Comments - MEL / JNB Route & MEL/DFW

[Stuart Trevena]

Hi All,

Given that QF seem to bleeding money, no thanks in part to AJ, and the current board, Why don't don't they try to create a new route, that previously hasn't been operated, to my knowledge at least.

That route is MEL-JNB using A330-300 Aircraft 3 times week.
Say Depart Mon, Wed + Fri and Return Tues, Thurs + Sat.

Surely using a smaller aircraft, would make some $$$
And its with the A330 Range - 10,300km or 5583nm.

Currently the QF63/64 overflies MEL or within 100nm of the Airport enroute to JNB.

I have always stated that QF is too SYD based.
There is nothing wrong with 63/64 ops via MEL say 2 times a week, but since they won't how about my suggestion.

Or Even MEL - DFW with the Return via AKL using the B744ERs.
Again, this could be 3 times a week.

This could be used to connect passengers in DFW to AKL.
Then AKL Traffic onto JNB in MEL.


Stuart

[Andrew Coggan]

Hi All,

That route is MEL-JNB using A330-300 Aircraft 3 times week.
Say Depart Mon, Wed + Fri and Return Tues, Thurs + Sat.



V-Australia operated this route a few years back

[Michael Mak]

When Virgin operated MEL-JNB with B77W back then, I believe it involved a significant detour (it flew further north than QF64/63) due to ETOPS restriction and as a result it wasn't viable for them. The A330 would have the same issue.

[James S.]

That's outside of the A330-300's capabilities (especially when you factor in things like wind, etc), notwithstanding CASA's ETOPS restrictions making it close to impossible.
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a357/thezeke/330/c37cf5bb.jpg
Red denoting the HGW version. (Which I don't think QF have) You can see that without even considering other factors, at around the MEL-JNB sector length you're taking a pretty significant payload hit to begin with. The route is simply not suited for the A330-300. Take away about 15-20% for real world operations to the performance and you can see why it's not economical.

MEL-DFW doesn't make sense, BNE-DFW would be more logical a couple of times a week or perhaps with the 787's if they ever get them.

[Adam W]

According to another post on this forum a BNE-DFW route is already under consideration.

[Stephen Brown]

Got to say I much prefer going in through DFW than LAX. It was a breeze to go through and transfer to an ongoing flight. The only downside is the length of the flight. Sitting in seat 72K down the back was an experience.

[Justin L]

I agree that DFW is a much better transfer airport than LAX. Definitely a better option and more connections for points east of the Rockies. DFW is obviously built for connections in mind, rather than LAX's predominantly O&D set up.