Qantas cuts capacity

[MarkR]

From AFR

“ Lucas Baird
Reporter
Mar 6, 2020 — 12.40pm


Qantas has announced another set of capacity cuts on its Asian services due to the coronavirus outbreak, while the Transport Workers Union pressures the airline over its duty of care to workers.
The cuts start Monday and include the cancellation of eight return flights between Sydney and Hong Kong; five return services between Sydney and Sapporo; and another five return flights between Melbourne and Auckland.
Brisbane-Tokyo (Narita), Melbourne-Tokyo (Narita) and Sydney-Osaka (Kansai) are also affected”

https://www.afr.com/companies/transport/qantas-cuts-on-virus-affected-routes-20200306-p547g5

[James Smith]

The 3 weekly Sydney to Sapporo flights are ending early on 16 March, 2020 instead of 29 March, 2020.

https://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/290133/qantas-march-2020-sapporo-service-adjustment/

[Greg Hyde]

QANTAS GROUP UPDATE ON CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE

The Qantas Group has announced further cuts to its international flying, reducing capacity by almost a quarter for the next six months.

The latest cuts follow the spread of the Coronavirus into Europe and North America over the past fortnight, as well as its continued spread through Asia, which has resulted in a sudden and significant drop in forward travel demand.

These additional changes will bring the total international capacity reduction for Qantas and Jetstar from 5 per cent to 23 per cent versus the same time last year and extend these cuts until mid-September 2020.

The biggest reductions remain focussed on Asia (now down 31 per cent compared with the same period last year). Capacity reductions to the United States (down 19 per cent), the UK (down 17 per cent) and Trans-Tasman (down 10 per cent) will also be made in line with forward booking trends.

CHANGES TO SERVICES

Rather than exit routes altogether, Qantas will use smaller aircraft and reduce the frequency of flights to maintain overall connectivity.

This approach results in eight of the airline’s largest aircraft, the Airbus A380, grounded until mid-September. A further two A380s are undergoing scheduled heavy maintenance and cabin upgrades, leaving two of its A380s flying.

In response to strong customer demand for the direct Perth-London service, the existing Sydney-Singapore-London return service (QF1 and QF2) will be temporarily re-routed to become a Sydney-Perth-London service from 20 April.

The start of Qantas’ new Brisbane-Chicago route will be delayed from 15 April to mid-September.

Jetstar will make significant cuts to its international network, including suspending flights to Bangkok and reducing flights from Australia to Vietnam and Japan by almost half. Jetstar’s daily Gold Coast to Seoul flight was suspended last week.

(See table below for more detail of international network changes.)

Domestically, Qantas and Jetstar capacity reductions will be increased from 3 per cent to 5 per cent[1] through to mid-September 2020, in line with broader economic conditions.

Full story

https://www.qantasnewsroom.com.au/media-releases/qantas-group-update-on-coronavirus-response/

[Adrian B]

So the question is where do you park 8 X A380's? Blue Emu can take one or 2? Oh sorry that Boeing......

[MarkR]

Alice?

[Robbie J]

So, if you're booked and have to travel, what's the best ways to stay as safe as possible?

And are airlines liable for passengers affected by Coronavirus on their flights?

[David C]

I’ve no idea re airline liabilities , however , all you can do to minimise your risk when flying is to take the advise which is well published , and that is to if possible choose a window seat , use sanitiser on all surfaces and hand hygiene is paramount .

[Reece perram]

Whats the go with flights syd-sin-lhr re-routing, i'm on qf81 then qf1 to lhr then qf2 all the way home, this is in november/december though?

[Zac M]

The current changes are only in place till September at this stage

[Greg Hyde]

You can see why when

Qantas flight from Hong Kong to Sydney last night (A333): 7 in business class, 32 in economy - load factor: 13%

[Christopher Campbell]

Qantas COVID-19 Group Update

https://www.qantasnewsroom.com.au/media ... esponse-2/

To be phased in from the end of March 2020 onwards:

Total Group International capacity will be cut by around 90 per cent until at least the end of May 2020. This is up from a 23 per cent reduction for the fourth quarter of FY20 announced last week and largely reflects the demand impact of severe quarantine requirements on people’s ability to travel overseas.

Total Group Domestic capacity will be cut by around 60 per cent until at least the end of May 2020. This is a major increase from the 5 per cent reduction for the fourth quarter of FY20 and reflects a rapid decline in forward travel demand due to government containment measures, corporate travel bans and a general pullback from everyday activities across the community.

This represents the grounding of around 150 aircraft, including almost all of the Group’s wide-body fleet.
Previously announced cuts in place from end-May through to mid-September remain in place and are likely to be increased, depending on demand.
The route-by-route detail of these changes across Qantas and Jetstar is currently being worked through and will be announced in coming days.

[Daniel M]

QF grounding all widebodies until May, 90% international reduction, 60% domestic reduction.

Unprecedented times now and ahead folks, thoughts out to everyone who will be doing it tough.

[Adrian B]

Alice?

Alice can land them but not sure the capacity given there are a heap of Max there now.

I would suggest the cheapest places possible so not the main centres.

My uneducated guess will be Richmond, Avalon, maybe Alice and some regional locations for smaller like Mildura. Dont forget Wellcamp as well.

Avalon would be a start for the A380's give the space available.

Maybe a good time to do all of those non critical but important maintenance works?

Just a thought....

[James Smith]

Hopefully, some aircraft will be sent and parked at the painters to be painted in the silver roo livery.

Air NZ has also advised that it is suspending all trans-tasman services (an 80% reduction) except for five routes being:

Auckland to Sydney: Reduced to seven return services per week
Auckland to Brisbane: Reduced to five return services per week
Auckland to Melbourne: Reduced to seven return services per week
Christchurch to Sydney: Reduced to two return services per week
Wellington to Sydney: Reduced to two return services per week

Source: Executive Traveller

They talk about aviation having boom and bust periods but this is the bust period to end them all. Hopefully, things pick up after the end of May with the coronavirus being contained following the government's measures.

[Robert.M]

You can see why when

Qantas flight from Hong Kong to Sydney last night (A333): 7 in business class, 32 in economy - load factor: 13%

My flight to Wagga Wagga (QF2231) yesterday evening only had a pax of 21 out of 70 (Q400).

Also never seen Terminal 3 so quiet on a Monday evening, reminded me of a very early Sunday morning during the quietest time of the year!

Looks like us spotters will be dusting off our CD/DVD and Portable HDD collection of unpublished photographs in the coming months. It is going to become very quiet spotting wise.

[Greg Hyde]

It's not only QF

Rex pleads for government help in face of coronavirus downturn

Regional Express Airlines is in a trading halt pending an announcement to the Australian Securities Exchange on Thursday that’s expected to reduce flying by 25 per cent.

The trading halt was requested on Tuesday morning, following the release of an “open letter” to the Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack by Rex chief operating officer Neville Howell.

The letter highlighted the collapse of UK regional carrier Flybe, and urged Mr McCormack to take “vigorous, swift and unprecedented action” to ensure that regional aviation in Australia was not destroyed by the impact of the coronavirus.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/aviation/rex-pleads-for-government-help-in-face-of-coronavirus-downturn/news-story/66bc1696a288c0e6eb6ecc31cf1f552f?fbclid=IwAR0sY8Lk-2mb9XuBvz9ZsyHxUDIDTdBGMekVUcQXmwxbt-90erGWOVleFJg

Interesting times ahead

[Chris Z]

Hopefully, some aircraft will be sent and parked at the painters to be painted in the silver roo livery.

I don’t think they will be spending money on paint jobs when they are trying to protect the business from collapsing or massive job losses.

[Montague S]

What I heard is that some of the 380’s will go to USA, some to Alice, 2 to keep flying and 2 are in heavy maint at various locations around the world.

[Adrian B]

A google Earth image of Alice Springs Airport dated mid December shows 1 x 777 and 10 narrow bodies in storage already.

[Greg Hyde]

ASP had a F100 added yesterday.

Also heard the USA storage rumor, the reasoning was that the a/c can be cycled (pre/post storage) through LAX

[MarkR]

Now all international flights are being stopped from end of month

INTERNATIONAL NETWORK CHANGES

The Qantas Group is making the following changes:
• All regularly scheduled Qantas and Jetstar international flights from Australia will be suspended from
end March until at least end May 2020. Some flights may continue in order to maintain key links, based
on ongoing discussions with the Federal Government.
• Jetstar Asia (Singapore) will suspend all flights from 23 March to at least 15 April 2020.
• Jetstar Japan has suspended international flights and cut domestic flying.
• Jetstar Pacific (Vietnam) has suspended international flights and will significantly cut domestic flying.

[lloyd fox]

Alice can land them but not sure the capacity given there are a heap of Max there now.

I would suggest the cheapest places possible so not the main centres.

My uneducated guess will be Richmond, Avalon, maybe Alice and some regional locations for smaller like Mildura. Dont forget Wellcamp as well.

Avalon would be a start for the A380's give the space available.

Maybe a good time to do all of those non critical but important maintenance works?

Just a thought....

BNE has many parking spots available and I suggest watch this space.I believe VH-EBK positioned up yesterday as QF6113.One of the reasons G20 went to BNE and also SYD Olympic aircraft also parked up here.Heaps of space and i have heard rumours the new runway may park some but i doubt it as it is due to open July.

[Zac M]

VYA, VYC and VYL all positioned to AVV from MEL this afternoon, VZF, XZB and VXG all doing the same tomorrow

[Greg Hyde]

QF is planning to store around 35 aircraft at AVV and are looking are other viable locations around the country.

[Max C]

Have heard a rumour that the entire East coast 717 operation will be grounded.

[Brenden S]

I have heard that RWY 25-07 is going to be closed and used for parking aircraft at YSSY. Over 80 aircraft to be stored at Avalon.

[Greg Hyde]

VYA, VYC and VYL all positioned to AVV from MEL this afternoon, VZF, XZB and VXG all doing the same tomorrow

5 of the above have positioned to AVV while VXG is due to depart

[lloyd fox]

Mayby we should have a new thread showing stored aircraft whereabouts?
This title does not fit the subject.

[Sean L]

Mayby we should have a new thread showing stored aircraft whereabouts?
This title does not fit the subject.

I just created a thread for that. :)

[James Smith]

Routes Online is reporting the schedule of the repatriation flights to be operated by QANTAS from today:

Qantas on Monday (06APR20) announced planned limited operation for International service, mainly on repatriation basis, as well as cargo transport. Subject to Government Approval, planned operation for the period of 09APR20 – 03MAY20 (Australia) departure as follows.

Brisbane – Auckland 09APR20 – 02MAY20 2 weekly 787-9
QF119 BNE0925 – 1435AKL 789 46
QF126 AKL1610 – 1805BNE 789 46

Brisbane – Hong Kong 10APR20 – 02MAY20 2 weekly 787-9
QF097 BNE1045 – 1755HKG 789 36
QF098 HKG1930 – 0615+1BNE 789 35

Brisbane – Los Angeles 09APR20 – 30APR20 1 weekly 787-9
QF015 BNE1000 – 0600LAX 789 4
QF016 LAX2230 – 0520+2BNE 789 5

Melbourne – Auckland 12APR20 – 03MAY20 2 weekly 787-9
QF151 MEL0930 – 1435AKL 789 1
QF151 MEL1030 – 1535AKL 789 7

QF156 AKL1610 – 1750MEL 789 1
QF156 AKL1715 – 1855MEL 789 7

Melbourne – Hong Kong 09APR20 – 02MAY20 2 weekly 787-9
QF029 MEL1020 – 1800HKG 789 15
QF030 HKG1930 – 0655+1MEL 789 16

Melbourne – Perth – London Heathrow 12APR20 – 06MAY20 1 weekly 787-9
QF009 MEL1515 – 1715PER1850 – 0505+1LHR 789 7
QF010 LHR1210 – 1155+1PER1325+1 – 1855+1MEL 789 3

[James Smith]

The QANTAS Worldwide PDF Timetable has been published on 8 June and shows flights to New Zealand from 1 July, 2020. They are planning to fly SYD to AKL five times per day, plus Jetstar operating daily; SYD to WLG twice daily, SYD - ZQN twice daily, plus Jetstar operating daily and SYD - CHC daily. All these flights will be operated by B738s.

There are no other flights to international destinations, although BNE and MEL to NZ flights are also proposed.

Will these proposed flights operate or is it too early for the NZ-OZ bubble to commence?