6thfreedom From Bermuda, joined Sep 2004, 3267 posts, RR: 22 Posted (5 years 8 months 3 weeks 1 day 4 hours ago) and read 3270 times:
I posted this in the Australian thread, but I think it warrants its own thread.
Great news for Melbourne. Seems like the Korean market was growing, even without direct air links.
Korean Air to announce new Melbourne service
Email Print Normal font Large font September 5, 2007
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AdvertisementMELBOURNE is set to welcome its 20th international airline with Korean Air to announce today that it will fly three times a week direct into Tullamarine.
From October 22, Victorians will be able to fly direct to Seoul from Melbourne on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Currently Victorians wanting to fly to Seoul must either go via Sydney or lay over in Bangkok, Singapore or Hong Kong.
The announcement comes a week after Transport Minister Mark Vaile announced a deal had been reached with the Korean Government to allow up to 8500 seats each way a week between Korea and Australia.
Korea is one of Australia's biggest tourism markets with forecasts predicting a 65 per cent increase by 2016 to 71,000 Korean visitors a year. Last year alone, Melbourne hosted 43,000 Korean visitors, over 45 per cent more than the previous year.
"The decision is the culmination of more than four years of negotiation by the Victorian Government and Melbourne Airport to secure non-stop services by Korea's largest carrier," Victorian Industry Minister Theo Theophanous said.
"Korean Air will provide non-stop services directly into the airline's Seoul hub, with onward connections to an extensive northern hemisphere network."
Boeingluvr From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 1, posted (5 years 8 months 3 weeks 1 day 3 hours ago) and read 3198 times:
In know they had a 772 in YYC three times a week this summer. Just ended though. Perhaps this has something to do with the three per week into Melbourne.
6thfreedom From Bermuda, joined Sep 2004, 3267 posts, RR: 22 Reply 2, posted (5 years 8 months 3 weeks 1 day ago) and read 3056 times:
Quoting Boeingluvr (Reply 1): In know they had a 772 in YYC three times a week this summer. Just ended though. Perhaps this has something to do with the three per week into Melbourne.
KE has operated a charter program to Melbourne for the last 2-3 years.
MEL will be operated with an A332, not B772, so I don't think they're interrelated..
Gardermoen From Australia, joined Jul 1999, 1518 posts, RR: 1 Reply 4, posted (5 years 8 months 3 weeks 20 hours ago) and read 2872 times:
Finally, the first Skyteam carrier arrives in Melbourne.
This should open up a new option for Europe bound travellers, especially as KE always offer some of the cheapest fares from BNE/SYD to Europe.
IndianicWorld From Australia, joined Jun 2001, 2403 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (5 years 8 months 2 weeks 4 days 22 hours ago) and read 2501 times:
This is fantastic news.
MEL-ICN has been a route the airport has been targeting for while from things i have read.
Lets hope it is a success.
With this and CX's 3rd daily service coming online in Oct there certainly will be more options to choose into Asia and beyond.
So MEL now has service to:
ASIA
Seoul
Tokyo
Singapore
Manila (rumoured to double from 3-6 per week)
Denpasar
Bangkok
Ho Chi Min City
Hong Kong
Goughzou
Shanghai
Beijing
Kuala Lumpur
Delhi (Rumoured to Commence in Jan '08)
Dubai
EUROPE
London
AMERICA
Los Angeles
San Fransisco
Honololu (Ceasing soon)
PACIFIC
Auckland
Wellington
Christchurch
Hamilton
Palmerston North
Dunedin
Nadi
Not too bad at all. Airlines must be loving the current capacity crunch though with increased LF% and yield through increased pricing that can be charged.
Gardermoen From Australia, joined Jul 1999, 1518 posts, RR: 1 Reply 8, posted (5 years 8 months 2 weeks 4 days 19 hours ago) and read 2417 times:
Indianicworld - you can add Mauritius to that list, Hanoi (the VN flights operate MEL-SGN-HAN), and Doha(sometime in 2008 when Qatar Airways finally get around to launching daily flights).
There are no more flights between Melbourne and Palmerston North/Hamilton since Freedom quit these routes.
It is also rumourd that Air Vanuatu will commence serives to MEL too.
In regards to the KE flight times, I thought this would be the case, mirroring very much the schedules of other flights to China and Japan. Do these flights offer pretty much immediate connections to/from Europe?
HeeseokKoo From South Korea, joined Jan 2005, 522 posts, RR: 1 Reply 9, posted (5 years 8 months 2 weeks 4 days 15 hours ago) and read 2351 times:
Quoting Gardermoen (Reply 8): Do these flights offer pretty much immediate connections to/from Europe?
Not really. All KE's Australia/NZ routes depart and arrive similar timing in ICN, but should stay one night on the way to Europe, while connected in 3~6 hours on the way back from Europe.
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