EWL,
CBR ex and to Tas is a waste of time
In the press release, DJ are saying that they are getting the connecting pax currently anyway. It is only an E-Jet remember, probably an E-170 so only 70 seats per day. The regular fares on the HBA-CBR are the same as the current connecting fares, so how can you lose money when the people are travelling anyway? Especailly when the non-stop is only 1hr 40min, as opposed to 2:15 flying time on the current connecting flights (1:15 HBA-MEL plus 1:00 MEL-CBR), so an extra 35 mins of fuel burn. Plus two climbs (where most of the fuel is burnt), in addition to two sets of landing fees, taxes etc on the connecting flight, no need to connect baggage, nor to delay aircraft so people can make their connections etc. In short, it is way cheaper for DJ to transport a passenger from HBA-to CBR on the non-stop than it is to connect - but they are charging the same prices and so will make more money; not to mention pilfering passengers off QF and also growing the market.
Then again, I suppose you would think it was great if they instead did a HBA-DPO-CBR and then continued the milk run all they way up the NSW and QLD coasts because then they could sell so many more sectors and it would make so much more money!!!
