'Roo route' flights to double.
Discuss 'Roo route' flights to double, on the Travel News forum of FrequentFlyer.com.au, the home of frequent flyers.
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AUSTRALIA is expected to announce a significant breakthrough today to increase the number of direct flights to and from London.
Officials from Britain and Australia have been meeting in Canberra over the past two days and are believed to have agreed to the most substantial liberalisation of air services between the two countries since 1996.
British and Australian airlines use the full quota of 28 services a week available to them on the so-called 'kangaroo route' under the existing bilateral agreement. The Australian rights are used by Qantas (qan.ASX:Quote,News) while British Airways flies 14 services a week and Virgin Atlantic seven.
It is understood the new agreement would increase the number of flights available and would give airlines the right to fly to unspecified destinations beyond Britain.
As the article says, SQ will be watching this one very closely.
I wonder if this is in preparation for QF's 787 deliveries? I can't see them justifying a 744 into places like MAN, but the 787 will make non-LHR destinations in the UK and other European destinations viable.
Originally posted by news.com.au AIRLINES will be free to fly as often as they want between Australia and the United Kingdom under a new deal announced today.
Transport Minister Warren Truss said under the agreement there would be no limit for Australian or British passenger or cargo airlines on flights between the two countries. There would also be no limits on code-sharing arrangements.
"This new agreement is an important step in meeting both countries' commitment to a fully-open aviation environment," he said.
"Australian and UK carriers can now freely determine the number of services operated between our two countries."
Previously there had been a limit of 28 services per week for Qantas flights into the UK. British Airways operates 14 services a week, while Virgin Atlantic operates seven.
There had also been a ban on Australian airlines flying to the UK via China, Japan and the US or any services beyond Britain, other than to three points in Europe. Under the new agreement, the ban on going via China or the US will remain.
However, the ban on points beyond Europe will go.
Mr Truss said Australian airlines now had much more flexibility to serve European markets.
"This is a major step forward towards a fully-liberalised open skies agreement between Australia and the UK," he said.
"Both parties have agreed that we should continue to work together towards a fully-open aviation market, either bilaterally or as part of a comprehensive air services agreement between Australia and the European Union."
The new agreement comes into operation immediately.
So anybody willing to guess who will be the first to take maximum advantage of this?
Last edited by adamonline; 7th July 2006 at 01:17 PM.
Member of: AA Exec Plat; QF LTG; PC Plat; HHonors Gold
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Re: 'Roo route' flights to double
The limiting factor is that nearly everyone going to the UK wants to go to LHR, and landing slots at LHR in the times that work for flights to/from Australia (working around curfews and midnight arrivals/departures) are very expensive to purchase.
So airlines can add services to places like MAN, but that is not going to run to multiple daily services.
SINGAPORE Airlines yesterday called on the Australian Government to honour a "cast-iron commitment" to open its skies to Singapore after it agreed to drop most restrictions on the number of flights on the route between Australia and Britain.
Transport Minister Warren Truss yesterday confirmed reports in The Australian that all restrictions on the number of flights between Australia and Britain would be lifted immediately.
You think so..I was looking to see if I could get a business class return flight to London in October.....nothing!!
Yeah. ... right!
Tell me you can't get a QFF award return Oz to/from Europe in May next year and then I'd worry.
Look at many posts in this web site; award J/F seating anywhere on QF less than 6 months out is a lottery.
With pacific routes, deamand for paid travel is far greater you'll need to conder 11 months. So much so, that Qantas advertise that certain SYD/LAX flights generally will not have any award seats available at any time.
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