Australian Aviation Thread - September 2017

qf789 · Thu Aug 31, 2017 10:22 am

Welcome to the September edition of the Australian Aviation Thread. Please continue to add your comments below. Link to last thread viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1369941

Link to QF Fleet Thread

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1368283

Latest on QF 787-9's

VH-ZNA has rolled out and currently undergoing ground tests
First delivery 17th October, will overnight in Hawaii, arrives in SYD 20 October
Planned Delivery dates - #2 - 1 December, #3 - 31 December, #4 - 22 February 18, #5 - 6 July 18, #6 - 22 August 18
Domestic sectors to be operated 6 November to 14 December - PER-MEL and MEL-SYD
MEL-LAX (QF95/96) from 15 Dec - 6 weekly, 5 weekly 3 May -27 June 18
MEL-LAX (QF93/94) will see 3 weekly A388 and 2 weekly 789 12 Feb -24 March 18
MEL-PER-LHR from 24 March 18
BNE will be base for frames 5-8
First BNE based 789 will be named Greta Barrier Reef

Summary of last thread

Increased security measures at airports
VA streamlines MEL-HKG schedule
SQ adds A380 back to MEL for December
MH looking at double daily PER (737’s) and BNE (resume 18/19)
Some Scoot flights being subbed by SQ
QF plans to reapply for QF/AA JV
QF multiple A380 technical issues
JQ announce HBA-ADL
First Q300 in updated livery revealed
CZ to go 5 weekly in ADL over Christmas/CNY period
TG to go double daily A359 to MEL from 1 Feb 18
VA financial woes
PER aims to services to PVG and Japan within 2 years
QF, VA and JQ bill police for fighting crime
2 717’s to move from WA to QLD, deployed on BNE-ADL/CNS
QF to upgrade some HBA flights from 717 to 738 from mid Dec to late March
VA to roll out WIFI on A332’s and 77W’s by mid 2019
VA receives ACCC approval for alliance with HNA group
VA to offer free and fee WIFI
VA receives authorisation for TT to operate services to the US
VA 787 vs A350
City of Kalgoorlie/Boulder threatens to start its own airlines unless QF/VA drop their fares
Alliance announces 37% increase in profit
PER-KUL downgraded to 738 for NW17/18
SQ to upgrade 3 of 4 flights to BNE to A359
QF frequency increases over Christmas
QF leads on time performance domestically for FY16/17
Norwegian seeks traffic rights EZE-SYD and EZE-PER
QFA380 visits PHX for the first time
Weather delays at SYD
BNE reports 6.9% lift in international passengers FY16/17
QF not happy with redevelopment of HBA
JQ under fire for sending passenger bags to wrong destination
JQ to begin MEL-CGO 2 weekly from 6 Dec
MF to start MEL-HGH-XMN from 14 Dec
VA says some VARA routes are unsustainable, fares likely to rise
QF unlocks reward business and first class flights on El Al
Seasonal MU PVG-CNS returns
MU too operate 77W to SYD and MEL during summer
SYD currently consulting airlines about T1 expansion and operating international flights from T2/T3
Enquiry into airfares into regional routes in WA
Interim report on D7237 PER-KUL
AIrAsiaX looking at resuming ADL over next 6-8 months, CBR and CNS possible new routes, Increase existing routes OOL, SYD, MEL
QF future ULH routes
QF announces plans to do non stop East Coast to London and New York by 2022, challenges both Airbus and Boeing
QF announces refurbishment of A380’s beginning Q2 2019
QF full year results
QF to upgrade MEL domestic business and QF Club lounges
QF to refurb last 2 A332’s
QF restructures leadership team from November
QF PER-South Africa market
Crew Rests on QF A332’s
Ongoing QF 787-9 discussion
KE upgrades SYD to 748 from 1/9
Samoa Airways to start 2 weekly SYD from mid Nov
QF ongoing feud with TSV airport
Both QF and VA cut FF ties with Air Berlin
QF to reroute SYD-DXB-LHR to SYD-SIN-LHR from 25 March 18

Qantas16 · Thu Aug 31, 2017 10:52 am

It will be interesting to see what QF does with the current QF51/52 BNE-SIN timetable.

As it currently stands, the QF timetable in April next year to SIN will be:

SYD-SIN-LHR
QF001 SYD1555 – 2215SIN2355 – 0650+1LHR 388 D
QF002 LHR2115 – 1725+1SIN1930+1 – 0510+2SYD 388 D

MEL-SIN
QF035 MEL1155 – 1755SIN 388 D
QF037 MEL1615 – 2225SIN 332 D

QF036 SIN1955 – 0515+1MEL 388 D
QF038 SIN2350 – 0930+1MEL 332 D

QF051 BNE1200-1815SIN 330 D
QF052 SIN2050-0615BNE+1 330D

QF071 PER1150-1720SIN 73H/330 D
QF072 SIN1830-2345PER 73H/330 D

The problem is that you can't make QF51/52 line up with QF1/2 both ways without a ~5hour layover. However, given PER flights won't line up either way (without a dreadful 3am arrival in PER) and they will have direct flights, you could adjust the SIN-PER flight to being an overnight, thus allowing:

QF051 BNE1540-2155SIN
QF072 SIN2355-PER0510

QF071 PER1150-1720SIN
QF52 SIN1935-0500BNE

This way BNE-SIN-LHR only has a 2 hour layover each way. It would require PER-SIN being a daily A330 but would allow QF to be more competitive in BNE-LHR (if it's a big enough market to worry about). As it stands, a 5 hour layover in SIN is hardly appealing. Obviously those pax could also be routed via PER if needed as well.

qf789 · Thu Aug 31, 2017 11:22 am

Qantas16 wrote:
It will be interesting to see what QF does with the current QF51/52 BNE-SIN timetable.

As it currently stands, the QF timetable in April next year to SIN will be:

SYD-SIN-LHR
QF001 SYD1555 – 2215SIN2355 – 0650+1LHR 388 D
QF002 LHR2115 – 1725+1SIN1930+1 – 0510+2SYD 388 D

MEL-SIN
QF035 MEL1155 – 1755SIN 388 D
QF037 MEL1615 – 2225SIN 332 D

QF036 SIN1955 – 0515+1MEL 388 D
QF038 SIN2350 – 0930+1MEL 332 D

QF051 BNE1200-1815SIN 330 D
QF052 SIN2050-0615BNE+1 330D

QF071 PER1150-1720SIN 73H/330 D
QF072 SIN1830-2345PER 73H/330 D

The problem is that you can't make QF51/52 line up with QF1/2 both ways without a ~5hour layover. However, given PER flights won't line up either way (without a dreadful 3am arrival in PER) and they will have direct flights, you could adjust the SIN-PER flight to being an overnight, thus allowing:

QF051 BNE1540-2155SIN
QF072 SIN2355-PER0510

QF071 PER1150-1720SIN
QF52 SIN1935-0500BNE

This way BNE-SIN-LHR only has a 2 hour layover each way. It would require PER-SIN being a daily A330 but would allow QF to be more competitive in BNE-LHR (if it's a big enough market to worry about). As it stands, a 5 hour layover in SIN is hardly appealing. Obviously those pax could also be routed via PER if needed as well.

With the changes announced today they will have 1 A330 free from QF5/6 plus another A330 freed up from MEL-SIN 3 days a week

I would not be surprised if QF look at increasing BNE.

Where PER is concerned I had originally thought about QF upgrading QF71-72 from 738 to A332 however rather than do that they could add the 2nd daily which runs during peak periods-Dec & Jan and sometimes on selected days only

This is the schedule QF77/78 is running at Christmas time

QF77 PER1615-1945SIN 738 D
QF78 SIN2340-500+1PER 738 D

qf789 · Thu Aug 31, 2017 11:56 am

BITRE International figures out for June

Batik which launched PER-DPS
Inbound LF 41.9%
Outbound LF 90.8%

JQ Vietnam Flights
Inbound LF 82.9%
Outbound LF 90.3%

ADL-NAN started first flight 30 June
on first flight there were 48 passengers inbound and 123 outbound

https://bitre.gov.au/publications/ongoi ... y_1706.pdf

qf789 · Thu Aug 31, 2017 1:02 pm

The A330 freed up from changes to SIN will be deployed on a new Asian destination

It will also free up an Airbus A330 aircraft to fly to a new Asian destination.

http://www.airlineratings.com/news/qant ... ates-deal/

QF resuming ADL-SIN has apparently been ruled out (according to once of the comments on AusBt)

qf789 · Thu Aug 31, 2017 1:22 pm

Good news for planespotters, Sheps Mound at SYD has officially been opened

http://australianaviation.com.au/2017/0 ... eps-mound/

c933103 · Thu Aug 31, 2017 1:35 pm

Seems like the Donghai Airlines' proposal to start SZX-DRW still haven't get approval from CAAC

HM7 · Thu Aug 31, 2017 1:55 pm

Would daily BNE-DFW be feasible?

bunumuring · Thu Aug 31, 2017 2:17 pm

qf789 wrote:
Good news for planespotters, Sheps Mound at SYD has officially been opened

http://australianaviation.com.au/2017/0 ... eps-mound/

Awesome news!
Now to convince my kids that a Father's Day weekend in Sydney (read: the mound) is necessary!
Cheers,
Bunumuring

redroo · Thu Aug 31, 2017 9:24 pm

qf789 wrote:
Qantas16 wrote:
It will be interesting to see what QF does with the current QF51/52 BNE-SIN timetable.

As it currently stands, the QF timetable in April next year to SIN will be:

SYD-SIN-LHR
QF001 SYD1555 – 2215SIN2355 – 0650+1LHR 388 D
QF002 LHR2115 – 1725+1SIN1930+1 – 0510+2SYD 388 D

MEL-SIN
QF035 MEL1155 – 1755SIN 388 D
QF037 MEL1615 – 2225SIN 332 D

QF036 SIN1955 – 0515+1MEL 388 D
QF038 SIN2350 – 0930+1MEL 332 D

QF051 BNE1200-1815SIN 330 D
QF052 SIN2050-0615BNE+1 330D

QF071 PER1150-1720SIN 73H/330 D
QF072 SIN1830-2345PER 73H/330 D

The problem is that you can't make QF51/52 line up with QF1/2 both ways without a ~5hour layover. However, given PER flights won't line up either way (without a dreadful 3am arrival in PER) and they will have direct flights, you could adjust the SIN-PER flight to being an overnight, thus allowing:

QF051 BNE1540-2155SIN
QF072 SIN2355-PER0510

QF071 PER1150-1720SIN
QF52 SIN1935-0500BNE

This way BNE-SIN-LHR only has a 2 hour layover each way. It would require PER-SIN being a daily A330 but would allow QF to be more competitive in BNE-LHR (if it's a big enough market to worry about). As it stands, a 5 hour layover in SIN is hardly appealing. Obviously those pax could also be routed via PER if needed as well.

With the changes announced today they will have 1 A330 free from QF5/6 plus another A330 freed up from MEL-SIN 3 days a week

I would not be surprised if QF look at increasing BNE.

Where PER is concerned I had originally thought about QF upgrading QF71-72 from 738 to A332 however rather than do that they could add the 2nd daily which runs during peak periods-Dec & Jan and sometimes on selected days only

This is the schedule QF77/78 is running at Christmas time

QF77 PER1615-1945SIN 738 D
QF78 SIN2340-500+1PER 738 D

I'm with you mate. Can't see the 71/72 being re timed but I can see a return of the 77/78.

Everything old is new again !!!

So pleased the Singapore stopover is coming back. Now one can fly to London on qantas metal (not emirates gold and fake walnut) directly or via Singapore.

Winner winner chicken dinner!

smi0006 · Thu Aug 31, 2017 10:31 pm

Air Canada goes year round to Melbourne;

https://www.ausbt.com.au/air-canada-pla ... er-flights

VirginFlyer · Thu Aug 31, 2017 10:49 pm

qf789 wrote:
Good news for planespotters, Sheps Mound at SYD has officially been opened

http://australianaviation.com.au/2017/0 ... eps-mound/

That's really great news - last time I was in Sydney I saw the area was a construction site, and thought that might mean it was no longer a spotting location, so this is great to hear. It is even better to see Shep's memory being honoured like this. Will there be a place to keep cold goat's milk though?

V/F

MooLor · Thu Aug 31, 2017 11:26 pm

qf789 wrote:
The A330 freed up from changes to SIN will be deployed on a new Asian destination

It will also free up an Airbus A330 aircraft to fly to a new Asian destination.

http://www.airlineratings.com/news/qant ... ates-deal/

QF resuming ADL-SIN has apparently been ruled out (according to once of the comments on AusBt)

MEL-BKK would be my tip, if BKK counts as a 'new destination'. Seems a bit of a hole in the network right there, and not much competition. Would hurt JQ though.

China seems a bit saturated with cheap 'tourist' fares. My non-Qantas-bashing question is, is there an untapped (by QF) Aus - China route with premium potential?

VA82 · Thu Aug 31, 2017 11:50 pm

Can't recall if it had previously been mentioned, but both CX (CX156 and CX157 with CX146 via CNS to remain A333) and SQ (SQ255 and SQ245 with SQ265 to remain as B722) have loaded A359 flights for BNE starting from early/mid next year!

CHI2DFW · Thu Aug 31, 2017 11:54 pm

HM7 wrote:
Would daily BNE-DFW be feasible?

Talk to those that predicted DFW-HKG on CX's beer run.

QF ran DFW-BNE-SYD, but dropped it for the nonstop. Not sure how many people deplaned in BNE (local and connections). Would love to see it some day. QF is opening a 787 base in BNE and the planes have to go somewhere.

qf789 · Fri Sep 01, 2017 12:39 am

smi0006 wrote:
Air Canada goes year round to Melbourne;

https://www.ausbt.com.au/air-canada-pla ... er-flights

Forward bookings must be promising on the seasonal route. The year round service will begin in June 18 so we will see the seasonal operating this summer.

waoz1 · Fri Sep 01, 2017 1:16 am

Air NZ flight from Perth to Auckland diverted to Adelaide.... "passenger incident"

http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/air-n ... y8ei4.html

qf789 · Fri Sep 01, 2017 1:18 am

VA has just taken delivery of its next 738, currently on its way to Australia VH-YFZ

https://twitter.com/AeroimagesChris/sta ... 6332123136

waoz1 · Fri Sep 01, 2017 1:21 am

qf789 wrote:
The A330 freed up from changes to SIN will be deployed on a new Asian destination

It will also free up an Airbus A330 aircraft to fly to a new Asian destination.

http://www.airlineratings.com/news/qant ... ates-deal/

QF resuming ADL-SIN has apparently been ruled out (according to once of the comments on AusBt)

I noticed the Perth-Singapore schedules on the Qantas site are all over the place 10 times a week then 14 then back down to 7 for most of next year. Could they put the a330 on that route if they are going back to daily?

Sydscott · Fri Sep 01, 2017 2:15 am

Qantas16 wrote:
The problem is that you can't make QF51/52 line up with QF1/2 both ways without a ~5hour layover. However, given PER flights won't line up either way (without a dreadful 3am arrival in PER) and they will have direct flights, you could adjust the SIN-PER flight to being an overnight, thus allowing:

QF051 BNE1540-2155SIN
QF072 SIN2355-PER0510

QF071 PER1150-1720SIN
QF52 SIN1935-0500BNE

This way BNE-SIN-LHR only has a 2 hour layover each way. It would require PER-SIN being a daily A330 but would allow QF to be more competitive in BNE-LHR (if it's a big enough market to worry about). As it stands, a 5 hour layover in SIN is hardly appealing. Obviously those pax could also be routed via PER if needed as well.

2 thoughts on this:

1) Maybe QF doesn't want to line BNE up with the new SIN service and will rely on EK to still be the most convenient choice for BNE bound pax?;
2) Maybe there will be further re-work of the schedule towards the end of next year when the 789's start to arrive and are based out of BNE.

To be honest, if QF was going to re-build SIN as part of a funnel for LHR then I'd have thought a second daily SIN flight would be in order. That way you're carrying the Asia bound pax on the first flight, and those connecting to the various Partners via SIN, and the second flight is carrying LHR bound pax. That being said it's 1 A380 a day and I doubt there will be much room for BNE bound pax on there given it seems to be designed to connect SYD and MEL bound pax. If I was from BNE I'd be flying to PER and going to LHR that way.

Sydscott · Fri Sep 01, 2017 2:17 am

waoz1 wrote:
qf789 wrote:
The A330 freed up from changes to SIN will be deployed on a new Asian destination

It will also free up an Airbus A330 aircraft to fly to a new Asian destination.

http://www.airlineratings.com/news/qant ... ates-deal/

QF resuming ADL-SIN has apparently been ruled out (according to once of the comments on AusBt)

I noticed the Perth-Singapore schedules on the Qantas site are all over the place 10 times a week then 14 then back down to 7 for most of next year. Could they put the a330 on that route if they are going back to daily?

Lets not forget that PER's schedule doesn't need to connect into the LHR bound aircraft from SIN because you'll have the PER-LHR direct service. So QF's schedule will probably remain optimised for the O&D and Asian connecting traffic it currently has on that route.

waoz1 · Fri Sep 01, 2017 3:04 am

Qantas to commence discounted airfares from Regional WA towns to Perth somewhere between 10-30%

https://thewest.com.au/travel/air-aviat ... b88586128z

qf789 · Fri Sep 01, 2017 5:08 am

HU adds 2 weekly SZX-CNS from 19 Dec

http://www.routesonline.com/news/38/air ... -dec-2017/

qf789 · Fri Sep 01, 2017 5:13 am

VA plans services to Apia from mid November, 2 weekly from SYD and weekly from BNE

http://australianaviation.com.au/2017/0 ... -to-samoa/

RyanairGuru · Fri Sep 01, 2017 5:16 am

[twoid][/twoid]

qf789 wrote:
VA plans services to Apia from mid November, 2 weekly from SYD and weekly from BNE

http://australianaviation.com.au/2017/0 ... -to-samoa/

To be clear, the existing routes are being moved from the Virgin Samoa certificate to Virgin Australia. From a passenger perspective this change is meaningless.

Qantas16 · Fri Sep 01, 2017 6:16 am

RyanairGuru wrote:
[twoid][/twoid]
qf789 wrote:
VA plans services to Apia from mid November, 2 weekly from SYD and weekly from BNE

http://australianaviation.com.au/2017/0 ... -to-samoa/

To be clear, the existing routes are being moved from the Virgin Samoa certificate to Virgin Australia. From a passenger perspective this change is meaningless.

This almost vindicates the Samoan gov. withdrawing from the partnership as the routes must be sustainable without subsidy. It doesn't support the Samoan gov. launching their own airline again though...

zkncj · Fri Sep 01, 2017 8:32 am

RyanairGuru wrote:
[twoid][/twoid]
qf789 wrote:
VA plans services to Apia from mid November, 2 weekly from SYD and weekly from BNE

http://australianaviation.com.au/2017/0 ... -to-samoa/

To be clear, the existing routes are being moved from the Virgin Samoa certificate to Virgin Australia. From a passenger perspective this change is meaningless.

Didn't think that Virgin Samoa had an AOC anyway? and that it was just an virtual airline that's flights we're operated by originally Pacific Blue NZ, which then was Virgin Australia (NZ) Ltd followed by the current VA South East Asia Ltd. Virgin Samoa has really was nothing more than an branding tool, it barely would make as airline. At one stage there registered office was an store in an Auckland Westfield shopping small.

mariner · Fri Sep 01, 2017 8:48 am

Qantas16 wrote:
This almost vindicates the Samoan gov. withdrawing from the partnership as the routes must be sustainable without subsidy. It doesn't support the Samoan gov. launching their own airline again though...

I think the Samoan routes were profitable, at least latterly - Virgin paid the Samoan shareholders a nice little dividend. Or maybe it was a palm greasing to persuade the Samoans not to walk away from the deal, but why would Virgin do that if the routes weren't making money, and why would they continue the routes under their own steam?

http://www.samoaobserver.ws/en/04_12_20 ... t-$57m.htm

"Virgin to pay govt. $5.7m"

The Samoans believed it was not enough - it should have been a lot more - and that the airline should have been bringing more tourists to the islands with more flights. The Samoans believed that Virgin Australia and Air New Zealand were in cahoots to keep seats low and thus fares high and that Air New Zealand, at least, had learned its lesson from the revival of Polynesian.

http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/ ... al-carrier

"Samoa PM says Virgin and Air NZ awoken by national carrier"

I doubt that is entirely true, but Air New Zealand has increased seats to Samoa (by 13%), and this whole kerfuffle did start to boil to the surface at around the time Air NZ CEO Luxon was voicing his dissatisfaction with Virgin Australia.

One can only hope that the new version of the airline - Polynesian that was, Samoa Airways that is - will have learned from its own mistakes of the past. As to the AOC, presumably is using the old Polynesian AOC, which, presumably again, is owned by the Samoan government

mariner

TN486 · Fri Sep 01, 2017 10:08 am

waoz1 wrote:
Qantas to commence discounted airfares from Regional WA towns to Perth somewhere between 10-30%

https://thewest.com.au/travel/air-aviat ... b88586128z

Well done QF, although I can see a government hand in this. I suspect this will put the pressure on the airport operators to come to the party as well. I hope for the customers sake this trial works.

NZ321 · Fri Sep 01, 2017 1:59 pm

Any rumours on what the new Asian destination for the A333 will be?

zkncj · Fri Sep 01, 2017 7:25 pm

mariner wrote:
[

"Samoa PM says Virgin and Air NZ awoken by national carrier"

I doubt that is entirely true, but Air New Zealand has increased seats to Samoa (by 13%), and this whole kerfuffle did start to boil to the surface at around the time Air NZ CEO Luxon was voicing his dissatisfaction with Virgin Australia.

One can only hope that the new version of the airline - Polynesian that was, Samoa Airways that is - will have learned from its own mistakes of the past. As to the AOC, presumably is using the old Polynesian AOC, which, presumably again, is owned by the Samoan government

mariner

Isn't that just apart of NZ's current increasing of short-haul seats across most ex-AKL routes? by introducing more use of the 777/787 now that the 767 is gone.

mariner · Fri Sep 01, 2017 8:23 pm

zkncj wrote:

Isn't that just apart of NZ's current increasing of short-haul seats across most ex-AKL routes? by introducing more use of the 777/787 now that the 767 is gone.

That may be an aspect of it, but I donl't think NZ is the prime mover here. I think it's taking advantage of a favourable situation .

Other parties are more heavily involved, including the Work Bank, who set up the Virgin Samoa deal in the first place. In the early days there were all sorts of rumours and even promises - there were whispers of non-stop SYD-APW-LAX, and other exotic routes, all sweet music to Samoan ears, but whether it was actually said or whether it was what the Samoans wanted to hear is unknown to me. IIn any event, none of that happened and the driving forced here is the Samoan view that they have been duped - and that they can run a Samoan airline better than a bunch of Aussies. Some quite powerful people think there are Samoa traditions and customs that must be followed and a little study of what happened to the old Polynesian airlines helps.

And it can cut both ways - Virgin Samoa isn't the only airline to run foul of Borghetti's grandiose ego. Air NZ and CEO Luxon had a few issues in that regards. LOL.

mariner

qf789 · Sun Sep 03, 2017 11:03 am

I have heard on the grapevine that an airline (from Asia) that currently does not fly to PER yet has been in town evaluating the airport over the past week or so

waoz1 · Sun Sep 03, 2017 11:26 am

qf789 wrote:
I have heard on the grapevine that an airline (from Asia) that currently does not fly to PER yet has been in town evaluating the airport over the past week or so

So not China Eastern looking at Shanghai then?

qf789 · Sun Sep 03, 2017 11:33 am

waoz1 wrote:
qf789 wrote:
I have heard on the grapevine that an airline (from Asia) that currently does not fly to PER yet has been in town evaluating the airport over the past week or so

So not China Eastern looking at Shanghai then?

I don't know, that's all I have been told, I did ask about MU but only got an airline from Asia response

ben175 · Sun Sep 03, 2017 12:51 pm

qf789 wrote:
I have heard on the grapevine that an airline (from Asia) that currently does not fly to PER yet has been in town evaluating the airport over the past week or so

If not MU, the only possibilities would be JL/NH to NRT, CA to PEK or VN to SGN.

Unless it's something way out of the box like a subsidised flight to a secondary Chinese city, but again, PVG is way more realistic. I wonder if Hong Kong Airlines would ever look at PER to give CX a run for their money?

qf789 · Sun Sep 03, 2017 12:55 pm

ben175 wrote:
qf789 wrote:
I have heard on the grapevine that an airline (from Asia) that currently does not fly to PER yet has been in town evaluating the airport over the past week or so

If not MU, the only possibilities would be JL/NH to NRT, CA to PEK or VN to SGN.

Unless it's something way out of the box like a subsidised flight to a secondary Chinese city, but again, PVG is way more realistic. I wonder if Hong Kong Airlines would ever look at PER to give CX a run for their money?

Hong Kong Airlines is not possible as CX has used all the available rights in the bilateral between SYD/BNE/MEL/PER to HKG

qf002 · Sun Sep 03, 2017 1:18 pm

NZ321 wrote:
Any rumours on what the new Asian destination for the A333 will be?

It won't be an A333, it will be an A332 (which limits their options considerably without the rumoured international configuration).

The plan in the short-term might be to use the spare capacity to allow refurbishments of EBG/L and/or upgrades to some aircraft to allow longer flights.

skyhawkmatthew · Sun Sep 03, 2017 2:11 pm

VA82 wrote:
Can't recall if it had previously been mentioned, but both CX (CX156 and CX157 with CX146 via CNS to remain A333) and SQ (SQ255 and SQ245 with SQ265 to remain as B722) have loaded A359 flights for BNE starting from early/mid next year!

CNS and BNE are being delinked: Thu, Fri, Sun, Mon will now be 155/150 HKG-BNE-HKG; Tues, Wed, Sat will be 157/156 HKG-CNS-HKG.

redroo · Sun Sep 03, 2017 9:42 pm

QF PER to NRT would be nice. Even JAL or ANA would do.

waoz1 · Mon Sep 04, 2017 12:52 am

New WA government announces annual $85 million tourism spend
They are close to sealing deal with Silk Air for a Broome - Singapore flights (which is great for the town).
In addition they are looking at getting new airlines from southern and eastern china as well as japan with discussions already been held.

http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/tourism ... 5dab758b1a

qf789 · Mon Sep 04, 2017 12:58 am

Japan airlines started non stop flight to MEL over the weekend

http://australianaviation.com.au/2017/0 ... melbourne/

pusserchef · Mon Sep 04, 2017 1:31 am

If QF were to order the ULH aircraft, how long could it be before it is in country and flying? As their proposed flights from Sydney to London direct or to New York is only 4 years away, is QF chomping at the bit a tad too early? Also would the A321NEO be a suitable aircraft for some of the heavier domestic routes and also may pose more direct competition against ANZ on the trans tasman routes?

USAOZ · Mon Sep 04, 2017 2:31 am

mariner wrote:
zkncj wrote:

Isn't that just apart of NZ's current increasing of short-haul seats across most ex-AKL routes? by introducing more use of the 777/787 now that the 767 is gone.

That may be an aspect of it, but I donl't think NZ is the prime mover here. I think it's taking advantage of a favourable situation .

Other parties are more heavily involved, including the Work Bank, who set up the Virgin Samoa deal in the first place. In the early days there were all sorts of rumours and even promises - there were whispers of non-stop SYD-APW-LAX, and other exotic routes, all sweet music to Samoan ears, but whether it was actually said or whether it was what the Samoans wanted to hear is unknown to me. IIn any event, none of that happened and the driving forced here is the Samoan view that they have been duped - and that they can run a Samoan airline better than a bunch of Aussies. Some quite powerful people think there are Samoa traditions and customs that must be followed and a little study of what happened to the old Polynesian airlines helps.

And it can cut both ways - Virgin Samoa isn't the only airline to run foul of Borghetti's grandiose ego. Air NZ and CEO Luxon had a few issues in that regards. LOL.

mariner

heard that something similar to SYD/APW/LAX is being looked at right now, as an alternative way to get to LAX, but not from SYD. They wouldn't tell me where from.

Makes sense though. It could operate in a similar way to FJ's & NZ's flights from Australia to USA, which seem to attract a lot of business, primarily I assume, due to fact that in most cases, they are cheaper than nonstops. Geography plays a big part, especially for FJ. Presume an A330-200 or -300 can fly NAN/LAX & LAX/NAN without any weight restrictions whatsoever.

tullamarine · Mon Sep 04, 2017 3:34 am

pusserchef wrote:
If QF were to order the ULH aircraft, how long could it be before it is in country and flying? As their proposed flights from Sydney to London direct or to New York is only 4 years away, is QF chomping at the bit a tad too early? Also would the A321NEO be a suitable aircraft for some of the heavier domestic routes and also may pose more direct competition against ANZ on the trans tasman routes?

Given neither Boeing or Airbus has an aircraft that can do these super ULH routes as yet, there is no timeframe for delivery. 2021 is QF's wish but that it all it is at this stage.

The A321NEO is a definite option for QF particularly as JQ has a swag of unallocated NEO orders currently. It all depends on which way QF goes in its replacement for the 738 fleet which will probably commence by 2021. It is also likely that VA will decide to vary its MAX orders replacing some MAX8s with MAX10s which would allow for a greater premium config on domestic-triangle, trans-continental and trans-Tasman services.

eta unknown · Mon Sep 04, 2017 5:19 am

qf789 wrote:
I have heard on the grapevine that an airline (from Asia) that currently does not fly to PER yet has been in town evaluating the airport over the past week or so

I know who it is- a little out of left field and not that exciting, but I guess it's an extra notch in the PER belt. The monopoly carrier on the existing city pair will be peeved...

RyanairGuru · Mon Sep 04, 2017 5:34 am

eta unknown wrote:
qf789 wrote:
I have heard on the grapevine that an airline (from Asia) that currently does not fly to PER yet has been in town evaluating the airport over the past week or so

I know who it is- a little out of left field and not that exciting, but I guess it's an extra notch in the PER belt. The monopoly carrier on the existing city pair will be peeved...

I guess that narrows it down a bit. We know it can't be Hong Kong Airlines due to the lack of available capacity, and Tokyo, Shanghai, and Beijing are all unserved markets. It can't be Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, or Denpasar as they have multiple daily operators.

By my count this leaves: Jakarta, Bangkok, Guangzhou, Kota Kinabalu. I can't see a situation where another Chinese carrier would be permitted (or have the desire to) challenge China Southern on CAN-PER. Kota Kinabalu will be lucky to maintain the one service it already has, I can't see any airlines jumping at the bit to get into that market. So that leaves Bangkok (Thai AirAsia X or NokScoot) or Jakarta (Batik Air or Indonesia Air Asia).

Obzerva · Mon Sep 04, 2017 5:34 am

eta unknown wrote:
qf789 wrote:
I have heard on the grapevine that an airline (from Asia) that currently does not fly to PER yet has been in town evaluating the airport over the past week or so

I know who it is- a little out of left field and not that exciting, but I guess it's an extra notch in the PER belt. The monopoly carrier on the existing city pair will be peeved...

I guess the use of the word monopoly rules out DPS :lol:

waoz1 · Mon Sep 04, 2017 6:31 am

RyanairGuru wrote:
eta unknown wrote:
qf789 wrote:
I have heard on the grapevine that an airline (from Asia) that currently does not fly to PER yet has been in town evaluating the airport over the past week or so

I know who it is- a little out of left field and not that exciting, but I guess it's an extra notch in the PER belt. The monopoly carrier on the existing city pair will be peeved...

I guess that narrows it down a bit. We know it can't be Hong Kong Airlines due to the lack of available capacity, and Tokyo, Shanghai, and Beijing are all unserved markets. It can't be Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, or Denpasar as they have multiple daily operators.

By my count this leaves: Jakarta, Bangkok, Guangzhou, Kota Kinabalu. I can't see a situation where another Chinese carrier would be permitted (or have the desire to) challenge China Southern on CAN-PER. Kota Kinabalu will be lucky to maintain the one service it already has, I can't see any airlines jumping at the bit to get into that market. So that leaves Bangkok (Thai AirAsia X or NokScoot) or Jakarta (Batik Air or Indonesia Air Asia).

What other services could be out of Jakarta as Batik and Indo Air Asia both fly to Perth currently and it was one that doesn't fly here currently.
So does it put it back to Bangkok....

ben175 · Mon Sep 04, 2017 6:34 am

eta unknown wrote:
qf789 wrote:
I have heard on the grapevine that an airline (from Asia) that currently does not fly to PER yet has been in town evaluating the airport over the past week or so

I know who it is- a little out of left field and not that exciting, but I guess it's an extra notch in the PER belt. The monopoly carrier on the existing city pair will be peeved...

Spill the beans!

I'm going to say either Thai AirAsia X or NokScoot to BKK.

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