G'day and welcome to the Australian Aviation Thread Part 124, we flew through the previous thread but before we continue here's a summary of what was discussed / announced:

Australian Aviation Thread Part 123

* EVA Air to increase Brisbane to 3x weekly over Christmas and New Year
* Jetstar to suspend its Gold Coast - Mackay services in September due poor performance
* Qantas and China Eastern Airlines proposed JV
* Qantas's Asia operations
* Performance of Qantas' Dallas - Sydney flights
* Jetstar plans for domestic New Zealand Q300 operations
* Jetstar celebrates its second anniversary of Ayers Rock (Uluru) services
* Qantas recommences seasonal services to Vancouver (ex-Sydney)
* Scoot 787-9 services to Australia
* Busselton Airport (BQB) to get a $59.7 million upgrade, plans east coast flights
* Singapore Airlines A380s return to Melbourne, temporarily
* Shanghai Airlines A330s at Melbourne Airport
* China Airlines announces flights from Taipei to Melbourne and onwards to Christchurch
* VA reveals further details of its new Premium Economy (777) cabin
* VA loses Toll Priority contract, establishes own cargo unit
* JQ413 diversion
* Qantas Los Angeles flight delays
* QF tries to block publication of a book by former speechwriter for Alan Joyce
* Qantas applies for additional capacity to Santiago via the IASC
* Virgin Australia to temporarily suspend Abu Dhabi flights to facilitate 777 product upgrade
* ANA said to be looking to launch flights to Sydney
* Malaysia Airlines cancels Brisbane flights from August 2015
* Qantas closes its Melbourne call centre
* Qantas to issue FF points on all domestic JQ NZ fares
* Turkish Airlines keen to launch services to Australia
* Malaysia Airlines trims its Australian timetable
* QF cuts fuel surcharges on frequent flyer tickets
* Qantas to increase Santiago to 5x weekly from 08NOV15-24JAN16
* From 16SEP15 to 11OCT15 Qantas will operate additional trans Tasman services
* Hong Kong denies Jetstar Hong Kong application
* Qantas recommences flights between Perth and Singapore with 737-800s
* Emirates diversions
* 747-400 VH-OJA on display at HARS
* Qantas A380s - rolling delays due AOGs
* Progress of Qantas new J class installation
* Govt announces an additional 2 MRTT A330s for the RAAF (delivery 2018)
* Qantas reports lower yields across its international network in May
* Korean Air to launch A380 services to Sydney over Christmas and New Year

Happy posting  

Quote: Cheaper perhaps chartering a VA/QF A330 unfortunately not enough slack in their fleet at the moment.

Apart from availability, there is also the issue of communications. Rarely do PMs just sit back and enjoy the inflight service when flying long distances. The BBJs are equipped with sophisticated high security communications enabling a full cabinet link up virtually anywhere in the world. Such equipment cannot be installed and removed at short notice from civil aircraft.

I have no problem in the govt updating their VIP fleet and if that means a dedicated A332, so be it. It is the fear of a "tall poppy" backlash that stops governments of both persuasions making sensible decisions in this area. Maybe the management of the VIP fleet should be handled independently of the ruling government similar to the way the Lodge/Kirribilli House are managed.

I've seen the 737BBJ on the SYD -CBR run a few times. The A330 would be overkill (so is the 737 but they need protection from those wind turbines near Lake George).

I too have no problem with a dedicated Air Force 1 for the PM. It is required for effective communication and control and to provide safety and security not only for the Pm and his/her entourage, but the media representatives travelling with the PM. I'd like to think that the jet could also handle passenger transport during times of emergency such as disaster relief and evacuation, as well as possible training flights for A330MRTT crews when not required for VIP use.
I hope the two BBJs are kept, and used for domestic VIP use as like allrite says above, they are heavily used between Sydney and Canberra and an A330 on that route would be overkill. Perhaps they could be used for more 'general' transport duties within the ADF with the primary role of international VIP duties transferred to the A330.
I just hope any new VIP A330 is operated in a suitable VIP colourscheme - not necessarily the current, dated one - and not overall tactical grey like the MRTTs!
Maybe an indigenous scheme: Wunula rebooted?
Cheers,
Bunumuring.

Quoting tullamarine (Reply 1): The BBJs are equipped with sophisticated high security communications enabling a full cabinet link up virtually anywhere in the world. Such equipment cannot be installed and removed at short notice from civil aircraft.

That's actually one of the issues with the BBJ in that it doesn't have the communications array that it should have to support a National Leader.

Quoting tullamarine (Reply 1): I have no problem in the govt updating their VIP fleet and if that means a dedicated A332,

I have no problem with a couple of the RAAF A332's being able to be converted from transport use into a VIP aircraft. I think that's both sensible and logical. I think it's way better for the RAAF to be able to do that and allow the PM, their staff, other Ministers and the media to all travel together than the current arrangements. And while this might get a little bit of bad press I think if all sides of politics committed to it the news media would fall into line because they would actually be the biggest beneficiaries of it. As for the SYD-CBR runs, I know people in the other thread commented about the British PM using British Airways and not "commuting" around the UK but the main difference is that the PM in the UK catches the train and/or drives due to the short distances involved. Lets not forget that the RAAF VIP fleet also includes a couple of Gulfstreams and these are more than adequate for shuttling a PM between CBR and other Australian cities.

Quoting Sydscott (Reply 4): That's actually one of the issues with the BBJ in that it doesn't have the communications array that it should have to support a National Leader.

This would be true in a republic with a president but with a prime minister it really doesn't matter as the deputy PM usually takes over operational duties while the PM is pressing the flesh overseas.

Quoting Zkpilot (Reply 5): This would be true in a republic with a president but with a prime minister it really doesn't matter as the deputy PM usually takes over operational duties while the PM is pressing the flesh overseas.

These days the PM would want to remain in touch even if the Deputy PM had nominally assumed the role. Despite not being a republic, the role of PM is now almost presidential and they are expected (by their party, the press and the public) to remain across domestic issues regardless of where they are in the world. In addition, as we saw with Rudd and Gillard, you can have the situation where the PM and Deputy PM loath one another. There is no way a Rudd would've wanted Gillard making decisions without his knowledge during 2010!!!

Quoting Sydscott (Reply 4): That's actually one of the issues with the BBJ in that it doesn't have the communications array that it should have to support a National Leader.

Not exactly an insurmountable problem though is it. Let's face it, everybody on a suitably equipped commercial flight can have internet and phone connection, if it really was that necessary they would've already put such a suite in place.

Quoting Sydscott (Reply 4): I have no problem with a couple of the RAAF A332's being able to be converted from transport use into a VIP aircraft. I think that's both sensible and logical

No problem with that, if that was what was to happen. I personally, just don't see the need to have a dedicated 330 as a VIP aircraft.

Quoting Sydscott (Reply 4): Lets not forget that the RAAF VIP fleet also includes a couple of Gulfstreams and these are more than adequate for shuttling a PM between CBR and other Australian cities.

They are actually Challenger 601's (I think ?). The only time they would see the P.M. on board would be if the destination airport couldn't handle the BBJ.

Quoting tullamarine (Reply 6): These days the PM would want to remain in touch even if the Deputy PM had nominally assumed the role.

In all honesty, who is the Deputy P.M. ? (without looking it up first   )

CZ increases MEL & SYD

Between 5 December 2015 to 29 February 2016 CAN-MEL will increase from 14 weekly to 18 weekly

CZ609 CAN1800 – 0640+1MEL 333 x247
CZ610 MEL0840 – 1510CAN 333 x135

Between 10 December 2015 and 26 March 2016 CAN-SYD will increase from 2 daily to 3 daily

CZ601 CAN1750 – 0615+1SYD 333 D
CZ602 SYD0745 – 1430CAN 333 D

http://airlineroute.net/2015/07/01/cz-melsyd-dec15/

While we are on the subject of government travel, the Federal air travel contract will expire in April next year. Fairfax has an interesting article on the discussion paper.

Quote: The government has expressed interested in receiving the pool of frequent flyer points earned by its travellers to be used at a department or agency level – presumably for redemptions on future flights to cut travel costs.

At the moment, at least for domestic travel, we don't receive FF points but do get enhanced status points for government contracted travel. The cynic in me imagines what they really want is the ability for senior managers to use points collected by their underlings to obtain upgrades.  

Quoting qf789 (Reply 8): CZ increases MEL & SYD Between 5 December 2015 to 29 February 2016 CAN-MEL will increase from 14 weekly to 18 weekly CZ609 CAN1800 – 0640+1MEL 333 x247 CZ610 MEL0840 – 1510CAN 333 x135 Between 10 December 2015 and 26 March 2016 CAN-SYD will increase from 2 daily to 3 daily CZ601 CAN1750 – 0615+1SYD 333 D CZ602 SYD0745 – 1430CAN 333 D http://airlineroute.net/2015/07/01/cz-melsyd-dec15/

Nothing for BNE? I assume it will go up to daily as usual (currently 5pw). Interesting given CZ has no other main land Chinese carrier competition in BNE. Hopefully see some extra flights!

Quoting TruemanQLD (Reply 10): Nothing for BNE? I assume it will go up to daily as usual (currently 5pw). Interesting given CZ has no other main land Chinese carrier competition in BNE. Hopefully see some extra flights!

BNE-CAN is going daily from the end of October per the link below:

http://airlineroute.net/2015/05/29/cz-oceania-w15update1/

JQ35 and JQ37 seem to have been turned back to SYD/MEL. Not sure why.

Quoting thai77w (Reply 12): JQ35 and JQ37 seem to have been turned back to SYD/MEL. Not sure why.

I see one person tweeting that it is due to a volcano and an item from the Jakarta Post from 10 hours ago about fears of an eruption nearby.

Apparently a VA service flew out empty on Sunday after a cabin crew member became sick.

Quoting thai77w (Reply 12): JQ35 and JQ37 seem to have been turned back to SYD/MEL. Not sure why.

Looks like JQ37 is heading to MEL instead of SYD. FR24 says JQ35 is due in DPS around 330 instead of scheduled 2115, so maybe returning for a medical

Quoting qf789 (Reply 14): Looks like JQ37 is heading to MEL instead of SYD. FR24 says JQ35 is due in DPS around 330 instead of scheduled 2115, so maybe returning for a medical

According to a newsreader at the ABC Jetstar have cancelled due to a volcanic eruption, but Virgin are still flying (via Twitter).

[Edited 2015-07-02 05:09:47]

Quoting allrite (Reply 15): According to a newsreader at the ABC Jetstar have cancelled due to a volcanic eruption, but Virgin are still flying (via Twitter).

Thanks. JQ116 PER-DPS-SIN has been cancelled as well.

Travel advice from JQ regarding cancelled flights

http://www.jetstar.com/au/en/travel-alerts

TZ will operate the 788 instead of the 789 to SYD from 1st August to 30th September and OOL will see the 788 instead of the 789 from 1st September to 29th September

http://airlineroute.net/2015/06/21/tz-788-aug15update1/

Quoting jupiter2 (Reply 7): In all honesty, who is the Deputy P.M. ? (without looking it up first )

I actually wrote that into a Trivia question round recently because I knew how few people actually realise who the Deputy PM actually is.. lol.

Would you believe that out of 20 tables, only a single table correctly answered it?

FYI, its Warren Truss - leader of the Nationals.

Now to keep it aviation related.... I think the suggestions here of a A330VIP for international travel combined with a couple of Lears or perhaps a BBJ would suit the needs of the government best. I read an article once that the government is actually spending more money buying commercial seats for the people they can't fit onto the BBJs than they would if they leased some A330s.

It was quite some time ago though so I have 0 chance of finding the article - it may not even be accurate.

Quoting qf789 (Reply 8): Between 10 December 2015 and 26 March 2016 CAN-SYD will increase from 2 daily to 3 daily CZ601 CAN1750 – 0615+1SYD 333 D CZ602 SYD0745 – 1430CAN 333 D

That's quite the increase. 3x daily, one of which is an A380. I wonder if the QF codeshare is bringing them extra traffic?

JQ's latest 787 VH-VKJ is on its delivery flight to MEL

Good new for Qantas staff though article headline is a bit misleading given $90M figure actually is total between now and 2017.
Article

[Edited 2015-07-02 17:13:50]

Quoting QF175 (Thread starter): * EVA Air to increase Brisbane to 3x weekly over Christmas and New Year

What is the likelihood that BR will ever fly into other Australian cities?

Quoting bunumuring (Reply 3): I hope the two BBJs are kept, and used for domestic VIP use as like allrite says above, they are heavily used between Sydney and Canberra and an A330 on that route would be overkill.

I wouldn't mind seeing A321 NEO's replace the BBJs.

Better size IMHO without ever really being overkill.

Quoting qf789 (Reply 18): TZ will operate the 788 instead of the 789 to SYD from 1st August to 30th September and OOL will see the 788 instead of the 789 from 1st September to 29th September

Sooooooooo glad I didn't book a SYD-SIN-OOL day trip just to log a 789.

I booked a DMK-SIN-DMK daytrip instead.

One of those flight has gone to a 788 but it looks like one is still going to be a 789. Fingers crossed.

Quoting QF175 (Reply 11): BNE-CAN is going daily from the end of October per the link below:

CZ do this every year... announce BNE daily then after Chinese New Year it quietly drops back to 4 or 5/week.

Quoting 777Jet (Reply 22): What is the likelihood that BR will ever fly into other Australian cities?

I believe this was covered somewhat recently by BR who said, for the time being, they are happy with BNE. It is definitely one of the stranger operations into Australia, having been around for over 20 years now IIRC, and operating 2/3x weekly.

Quoting eta unknown (Reply 23): CZ do this every year... announce BNE daily then after Chinese New Year it quietly drops back to 4 or 5/week.

It's a shame, as flights are normally pretty full as far as I know

Quoting 777Jet (Reply 22): What is the likelihood that BR will ever fly into other Australian cities?

BR have stated a few times they want to increase frequency at BNE before they add another port. They've been focusing on American expansion lately, but with their recent order for 4 more A330s there might be some more flying here too.

Quoting TruemanQLD (Reply 24): It is definitely one of the stranger operations into Australia, having been around for over 20 years now IIRC, and operating 2/3x weekly.

Southeast Queensland has one of the larger Taiwanese populations in Australia. According to ABC News, 39% of the Taiwanese Australian population lives in BNE. Taiwanese celebrate Queensland's first cultural festival

Also, with CX not as strong at BNE compared to SYD/MEL they won't carry too many TPE-bound pax out of BNE. CI seems to have taken most of the expansion in the TPE-Australia market - maybe BR is too slow to react.

Quoting qfvhoqa (Reply 25): Southeast Queensland has one of the larger Taiwanese populations in Australia. According to ABC News, 39% of the Taiwanese Australian population lives in BNE. Taiwanese celebrate Queensland's first cultural festival

Correct- and this is the reason the BNE flight survives while SYD/MEL flights were cut. Local BR BNE managment wants to increase the frequency to 3x/week year round in order to reduce costs... the route is expensive to operate and would be break-even at best... now one crew spends 3 days in BNE, the other crew 4 days, plus the aircraft stays in BNE 13 hours from around 09:00 to 22:00. I have never understood how the route has survived with these expenses.

Long shot, but does anyone have a couple of QF Complimentary Invitation Lounge Pass' they would consider selling. For travel from October. PM if you are willing. TIA

Quoting qfvhoqa (Reply 25): BR have stated a few times they want to increase frequency at BNE before they add another port. They've been focusing on American expansion lately, but with their recent order for 4 more A330s there might be some more flying here too.

BR's speculated order for 787-10s may indicate expansion into other Australian ports as well. It's been suggested that the order would be to begin replacing the oldest A330s and to allow others to expand into new ports.
Here's hoping that Sydney is on the horizon! Maybe we can get American, Turkish, Qatar and ANA to add to Solomons in a twelve month period of new airlines?
Cheers,
Bunumuring.

Last night's QF9 (MEL-DXB-LHR) is delayed by about 16 and a half hours. Instead of taking off at 2255 last night it took off at 1522 today. Providing there are no more delays its expected to get into LHR around 5am (BST) tomorrow. As a result tonight's QF2 (LHR-DXB-SYD) has an expected departure of 830am (BST) tomorrow, about 11 hours late. Would imagine it would be back in Sydney about 4pm on Sunday.

Quoting tullamarine (Reply 21): Good new for Qantas staff though article headline is a bit misleading given $90M figure actually is total between now and 2017. Article

Fantastic news indeed. The bonus applies to the unions which agreed to an increase freeze.

EK413

Quoting qf789 (Reply 29): Last night's QF9 (MEL-DXB-LHR) is delayed by about 16 and a half hours. Instead of taking off at 2255 last night it took off at 1522 today. Providing there are no more delays its expected to get into LHR around 5am (BST) tomorrow. As a result tonight's QF2 (LHR-DXB-SYD) has an expected departure of 830am (BST) tomorrow, about 11 hours late. Would imagine it would be back in Sydney about 4pm on Sunday.

Apparently it was due to a chemical leak in the cargo hold.

JQ4 HNL-SYD is cancelled today. I was supposed to be on that flight. The agent on the phone did not know why it was cancelled but I was rebooked on the same flight leaving HNL on Saturday.

VA has diverted 4 flights and cancelled another 10 flights all to DPS due to volcano activity.

PER-DPS has diverted to DRW
SYD-DPS has returned to SYD
MEL-DPS has returned to MEL
BNE-DPS has returned to BNE

JQ110 PER-DPS diverted to PHE and now returning to PER
JQ47 BNE-DPS has returned to BNE

JQ travel advice

http://www.jetstar.com/au/en/travel-alerts

SQ225 SIN-PER diverted to ADL this morning due to fog in PER

[Edited 2015-07-03 22:19:10]

[Edited 2015-07-03 22:32:02]

Speaking of diversions tonight's QR0904 DOH-MEL service diverted to SIN enroute to MEL. Flight rescheduled with estimated arrival 0020. Medical diversion perhaps?

Flight QR904 from Singapore to Melbourne
http://fr24.com/QTR904/6b5017c

I've also noticed today's SQ0222 service had a 6 hour delay with the flight departing SYD 21:30.

Flight SQ222 from Sydney to Singapore
http://fr24.com/SIA222/6b53a86

EK413

Quote: jupiter 2 - last thread

Just getting back to the forum after a couple of days! In response to Jupiter 2, my dad taught me that spitting into the wind wasnt all that successful an activity, it seems appropriate to follow that logic here!

Quoting bunumuring (Reply 28): BR's speculated order for 787-10s may indicate expansion into other Australian ports as well. It's been suggested that the order would be to begin replacing the oldest A330s and to allow others to expand into new ports.

Hi mate!

I don't think the 787-10 makes any difference to BR's expansion plans to Australia - which might be non-existent anyway.

The 787-10 are a bit bigger than the 330s they will be replacing as well so I think they'd be better off flying 330s to new Australian destinations first.

IMHO BR would be happy flying 330s into Australia, like they do to BNE, if they wanted to expand their Australian ops - the newer yet larger 787-10 won't make an Australian expansion any more likely IMHO.

But... maybe there is a plan to use one of the 4 x 330s on order for Australia? I wouldn't rule that out. I think that is more likely than seeing a 787-10 in BR colours somewhere else in Oz other than BNE  

Others are right when they point out that Brisbane has the largest Taiwanese population in Australia, so until BR increase their frequencies to BNE, an expansion into other Oz cities is kind of unlikely.

Quoting 777Jet (Reply 36): Others are right when they point out that Brisbane has the largest Taiwanese population in Australia, so until BR increase their frequencies to BNE, an expansion into other Oz cities is kind of unlikely.

I think ultimately they will be put in a position that they either commit further or exit the market completely.

Maintaining 2-3 x weekly in the longer term is unlikely to be sustainable, especially if CI increases its presence further.

Time will tell I guess.

More diversions for PER this morning due to fog

CZ319 and CX137 diverted to ADL, D7237 diverted to DPS (I find this one odd as the flight path from KUL-PER flies straight over CGK, why divert 500nm)

Just an update on the delayed CX flight into PER today. CX137 arrived in PER from ADL at 1625 today. The CX136 flight back to HKG has been delayed for departure to tomorrow at 1125am

In regards to AA starting SYD in December it appears that the 77W is being freed up from the JFK-LHR route with 2 of the 3 services going from 77W to 772.

http://airlineroute.net/2015/07/05/aa-jfklhr-dec15/

#1 reason for the CBR-SYD runs operated by the BBJs is that the aircraft are based here and their pax are based in SYD (or have business in SYD before continuing elsewhere). Not the PM, necessarily, but someone. #2 reason is probably training.

QF isn't having a good run with their A380's, today's QF7 is delayed about 7 and half hours due to a mechanical issue

Quoting qf789 (Reply 42): QF isn't having a good run with their A380's, today's QF7 is delayed about 7 and half hours due to a mechanical issue

This now appears to be standard operating procedure for QF. I'm not sure how much longer it can go on before they start losing some serious goodwill (especially with QF7 given that most passengers will now be forced to overnight at DFW and arrive at their destinations a day late).

If I were QF I'd be looking closely at what could be done to defer A380 maintenance over the next 18 months to allow them to bring the frame that sits at MNL for most of the year back into the mix as a short-term solution before the 787s start arriving.

Quoting qf002 (Reply 43): If I were QF I'd be looking closely at what could be done to defer A380 maintenance over the next 18 months to allow them to bring the frame that sits at MNL for most of the year back into the mix as a short-term solution before the 787s start arriving.

Deferring maintenance to overcome a reliability issue doesn't seem the smartest solution.

Is the A380 that went offline due to a jack malfunction in SYD back yet?

Quoting tullamarine (Reply 44): Is the A380 that went offline due to a jack malfunction in SYD back yet?

Yeah, it came back about a month ago.

Quoting qf002 (Reply 43): If I were QF I'd be looking closely at what could be done to defer A380 maintenance over the next 18 months to allow them to bring the frame that sits at MNL for most of the year back into the mix as a short-term solution before the 787s start arriving.

QF plan to use an A380 for SYD-HKG over the summer, so they schedule the A380 maintenance around that.

Quoting tullamarine (Reply 44): Deferring maintenance to overcome a reliability issue doesn't seem the smartest solution.

I'm surprised the union hasn't been in the media saying that the poor reliability is due to the offshore maintenance at MNL. I have no idea whether it is or not, but hopefully the A380 maintenance base at LAX will do a better job.

Quoting qf789 (Reply 42): QF isn't having a good run with their A380's, today's QF7 is delayed about 7 and half hours due to a mechanical issue

I hate to say it but the reason QF has these issues is because they are now running the fleet to the point where there are no spares. The real resolution is to either slightly lower utilisation to bring some slack back into the fleet or buy 1 more A380 so they have a real operational spare. Given the number of issues, incidents and delays I'd have thought another A380 would be utilised almost immediately.

Either that or they need to keep a couple more 744's in the fleet as subs for A380's.

Quoting Sydscott (Reply 47): Either that or they need to keep a couple more 744's in the fleet as subs for A380's.

I think they are waiting for the A380NEO so probably better to keep on a fully depreciated 744 especially with the current lowish fuel prices (at least until the 789 enters the fleet)

Quoting qfvhoqa (Reply 46): but hopefully the A380 maintenance base at LAX will do a better job.

When is this base supposed to be up and running? I would have think if it is not already up and going it should assist with utilisation. Will the big checks be completed there? Or remain in MNL?

Is the A380 that had the hydraulic issue in LAX back in service?