Originally Posted by
antzzz
Lucky QF have 14 mid-life Q400s due soon … I’d dare say that we will see the 200s and 300s sticking around for some time to fill the REX void … I’m not sure what the realistic plan is for their regional network … sub in NJE Q400s? NJE are busy doing their own thing, and for the most part, they do it well … I’m certain that if QF hadn’t been busy with (and knocked back on) the shelved Alliance deal, they would have jumped at the NJE opportunity.
REX are 20 years behind QF on DBO, WGA, MQL etc … all of the mini majors … reliability is down the drain … these routes should be their cash cows … but instead, they’re running ancient SAABs and bussing PAX into SYD and MEL terminals outside of security … get with the program! PAX want the QF offering minus the ‘welcome to Country’.
Realistically, their best option is to leverage the 737 fleet and go in hard - they’ve got the planes, the people and the opportunity - but there is zero marketing nous.
There’s no defined end date for the Q200/300 exit but it won’t be far away.
I dare say there would be sufficient excess capacity in the Q400/ejet fleet (by swapping Dash/ejet routes for instance) to absorb any potential loss of Rex in the market.
The QLD Govt runs in QLD would be harder to manage but would probably be managed in accordance with a “failure to deliver” clause or similar in the contract.