Melburnian1
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Jun 7, 2013
- Posts
- 25,483
In the airline industry it's easy to make predictions that do not come to fruition.
Nonetheless, in the must read Friday only aviation section of the excellent 'The Australian' newspaper today, Virgin Atlantic claims that it may 'consider flying...to Melbourne' (as it only serves Sydney at present) and that its market share on the 'Kangaroo Route' from Australia to London had risen by 'two to three per cent' during the past year.
While the latter claim may be an exaggeration for an airline that only has a daily return flight between SYD and LHR, the airline's willlingness to have its GM Australia Mr Luke Fisher put his name to these claims is a further indication that QF's change to operating LHR flights via DXB rather than via SIN, HKG and BKK is unpopular.
We need a few more months of airline traffic data through Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics but in the midst of an Australian economy that is suffering from rising unemployment, a dysfunctional government, declining or static (and not very high) consumer 'confidence' and a business community that wants an election now to remove this uncertainty, Singapore Airlines (SQ) is introducing a fourth daily return flight between SIN and MEL. Due to other factors (the lifting of a previous ban by the European Union), Philippine Airlines (PR), which now flies from BNE, DRW, MEL, PER and SYD to MNL is likely to soon fly to AMS, LHR or LGW, CDG and other European airports (depending on the speed of local regulatory approvals and the availability of suitable metal). Malaysia Airlines (MH) has just announced that it will add DRW to its Australian served cities.
So you have the arguably best regarded carrier (SQ) and one that will offer competitive prices to Europe (Asia's first, PR) both either expanding or set to expand. Neither are likely to direct Australian-sourced or bound pasengers through DXB, AUH or DOH, yet QF must now do this due to its codeshare agreement with Emirates (EK).
Many of us are voting with our feet and wallets and looking forward to a full onboard menu that may include pork in line with our preference for it as one of a range of meats most of us consume at least occasionally (QF no longer serves it on its route through DXB) but more importantly, the culture of Asia in territories or countries such as Hong Kong, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand (including onboard their airlines) sits better with most Australians than a trip through the Middle East.
QF's initiation of through flights via DXB may prove to be a very big financial error. The expansion mooted or underway at different 'Kangaroo Route' price points by PR, SQ, MH and VS among others is evidence.
I steered a MEL - LHR passenger onto VS recently (via VA to SYD then VS to HKG and LHR). The individual said that VS was quite acceptable: it was punctual and the meals were fine in whY.
Nonetheless, in the must read Friday only aviation section of the excellent 'The Australian' newspaper today, Virgin Atlantic claims that it may 'consider flying...to Melbourne' (as it only serves Sydney at present) and that its market share on the 'Kangaroo Route' from Australia to London had risen by 'two to three per cent' during the past year.
While the latter claim may be an exaggeration for an airline that only has a daily return flight between SYD and LHR, the airline's willlingness to have its GM Australia Mr Luke Fisher put his name to these claims is a further indication that QF's change to operating LHR flights via DXB rather than via SIN, HKG and BKK is unpopular.
We need a few more months of airline traffic data through Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics but in the midst of an Australian economy that is suffering from rising unemployment, a dysfunctional government, declining or static (and not very high) consumer 'confidence' and a business community that wants an election now to remove this uncertainty, Singapore Airlines (SQ) is introducing a fourth daily return flight between SIN and MEL. Due to other factors (the lifting of a previous ban by the European Union), Philippine Airlines (PR), which now flies from BNE, DRW, MEL, PER and SYD to MNL is likely to soon fly to AMS, LHR or LGW, CDG and other European airports (depending on the speed of local regulatory approvals and the availability of suitable metal). Malaysia Airlines (MH) has just announced that it will add DRW to its Australian served cities.
So you have the arguably best regarded carrier (SQ) and one that will offer competitive prices to Europe (Asia's first, PR) both either expanding or set to expand. Neither are likely to direct Australian-sourced or bound pasengers through DXB, AUH or DOH, yet QF must now do this due to its codeshare agreement with Emirates (EK).
Many of us are voting with our feet and wallets and looking forward to a full onboard menu that may include pork in line with our preference for it as one of a range of meats most of us consume at least occasionally (QF no longer serves it on its route through DXB) but more importantly, the culture of Asia in territories or countries such as Hong Kong, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand (including onboard their airlines) sits better with most Australians than a trip through the Middle East.
QF's initiation of through flights via DXB may prove to be a very big financial error. The expansion mooted or underway at different 'Kangaroo Route' price points by PR, SQ, MH and VS among others is evidence.
I steered a MEL - LHR passenger onto VS recently (via VA to SYD then VS to HKG and LHR). The individual said that VS was quite acceptable: it was punctual and the meals were fine in whY.
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