Qantas boss to outline big international shake-up

[BradR]

Sorry about the all 744s to be retired. What was announced was a timeframe for retirement.

4 are being retired this financial year with the final 744ERs to be retired by 2019.

[Philip Argy]

Here's the official material:
http://www.qantas.com.au/travel/airl...irit/global/en

[Andrew P]

love it when predictions go wrong, brings a smile to the face

[Arthur T]

To me it seems the new strategy by Qantas is seemingly driving Cathay out:

1. No words of Cathay Pacific has been mentioned in the whole press release, whilst emphasising the importance of Chinese market, which is what Cathay Pacific is good at and specialised in.
2. Why bother having another First Class Lounge in Hong Kong whilst they can simply use CX ones?
3. A new premium carrier targetting Chinese market? It seems a new Full Service Carrier in Singapore may not be viable with the range of A320s, so are they saying they want to eat into Cathay Pacific's market by basing 11x A320 in Hong Kong, which could be a better option?
4. It is understandable going to Europe via Singapore/Kuala Lumpur is faster than going via Hong Kong, but seems Qantas is intending to transfer its passengers through to Rome and other European countries via KUL instead of codesharing with CX?

These are my spectulations, but to me it appears there's something wrong between Qantas and Cathay. Interesting times ahead.

[Ash W]

No surprises there Authur, Qantas and Cathay, despite being OneWorld members have never been that close.

Interesting about the larger order for A320's, though someone above said they were for Jetstar and the new airline and not Qantas. Reading the release it doesn't actually say this, so maybe some will find their way into Qantas colours.

[Dave Parer]

Good post Arthur. I thought a tie up with Cathay would have been a sensible move for Qantas.

Can anyone explain what the deal is with QF & CX. Both are members of One World so I thought they would have been friends in this case, but you cannot book a Frequent Flyer flight through Qantas that code shares with Cathay.

The whole Qantas / Cathay arrangement as always seemed odd to me.

[BradR]

ArthurT, Maybe CX are seeing OW as being a basket-case and are planning to get out. They have limited interaction with any of the members and are currently the most profitable airline in the world.

I don't think a QF A320 operation in Asia will cause them too much heartache given they have the ears of the Chinese Government who can determine who gets access to mainland China and who doesn't.

[Zac M]

A reply received on twitter states QF mainline will getsome of the A320s.

[Arthur T]

Also there are no mentions of the coming of B788/B789s.
They are supposingly arriving within next year, first to JetStar (?)
To me it seems the B787-9s will replace some B744s, it might not make sense in terms of capacity, but you may see amongst a number of overseas carriers operating into Australia are targetting to increase frequencies on their routes. Thus there could be no surprises in a longer term Qantas intends to increase frequencies to Asia by using a smaller aircraft?

[Dave Parer]

Increase frequencies to Asia by using a smaller aircraft makes very good sense. More options for the traveler is a good thing. If Qantas go this way, then it is a positive move by them.