RyanairGuru wrote:

tayser wrote:

QF742 wrote:

This is a very interesting addition and I hope it works out. I had to google where the airport actually is and from what I can see the main catchment area is Bendigo and it’s immediate surrounds. It seems that if you were travelling to Ballarat, Daylesford etc it would probably be more convenient to fly to MEL.

Bendigo's got 100,000 people in its metro area, if you add places like Rochester/Kerang/Echuca (all north of the city) it makes the catchment a little larger, but yes, it's very much a service for Bendigo and its immediate surrounds.

Ballarat (and Geelong) are closer to Melbourne than Bendigo - but I wouldn't rule out a progressive upgrade of Ballarat's airfield (like what's been happening at Bendigo over the past few years) to allow a regional service to Ballarat to start like the one Bendigo's now got. Ballarat's also got about 100,000 people in its metro area.

That makes the metro area a similar size to Toowoomba. After the relative success of services to WTB it's good to see QF trying other comparable markets. SYD-WTB is 12 weekly (one service on Tue and Sat, two services on other days) so hopefully in time BXG can develop a similar level of service.

Does BXG have security facilities to enable Q400 operations, or will it need to be a Dash 300 route?

DexSwart wrote:

https://www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au/story/5801619/new-qantas-service-to-fly-from-bendigo-to-sydney-six-days-a-week/?cs=80

Just announced, QantasLink was I’ll be flying to Bendigo six days a week from Sydney, starting in March.

This is a nice little surprise. As someone from Bendigo I honestly didn’t expect airline service for years yet.

smi0006 wrote:

Doublecatered wrote:

Helping at an old folk's home, cat shelter or opshop is contributing to the wider community. Unpaid volunteering for a multi billion dollar company simply isn't. Swapping a few hours in the office for working on the shop floor is great but coming into work for no extra pay is pretty stingy

That, in a nutshell, highlights how insincere this initiative is. They are leveraging the maximum value of its brand loyalty...whether it be from the public or from staff
Cant deny the evil genius in it.

I think we are misunderstanding volunteered - these are Salaried employees who will be given the option instead of doing their normal 9-5 office job (which is quiet this time of year) can chooose/opt/select/volunteer if they wish to help their front line colleague/team on the shop floor.... or they can remain in the office and do 9-5.... I’d image they will need to consult with their manager first. They will be paid their normal salary regardless of what they choose to do. By volunteer it means heading out to the airport of your own free will- not unpaid. But yes they may not receive shift loading or allowances the airport team would- as they are salaried. This happens every year, at vast majority of airlines and airports- I would have thought this common in hospitality and retail too, managers downing emails and heading out to help employees during busy holiday period.I would be disappointed if it wasn’t.

This seems like a good initiative to build engagement and collaboration - managers get to experience the peak period first hand.... yet union doesn’t want this? That seems sad to me.

smi0006 wrote:

DexSwart wrote:

https://www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au/story/5801619/new-qantas-service-to-fly-from-bendigo-to-sydney-six-days-a-week/?cs=80

Just announced, QantasLink was I’ll be flying to Bendigo six days a week from Sydney, starting in March.

This is a nice little surprise. As someone from Bendigo I honestly didn’t expect airline service for years yet.

Awesome route to see! Nice to see more QFlink expansion in VIC. Mildura Sydney would also be a nice addition also. I wonder if QFlink would upgrade any freq MEL-MQL to a 717 also?

Does REX fly to Albury at all? Another regional port that could maybe support a flight a couple days a week.

Velocity7 wrote:

If this is indeed the case, why are so many getting all bent out of shape about this? People are clearly getting hung up on the word 'volunteer' and assuming it is unpaid. It is paid - you are 'volunteering' to work at a different location. Many companies, mine included, do a similar thing without issue. Everyone (inc the Unions) needs to take a chill pill.....

qf789 wrote:

Both QF and VA are now weighing carry on luggage in an effort to make sure passengers are carrying only 7kgs in carry on and prevent injuries to both the travelling public and cabin crew. Surely some will not be happy with this but this is long overdue

https://thewest.com.au/news/aviation/qa ... 881047142z

Qantas16 wrote:

Rumour on another forum that VA is looking to deploy Alliance F100's on the BNE-POM route... Interesting given we've heard the low load factors on this route (and HIR) are 'subsidised' by cargo... can't imagine the F100 will carry any cargo.

qf789 wrote:

Sir Angus Houston joins VA board

https://www.afr.com/business/transport/ ... 212-h190kr

brucetiki wrote:

Apparently the ‘naked’ TT aircraft has been stranded at ADL for 24 hours due to a technical issue. It was due to fly TT642 from ADL-SYD last night before going tech on the tarmac.

7 News in Adelaide mentioned the AFP have been called in twice to deal with unruly passengers frustrated by the delays.

qf789 wrote:

brucetiki wrote:

Apparently the ‘naked’ TT aircraft has been stranded at ADL for 24 hours due to a technical issue. It was due to fly TT642 from ADL-SYD last night before going tech on the tarmac.

7 News in Adelaide mentioned the AFP have been called in twice to deal with unruly passengers frustrated by the delays.

Speaking of technical issues, Virgin has been down a A332 over the past couple of days with XFH being on the ground in PER since 830am on Monday, its was suppose to operate VA556 to SYD this morning but then got switched to VA694 to MEL today which was suppose to depart just after 5pm but is now delayed to a redeye

qf789 wrote:

Virgin pilots may need more training than previously planned prior to the introduction of the 737MAX8 in November 2019 due to the fallout of the Lion Air crash

https://www.smh.com.au/business/compani ... 50lp0.html

qf789 wrote:

United to start MEL-SFO in 2019, 3 weekly service

https://twitter.com/e_russell/status/10 ... 3657397249

QF742 wrote:

About time UA jumped on MEL-SFO! Great news!

It’s amazing how much MEL- North America has grown in the last few years. It wasn’t long ago that the only non stop service were a daily UA and QF to LAX. Now we have QF 13 weekly to LAX/SFO, UA 10 weekly to LAX/SFO, VA 5 weekly to LAX and AC 4 weekly to YVR. Of course there is also JQ 3 or 4 weekly to HNL if you count that as North America.

tullamarine wrote:

One of the biggest losers from the growth in direct services from MEL is NZ who used to advertise transitting in AKL as preferential to SYD. This ongoing direct growth means the need for transitting anywhere continues to reduce.

planemanofnz wrote:

tullamarine wrote:

One of the biggest losers from the growth in direct services from MEL is NZ who used to advertise transitting in AKL as preferential to SYD. This ongoing direct growth means the need for transitting anywhere continues to reduce.

Query this.

If you're going to somewhere like IAH or ORD, I still think transitting in AKL is preferable to SYD, LAX or SFO - smaller, easier to navigate terminal, with a same-terminal transit. Plus, the number of non-stop destinations ex-AKL for which this will hold, is only going to increase (e.g. EWR, and maybe one or two of DEN, LAS, YYZ, IAD and SEA).

Cheers,

C.

planemanofnz wrote:

tullamarine wrote:

One of the biggest losers from the growth in direct services from MEL is NZ who used to advertise transitting in AKL as preferential to SYD. This ongoing direct growth means the need for transitting anywhere continues to reduce.

Query this.

If you're going to somewhere like IAH or ORD, I still think transitting in AKL is preferable to SYD, LAX or SFO - smaller, easier to navigate terminal, with a same-terminal transit. Plus, the number of non-stop destinations ex-AKL for which this will hold, is only going to increase (e.g. EWR, and maybe one or two of DEN, LAS, YYZ, IAD and SEA).

Cheers,

C.

NTLDaz wrote:

planemanofnz wrote:

tullamarine wrote:

One of the biggest losers from the growth in direct services from MEL is NZ who used to advertise transitting in AKL as preferential to SYD. This ongoing direct growth means the need for transitting anywhere continues to reduce.

Query this.

If you're going to somewhere like IAH or ORD, I still think transitting in AKL is preferable to SYD, LAX or SFO - smaller, easier to navigate terminal, with a same-terminal transit. Plus, the number of non-stop destinations ex-AKL for which this will hold, is only going to increase (e.g. EWR, and maybe one or two of DEN, LAS, YYZ, IAD and SEA).

Cheers,

C.

So by querying this are you suggesting it won't have an impact on NZ.

On top of that there'll be Velocity members who would have flown NZ who may not now.

QF742 wrote:

planemanofnz wrote:

tullamarine wrote:

One of the biggest losers from the growth in direct services from MEL is NZ who used to advertise transitting in AKL as preferential to SYD. This ongoing direct growth means the need for transitting anywhere continues to reduce.

Query this.

If you're going to somewhere like IAH or ORD, I still think transitting in AKL is preferable to SYD, LAX or SFO - smaller, easier to navigate terminal, with a same-terminal transit. Plus, the number of non-stop destinations ex-AKL for which this will hold, is only going to increase (e.g. EWR, and maybe one or two of DEN, LAS, YYZ, IAD and SEA).

Cheers,

C.

I agree that flying via AKL is often the best option if you can’t get on a non-stop flight. But I would imagine with the increase in non stop flights ex MEL that NZ will have to lower fares to be competitive.

qf789 wrote:

Qantas expands flights to Queensland from 31 March 2019

BNE-CNS will see an additional 11 weekly services added
Selected services from both SYD & MEL will be upgraded to A332
SYD-MCY will increase from daily to 13 weekly
BNE-ISA weekday services will return to double daily, overall increase 9 to 13 weekly, 1 class 717 will operate on all services
BNE-TSV six additional weekly services
resumption of daily flights between CNS and POM, Q400 operating

https://www.qantasnewsroom.com.au/media ... ravellers/

https://www.ausbt.com.au/qantas-boosts- ... ource=hero

RyanairGuru wrote:

For me going through AKL it would have to be an incredibly good deal. Price is always a consideration for most consumers if they are paying, but all else being relatively equal I would always go (1) Qantas (2) United (3) Virgin Australia as those are the three frequent flyer programs I partake in. Of course NZ can accrue to MileagePlus (and previously Velocity) but I cannot see any value in a stop in AKL unless my final destination was ORD. Everywhere else NZ flies has a direct flight out of Sydney.

tullamarine wrote:

qf789 wrote:

Qantas expands flights to Queensland from 31 March 2019

BNE-CNS will see an additional 11 weekly services added
Selected services from both SYD & MEL will be upgraded to A332
SYD-MCY will increase from daily to 13 weekly
BNE-ISA weekday services will return to double daily, overall increase 9 to 13 weekly, 1 class 717 will operate on all services
BNE-TSV six additional weekly services
resumption of daily flights between CNS and POM, Q400 operating

https://www.qantasnewsroom.com.au/media ... ravellers/

https://www.ausbt.com.au/qantas-boosts- ... ource=hero

Addition of A332s is a bit strange; I thought the A330 fleet was fully utilised. I can't imagine the J demand for CNS is huge so the A330 services may be a great opportunity for J reward flights to CNS though, for a 3 hour daylight flight, the A330 seat is a bit pointless.

jrfspa320 wrote:

Does anyone know why yesterdays (12/12) QF42 CGK-SYD diverted to PER? Seems a long way to divert from a point very close to DRW

qf789 wrote:

SQ will replace 3 class A359 with 2 class regional A359 in SQ235/256 to BNE from 7 Jan 19

https://www.routesonline.com/news/38/ai ... -jan-2019/