Damon Kitney January 20, 2012 12:00AM QANTAS faces more competition on its flagship kangaroo route between Australia and Europe after China Southern, the sixth-biggest airline in the world, this week announced plans to fly between its Guangzhou hub and London's Heathrow Airport. Labelling the new sector "the Canton route", China Southern executive vice-president He Zongkai said he hoped the new London service and additional frequent capacity to Amsterdam and Paris from Guangzhou would provide a compelling alternative for Australian travellers to Europe.
Time to do something AJ and co, like yesterday, perhaps!?
China Southern alone has increased flights between Australia and China from 10 a week two years ago to 35, and has vowed to triple them to more than 110 within the next four years.
Winding up our fleet, cutting services out of our overseas hubs, relying on 2 aircraft types for our flagship carrier, relying on a no-frills carrier, selling out on our proud Aussie reputation for safety, etc etc etc....
Should see us sitting pretty when global growth resumes.
China Southern can be very price competitive, a recent search for SIN-LAX return had them as the cheapest by a large amount. Obviously they've looked at CX in HKG and decided to have a piece of the pie.
With Chinese mainland costs being well below Hong Kongs, the Guangzhou region having a per capita income close to western levels and a modern airport not subject to the congestion and delays of Beijing/Shanghai, they could be in with a chance.
FEDEX are already using CAN as their Asian hub, Hong Kong and Shenzhen are next door.
Obviously the have plans for the A380s, China's answer to Emirates/Singapore Airlines if they can improve the customer service a bit ?
Yep management don't want any more rollers going bang bang.
Rather than lose face by waiting in queue for an engine shop to fix them (as they shut down their own capability) they decided to boot the entire frames instead.
Hench the problem VA . Both QF and VA are facing ever increaseing international competion from carriers with lower costs and now Air Asia X to SYD. As one pointed out, who from a technical view would want to fly with these guys-but unfortunately the public mostly just look at price. This is why VA is only doing Domestic with the 330 and little or no expansion for the 777. Unlike the car industry we are not a political Labour flavour. What's the answer, Options are- Stay out of this area , Do A Jet Star , buy Airport shares .
As one pointed out, who from a technical view would want to fly with these guys
I hope you're referring to Qantas when you make this staement. Let's face it, with their recent track record I'm sure you've got more chance of getting safely to your destination on time with China Southern than you have with Qantas.
Rather than lose face by waiting in queue for an engine shop to fix them (as they shut down their own capability) they decided to boot the entire frames instead.
Oops, I thought westerners never lose face. They have so thick skins and are impervious to criticism which they take so constructively as to construct great spin " air legends " out of adversities. Looks like they have caught onto the " lose face " thingy like " Asian flu ".
Quote:
I hope you're referring to Qantas when you make this staement. Let's face it, with their recent track record I'm sure you've got more chance of getting safely to your destination on time with China Southern than you have with Qantas.
once you have people like the indian aviation authority pinging your fleet for it's grubby appearance you know your doing well in the race to the bottom.
Yes, but it is China Southern. Has anyone actually flown with them?
I've had the misfortune to do so twice, the last time admittedly 5 yeas ago (my employer made me do this).
On both occasions a B744:
1. Entire cabin dirty and stank of urine. 2. Toilets indescribable. 3. Cabin service - I thought they'd finally mastered the art of inserting Rottweilers into an FA uniform. The only English word spoken: "NO!". 4. I didn't touch the food; it looked OK actually. 5. Life jacket RIVETTED in their containers (probably because the locals kept stealing them) - so what happens should you need one?
'.....whilst not having had the "pleasure" of flying with China Southern. I have flown with 2 other airlines as part of the CAAC group.
Air China are the standout for improvement (could be somehow related to their tie up with CX). I had 3 flights with them last year to Beijing (because QF reckon Shanghai is THE ONLY chinese port to have the red tail in ) But, CA were great. Te A330-200 kit is clean, comfortable and reliable. Service is friendly and efficient and the airport is superb !
To me, CA is the bigger threat because the Beijing hub and feeder destinations are wider than EK .....
TO....AJ AND THE "OCCUPIERS" of QCA/9........your days are numbered. Hell, even airlines like China Southern are comIng up with (wait for it ) A FORWARD STRATEGY, that is = GROWTH.
the QF "strategy" is one ...hell bent on wingeing, slashing, mumbling,dithering and prematurely letting their load off without any fore-"thought".
We all know the authority gradient in asian carriers. Some of these cadets should be flippin' burgers, not switches. I've seen some pretty ordinary siht from some cadets (most are pretty switched on though). One day, all the holes will align, imho.
Good luck to them all as the management there is increasing capacity with lower fares. That's increase, not decrease! (Didn't someone from qantas say it was too hard?)
Have flown with them a few times of late. All on airbus fleet, and found them very clean, tidy and the service was great!!! Maybe a few so called premium carriers (qf,vb etc) could take a few lessons from these guys....
I can't believe many Europeans fly Qantas to get to China. That seems too far out of the way. I am thinking the European legacies and the Chinese airlines tap most of that Europe-China traffic - no?
I flew on China Southern A330 from Guangzhou to Melbourne a few years ago and soon after that, I flew on a Qantas 767 from Perth to Melbourne. IMO, there wasn't much difference between the two; both aircraft didn't have IFE's on the back of the seats, service ordinary and flight attendants were there as a legal requirement for the flight .. nothing more.
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) But, CA were great. Te A330-200 kit is clean, comfortable and reliable. Service is friendly and efficient and the airport is superb !
