Qantas overhauls routes before Emirates link
With just eight weeks to go before the launch of the tie up, Qantas has detailed a rejig of its Asian network which will result in flights leaving up to four hours earlier so that they connect better with other services.
Qantas also announced that it will stop flying to Frankfurt on April 15 - six months earlier than planned.
The airline will cease services between Adelaide and Singapore on April 14, and between Perth and Hong Kong on March 31. It will reduce Perth-Singapore services from two to one a day.
However, Qantas will increase its Brisbane-Hong Kong services from four a week to seven by June, and add four additional weekly flights between Sydney and Singapore.
Independent senator Nick Xenophon accused Qantas of abandoning South Australia on international routes. The long-haul pilots' union also said it was "a predictable part of the plan to outsource a lot of Qantas's international operations to other operators".
Macquarie Equities analyst Russell Shaw said the reductions to flights from Perth did not "reflect well on Qantas's view of the resources boom". He also pointed out that Singapore Airlines will become the sole operator on the Adelaide-Singapore route once Qantas exits.
But Qantas insisted that the changes will result in more options for people in Perth and Adelaide to travel to Asia and Europe via partner airlines including Emirates.
The total number of Qantas flights to Asian destinations will remain about the same once the changes are made, but the total number of seats available will increase.
That is because seats that were previously set aside on Qantas planes for passengers flying to Europe will now be available to those heading to Asia. The airline flagged that it will consider increasing flights to Beijing and Delhi from 2016 using longer-range Dreamliner planes. It also named Seoul, Mumbai and Tokyo's Haneda Airport as possible destinations.
However, analysts treated the announcement with caution because it is dependent on Qantas turning around its international operations. The airline is also yet to decide whether it will turn into "firm orders" its "options" to buy 787-9 Dreamliners at a set price.
Qantas and Emirates still need final approval for their alliance from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. It is expected to make a decision in March.
Qantas's budget offshoot, Jetstar, has also announced that a former senior manager at TNT, Edward Lau, will become the inaugural chief executive of Jetstar Hong Kong.
Frequently Asked Questions about this Article…
Qantas announced a broad overhaul of its Asian and European network ahead of the Emirates alliance, moving some flights up to four hours earlier for better connections, cutting certain services from Perth and Adelaide, increasing east‑coast services to Asia, and ending its Frankfurt service earlier than planned.
Qantas will cease flights to Frankfurt on April 15 (six months earlier than planned), stop Adelaide–Singapore services on April 14, end Perth–Hong Kong services on March 31, and reduce Perth–Singapore from two flights a day to one.
Qantas says the total number of flights to Asian destinations will remain about the same, but available seats will increase because seats previously reserved on Qantas planes for Europe will be reallocated to passengers travelling to Asia.
Yes. Qantas plans to increase Brisbane–Hong Kong services from four to seven flights a week by June and add four additional weekly flights between Sydney and Singapore.
Independent senator Nick Xenophon accused Qantas of abandoning South Australia on international routes, while the long‑haul pilots' union suggested the moves could be part of outsourcing international operations; Macquarie analyst Russell Shaw also warned the Perth reductions didn't reflect well on Qantas's view of the resources boom.
Qantas flagged it may consider increasing flights to Beijing and Delhi from 2016 using longer‑range 787‑9 Dreamliners and named Seoul, Mumbai and Tokyo's Haneda as possible future destinations, though those plans depend on turning around its international business and firming up Dreamliner orders.
No. Qantas and Emirates still require final approval from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), which was expected to make a decision in March.
Yes. Qantas's low‑cost arm Jetstar announced that Edward Lau, a former senior manager at TNT, will become the inaugural chief executive of Jetstar Hong Kong.
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