Qantas 787-9 confirmed and potential routes from Brisbane

So there'll be a serious downgrade in capacity on the BNE-LAX. How does Qantas plan to offset this?

Originally Posted by QantasFlyer :

So there'll be a serious downgrade in capacity on the BNE-LAX. How does Qantas plan to offset this?

The Qantas 747-400ERs are still being kept in the fleet until 2022, and Qantas willl assessing if the current 787s on order prove worth the spending (so if the first 8 are doing well), and if so, they are willing to buy many more.

Why haven't they thought of SFO? They can then do double daily to West coast (LAX/ SFO). There is decent demand for SFO and it helps with business & premium traffic, which is key to success.

It will be great to fly directly to Yvr from Bne. 

If all of these planes are being dedicated exclusively to North America and no European routes...

The BNE-LAX-JFK route seems like an obvious choice (helps phase out 747s too), and Dallas is probably the most likely destination for the other two jets (given its AA's biggest hub). Chicago is a smaller AA hub which lessens the connection possibilities, but its still a substantial hub and a destination in its own right, and its just within reach range-wise. Its possible but I'd have thought DFW more likely than ORD.

+1, StudiodeKadent !

I might also add that BNE-DFW would be a new route for QF, but similarly DFW-BNE would be familiar to Americans, courtesy of the original QF8 B747-400ER route (SYD-DFW-BNE-SYD). Much easier for QF to 're-launch' DFW-BNE in the USA with a new frame and dedicated service. Established feed on both ends.

ORD seems obviously on QF's radar, but my feeling is that it would be launched as a new destination either from MEL or SYD. When ORD was to originally announced in 2002, it was to be from MEL. 9/11 skewered that ... and perhaps QF might choose to launch from there, as a new destination, given the canning of MEL-DXB-(LHR).

Chicago makes a lot of sense, heart of the US mid west, major AA hub and a destination in its own right with easy connections to many east coast cities and would be very low risk to maintain high load factors on a 787, as compared SEA, SFO or even YVR. Flying direct into 2 of AA's biggest hubs also negates some connection benefits that DL bring to VA and also United, both of which rely on connecting through LAX.

I just wonder if there's enough demand for both an A380 & 787 flight each day from AU-DFW? There possibly could, be but i don't know... Obviously Qantas do and I'm sure they'll do it if there's demand there.