Qatar launches WSI in December 2027

[elanshin]

There's also the possibility they're different aircraft, not necessarily the same one turning around, could be a touchdown at WSI then onto somewhere else, meanwhile another aircraft from elsewhere stopping at WSI on it's way back to Doha.

Yes, but that "somewhere else" is what half the threads speculation is right now.

 

[SeatBackForward]

Yes, but that "somewhere else" is what half the threads speculation is right now.

I think the most plausible explanation is "nowhere".

If it was a tag flight, they'd have made it part of the media release. WSI needs all the good news it can get for destinations.

Unless QR plan to fly empty, which seems illogical.

 

[SYD]

Neither Australia or Fiji would grant 5th freedom to NAN - it's already capacity restricted between AU & FJ carriers (granted this doesn't apply to WSI, but that doesn't mean they'd hand out 5th freedom). I think zero chance of it happening - FJ doesn't even like QF operating routes like BNE etc.

I don't see any other Pacific islands being in play either.

That’s why I said “technically” ie it’s possible(?) to get there and back but other than NZ, I couldn’t think of any other viable port that would warrant the expense.

But as a twist, what if VA “operated” WSI-NAN as a QR Wet Lease?

 

[elanshin]

I think the most plausible explanation is "nowhere".

If it was a tag flight, they'd have made it part of the media release. WSI needs all the good news it can get for destinations.

Unless QR plan to fly empty, which seems illogical.

I agree the most likely answer here is indeed park the plane at WSI all day.

That’s why I said “technically” ie it’s possible(?) to get there and back but other than NZ, I couldn’t think of any other viable port that would warrant the expense.

But as a twist, what if VA “operated” WSI-NAN as a QR Wet Lease?

If they want to consider that, they could do Domestic flights too. IMAGINE WSI - MEL in Qsuite - although I'm not sure if MEL T3/4 can handle a 777.

 

[markis10]

I suspect 14 hours will allow for crew rest and then return on active duty for the outbound flight.

 

[Saab34]

I suspect 14 hours will allow for crew rest and then return on active duty for the outbound flight.

I’d be very surprised if so. Sign off to Sign on would be even tighter at 12hrs, then factoring in the travel to hotel, getting down to 10hrs.

Pretty brutal after a ULH flight. No doubt legal, but I surely hope not.

Sounds a bit messy on a crewing front having a random 3 weekly WSI flight mixed in with the Mascot crewing group assuming they will crew these somewhat together.

 

[markis10]

Sounds a bit messy on a crewing front having a random 3 weekly WSI flight mixed in with the Mascot crewing group assuming they will crew these somewhat together.

I doubt WSI crew will be mixed with the SYD crew. QR like to keep them close which is why they use a hotel a few 100m from Rwy 25 threshold at Syd. WSI they are likely to use Preston’s.

 

[TomVexille]

I’d be very surprised if so. Sign off to Sign on would be even tighter at 12hrs, then factoring in the travel to hotel, getting down to 10hrs.

Pretty brutal after a ULH flight. No doubt legal, but I surely hope not.

Sounds a bit messy on a crewing front having a random 3 weekly WSI flight mixed in with the Mascot crewing group assuming they will crew these somewhat together.

Given it starts at 3x week, it's more like 38 hours, so this could be plausible