QantasLink changes in 2015
 

QantasLink services will undergo a fairly major reshuffle come March 2015:

http://www.qantas.com.au/agents/dyn/qf/info/201411/1120

In summary:
* the two PER-based Q400s to come back east
* Network F100s to operate some QLink services in their 'white space'
* ADL-based Q400 to be replaced by two Q300s, no more Q400 flying out of ADL (suggests the ADL-CBR could get the chop)
* potential new route(s) ex-ADL
* changes to QLD coastal ops
* BNE-NTL will see Q400s (unclear if that's on all or only some services)

I suspect there's more to come on this, not only in terms of the potential new ADL routes but also some broader changes. VA is starting to make moves into QF's monopoly routes in the Territory, which I can't see QF taking laying down. Watch this space, I guess!?

I wonder what the chances of a CBR-HBA Q400 service being opened up by Qantaslink would be? I'm surprised they haven't given this route a go.

There was a comment posted somewhere yesterday (perhaps in The Australian article which is now behind a paywall), from John Gissing, which almost seemed to suggest they were thinking CBR-HBA. The Q400 is the aircraft for it, IMHO.

In terms of the Q400 CBR-ADL, I'd see that potentially being a 717 with some adjustment to the schedule, perhaps even 2x 717 and 1x 73H in each direction on weekdays. Happy to stand corrected!

It's an interesting move to take 300s back to ADL, my biggest question (and I'm sure we'll find out soon) would be how they will be rotated for maintenance. I would suggest that there is a possibility of ADL-MQL and rotating through there however as Melbourne is an all Q400 base this wouldn't really help, if Q300s havw the range for ADL - CBR maybe via CBR? I guess the other possibility is that the two Q400 aircraft operate entirely independant of the rest of the fleet as per the current Q400 base in PER.

As for BNE-NTL, some services I've noticed are already using Q400s so it's a possibility that this is saying that all services will be Q400 ops.

So be interesting what new towns they open up in SA beside the existing Port Lincoln.
They may compete head on with REX on Mount Gambier, Whyalla, Coober Pedy or Ceduna.

Taking over from the contracted Alliance F50s on Olympic Dam has also been mentioned, but obviously depends on the options that contact provides.

They also plan to reduce the fleet as well. But increase flying of remaining aircraft to make up the capacity shortfall.
http://australianaviation.com.au/201...-cutting-move/

Good luck to all the staff affected by this narcissistic management.

Changes take effect from March 29 2015.

Anyone noticed any changes to the schedules yet? Supposed to be loaded this week...

BNE-NTL will be upgraded to all Q400's and increased from 16 to 18 per week, partly due to Jetstar reducing services due to on going negotiations with the airport.

As for the moment, some services on Monday's and Friday's already get operated by the Q400, but haven't seen one for a couple of weeks now.

The amount of crew being advertised for the ADL base suggests that they would have enough crew to fully crew 2 Q300's as opposed to just having a spare.

The maintenance will be done by Cobham as they already have the licence coverage. They infact leased VH-SBJ OFF QLink for a while a few years ago.

Every now and again you may see an aircraft swap from the East coast, but it'll only be via a ferry flight as the Q300 would be severley payload limited trying to do ADL-CBR vv.

The current ADL-OLP flights require up to 3 x F50's a day so I don't see that happening initially. Have a look at where Rex operate the most flights ex ADL and that may indicate a potential target market.

Any additional 717 ex CBR would require a 6th J-class aircraft as the current fleet of 5 is fully utilised on the existing flying.

There is a lot of slack in the two - class 717 schedule, plenty of room to 'optimise'. Also possible that they may take it off ADL-SYD as that's a very busy flight (the two times I've flown on it anyway) and could operate with a 737.

Isn't QF making the decision it should of made several years ago. By not introducing a regional jet when the B734 was withdrawn and increasing B717 services.

They have lost the fleet flexibility to switch DHC8 for a RJ when demand is needed. As well as having an aircraft to fit the niche between a B738 and A332. The price is old aircraft with high fuel costs.

Unfortunately they do not have the fleet flexibility like VA as it can switch a/c depending on demand. They haven't moved with the times.

It coming I'm sure, those 717s will need replacing in the near future, they really aren't up to the task, I don't know if it was the fact they were in storage for a lengthy period or whether they are just a lemon (don't get me wrong I love the 717) but yeah, I reckon within 5 years they will be replaced. Personally I thought the 737-700 would have been perfect for QF, no crew training, ground crew training, etc. and they would be totally interchangeable with the fleet of 738s, sure they aren't the size of a E190 or similar but I think they are small enough to be worthwhile.

Performance wise at 525nm CBR-ADL is quite doable by DH8C. Bombardiers literature has it capable of 924nm at 50 Pax+Bags. They have flown the DH8C on BNE-LRE in the past which is 10nm longer than CBR-ADL. Block time was around 02:20-2:30

As for new route my money's on either Mount Gambier or Whyalla with Mildura as an outside chance.

http://www2.bombardier.com/Used_Airc...df/Q300_EN.pdf

Could QF maybe return to Kingscote on the ADL-KGC and MEL-KGC routes?

If I recall they left that route previously because they didn't have the right aircraft for the route. Is the Dash 8-300 suitable for these routes?

Otherwise, perhaps a MEL connection from ADL via MGB is my other guess.

Whyalla Council has been quite keen on another operator apparently.

Remember there won't be too many new routes as it'll only be 1 line of flying and they'll also have some slack for delays/breakdowns.

Airlines gets a large margin (profit) from Business Class seats.

Corporate/government contacts is like printing money.

VA E190s have business class seating,

QF has only business class seating in VH-YQS/T/U/V/W (B712)

Any service that does not offer business class is not a money maker.

That is the problem.

New QLink destination ex-ADL is Whyalla! Double daily Q300s from 13 April 2015.

http://www.qantasnewsroom.com.au/med...lla-to-its-map

Qlink needs to link several major ports.

Q400s.
MELPLO
MELDBO
CBRNTL
CBRHBA

717
CBROOL

Whilst generally traffic would be leisure/VFR, bypassing the larger ports would enable a slight premium in yields.

Id agree with the last 2 but the Q400 is far too much aircraft for MELPLO, MELDBO or CBRNTL. Two of those routes have never been done (to my knowledge) & the other couldn't work on 19-seaters...

Q400 VH-LQK will leave PER for good on 04-Mar as QF6674 PER-ADL-SYD.

LQJ will leave later in the month.

I take it they are not getting replaced with any other Q400 and the ops are winding back?

Correct,

Network will pick up the flights.

VH-LQJ will ferry PER-ADL-BNE on 25/3
Q300 will ferry SYD-ADL on 21/3
Q300 will ferry BNE-CBR-ADL on 30/3

Looks like LQK had to return to PER with a mechanical issue.

VH-SBT will ferry SYD-ADL on 21/03 as QF6711

Just noticed QF are also putting 717s on BNE-ISA. Looks like all-Y. Not sure the start date but definitely there mid to late April, 4x weekly alongside 9x weekly with 73H. Makes a lot of sense to me, in fact been expecting this for a while.

Now changed to VH-SBG

Seems like SBG is in Brissie tonight do you reckon it'll position BNE-SYD-ADL?

VH-SBG scheduled to do BNE-MQL-ADL today.

VH-LQJ scheduled to fly PER-ADL-BNE today as QLK670D, ending Q400 ops in WA.

Out of PER at 0710, to be in ADL from around 1255 to around 1420, landing in BNE at around 1600.

Also (based on qantas.com schedules) looks as though ADL's final Q400 service will operate to/from PLO this coming Sunday as QF2273/QF2274 (ADL1700-1750PLO1810-1900ADL) before SBG takes over as QF2275, the PLO-nightstopping service on Sunday night.

I've not been able to find any information about how and when the Q400 will transition back out of ADL.

QOE will ferry ADL-BNE as QF6674 on 30/3.

TQL will ferry BNE-CBR-ADL as QF6713 on 30/3.

Cheers, Max!

From AA

Water cannon salute for end of QantasLink turboprop operations in Perth


http://australianaviation.com.au/201...ions-in-perth/

QOE is now leaving ADL tonight as QF6674 in order to be available ex BNE on Monday morning.

TQL did not turn up yesterday as planned.

TQL now scheduled this afternoon to fly BNE-DBO-ADL as QLK713.

Q300 SBJ ferried SYD-TMW today as QF6713 to be placed in storage.

At this stage, all 6 300's will be stored at TMW until a decision is made on their future.

Q300 TQZ will ferry BNE-TMW tomorrow (2/4) as QF6713 but this may be for maintenance as Q200 TQS will exit the hangar tomorrow and ferry TMW-SYD as QF6714

There is 6 300s considerably older than the rest, those been SBB, G, J, T, TQY and Z. So good assumption that TQZ would most likely be for storage.