View Full Version : Fliteline about to start a QF feeder service?
BRISTOLRE
7th Jun 2004, 15:07
Fliteline was it ..?. they are just about to start a QF feeder service LHR-MAN-LHR, anyone else heard about this?
spagiola
7th Jun 2004, 15:29
That's right. See the Smiliner website (http://www.smiliner.com/news/current.shtml#0405_2).
Qantas schedule shows from 17 June
QF 158 0615 Manchester - Heathrow
QF 157 0850 Heathrow - Manchester
(reposition back to Heathrow)
QF 183 1420 Heathrow - Manchester
These are the Heathrow slots Qantas paid Flybe a fortune for, aren't they ? What a waste of Heathrow's resources. One of the slots, for goodness sake, is an empty positioning flight. And the two northbound flights can't average more than 50% load each to balance the load on the single southbound. And Qantas are still codesharing on BA flights on the route too !
Globaliser
8th Jun 2004, 16:45
Aren't QF just slot-sitting until they can get additional long-haul services up and running? For example, their SYD-HKG-LHR 4x weekly plan, which requires amongst other things some government approval, still.
It gives us an idea of flight timings, though ... something to note in the longer-term diary perhaps?
The more you look at this the madder it gets.
The only southbound flight from Manchester to Heathrow is 0615. Yet Qantas' flights depart Heathrow at 1215, 2205 and 2215. Even the 1215 departure has a connection on a BA codeshare, QF 3389, leaving Manchester over 3 hours later at 0925. So only an idiot (or someone with an idiot travel agent like my corporate one !) would get booked on that 0615 departure.
What a squandering of Heathrow slots. Think of all the time wasted in the Heathrow holds because Qantas have stuck in two extra peak time arrivals that serve no purpose whatsoever.
trainer too 2
9th Jun 2004, 10:10
Globaliser is right. They are slot sitting until they plan to use them. It is just like good wine: hold on to them and they only get better. Unless LHR gets another runway or two ;)
Scottie Dog
9th Jun 2004, 12:39
QF could also do with trying to sell the service.
I have just looked in the Sabre CRS and there is no mention - let alone offer of selling - space via LHR on anything other than the regular BA connections (with QF codeshares numbers).
It looks as if this will be a very expensive white elephant, unless that come up with some ideas quickly.
Scottie Dog