExpertFlyer shows the highest SYD-BHQ fare as $615.00 one way (Y FLEX fare). By way of contrast a shorter, intrastate monopoly QF Link route (SYD-MRZ) has a highest fare listed of $614.55 one way - and it’s only 55% of the distance. Another route out of Sydney where QF link is (assuming it restarts) the sole operator, SYD-BXG, has the highest fare listed as $822.54. It’s 3/4 of the SYD-BHQ distance.

The cheaper fares on SYD-MRZ seem to be about $35 cheaper on QF (interestingly Rex lowest fare not published on ExpertFlyer) so similar given the substantially shorter distances. And cheapest on SYD-BXG same as SYD-BHQ.

If QF successfully drive Rex out of Merimbula don’t expect them to be that much cheaper, if at all.