SIN - CBR - WLG SQ291/SQ292: quite good start

[Melburnian1]

The BITRE's October 2016 international air passenger statistics show (in Table 5 of the publication) quite reasonable support for the recently commenced Singapore - Canberra - Wellington flights SQ291 and SQ292 from Canberrans and others who make use of these RPT offerings:

http://bitre.gov.au/publications/ongoing/files/International_airline_activity_1610.pdf

In October 2016, SQ291 carried 2599 passengers from Singapore to Canberra or an average of 153 a flight.

68 passengers typically boarded in CBR for WLG (1163 for the month divided by 17 flights.)

Coming back, a similar number in WLG typically boarded with a destination of CBR: 72 was the average (17 flights, 1222 passengers.)

With 18 flights between CBR and SIN as departure is timetabled for after midnight during daylight saving (which commenced on 2 October 2016 in Oz), SQ292 carried 2011 passengers for October or about 111 a flight.

Given that the flights are new, that it always takes months for 'the market' (prospective passengers and even travel agents) to know about the offerings and with October not a peak month for travel (especially to Europe), the boardings and alightings in CBR are not bad at all.

We don't though have access to yield which is the determining factor as to whether flights are profitable.

These figures do not include SIN to WLG or vice versa passengers, so on some days or nights there could have been just as many travelling 'through' rather than just to the intermediate stop in CBR.

Do flight and cabin crews hop off ex SIN in CBR and stay in an hotel and then work CBR - WLG - CBR, and have another hotel stay before returning in a day or two to SIN, or do they work SIN - CBR - WLG, then an hotel and the same in reverse?

It will be interesting to see if CBR can attract further international flights, or whether among other constraints (including the perceived level of demand) some operators are troubled by the fog that can affect this airport during a typical winter.

 

[docjames]

I think the airline will be more focused on yield than loads only.

 

[Melburnian1]

docjames, would some of the market attracted be higher yielding politicians and public servants travelling for Australian to NZ Government face-to-face discussions and policy formulation?

Or would it mostly be international students and leisure travellers who are very low yielding?

 

[Eggsbenedict]

docjames, would some of the market attracted be higher yielding politicians and public servants travelling for Australian to NZ Government face-to-face discussions and policy formulation?

Or would it mostly be international students and leisure travellers who are very low yielding?

I believe SQ picked the 777-200 because it is more premium heavy than the A330 38 vs 30 because of the expectation for premium government and corporate flyers (happy to be correct on the numbers)

@Melburnian1 Qatar has announced direct flights CBR - DOH

 

[dajop]

@Melburnian1 Qatar has announced direct flights CBR - DOH

To be pedantic, they've announced an intention to have non-stop flights between CBR & DOH as part of the route expansions. No formal announcement yet of launch dates, timetable etc.

 

[Eggsbenedict]

To be pedantic, they've announced an intention to have non-stop flights between CBR & DOH as part of the route expansions. No formal announcement yet of launch dates, timetable etc.

Yes and they are notorious for making wild claims about new routes that never eventuate. Still based on the question I thought it was worth mentioning

 

[zainman]

Booked a friend of mine to fly this next week. Will ask him how how full he thought the flight was. He's quite happy to be flying directly into CBR and avoiding SYD!