Routes for QF's 5th and 6th A380

[Oliver Gigacz]

What will Qantas use there 5th and 6th A380 when they arrive later in the year. Will they increase MEL-LAX or SYD-LHR?

[Ash W]

They have already made it clear the intention is for daily A380's on SYD-SIN-LHR (QF31/32) and I beleive an increase in one flight per week on SYD-LAX and MEL-LAX.

[Jack B]

is there any suggestion of which will be the next cities to receive A380 service? eg, SFO or HKG or some other currently 744 city?

[Arthur T]

Surely OQE & OQF will make the LHR - SYD to be A380 daily then to make LAX - MEL/SYD 3x - 4x daily A380?

Just wondering perhaps after arrival of 6th A380 they will have excess capacity to operate HKG - SYD on A380? But I worry this move will make Cathay Pacific very angry...

[Ash W]

Why would Qantas worry about making Cathay angry? Sure they are the same allicance but appart from that are rivals?

As for A380 to Hong Kong, I personally doubt it. On a "short" route like that frequency be preferential to capacity.

[Adam W]

From Qantas.com

"Our fifth and sixth A380s are also due for delivery by the end of the year, after which we will offer customers daily A380 services to London and Los Angeles from Sydney and increase Melbourne-Los Angeles services from two to three per week."

[Arthur T]

Both Qantas and Cathay Pacific are operating flights almost the same time between Sydney and Hong Kong, hence if Qantas deploy an A380 to Hong Kong, think it might grab some Cathay passengers to Qantas (as Qantas has W seats and more Y seats that she can attract more Y or J passengers), particularly where times is not pretty good like now, it may damage the partnership between these 2 carriers.

Frequency is pretty important as you had mentioned. Think Qantas and Cathay should work together like the partnership between QF & JL that try to spread out their flights across the day to prevent QF & CX HKG flights leaving too close to each other (particularly the 2/3pm slots).

In that case even if Qantas have sufficient passenger (and not enough long range planes) to operate HKG route, deploying A380 will benefit both carriers the most I believe.

[Adam.S]

Originally Posted by Adam W

From Qantas.com

"Our fifth and sixth A380s are also due for delivery by the end of the year, after which we will offer customers daily A380 services to London and Los Angeles from Sydney and increase Melbourne-Los Angeles services from two to three per week."

At this stage, Fridays will be the 3rd flight of the week for QF93.

[Mick B]

Not sure exactly when these deliveries were due to take place, but expect a further delay on the 5th and 6th aircraft to be announced soon.

[Jason A]

Aircraft 5 & 6 delayed until at least Feb 18.