From a well placed connection:
The Perth London sector suffers from:
- Tour of Duty Constraints
- Curfew Constraints (EGLL)
- Alternate curfew constraints
- Departure constraints. Suggestive of payload limit in warmer temperatures.
Given these constraints and we await operational data highlighting what appears to be a substantial performance limit, one may ponder why the service commenced when it did?
Later in the year (northern winter) Alternates (due curfew) in the Northern hemisphere will be hard to come by with a scheduled arrival into EGLL at 0500. London weather being what it is, Weather related holding may necessitate an early diversion as the hard limit of Tour of duty (20 hours) requires a diversion. How will Qantas then position crew, given the curfews?
Lost in the spin it is easy to overlook that strategic planning and understanding operational limitations are requisite for network design. It appears that at Qantas, the tail wags the dog; Corporate drive it, Operations catch on late.
This service will be quietly and steadily be hubbed through Singapore, as schedule integrity is impeded in the Northern winter. All due 'customer feedback' of course.