A380 loses MEL/DXB/LHR
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Thank you fearcampaign I was going to post a link.
Desperate to do a deal after being frozen out whilst QF management wedged everyone with JQ, AIPA threw out a protection that really 'Advanced the Interests of the Membership and Profession'. As former colleagues readily remark, many still think night credits are for salary, but Qantas pilot forebears had the insight to insert something in the contract to protect pilot's health, particularly those pilots not yet exposed to the potential health consequences of repeated time zone changes.
Desperate to do a deal after being frozen out whilst QF management wedged everyone with JQ, AIPA threw out a protection that really 'Advanced the Interests of the Membership and Profession'. As former colleagues readily remark, many still think night credits are for salary, but Qantas pilot forebears had the insight to insert something in the contract to protect pilot's health, particularly those pilots not yet exposed to the potential health consequences of repeated time zone changes.
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you're forgetting about the recession. Every airline would like to downsize their aircraft, but can't in most cases, which is why you're seeing $799 return fares to Europe right now. Yes there are only a few seats, but it's terrible marketing. Creates a new benchmark, which punters think is the new normal.
you're forgetting about the recession. Every airline would like to downsize their aircraft, but can't in most cases, which is why you're seeing $799 return fares to Europe right now. Yes there are only a few seats, but it's terrible marketing. Creates a new benchmark, which punters think is the new normal.
What I will watch with much interest is the sale of economy seats, how long will it take the punters to figure out that they are paying a premium on Qantas of say $800 in economy to go non stop with a 737 economy seat plus 1 inch extra pitch. I know what I'd do , SQ or Emerates one stop.
More space needed!
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787
According to latest intel.
Nearly all the 787 Command slots will be filled by very senior A/Q pilots off the 737 East Coast to the 787 in PER and the A330 in the East Coast. No PER 737 and few A330 PER CPTs even close.
A380 flying to change significantly doing more two pilot sectors from MEL/SYD to SIN and three pilot from MEL/SYD to HKG.
That will free up A330 hulls for more domestic flying and alleviate shortages there.
Massive vacancies on the 737 where nearly all the movement is coming off.
Nearly all the 787 Command slots will be filled by very senior A/Q pilots off the 737 East Coast to the 787 in PER and the A330 in the East Coast. No PER 737 and few A330 PER CPTs even close.
A380 flying to change significantly doing more two pilot sectors from MEL/SYD to SIN and three pilot from MEL/SYD to HKG.
That will free up A330 hulls for more domestic flying and alleviate shortages there.
Massive vacancies on the 737 where nearly all the movement is coming off.
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yes everyone is going cheap. Scoot were recently doing PER/ATH one way on a 787 for AUD$369 + about $50 for bag & meal/drinks & $419 for same ex OOL.
Air Canada are commencing a nonstop B787 service MEL-Vancouver on 03/12/17 which will provide a one stop from MEL to LHR and many other destinations. This could rain on Allan's parade, especially for anyone who has concerns about flying over the middle east.
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That is an interesting one to ponder.
As a punter, if I wanted to fly MEL-LHR 1-stop, and I wanted to go all the way in one go, it really wouldn't bother me where the fuelling stop was. Perth, Dubai, Singapore, Hong Kong etc - who cares? It's just an airport transit lounge.
But if I wanted to spend a couple of days enroute to break up the journey, then suddenly it does matter. If Vancouver was amongst the offerings, then that could very well be my No.1 pick. Even if it meant longer actual airborne hours.
Send me a 787 Vancouver-Brisbane and I will love you forever.
In fact, maybe I won't even fly to London annually any more. My London family can just meet me in Vancouver.
Of course, it won't have gone unnoticed by Air Canada that Qantas now fly seasonally direct Vancouver ex Sydney, and it seems to be going well enough that they may consider expanding that service as future jets arrive. So I'm sure it's not beyond their imagination that Vancouver could become a solid 787 destination for Qantas in the next few years. So there is a good chance that this is a strategic "get in the market first" play by Air Canada, to attempt to discourage Qantas launching a similar competing service down the track.
As a punter, if I wanted to fly MEL-LHR 1-stop, and I wanted to go all the way in one go, it really wouldn't bother me where the fuelling stop was. Perth, Dubai, Singapore, Hong Kong etc - who cares? It's just an airport transit lounge.
But if I wanted to spend a couple of days enroute to break up the journey, then suddenly it does matter. If Vancouver was amongst the offerings, then that could very well be my No.1 pick. Even if it meant longer actual airborne hours.
Send me a 787 Vancouver-Brisbane and I will love you forever.
In fact, maybe I won't even fly to London annually any more. My London family can just meet me in Vancouver.
Of course, it won't have gone unnoticed by Air Canada that Qantas now fly seasonally direct Vancouver ex Sydney, and it seems to be going well enough that they may consider expanding that service as future jets arrive. So I'm sure it's not beyond their imagination that Vancouver could become a solid 787 destination for Qantas in the next few years. So there is a good chance that this is a strategic "get in the market first" play by Air Canada, to attempt to discourage Qantas launching a similar competing service down the track.
Like with a 747?
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if there a recession ? Ah it's happening now ?
real estate market has tanked everywhere, unless you're silly enough to listen to the media, who make billions off real estate advertising every year. The recession is going to hit hard soon. The high cost airlines are really going to suffer, as they can't compete on price with LCC's & ULCC's.
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I thought the conventional wisdom was downturns/ recessions hurt low cost more. Presumably the low yielding model needs volume that good times supply
Likely the operating margins are a bit better given the relative price of fuel, but LCC are finely balanced financially engineered entities, that are more about low wages for operating staff rather than anything new...Of course they also keep the factories open with their penchant for leased aircraft...
The Australian economy is now riding on the Eastern States property boom. If you earn $100kpa and your house is worth $400+ more in say 24 months, rates have declined, why wouldn't you refi, take out an extra $100k, have a great holiday, build a granny flat, a kitchen and an extra garage as well. With luck the granny flat might pay for it all....
I don't believe staff wages are that critical to the operation (within basic parameters of course - what I've seen Thai crews do for a company that prides itself on a great 'work/life' balance is sickening) but I agree it's very finely tuned. There will always be people with money and always backpackers. Backpackers are a sugar hit for the economy - cheap and fast. The idea is they will come back and spend real money 10 years hence. Regardless, once the music in the Au RE market (and possibly the 23yr non recessional economy) stops growing, the game will change massively, with luck there will be more Chinese investors gobbling up the assets or it will likely be quite nasty.
Fortunately Senior Management at Qf have inoculated themselves against such disasters thanks to our good work, so well done there! I'm sure they will be OK.
I don't believe staff wages are that critical to the operation (within basic parameters of course - what I've seen Thai crews do for a company that prides itself on a great 'work/life' balance is sickening) but I agree it's very finely tuned. There will always be people with money and always backpackers. Backpackers are a sugar hit for the economy - cheap and fast. The idea is they will come back and spend real money 10 years hence. Regardless, once the music in the Au RE market (and possibly the 23yr non recessional economy) stops growing, the game will change massively, with luck there will be more Chinese investors gobbling up the assets or it will likely be quite nasty.
Fortunately Senior Management at Qf have inoculated themselves against such disasters thanks to our good work, so well done there! I'm sure they will be OK.
Last edited by V-Jet; 6th May 2017 at 11:38.
Alan Joyce would not be happy seeing the Melbourne Age article today 10/05/17 "Australians can't rely on national carrier as Qantas' Dreamliner proves a nightmare"
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It is pertinent to consider the demand elasticity. Established airlines have a better ability to raise price without too much decline in demand. LCC are demand elastic (in a relative sense) therefore their 'product' is very susceptible to changes in price. They struggle to generate yield and so rely on volume. As such given they target price sensitive consumer, those consumers oftentimes decide at the margin( that is on price-who is cheapest?) and are affected by any change in circumstances (economically) undermines their disposable income and the LCC the model substantially.
Likely the operating margins are a bit better given the relative price of fuel, but LCC are finely balanced financially engineered entities, that are more about low wages for operating staff rather than anything new...Of course they also keep the factories open with their penchant for leased aircraft...
Likely the operating margins are a bit better given the relative price of fuel, but LCC are finely balanced financially engineered entities, that are more about low wages for operating staff rather than anything new...Of course they also keep the factories open with their penchant for leased aircraft...
eg. Instead of flying BNE/SIN on SQ, many now switching to Scoot OOL/SIN for a fraction of the cost. Also helps if you actually live on southside of BNE.
Similarly, with BNE/KUL which no one flies nonstop anymore since MH pulled out. Air Asia X flies nonstop OOL/KUL & now Malindo flies BNE/KUL direct via DPS in a new 738 or 739. Interestingly Malindo has less seats on their 738's than either QF or VA. They say they are a LCC, but with full service including meals, drinks & 30kgs of checked bags.
And a better than even chance of making it without incident. You get what you pay for. Some people even willingly fly Jetstar. So I don't think the punters have high expectations anymore.
No one I know is going to be taking 17 hour direct flights anywhere if I have anything to do with it.
My best friend, seriously wealthy, can't stop himself from flying economy for his annual skiing trip to Aspen,, Vail, etc.
This time a few weeks after return, he came down with chest pains,weakness and shortness of breath.
Imaging at the Alfred shows he is a mass of blood clots, Lung, heart and right leg. He is now on clot dissolvers and is to be rerassessed in Six weeks. The problem? DVT. Probably exacerbated by time at altitude skiing ( your blood thickens up - more red cells). I then found out he had a smaller bout in the other leg after last year's trip and was wearing compression socks this time.
You cannot imagine what a bad patient he is; demanding to be fixed immediately! Wanting to telescope the reassessment time, etc. I've told him if he doesn't stop work, slow down and take it easy, he is going to be a very rich corpse.
Ive suggested next year its business or first class and short hops - Melbourne, Auckland, Hawaii, west coast, overnighting in each.
To put that another way, where I live - north eastern Victoria, almost everyone we know who is retired or semi retired goes overseas every winter to escape some of the cold. We want our comfort and are prepared to pay something extra for it. From my point of view, Qantas totally ignores our market segment
Its not that hard , but a seventeen hour flight in economy with one inch extra legroom might be OK for millennials but not for us old fellas. Who remembers the QF "Fading blue denim" seat covers and market promotion on the kangaroo route? What about a new promotion with free Zimmer frame storage?
My best friend, seriously wealthy, can't stop himself from flying economy for his annual skiing trip to Aspen,, Vail, etc.
This time a few weeks after return, he came down with chest pains,weakness and shortness of breath.
Imaging at the Alfred shows he is a mass of blood clots, Lung, heart and right leg. He is now on clot dissolvers and is to be rerassessed in Six weeks. The problem? DVT. Probably exacerbated by time at altitude skiing ( your blood thickens up - more red cells). I then found out he had a smaller bout in the other leg after last year's trip and was wearing compression socks this time.
You cannot imagine what a bad patient he is; demanding to be fixed immediately! Wanting to telescope the reassessment time, etc. I've told him if he doesn't stop work, slow down and take it easy, he is going to be a very rich corpse.
Ive suggested next year its business or first class and short hops - Melbourne, Auckland, Hawaii, west coast, overnighting in each.
To put that another way, where I live - north eastern Victoria, almost everyone we know who is retired or semi retired goes overseas every winter to escape some of the cold. We want our comfort and are prepared to pay something extra for it. From my point of view, Qantas totally ignores our market segment
Its not that hard , but a seventeen hour flight in economy with one inch extra legroom might be OK for millennials but not for us old fellas. Who remembers the QF "Fading blue denim" seat covers and market promotion on the kangaroo route? What about a new promotion with free Zimmer frame storage?
Last edited by Sunfish; 10th May 2017 at 22:45.
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AC have virtually monopoly on OZ/YVR flights (Qantas does a few ex SYD only) & they charge a premium for the privilege, so they won't be dumping seats just so they can sell a through fare to LHR.