Interesting.
A quick check now shows that Qantas have levered back routes previously gifted to Jetstar.
Hamilton Island
Bali
Gold Coast
Ayers Rock, at least from Adelaide.
Whilst Bruce Buchanan and Carla would often veto where Qantas flew, it appears that simple economics will dictate what a market supports. No longer is ideology driving decisions on a few routes. JQ may well 'fill their seats' they also have a fleet advantage: the 788 can do that sector length with full payload and sufficient fuel uplift to cover contingency. That the QF Bali service flies with seats blocked out is not necessarily demand related, rather that the aircraft is stretched on a route that long and requires a trade off in uplifted payload in order to carry required fuel. Perhaps this is the reason why VAH fly the A330; full payload is available on a sector length like that.
Imagine what QF could achieve if in the last decade they had actually planned and executed a fleet replacement strategy?
Last edited by Rated De; 21st Jan 2019 at 03:15.