Qantas - what will Coronavirus mean in the medium term?

[Max Samuels]

Post #306

I would expect this has been repeated nationally.

HQ staff?

 

[Melburnian1]

HQ staff?

From memory they were the ones (about 300) flagged to be 'let go' prior to 'it.' So not directly related.

It'd be interesting to see how many staff in the past five years to 31 December QF (and JQ) had 'put on.' May well have been more than 300 in total.

 

[mrmerc500]

Flying from Sydney back to Perth Tonight, this is SYD around 6pm. Sad state of affairs right now.

 

[Melburnian1]

One of the small things QF said in its media release of 17 March 2020 announcing further flying reductions was that some passenger aircraft would operate as freight-only flights.

For A332s or B738s, is this generally an activity (assuming a reasonable level of demand, and perhaps the holds being full) that more than covers the cost of such a flight?

 

[Melburnian1]

Flying from Sydney back to Perth Tonight, this is SYD around 6pm. Sad state of affairs right now.

mrmerc500, yours is only a snapshot at a point in time, but if typical, it indicates to me that a '60 per cent domestic flying reduction' may not be sufficient.

As against that, many domestic flights still operated on Tuesday. It was noticeable that lower frequency routes often had nil cancellations.

 

[pauly7]

One of the small things QF said in its media release of 17 March 2020 announcing further flying reductions was that some passenger aircraft would operate as freight-only flights.

For A332s or B738s, is this generally an activity (assuming a reasonable level of demand, and perhaps the holds being full) that more than covers the cost of such a flight?

This is important, the world is not going to just stop no matter how much people whip themselves into a frenzy that it will. Freight is critical to keep flowing or we really are in a world of pain.

 

[I love to travel]

Have 4 domestic flighrs starting next Monday over a three week period. Waiting to see whether they are still happening.

 

[Must...Fly!]

This is important, the world is not going to just stop no matter how much people whip themselves into a frenzy that it will. Freight is critical to keep flowing or we really are in a world of pain.

Freight will keep flying. There is zero doubt about that. Once people begin to understand that while sectors of the economy will slow markedly, others will keep operating almost as normal or better - panic will begin to subside.

Our governments need to do more to inform people of this.

 

[jb747]

I don’t know the economics of underfloor freight in general. But, over the years there have been a number of freight only services, done on a regular basis, with passenger configured 767s and 747s. From some reading elsewhere, the various full freight operators are flat out.

 

[Melburnian1]

... From some reading elsewhere, the various full freight operators are flat out.

Logical, partly because of the decline in passenger flights that carry some freight.

 

[jase05]

I don’t know the economics of underfloor freight in general. But, over the years there have been a number of freight only services, done on a regular basis, with passenger configured 767s and 747s. From some reading elsewhere, the various full freight operators are flat out.

Can confirm freight is booming at the minute. Online shopping is going at a million miles an hour and getting bigger by the day.
I know my mob are running at full capacity with our own freighters and are using JQ for the excess

 

[jpp42]

Online shopping is going at a million miles an hour and getting bigger by the day.

My company is one of the major online shopping firms and has suggested they will hire up to 100,000 new casual staff over the next month (globally) to deal with the huge increase in online purchases and deliveries. This has to be good news for freight carriers of all types.

 

[get me outta here]

AJQ? Could that be a problem, are the airlines a weak link or will it be OK for freight?

Can confirm freight is booming at the minute. Online shopping is going at a million miles an hour and getting bigger by the day.
I know my mob are running at full capacity with our own freighters and are using JQ for the excess

 

[ja1]

One of the small things QF said in its media release of 17 March 2020 announcing further flying reductions was that some passenger aircraft would operate as freight-only flights.

For A332s or B738s, is this generally an activity (assuming a reasonable level of demand, and perhaps the holds being full) that more than covers the cost of such a flight?

Sadly no. A special purpose freighter is designed to fly this way (i.e just freight) but a passenger airliner doesn't make money by flying with an empty cabin and a full hold.

The economics are such that freight adds a lot to the profit line and is definitely lucrative but not to the point where they didn't need the passengers.

They may be able to fly some flights as freight only simply to keep cashflow going (where perhaps there are increased charges for transport or because the fuel excises and airport charges have been waived) but it isn't a sustainable model.

OK, online shopping will help keep freight models going for a while but as economic activity slows, you need people to have jobs and income to keep buying things online..

 

[jpp42]

I remember in the past, some airlines had "convertible" planes where the seats could be removed at reasonable short notice in case of increased freight volumes, and the cabin reconfigured to hold freight. This would be perfect for this situation. Has Qantas ever had these? Do other airlines have them today?

 

[jase05]

AJQ? Could that be a problem, are the airlines a weak link or will it be OK for freight?

No, most of the freight companies have a dedicated fleet of aircraft. Im tied up with the AP group so there are many levers in place to protect them, other companies might not be so lucky

 

[milehighclub]

Sadly no. A special purpose freighter is designed to fly this way (i.e just freight) but a passenger airliner doesn't make money by flying with an empty cabin and a full hold.

They absolutely do. I have operated many a 767 across the tasman back in the day empty. QF has been flying A330 also across the tasman empty SYD-AKL-CHC-SYD as recent as 2 weeks ago.

 

[Must...Fly!]

They absolutely do. I have operated many a 767 across the tasman back in the day empty. QF has been flying A330 also across the tasman empty SYD-AKL-CHC-SYD as recent as 2 weeks ago.

Indeed they have. Though ISTR the A330s being treated as uniquely suited to this work, because of their relatively large holds.

 

[Max Samuels]

I remember in the past, some airlines had "convertible" planes where the seats could be removed at reasonable short notice in case of increased freight volumes, and the cabin reconfigured to hold freight. This would be perfect for this situation. Has Qantas ever had these? Do other airlines have them today?

Remember the 747 combi? I think it was called the "SP" or something... Half pax, half cargo? One of them would really come in handy now...

Wow - how short-sighted are the boss people that run the world...

 

[Must...Fly!]

Remember the 747 combi? I think it was called the "SP" or something... Half pax, half cargo? One of them would really come in handy now...

Wow - how short-sighted are the boss people that run the world...

Typical passenger aircraft life span: 15-25 years

Last globally significant pandemic: 100 years ago

Last pandemic during global aviation era: Never

Sorry, but your suggestion is quite ludicrous when you look at the hard evidence.