QF to drop another Perth Singapore schedule?

[Hopsta]

First time post, long time reader. I had hoped to post a great positive story for Qantas, but this story jumped to the front.
I am a Perth based, mainly international Platinum FF and was on the QF78 from Singapore to Perth on Thursday night. As I left the aircraft, I realised I forgot my duty free on the plane and kindly asked one of the QF staff to retrieve it for me. Anyway, whilst waiting for my item, one of the ground crew standing on the aerobridge said to another QF staff member: "haven't the loads been terrible on these flights lately, have you heard which flight they are going to drop", the other QF staff member, said "no I haven' heard".
Now I really hope that this is just a rumour, because I will be forced to travel on Singapore Airlines if there any more changes to the flight schedules out of Perth. I have noticed the loads to be quite high over the past 6 months out of Perth (my 8 return flights in that period), so I dont know what this person was referring to. Anyone else heard this might happen or what the loads are actually in/out of Perth?

 

[markis10]

Year on year inbound traffic is dropping by 12-15% each month new figures come out.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Not sure if they will drop it all together, during holiday periods both flights are constantly full (or overbooked). Perhaps a drop back in frequency or the 2nd flight becoming seasonal.

 

[Hopsta]

Thanks Markis10. A worrying trend. Now with SIA having 4 flights a day out of Perth, better metal and many options for connections into other Asia destinations, it does not surprise me that QF is having issues with this route. My colleagues have converted to SIA for Asia and Emirates for UK/Europe and it is looking like I might have to join them. Not looking forwardt to it, as QF and the QFF have looked after me for the past 10+ years.

 

[markis10]

Considering there is an average of 1200 pax a day and an average of seven flights for them to take, someone will be hurting.

 

[Comoman]

Working in the Petrochemical industry I can say that Emirates is #1 in popularity (due to Dubai and/or then non-stop to Houston) followed by SQ for Europe/Asia. Emirates also have good corporate deals.

I think I read somewhere that Emirates in going to increase capacity to Perth. SQ is always busy (especially at the front). Quite difficult to get a seat sometimes - even with 4 flights a day.

 

[wandering_fred]

I've been looking at SIN-PER-SIN sometime before the end of the year. Given the typical price differences on the two QF flights exSIN I would say that QF should be able to figure out that the 2330 flight is used (except as a last resort) only by connecting passengers. OTOH the 0900 flight (my choice of times before the re-schedule) was reasonably full.

Still wondering what the flights on MH (and UL) will offer schedule and price wise.

Happy wandering

Fred