When will Cathay Pacific return to Adelaide?

[Clayton]

As someone that enjoys international travel 2 - 3 times yearly and living in ADL where our esteemed national carrier doesn't see an adequate business model for their exceptional hard and soft products, I developed a fondness for CX for their reliable service and ready access to the rest of the world via easily obtained J class award bookings. Unfortunately they haven't returned to our skies so I've adopted QR and SQ as my new travel buddies , but eagerly await CX's return.

Does anyone have any insider knowledge of when we middle earth dwellers can expect a return to our skies?

 

[anyonebutqantas]

I also hope that CX resumes ADL service soon - it was always a good route for getting award availability.

 

[Captain Halliday]

Does anyone have any insider knowledge of when we middle earth dwellers can expect a return to our skies?

I have no inside knowledge.

You’re essentially asking for a CX rep with both the knowledge and willingness to disclose.

Tough ask.

But in a way there are clues in the first two posts of the thread:

easily obtained J class award bookings

always a good route for getting award availability.

Award inventory is typically seats an airline doesn’t think it can sell for cash.

The abundant availability pre-covid would indicate CX wasn’t selling enough revenue seats.

If that’s the case, perhaps there wasn’t much profit in ADL.

If my assumption is correct, then they may be unlikely to rush back.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news (or a bad educated guess).

 

[jase05]

CX was due to return in October this year but it’s been pushed back or maybe even halted. None of my contacts at the airport or in government have any inkling a return date anytime soon unfortunately.

 

[anyonebutqantas]

Probably also a lot of cargo carrying SA wine and food?

 

[Daver6]

I was wondering similar about at least daily flights to PER. Prior to Covid there were 10 flights per week. Not just four. Sunday night to HKG was pretty full. Return on a Thursday was at best 35% in the premium cabins. Not looking promising, but it's also a catch 22. If you don't have daily flights, you're also going to lose some business.

 

[jrfsp]

I was wondering similar about at least daily flights to PER. Prior to Covid there were 10 flights per week. Not just four. Sunday night to HKG was pretty full. Return on a Thursday was at best 35% in the premium cabins. Not looking promising, but it's also a catch 22. If you don't have daily flights, you're also going to lose some business.

They have now gone back to 6 weekly with daily from March

Hopefully the 3 other flights will come back as the current schedule doesn't connect well to some destinations

 

[Daver6]

They have now gone back to 6 weekly with daily from March

Hopefully the 3 other flights will come back as the current schedule doesn't connect well to some destinations

That's good news. I have to say that the flight times are horrible between PER and HKG.

 

[Clayton]

CX was due to return in October this year but it’s been pushed back or maybe even halted. None of my contacts at the airport or in government have any inkling a return date anytime soon unfortunately.

Thanks Jase05, its good to hear that someone in this forum has knowledgeable contacts. I had heard similar mentions of return in October, or in March 2024, and apparently CX is expected to return to full pre-Covid schedules in the next 12 months. If so ADL flights will resume sometime before December 2024, which will be a great outcome.

 

[Clayton]

I have no inside knowledge.

You’re essentially asking for a CX rep with both the knowledge and willingness to disclose.

Tough ask.

But in a way there are clues in the first two posts of the thread:





Award inventory is typically seats an airline doesn’t think it can sell for cash.

The abundant availability pre-covid would indicate CX wasn’t selling enough revenue seats.

If that’s the case, perhaps there wasn’t much profit in ADL.

If my assumption is correct, then they may be unlikely to rush back.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news (or a bad educated guess).

My recollection was that pre-Covid, CX award flights from most Australian ports to HKG were relatively available, not just from ADL. So the metric of award availability correlating inversely to profitability for the HKG-ADL route wasn't anymore in question than it was for MEL or PER or BNE to HKG.

Anyway as an ADL dweller it is aspirational to fly out of this home city directly to Northern Asia once CX makes a very welcome return.

 

[wandering_fred]

That's good news. I have to say that the flight times are horrible between PER and HKG.

For someone who does not actually live in the Perth metro area (but a few hours away in WA) the arrival times of almost all international flights into PER are AWFUL. And the MH 125 flight (x13) that does arrive in the middle of the afternoon (allowing for a drive home) earns nothing with QFF unless you can find a travel agent to ticket it. And connecting in DPS to PER has its own problems when wandering
Fred

 

[Daver6]

For someone who does not actually live in the Perth metro area (but a few hours away in WA) the arrival times of almost all international flights into PER are AWFUL. And the MH 125 flight (x13) that does arrive in the middle of the afternoon (allowing for a drive home) earns nothing with QFF unless you can find a travel agent to ticket it. And connecting in DPS to PER has its own problems when wandering
Fred

That's a really valid point you raise. About the only half decent international arrival would be some of the SQ flights or QF10 from LHR.

 

[anyonebutqantas]

MEL was always the hardest CX destination to find J availability on - even SYD was easier to get.

 

[colinsteven5373]

So this isnt a "trusted source" and I'll believe it when I see it. Mind you the CX signage is still out the front of ADL.
But availability dot com lists CX174 flights from ADL 31st March 2024.

 

[Hunter4vr]

So this isnt a "trusted source" and I'll believe it when I see it. Mind you the CX signage is still out the front of ADL.
But availability dot com lists CX174 flights from ADL 31st March 2024.

Tigerair signs are still up as well though….

 

[colinsteven5373]

Tigerair signs are still up as well though….

True, I'd forgotten about them. Woner who's sign was replaced by VietJet?

 

[Captain Halliday]

So this isnt a "trusted source" and I'll believe it when I see it. Mind you the CX signage is still out the front of ADL.
But availability dot com lists CX174 flights from ADL 31st March 2024.

Showing as twice weekly (Wed/Sun) on an A359, however it remains zeroed out.

 

[jase05]

Showing as twice weekly (Wed/Sun) on an A359, however it remains zeroed out.

I’m doubtful they will be back this year. I’m yet to find anyone that is anyone at the airport or government that has even the slightest of hint of if they will be returning soon