[steven s]

When is Qantas Management going to realise that a lot of its business is coming from good old Brisbane these days. All international connections for Bangkok, Shanghai, Beijing, Taipei and many more must be done through Sydney!!!!! There is no First Class out of Brisbane on any plane so therefore have to go through Sydney for that too!!!!

There have been many flights missed by Brisbane people today from SYD international due to domestic flights being delayed hours due to fog. If we got some decent connections out of Brisbane they would be supported well!

And give us some First Class options, especially to LAX.

[dajop]

Originally Posted by steven s

When is Qantas Management going to realise that a lot of its business is coming from good old Brisbane these days.

Only after they realise a lot of its business is coming from Melbourne as well. MEL is still bigger than the Brisbane/Gold Coast urban area, yet to the destinations you mention connections are also required through SYD. But that's OK, SQ, EK, CX & others fill the void well enough, and should be allowed to expand their services to BNE and MEL if QF won't or can't (why should the govt protect QF on BNE/MEL routes when they offer so little to the travelling public?)

QF for many years has been SYDcentric. The advent of JQ international may increase flights from other ports, but not on QF metal.

[gaia]

Yes, I'm based in MEL & I find myself transiting via SYD too often.

[steven s]

Originally Posted by gaia

Yes, I'm based in MEL & I find myself transiting via SYD too often.

At least you guys are heading in the right direction!

[Nightwatchman]

I have to go to Taipei, but the only direct QF (Eva Air) flight is out of Bris-Vegas. What gives?

[Dave Noble]

Originally Posted by steven s

And give us some First Class options, especially to LAX.

If there were enough people prepared to pay for 1st class tickets ex-BNE, I suspect that QF would offer 1st class on the flights

Dave

[Gazza]

I have often thought that making Darwin the main hub for all Qantas flights to Asia make sense (means that all conecting flights are in the right direction).

Darwin has loads of room for expansion and no night-time limits on flight arrivals. It would also allow sydney to grow needing without a second airport.

Gazza

[markis10]

Well everything is Sydney Sydney Sydney today, the 4PM flight to Melbourne just boarded, the QP is full to the brink and there are a lot of happy people - all due to the fog this morning.

As for Melbourne having more people than Brisbane, that may be the case now but Queensland is expected to overtake Victoria in the next few years in the population race to second place, and it has no curfew! Brisbane also has the luxury of three jet capable RPT airports within an hours drive, giving a viable alternative for diverts ( Melbourne does have Avalon but only one runway so crosswinds may limit options).

[NM]

Originally Posted by Gazza

I have often thought that making Darwin the main hub for all Qantas flights to Asia make sense (means that all conecting flights are in the right direction).

Darwin has loads of room for expansion and no night-time limits on flight arrivals. It would also allow sydney to grow needing without a second airport.

Gazza

The problem with using Darwin is the timing of the flights. You break the longer SYD/MEL/BNE-Asia flight into two shorter flights and that kills any chance of people getting any decent sleep on an overnight flight from Asia to the major capitals.

Also the larger aircraft used for these international flights (767, A330, 747) are more economical to operate on longer routes for which their manufacturers have optimised their "sweet spot".

[dajop]

Originally Posted by Gazza

I have often thought that making Darwin the main hub for all Qantas flights to Asia make sense (means that all conecting flights are in the right direction).

I'm actually surprised that QF don't make more of their part ownership of Jetstar Asia, and making SIN a hub for more flights to Asia. Instead of competing head to head in the SIN LCC market with Tiger & Air Asia, would have thought (although it add costs to through connect) there'd be decent money in connecting/selling thru fares for Aus or Europe originating pax to the various JQ destinations. Take SQ on in it's main game. But I guess their are probably traffic right constraints, either that or the QF flights are full enough with LHR & SIN bound pax that it's not necessary.