What new routes would you like DJ to serve domestically?

[antycbr]

Hi,

With Virgin changing and going upmarket, and with a number of new gold members trying out Virgin services, I thought it might be interesting to speculate about gaps in the current domestic route structure.

We know that there's 18 new props on order - which seem tagged to replace E170 regional services (and possibly/probably the CBR-SYD shuttle). However, there's also a few gaps in the route structure for jet services.

Being based in Canberra the most obvious gap in services currently is direct service to Perth - it took a long time for Qantas to serve this route directly, so I wonder if they are considering adding it at some point in the future? Virgin has grown the market in CBR with service to OOL, TSV and HBA.

There must be other routes that Virgin could consider?

 

[russ]

SYD-DRW... The QF flight is often full

 

[Nigelinoz]

I would dearly love DJ to serve the ABX-MEL route,at the moment the only direct service is with Rex and whilst I am generally happy with their service a bit of competition wouldn't go astray,would be a perfect route for the new turboprops they will be ordering.
Cheers
N'oz

 

[Boof1]

Bring back HBA-ADL and use an E190 instead of a 73G. When DJ left after TT jumped onboard, many people were disappointed. Now TT are gone from the HBA-ADL route DJ should grab the chance while it is free of competitors and now they have the correct aircraft for the route (my opinion was they were using the wrong aircraft with the 73G at the time but didn't have enough Jungle Jets to do it).

Only condition I would like to add to this is please time the return sectors to fit in with the Perth direct services like this:

DJ??? HBA-ADL connection to DJ717 ADL-PER

and return

DJ714 PER-ADL connection to DJ??? ADL-HBA

DJ can do this with an arrival into ADL from HBA around 1300, and a departure to HBA from ADL around 1345 in line with the PER flights.

This would be a far better one stop service than the existing HBA-PER via MEL/SYD and give DJ a better timed day flight to and from HBA and PER. As it is now you are either up before the sun for morning services or red eye flights. It would also contribute to better loads on the HBA-ADL sectors. I think this is a win-win situation!! A direct flight to ADL and better connections to the west....

Cheers,

Boof

 

[Standby]

Generally I thinks DJ schedules between major ports are reasonable,although DRW from SYD & ADL are obvious gaps along with SYD or MEL & ADL to ASP. To be a true network carrier they have to have those ports.
The real interest will be what they do with the turbo props. A lot of current EMB markets will downguage to a better cost option,like it or not. Also QLD mining growth centres like ISA and GLT with the new gas project.Already hinted WA growth is also a no brainer.
Lots of opportunity out there but I wouldnt expect QF to just sit still whilst all this happened

 

[RB]

The runway at PQQ looks like being upgraded. The has been talk/rumour/hope that direct flights to Mel might eventuate.

 

[markis10]

More DRW-East Coast flights that mirror the timing of the MEL flight, leaving DRW at 6PM would offer a competitive advantage to business over the current QF options that leave at 1PM or thereabouts, not everyone wants to leave at midnight.

More milk run flights down the FNQ coast, even just one morning and one evening option including Gladstone in the mix., and a TSV-ISA connection. Also CNS to DRW in the morning coming back in the evening, a simple CNS-DRW-ASP-DRW-CNS would be a winner and allow inbound tourists to connect through to the NT without worrying about waiting to the afternoon.

 

[openseat]

I'd love for DJ to fly MEL-NOA. JQ looked at once, or that is what the local media thought, and rejected it. But I think it could be a good jungle jet route.

If the economics don't quite stack up, then I would suggest it be a milk run with a North Coast airport, like PQQ as has been suggested.

 

[GladstoneTim]

Definitely Gladstone to Brisvegas. Would need to have a couple of servcies a day. Would help break the QLink monopoly and the high fares attributable to the big industry paying and lack of competition. Interesting how the fare on the same plane ROK-GLT-BNE is cheaper than GLT-BNE on the exact same flight!

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Definitely Gladstone to Brisvegas. Would need to have a couple of servcies a day. Would help break the QLink monopoly and the high fares attributable to the big industry paying and lack of competition. Interesting how the fare on the same plane ROK-GLT-BNE is cheaper than GLT-BNE on the exact same flight!

I triple support that one. The Qantas monopoly on Gladstone is a joke. I always fly into/out of Rocky and drive to Gladstone and the cost all up is far less.

Virgin also needs to reinstate the additional daily services into/out of Proserpine. The market is there, the planes are full we need two morning flights and two afternoon flights.

 

[markis10]

I triple support that one. The Qantas monopoly on Gladstone is a joke. I always fly into/out of Rocky and drive to Gladstone and the cost all up is far less..

Depends how you time it and what you need to do, I have found two trips doing this sort of timing caters for my visit needs for both ROK and GLT, and when the ROK sale was on could be had for $149, the drive from ROK is boring and can be costly with the police presence and the frequent truck crashes:

 

[Deleted member 29185]

My last Gladstone trip would have been about $240 each way Qantas = $480 (from memory) to Gladstone Rtn yet Rocky rtn with Virgin was $130 + $96 car + $30 fuel = $256

My next Gladstone trip is Thursday. $714 - Rtn BNE -GLT (Qantas)

$198 - Rtn BNE - ROK (Virgin) + $100 car + $30 fuel = $328

I don't always have much notice nor much choice. I've never yet found a BNE - GLT with Qantas that suits my schedule that matches Virgin into/out of Rocky, but I do always look

Yet to cop a speeding ticket.....that's what cruise is for

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Ahhhh, I see your point, I just tried my Thurs schedule with your method and it's considerably cheaper, still $457 and the stopover would be tight but possibly doable. The later flight only has fully flexible which would take it to $669, but neither are as cost effective as Virgin ROK RTN.