Qantas - Official carrier of the AFL

[Robert Zweck]

I thought that Qantas was the sole carrier for the Australian Football League but another board says that the Geelong team flew Melbourne to Perth last Friday on the Skytraders A319 VH-VHD and back again around 2 am on Saturday.

I recall about 3 years ago that during the AFL finals, the Collingwood team returned to Melbourne from Perth on a chartered Ozjet B737, this was designed to hasten their post-game rehab, it also flew low-level at about FL120 to reduce Cabin pressure on their bodies.

Any thoughts, anyone?

[Brian Wilkes]

They all fly JQ.......except for a few

[Adrian B]

Ouch! PER-MEL at FL120 in a Ozjet737? Hope they had their Coles fuel vouchers handy.....

[J Brown]

St Kilda flew over in -VHD 2 weeks prior.
Brisbane have used Alliance on occasions.

[Robert Zweck]

I now learn that the A319 flew the St Kilda team to Perth for their recent match. May 23rd.

In South Australia, the Adelaide Crows and Port Adelaide only ever fly Qantas, they are free to use the Qantas Club before departure.

This weekend there is another of those special direct flights, ADL-LST QF 1241 on Friday and then QF 1242 back on Saturday, designed to eliminate a stopover or connection in Melbourne.

[Ryan K]

When AFL games are played in Launceston, direct Qantas flights are always put on. For instance, this year to coincide with the games, Qantas fly teams direct to LST from BNE, PER and ADL.

[Adam.S]

In a news report I've seen footage of teams using Virgin Blue (this year or last) during the pre-season tournament - Darwin and Gold Coast ring a bell as the destination.

[Geoff W]

I actually heard on MEL radio just this week, teams do fly Mel-Per for example earlier and on their own aircraft. I never knew this.

(Healthy) meals are also provided that support a better outcome at the other end.

I am not saying this a fact, but it is what I have heard.


Would give quite some credence to the A319. I think its Skytraders Antarctic aircraft. May well be wrong.

With respect to LST flights, I have also observed specials into LST and departures on the weekends teams play there. Ex Mel/ADL/PER


Kind regards,

Geoff

[Sarah C]

They are the official sponsor of the AFL but Emirates sponsor the Collingwood team and they can't use them to fly to games. Qantas puts on extra flights to Launceston to bypass Melbourne etc, but in general most clubs chose flights which suit thier schedule.

Clubs can use thier own charters but it costs them extra and comes out of thier own expense. Part of the appeal of charters is obviously choosing thier own departure time but also not having other passengers to deal with.

[Grant Smith]

Originally Posted by Sarah C

They are the official sponsor of the AFL...

A slight (albeit pedantic) correction. QF are one of several 'official' partners of the AFL