Australian Aviation Thread - October 2017

qf789 · Sat Sep 30, 2017 12:36 pm

Welcome to the October edition of the Australian Aviation Thread. Please continue to add your comments below. Link to last thread viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1372589

Link to QF Fleet Thread

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1368283

Latest on QF 787-9's

VH-ZNA Is currently undergoing flight testing
First delivery 17th October, will overnight in Hawaii, arrives in SYD 20 October, QF7879 will arrive in SYD around 7am
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 Great Barrier Reef

qf789 · Sat Sep 30, 2017 2:40 pm

3 extra services on ADL-MEL today (2 x A332 and 1 x 738)

http://theqantassource.com/qantas-b737- ... ide-extra/

http://theqantassource.com/qantas-a330- ... ide-extra/

http://theqantassource.com/qantas-a330- ... ide-extra/

1 extra SYD-TSV (738)

http://theqantassource.com/qantas-b737- ... lle-extra/

qf789 · Sat Sep 30, 2017 5:35 pm

Video of flyover of MCG by VA

https://twitter.com/7AFL/status/913979809172037632

qf789 · Sun Oct 01, 2017 3:34 am

VA checkin system suffers a meltdown, flights are currently delayed/grounded

http://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-up ... 56739bc8a9

redroo · Sun Oct 01, 2017 1:20 pm

qf789 wrote:
VA checkin system suffers a meltdown, flights are currently delayed/grounded

http://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-up ... 56739bc8a9

Anyone got any idea what the cause of the meltdown was?

VA82 · Sun Oct 01, 2017 1:37 pm

redroo wrote:
qf789 wrote:
VA checkin system suffers a meltdown, flights are currently delayed/grounded

http://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-up ... 56739bc8a9

Anyone got any idea what the cause of the meltdown was?

Virgin are citing an Optus technical fault

qf789 · Sun Oct 01, 2017 2:46 pm

A couple extra flights for QF today due to grand finals this weekend

VH-EBB did a MEL-ADL-MEL rotation

http://theqantassource.com/qantas-a330- ... e-extra-2/

VH-VXT did a SYD-TSV-SYD rotation

http://theqantassource.com/qantas-b737- ... lle-extra/

qf789 · Sun Oct 01, 2017 2:58 pm

Students stranded on Cocos Island as VA has cancelled the past 4 flights to the island

https://thewest.com.au/news/wa/virgin-a ... b88616104z

Gasman · Mon Oct 02, 2017 12:13 am

Pure class in seat 1A on QF155 last Thursday. In fairness to the crew, they did ask this munter to take his feet down (but not to put socks on, which would've been nice). Ashamed to note he had a New Zealand passport

https://photos.app.goo.gl/qm7cDvxVj4POuoPE2

HM7 · Mon Oct 02, 2017 12:43 am

Will the BNE based 787s start international flights the day of their delivery or is there a familiarization period?

MooLor · Mon Oct 02, 2017 12:44 am

Gasman wrote:
Pure class in seat 1A on QF155 last Thursday. In fairness to the crew, they did ask this munter to take his feet down (but not to put socks on, which would've been nice). Ashamed to note he had a New Zealand passport

https://photos.app.goo.gl/qm7cDvxVj4POuoPE2

There's a 'shaming' website or Facebook page full of photos like that. Mostly photos of nasty entitled brats IMO.

What do you do if there's a pair of cheesy feet between your seats / on the back of your armrest? You know the type of person that would do that is not going to react well to a polite request to move their feet.

waoz1 · Mon Oct 02, 2017 1:07 am

A few unhappy parents

Students stuck on Cocos Island (tho not a bad spot to be stuck). After Virgin Australia has cancelled 4 flights the last few days claiming bad weather and lack of crew.

https://au.news.yahoo.com/wa/a/37307460 ... s-islands/

RyanairGuru · Mon Oct 02, 2017 1:12 am

HM7 wrote:
Will the BNE based 787s start international flights the day of their delivery or is there a familiarization period?

Neither. Subsequent deliveries will not be doing domestic 'familiarisation' trips, but similarly the aircraft won't be pushed into passenger operations straight off the factory flaw as they will go through Qantas engineering first for indoctrination. It will depend on the agreement with Boeing and other vendors how much on the aircraft is completed after delivery.

planemanofnz · Mon Oct 02, 2017 1:47 am

qf789 wrote:
Students stranded on Cocos Island as VA has cancelled the past 4 flights to the island

Speaking of which, why does Qantas leave service to remote Australian territories like Christmas Island, Cocos Island and Norfolk Island to Virgin Australia, Air New Zealand and others?

Separately, it also strikes me how Qantas appear to be fine with letting AirNorth dominate flights to Dili - a destination which seems to be able to justify very high prices:

Currently, only NT airline AirNorth operate a service between Darwin and Dili, leaving the cost of flights high.

On Thursday, the NT News revealed flights originating in the Territory were some of the most expensive in the country.

Gardua Indonesia are supposedly being courted to establish Darwin - Dili flights too.

See:
- http://www.ntnews.com.au/business/east- ... bece835efa.
- http://www.ntnews.com.au/business/cheap ... 628d556cff.

Cheers,

C.

HM7 · Mon Oct 02, 2017 2:04 am

RyanairGuru wrote:
HM7 wrote:
Will the BNE based 787s start international flights the day of their delivery or is there a familiarization period?

Neither. Subsequent deliveries will not be doing domestic 'familiarisation' trips, but similarly the aircraft won't be pushed into passenger operations straight off the factory flaw as they will go through Qantas engineering first for indoctrination. It will depend on the agreement with Boeing and other vendors how much on the aircraft is completed after delivery.

About how long does this process usually take?

Gemuser · Mon Oct 02, 2017 2:19 am

planemanofnz wrote:
qf789 wrote:
Students stranded on Cocos Island as VA has cancelled the past 4 flights to the island

Speaking of which, why does Qantas leave service to remote Australian territories like Christmas Island, Cocos Island and Norfolk Island to Virgin Australia, Air New Zealand and others?

Separately, it also strikes me how Qantas appear to be fine with letting AirNorth dominate flights to Dili - a destination which seems to be able to justify very high prices:
.

Cocos & Christmas Islands are under contract to the Federal government, VA won the last contract. QF do fly to Norfolk Is from Australia but not from AKL. Dili I have no idea.

Gemuser

luftaom · Mon Oct 02, 2017 2:54 am

I thought NZ were doing AKL-Norfolk Is.-SYD and back the same way with a A320 a couple of times a week?

redroo · Mon Oct 02, 2017 3:14 am

VA82 wrote:
redroo wrote:
qf789 wrote:
VA checkin system suffers a meltdown, flights are currently delayed/grounded

http://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-up ... 56739bc8a9

Anyone got any idea what the cause of the meltdown was?

Virgin are citing an Optus technical fault

Mmm. It shouldn't be possible for a vendor failure to bring down your whole check in.

jupiter2 · Mon Oct 02, 2017 3:37 am

luftaom wrote:
I thought NZ were doing AKL-Norfolk Is.-SYD and back the same way with a A320 a couple of times a week?

They are, QF haven't done Norfolk Is since they retired the DC-4. QF do serve Lord Howe Is, with Qantas Link Dash 8's.

LamboAston · Mon Oct 02, 2017 4:06 am

jupiter2 wrote:
luftaom wrote:
I thought NZ were doing AKL-Norfolk Is.-SYD and back the same way with a A320 a couple of times a week?

They are, QF haven't done Norfolk Is since they retired the DC-4. QF do serve Lord Howe Is, with Qantas Link Dash 8's.

Only NLK-SYD now. They pulled out of AKL-NLK. Air Nauru operated flights for a paper airline for a few months, and those flights are about to stop from being unprofitable.

QF only serve Lord Howe Island with the Q200s. Only 2 Q300s have ever been to Lord Howe Island - ZK-NEA and NEC.

zkncj · Mon Oct 02, 2017 4:55 am

LamboAston wrote:
jupiter2 wrote:
luftaom wrote:
I thought NZ were doing AKL-Norfolk Is.-SYD and back the same way with a A320 a couple of times a week?

They are, QF haven't done Norfolk Is since they retired the DC-4. QF do serve Lord Howe Is, with Qantas Link Dash 8's.

Only NLK-SYD now. They pulled out of AKL-NLK. Air Nauru operated flights for a paper airline for a few months, and those flights are about to stop from being unprofitable.

QF only serve Lord Howe Island with the Q200s. Only 2 Q300s have ever been to Lord Howe Island - ZK-NEA and NEC.

NZ also operate NLK-BNE weekly - and twice weekly at busy times.

eta unknown · Mon Oct 02, 2017 5:14 am

planemanofnz wrote:
qf789 wrote:
Students stranded on Cocos Island as VA has cancelled the past 4 flights to the island

Speaking of which, why does Qantas leave service to remote Australian territories like Christmas Island, Cocos Island and Norfolk Island to Virgin Australia, Air New Zealand and others?

Separately, it also strikes me how Qantas appear to be fine with letting AirNorth dominate flights to Dili - a destination which seems to be able to justify very high prices:

Currently, only NT airline AirNorth operate a service between Darwin and Dili, leaving the cost of flights high.

On Thursday, the NT News revealed flights originating in the Territory were some of the most expensive in the country.

Gardua Indonesia are supposedly being courted to establish Darwin - Dili flights too.

C.

The number of DRW-DIL pax is low, hence QF quite happy to let Air North operate the service. Don't hold your breath on the GA service, even possibly with an ATR...

Qantas16 · Mon Oct 02, 2017 5:24 am

planemanofnz wrote:
qf789 wrote:
Students stranded on Cocos Island as VA has cancelled the past 4 flights to the island

Speaking of which, why does Qantas leave service to remote Australian territories like Christmas Island, Cocos Island and Norfolk Island to Virgin Australia, Air New Zealand and others?

Separately, it also strikes me how Qantas appear to be fine with letting AirNorth dominate flights to Dili - a destination which seems to be able to justify very high prices:

Currently, only NT airline AirNorth operate a service between Darwin and Dili, leaving the cost of flights high.

On Thursday, the NT News revealed flights originating in the Territory were some of the most expensive in the country.

Gardua Indonesia are supposedly being courted to establish Darwin - Dili flights too.

Flights that are contract will likely go to the lowest bidder and profit margins are minimal. Particularly back when the contracts were up last the mining boom was in full swing and QF likely had better uses for the limited aircraft... maybe now things would be different.

As for DIL, QF and Air North have a close relationship and codeshare. They also operate the flight with E170s, which QF don't have a similar size to except the Q300s/400s... and IIRC they don't fly them to DRW at present.. so would require a new base for the fleet.

ben175 · Mon Oct 02, 2017 1:07 pm

With TT now operating PER-MEL/SYD/BNE, are we close to seeing them make a return on PER-ADL? I'm actually surprised they launched BNE before to be honest.

Would love to see JQ or TT launch PER-ASP or PER-DRW, fares to the NT can be pretty high from WA.

qf789 · Tue Oct 03, 2017 1:38 am

Thai Airways has finally started operating A359 to MEL. There are also no plans for the A359 to operate to SYD

https://www.ausbt.com.au/thai-airways-b ... to-bangkok

log0008 · Tue Oct 03, 2017 9:51 am

Previously unreported

Tianjin Airlines applied 2 wkly Tianjin - Zhengzhou - Sydney from Jan 2018, 3 wkly A330

https://mobile.twitter.com/Airlineroute ... 2937731072

SYDSpotter · Tue Oct 03, 2017 10:11 am

qf789 wrote:
Thai Airways has finally started operating A359 to MEL. There are also no plans for the A359 to operate to SYD

https://www.ausbt.com.au/thai-airways-b ... to-bangkok

It'd be a big drop in capacity if they replaced the 744 with an A359. I wonder what TG's plans are with SYD going forward with the 744's as they surely are due to be retired from TG's fleet in the next few years. I don't see an A380 operating to SYD, so probably a 77W unless they operate an additional frequency into SYD (do they have the rights?).

Thai77w · Tue Oct 03, 2017 10:55 am

My money for TG is on double 77W daily and during peaks upgraded to A380 (1 x daily)

EK413 · Tue Oct 03, 2017 11:44 am

Thai77w wrote:
My money for TG is on double 77W daily and during peaks upgraded to A380 (1 x daily)

I'll love to see TG A380's on the BKK-SYD route but TG have redirected the big bus on European routes FRA, CDG, LHR.

EK413

qf789 · Tue Oct 03, 2017 11:55 am

Qantas restricts guess access to Melbourne Qantas Club lounge

https://www.ausbt.com.au/qantas-restric ... lub-lounge

qf789 · Tue Oct 03, 2017 11:58 am

VA to experiment with biofuels on flights out of BNE over the next 2 years

https://www.businessinsider.com.au/virg ... ne-2017-10

qf789 · Tue Oct 03, 2017 12:03 pm

Police taser man who tried to sneak onto a JQ flight from MEL today

the 30-year-old man approached Jetstar staff on Tuesday afternoon to try and purchase a ticket to Cambodia.
He then crawled through the baggage carousel opening and into a secure bag room area of the airport.
The man then made his way across the tarmac toward a Jetstar 787 Dreamliner and broke glass on the plane to try and get into the aerobridge.
But the captain was at the plane door and confronted him.
The Australian Federal Police then arrived and tasered the man.

https://au.news.yahoo.com/vic/a/3732779 ... e-airport/

EK413 · Tue Oct 03, 2017 1:03 pm

qf789 wrote:
Police taser man who tried to sneak onto a JQ flight from MEL today

the 30-year-old man approached Jetstar staff on Tuesday afternoon to try and purchase a ticket to Cambodia.
He then crawled through the baggage carousel opening and into a secure bag room area of the airport.
The man then made his way across the tarmac toward a Jetstar 787 Dreamliner and broke glass on the plane to try and get into the aerobridge.
But the captain was at the plane door and confronted him.
The Australian Federal Police then arrived and tasered the man.

https://au.news.yahoo.com/vic/a/3732779 ... e-airport/

Interesting how he managed to break glass on the plane. ?!?

EK413

qf789 · Tue Oct 03, 2017 3:45 pm

According to Sky News, on Thursday there will be a special COAG meeting on terrorism where leaders will discuss implementing facial recognition technology in Australian airports

http://www.skynews.com.au/news/politics ... ports.html

qf789 · Tue Oct 03, 2017 5:18 pm

Looks like the A332's MH will be leasing wont be flying to Australia as they want to operate the same business class on all Australian routes

https://www.ausbt.com.au/malaysia-airli ... o-auckland

waoz1 · Wed Oct 04, 2017 2:56 am

Has there been any movement on the T3 upgrade at Perth Airport. Not seen any plans or updates.
Just wondered how they were going seeing we are only 6months away from Perth-London flights.

jrfspa320 · Wed Oct 04, 2017 4:05 am

"Has there been any movement on the T3 upgrade at Perth Airport. Not seen any plans or updates.
Just wondered how they were going seeing we are only 6months away from Perth-London flights."

There are some building works going on in the T3 check-in area at the moment, with some jetstar flights checking in in T4. I would presume the new lounge will be where the old VA / Ansett loune was?

smi0006 · Wed Oct 04, 2017 4:41 am

jrfspa320 wrote:
"Has there been any movement on the T3 upgrade at Perth Airport. Not seen any plans or updates.
Just wondered how they were going seeing we are only 6months away from Perth-London flights."

There are some building works going on in the T3 check-in area at the moment, with some jetstar flights checking in in T4. I would presume the new lounge will be where the old VA / Ansett loune was?

That was a tiny dark space, I hope not. There were plans for an outdoor area, could this be facilitated in that same space?

Any updates on the LHR lounge?

qf789 · Wed Oct 04, 2017 5:19 am

BITRE for July now available

VA MEL-HKG LF 8804% outbound, 61.4% inbound

https://bitre.gov.au/publications/ongoi ... y_1707.pdf

downdata · Wed Oct 04, 2017 5:24 am

qf789 wrote:
BITRE for July now available

VA MEL-HKG LF 8804% outbound, 61.4% inbound

https://bitre.gov.au/publications/ongoi ... y_1707.pdf

looks like melb is fast overtaking syd on international passenger routes

F100Flyer · Wed Oct 04, 2017 5:35 am

ben175 wrote:
With TT now operating PER-MEL/SYD/BNE, are we close to seeing them make a return on PER-ADL? I'm actually surprised they launched BNE before to be honest.

Would love to see JQ or TT launch PER-ASP or PER-DRW, fares to the NT can be pretty high from WA.

I too was surprised by the introduction of PER-BNE... I use the service weekly and can say it has been full to the brim every single time since July. Of course load factor doesn't necessarily mean profit/loss. I wonder what effect this is having on VA/QF.

log0008 · Wed Oct 04, 2017 5:48 am

downdata wrote:
qf789 wrote:
BITRE for July now available

VA MEL-HKG LF 8804% outbound, 61.4% inbound

https://bitre.gov.au/publications/ongoi ... y_1707.pdf

looks like melb is fast overtaking syd on international passenger routes

While on % terms Melbourne is growing faster than Sydney, due to Sydney's massive base it is actually adding more passengers per month/year over Melbourne

VA seems to of slotted into HKG ok, (QF789 your inbound and outbound is around the wrong way)

Here is how it compare to CX and QF (nation wide)

QF: 91 inbound - 69 outbound
CX: 94 inbound - 70 outbound
VA: 88 inbound - 61 outbound

Of the other new routes, Vietnam (from MEL and SYD) seems to be going great for JQ with 92.4% on inbound and 81.1% outbound

smi0006 · Wed Oct 04, 2017 5:48 am

qf789 wrote:
BITRE for July now available

VA MEL-HKG LF 8804% outbound, 61.4% inbound

https://bitre.gov.au/publications/ongoi ... y_1707.pdf

Random rumour I heard today is VA 330 pilots have been conducting sim session landing into HNL in preparation for launch ex-MEL. It was a case of a ‘friend heard’, not sure on the requirement for sim session prior to a new route - however there is no full service airline on the route, and I’m not sure I could see HA digesting another Aussie route so soon after BNE. Not sure they’d have the aircraft if they plan to launch anymore HKG or Chinese routes.

Thai77w · Wed Oct 04, 2017 7:00 am

[photoid][/photoid]

EK413 wrote:
Thai77w wrote:
My money for TG is on double 77W daily and during peaks upgraded to A380 (1 x daily)

I'll love to see TG A380's on the BKK-SYD route but TG have redirected the big bus on European routes FRA, CDG, LHR.

EK413

In the past 12 months and into the future TG are being more flexible with their capacity. LHR and FRA in particular see aircraft changes to demand.

They fly them to NRT up to 3 daily during Sakura season, HND 744s before reducing to 777/333 mixtures. I’ll say the same will happen to SYD. It will be ala KE, OZ etc... a period of a few weeks not months.

eamondzhang · Wed Oct 04, 2017 7:07 am

smi0006 wrote:
qf789 wrote:
BITRE for July now available

VA MEL-HKG LF 8804% outbound, 61.4% inbound

https://bitre.gov.au/publications/ongoi ... y_1707.pdf

Random rumour I heard today is VA 330 pilots have been conducting sim session landing into HNL in preparation for launch ex-MEL. It was a case of a ‘friend heard’, not sure on the requirement for sim session prior to a new route - however there is no full service airline on the route, and I’m not sure I could see HA digesting another Aussie route so soon after BNE. Not sure they’d have the aircraft if they plan to launch anymore HKG or Chinese routes.

If this happens, I would think it's a pretty desperate sign that VA wanted to move its A330 away from Transcon routes. JQ currently flies it 4x weekly; I personally don't think the market would be big enough for two carriers. IMHO VA would have a better chance by flying to somewhere Southeast Asia or Japan than HNL.

Michael

kriskim · Wed Oct 04, 2017 7:25 am

eamondzhang wrote:
smi0006 wrote:
qf789 wrote:
BITRE for July now available

VA MEL-HKG LF 8804% outbound, 61.4% inbound

https://bitre.gov.au/publications/ongoi ... y_1707.pdf

Random rumour I heard today is VA 330 pilots have been conducting sim session landing into HNL in preparation for launch ex-MEL. It was a case of a ‘friend heard’, not sure on the requirement for sim session prior to a new route - however there is no full service airline on the route, and I’m not sure I could see HA digesting another Aussie route so soon after BNE. Not sure they’d have the aircraft if they plan to launch anymore HKG or Chinese routes.

If this happens, I would think it's a pretty desperate sign that VA wanted to move its A330 away from Transcon routes. JQ currently flies it 4x weekly; I personally don't think the market would be big enough for two carriers. IMHO VA would have a better chance by flying to somewhere Southeast Asia or Japan than HNL.

Michael

Would love to see VA do MEL-KIX or MEL-ICN. Will be great to see VA expand out of MEL more internationally.

SYDSpotter · Wed Oct 04, 2017 8:02 am

downdata wrote:
qf789 wrote:
BITRE for July now available

VA MEL-HKG LF 8804% outbound, 61.4% inbound

https://bitre.gov.au/publications/ongoi ... y_1707.pdf

looks like melb is fast overtaking syd on international passenger routes

Huh?

Table IV in BITRE Publication, Total International Passenger Traffic through Australian International Airports Year ended 31 July 2017:

SYD - 15,636,652
MEL - 10,000,317

Table 4 in BITRE PublicationTotal International Aircraft Movements (July 2017):
SYD - 3,650
MEL - 2,042

Qantas16 · Wed Oct 04, 2017 8:29 am

smi0006 wrote:
qf789 wrote:
BITRE for July now available

VA MEL-HKG LF 8804% outbound, 61.4% inbound

https://bitre.gov.au/publications/ongoi ... y_1707.pdf

Random rumour I heard today is VA 330 pilots have been conducting sim session landing into HNL in preparation for launch ex-MEL. It was a case of a ‘friend heard’, not sure on the requirement for sim session prior to a new route - however there is no full service airline on the route, and I’m not sure I could see HA digesting another Aussie route so soon after BNE. Not sure they’d have the aircraft if they plan to launch anymore HKG or Chinese routes.

Even if they announced it tomorrow it still wouldn't be started for at least 2-3 months... plenty of time for simulator training in there. Would be very surprised.

Also HA launched BNE a while ago so MEL wouldn't be impossible for them.

An767 · Wed Oct 04, 2017 8:31 am

Flying QF51 in a couple of weeks, So I have been keeping an eye on times as I have a connection. Todays was delayed by 6hrs! any idea ? why. If that happened to me I would be screwed

An767

RyanairGuru · Wed Oct 04, 2017 8:33 am

Hawaiian Airlines launched BNE in November 2012, so almost five years ago. Hardly a 'new' route!

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