Rockhampton: QFLink increase, JQ out

[oz_mark]

Interesting changes in central Qld

About Qantas - Media Room - Media Releases - QantasLink Boosts Capacity for Central Queensland

QantasLink announced today it would increase services to Mackay and Rockhampton in Central Queensland from 6 April 2010.
Under the enhanced schedule, the airline will operate:
* 24 weekly return services between Mackay and Brisbane, an increase of eight services per week; and
* 47 weekly return services between Rockhampton and Brisbane, an increase of six services per week.


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The increase in QantasLink services will be accompanied by changes to Jetstar's operations in Mackay and Rockhampton. The airline will increase weekly return Mackay-Brisbane services from 21 to 28 from 10 May 2010 and cease Rockhampton-Brisbane services on 9 May.

 

[samh004]

Good to see JQ diminishing their role a little, but will this mean their a/c are freed up for another route?

 

[Mal]

Good to see JQ diminishing their role a little, but will this mean their a/c are freed up for another route?

They appear to already have their a/c marked for redeployment to Brisbane-Mackay:

The airline will increase weekly return Mackay-Brisbane services from 21 to 28 from 10 May 2010 and cease Rockhampton-Brisbane services on 9 May.

Roughly the same flying time - 1:35 (MKY) vs 1:15 (ROK)

JQ were doing 7 returns / week BNE-ROK, so presume the plane is just switching destinations (although the departure time is going from 8:35am to 6:30am, so there must be some shuffling of flights unless they had a spare plane sitting in BNE).

I'm surprised that MKY is such a large JQ destination - mining boom I suppose.

I can't recall JQ dropping routes before and handing them back over to QF. Have there been any other examples?

 

[samh004]

I'm surprised that MKY is such a large JQ destination - mining boom I suppose.

I can't recall JQ dropping routes before and handing them back over to QF. Have there been any other examples?

This might seem obvious, but if it’s a mining boom, why don’t JQ fly to other mining towns in WA, instead of QF? Surely the miners can afford to pay for snacks on board.

 

[Mal]

This might seem obvious, but if it’s a mining boom, why don’t JQ fly to other mining towns in WA, instead of QF? Surely the miners can afford to pay for snacks on board.

I presume it's a utilisation issue with the planes. East Coast / "Golden Triangle" flights have short flight times so high utilisation of planes. Having to keep planes spare in Perth to do short hops back and forth may not be as economical.

 

[samh004]

I presume it's a utilisation issue with the planes. East Coast / "Golden Triangle" flights have short flight times so high utilisation of planes. Having to keep planes spare in Perth to do short hops back and forth may not be as economical.

There was another thread the other day about MEL and SYD about to start flying to somewhere in WA. It’s a longer route, but putting the miners on JQ services should reduce the number that qualify for QP access too, thus reducing QF’s costs overall.

 

[oz_mark]

There was another thread the other day about MEL and SYD about to start flying to somewhere in WA. It’s a longer route, but putting the miners on JQ services should reduce the number that qualify for QP access too, thus reducing QF’s costs overall.

It is easier to extract a premium fare if you fly under the Qantas brand than the Jetstar brand. And extracting premium fares on these routes is quite likely what will happen.

 

[markis10]

This might seem obvious, but if it’s a mining boom, why don’t JQ fly to other mining towns in WA, instead of QF? Surely the miners can afford to pay for snacks on board.

JQ dont have a crew base to support ops with a WA based plane AFAIK, I could be wrong but I understand the rotations are all east coast to east coast.

 

[anat0l]

There was another thread the other day about MEL and SYD about to start flying to somewhere in WA. It’s a longer route, but putting the miners on JQ services should reduce the number that qualify for QP access too, thus reducing QF’s costs overall.

You fool! :shock:

Don't give AJ more ideas about Jetstarising!

Besides, if you're going to beat the money out of mining clients, do as the others on this thread have suggested and fly it on QF instead. Besides, the large contracts that mining companies have are with QF (with some on DJ instead), not JQ. On long flights they will be expecting a meal (even if it is about the same standard as mess hall food), not having to cough up loose change to get a sandwich and candy bar (if they can actually get one!). Let's not even talk about bar.

 

[oz_mark]

Besides, if you're going to beat the money out of mining clients, do as the others on this thread have suggested and fly it on QF instead. Besides, the large contracts that mining companies have are with QF (with some on DJ instead), not JQ. On long flights they will be expecting a meal (even if it is about the same standard as mess hall food), not having to cough up loose change to get a sandwich and candy bar (if they can actually get one!). Let's not even talk about bar.

The bar is going to cost whichever airline it is, but given the other problems QF have had with drinking on other WA services, I wonder if it will be a light beer flight!

 

[samh004]

You fool! :shock:

Don't give AJ more ideas about Jetstarising!

I was thinking more about reducing numbers in the QP, but I see the flawed logic to that, and how this could also be bad for everyone else concerned.

 

[Joshua]

Oh darn

We are ticketed on that route a couple days after the pull out...

1) I was expecting to be stuck in ADL anyhow
2) It was a price match/beat of TT when they had $2 fares

Will be interesting to see how they treat a customer getting a 96.6% discount. Suddenly I'm more interested in taking the flights.

I understand there's a lot more too it, but this really leaves the bottom of the market open to TT. QF link already had oodles of flights to ROK, JQ just the daily. TT currently have BNE-ROK advertised for $28 on the top of their page hmmm...

 

[Mal]

Oh darn

We are ticketed on that route a couple days after the pull out...

Oh darn indeed ! Will be interesting to see if during re-accommodation you get put into a SC/Points earning class.

I understand there's a lot more too it, but this really leaves the bottom of the market open to TT. QF link already had oodles of flights to ROK, JQ just the daily. TT currently have BNE-ROK advertised for $28 on the top of their page hmmm...

Maybe Qantas/Jetstar doesn't care about the $28 or so type of patron on that route, and thinks they can a get $45 type of patron on MKY instead. And the Govt business / Meat Industry / other business will pay what QF wants for QantasLink flights.

With only one flight arriving/departing each day on JQ, the costs of maintaining ROK could also have been too high.

I don't think Qantas cares if they open up the bottom of the market to Tiger to play in all by themselves ... I sense both Virgin Blue and Qantas aren't as keen these days to play compete at that level.

 

[Chimpy]

I have booked some seats on JQ in July, the tickets were so cheap that I booked the two seats next to me as well. Just goes to show how much I like sitting next to people on these flights. Especially after a long overseas trip. It will certainly be interesting to see what happens in this case.

 

[Joshua]

Ok, my understanding is JQ hasn't pulled out of a route like this before so I'll post this up for whoever is interested. They appear to be doing well so far, doing the most important thing... giving the customer options.

The only thing is... what's with the email subject??? Doesn't anyone check these things first?

From: Jetstar Schedule Change
Subject: Important Information Regarding the United States Visa Waiver Program (ESTA)

Hi ABC XYZ,
We are sorry to advise you that Jetstar Airways will cease operations between Brisbane and Rockhampton from 10 May 2010.

We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience this necessary schedule change may cause you, and understand that changes to your travel plans can be frustrating.

We are working hard to minimise the impact on you as much as possible, and will be contacting you shortly in order to offer you and your travelling companions the following options:

a) Transfer onto a QantasLink flight between Brisbane and Rockhampton at no cost (subject to seat availability); or
b) A full refund and a $25 Jetstar travel voucher; or
c)Transfer onto a suitable Jetstar flight between Brisbane and Mackay* (*ground transportation costs to/from Rockhampton not included); or
d)The choice to transfer* onto a flight to any other Jetstar destination in Queensland**. (*a fare difference may apply but change fees would be waived and ** ground transportation costs to/from Rockhampton not included).


Please take some time to consider your options as once selected your new fare will be subject to standard Jetstar fare rules.

Our friendly reservations team will contact you next week to discuss the above travel options.
Yours Sincerely,


Jetstar Customer Care

A or B seem most useful, though I only booked the flight because I could price match, I actually have absolutely nothing to do in ROK. I'm interested in whether the voucher is per sector, per pax or per PNR. Will probably gratefully move onto QF, now just gotta wonder what fare bucket it will be booked as...

 

[oz_mark]

According to an article about possibly moving from Hobart as well, it is all about airport fees

The warning came in the wake of Jetstar's withdrawal of a service between Brisbane and Rockhampton which was blamed on airport pricing.

Jetstar in airport row Tasmania News - The Mercury - The Voice of Tasmania

 

[Mal]

According to an article about possibly moving from Hobart as well, it is all about airport fees

Funny how Tiger can sustain it (at least for the moment), but they can't... I think it's more than that as a sole reason - and I believe the fact they only had 1 flight / day was a contributing factor (eg check-in desk/staff/baggage etc made the whole cost non-viable).

Ryanair is well known for their threats against airports that increase prices or don't bow down to them. Looks like JQ has been learning from them!

 

[anat0l]

Ryanair is well known for their threats against airports that increase prices or don't bow down to them. Looks like JQ has been learning from them!

Whilst JQ does have its faults indeed, the world could always use less FR.

I'm so surprised how intimidated some airports can be to FR. It's got to be a joke.

 

[markis10]

According to an article about possibly moving from Hobart as well, it is all about airport fees



Jetstar in airport row Tasmania News - The Mercury - The Voice of Tasmania

Pretty slim possibility of pulling out of HBA when there are times they cannot meet the demand:

Hobart a no-fly zone Travel - The Mercury - The Voice of Tasmania

Its not like its one or two flights a day!

 

[pauly7]

Funny how Tiger can sustain it (at least for the moment), but they can't... I think it's more than that as a sole reason - and I believe the fact they only had 1 flight / day was a contributing factor (eg check-in desk/staff/baggage etc made the whole cost non-viable).

Ryanair is well known for their threats against airports that increase prices or don't bow down to them. Looks like JQ has been learning from them!

Yes its all just posturing. QF Group use JQ to scream about airport charges then if they get a reduction it passes onto the premium brands too.

There is zero chance of Jetstar pulling out of Hobart. QF Group do very well in Tassie, they've found a great balance between QF Link, QF and JQ to rake the money in.... There are actually rumours QF Link will start flying to HBA alongside QF in the future too....