QF to fly BENDIGO to SYD!

[Melburnian1]

Sounds like flights are starting again to Bendigo on December 7. And going with the daytime SYD-BXG 9:30, and 12:00 BXG-SYD roundtrip too.

While it's only temporary, these are poor times for businessmen and women, especially 1200 'high noon' back to SYD. Wonder why QFd couldn't immediately reintroduce the original schedule?

Not as if at present there are classic international flights arriving SYD at say 0500 to 0730 from which individuals connect to domestic flights at say 0930 hours, as the quarantine requirement puts paid to that.

 

[jakeseven7]

While it's only temporary, these are poor times for businessmen and women, especially 1200 'high noon' back to SYD. Wonder why QFd couldn't immediately reintroduce the original schedule?

Not as if at present there are classic international flights arriving SYD at say 0500 to 0730 from which individuals connect to domestic flights at say 0930 hours, as the quarantine requirement puts paid to that.

Probably not a lot of business travel happening yet...

But also our QF mates (we have loads now we employed so many during the stand down!!) said the prop fleet is in very high demand with all the new routes launched.....

 

[BgoFlyer]

Despite erratic border closures, snap lockdowns etc etc, passenger numbers are picking up on the SYD-BGO service. Mostly 3-4 return flights per week at present but some planes are seeing decent loadings. Encouraging.

 

[Melburnian1]

Despite erratic border closures, snap lockdowns etc etc, passenger numbers are picking up on the SYD-BGO service. Mostly 3-4 return flights per week at present but some planes are seeing decent loadings. Encouraging.

While it doesn't affect passengers travelling only between these two locations, Victorians are unable to enter at least three other states without undergoing quarantine, typically at the traveller's expense. So any 'beyond' passenger traffic is significantly inhibited.

Daniel Andrews has openly said he won't hesitate to initiate another 'snap lockdown' upon 'health advice' so that puts millions of residents off interstate travel by air or surface. I know people who were 'locked out' so once bitten, twice shy.

 

[BgoFlyer]

Getting loadings up around 80% either side of weekends now. In both directions.

At the end of the month it goes to 7 days/week with the old timetable, and in May it looks like a few midday flights each week as well.

 

[dylarr]

At the end of the month it goes to 7 days/week with the old timetable, and in May it looks like a few midday flights each week as well.

For the entire month of April, Qantas has also scheduled the Baby Q (Q200) to operate SYD/BXG, including during the busy Easter long weekend where a number of flights have already sold out or have very heavy loadings.

The Q300 returns in May.

 

[BgoFlyer]

For the entire month of April, Qantas has also scheduled the Baby Q (Q200) to operate SYD/BXG, including during the busy Easter long weekend where a number of flights have already sold out or have very heavy loadings.

The Q300 returns in May.

Yeah, typically 25-30+ on each flight at present.

There was a bit of a delay the other week when the prop hit a fruit bat on final approach into Bendigo (they are in plague proportions atm). The next morning's flight was delayed 3 hours until given the all-clear by an engineer....

 

[jakeseven7]

Yeah, typically 25-30+ on each flight at present.

There was a bit of a delay the other week when the prop hit a fruit bat on final approach into Bendigo (they are in plague proportions atm). The next morning's flight was delayed 3 hours until given the all-clear by an engineer....

That is actually incredible loads for a turboprop, they would be very happy with that assuming selling tix at a reasonable price, which from our flights in and out they aren't doing a huge amount of discounting there.

 

[dylarr]

Some great news for the Bendigo to Sydney route. From May 24, Qantas will add an additional daily return service - meaning there will be 14 return flights each week.

These extra flights have been in the system for a while now but the start date has been continuously pushed back throughout the last few months, most recently to July. The fact that they've now bought it forward and announced it shows there is great confidence in the route and also means there will be more capacity than pre-COVID.

Looking at the schedules, it appears the Q200 will be doing a bulk of the flying until later on this year when the Q300 takes over.

Ex SYD	Ex BXG
QF1409 Dep 9:30am, Arr 11:40am	QF1408 Dep 6:35am, Arr 8:35am
QF1407 Dep 6:10pm, Arr 8:20pm	QF1410 Dep 12:00pm, Arr 2:00pm

Details:

City welcomes more Qantas flights for Bendigo | City of Greater Bendigo

Media release April 23, 2021: City welcomes more Qantas flights for Bendigo

www.bendigo.vic.gov.au

Qantas adds second daily flight between Bendigo and Sydney after strong demand

Central Victoria's tourism and business sectors are celebrating after Qantas says it will soon add more than 500 seats to the route each week.

www.abc.net.au

The Council press release mentions that the Saturday QF1407 will arrive BXG at 5:15pm (instead of 8:20pm) and the Sunday QF1408 will depart BXG at 9:15am (instead of 6:35am), but I can't see these times in the reservation system yet so maybe they are still finalising the adjustments in the system. If that's the case, might give the overnighting crew on Saturday an opportunity to enjoy some of the great food Bendigo has to offer!

 

[jakeseven7]

That’s great news for Bendigo, the times I’ve used this route it’s been well patronised so hopefully it continues to build for them!

 

[BgoFlyer]

An interesting one overnight - QF1401 Syd-Mildura was cancelled and combined with QF1407 to Bendigo. i.e. SYD-BXG-MIL. This morning it was the reverse: MIL-BXG-SYD.

 

[jakeseven7]

An interesting one overnight - QF1401 Syd-Mildura was cancelled and combined with QF1407 to Bendigo. i.e. SYD-BXG-MIL. This morning it was the reverse: MIL-BXG-SYD.

Fun! Wish they sold that intentionally.

 

[TheInsider]

An interesting one overnight - QF1401 Syd-Mildura was cancelled and combined with QF1407 to Bendigo. i.e. SYD-BXG-MIL. This morning it was the reverse: MIL-BXG-SYD.

It's also been happening a few times with MEL-ABX-WGA or MEL-WGA-ABX.

Not as a scheduled thing, but as a thing when the Q300's break down.

 

[servicerequired]

MIL is MQL

 

[BgoFlyer]

Twice daily services are back up and running after Lockdown 4.0. Mostly using Dash 8-200 aircraft, although last Friday's evening service had 40 on board a -300.

 

[BgoFlyer]

Big announcement last week on new Terminal Building:

Flying high - funds secured for Bendigo Airport terminal expansion | City of Greater Bendigo

Media release January 14, 2022: Flying high - funds secured for Bendigo Airport terminal expansion

www.bendigo.vic.gov.au

https://twitter.com/x/status/1481792957716254720

 

[dylarr]

Big announcement last week on new Terminal Building:

Flying high - funds secured for Bendigo Airport terminal expansion | City of Greater Bendigo

Media release January 14, 2022: Flying high - funds secured for Bendigo Airport terminal expansion

www.bendigo.vic.gov.au

https://twitter.com/x/status/1481792957716254720

This is great news — glad to see this finally made it over the line. Would be awesome to see Qantas operate the Q400 into Bendigo, which this terminal upgrade paves the way for.

 

[jakeseven7]

Chairmans Lounge on the plan?

 

[AIRwin]

Chairmans Lounge on the plan?

After DRW and HBA...

 

[QF_Flyer]

Big announcement last week on new Terminal Building:

Flying high - funds secured for Bendigo Airport terminal expansion | City of Greater Bendigo

Media release January 14, 2022: Flying high - funds secured for Bendigo Airport terminal expansion

www.bendigo.vic.gov.au

https://twitter.com/x/status/1481792957716254720

Good news, didn't know this was even in the pipeline! Doubt it'll see a Qantas Club any time soon, but one can dream hey!