Qantas Chicago flights start 2020, is non-stop to Seattle next?

It is great to see QF diversifying it's old "Air Sydney" international model to finally share the love around its vast Australian network. SYD, MEL and BNE are their three largest network markets. The real challenge will be to extend this philosophy to Australian international gateways including PER, ADL and DRW where SE Asian carriers such as SQ, CX, CZ and MH are eating QF's lunch daily.

With the eventual development of Project Sunrise running in parallel with the B787 strategy, one has to wonder if QF will at some time consider a non-stop MIA service from the East Coast? Or perhaps, greater emphasis on South Africa non-stops to JNB and CPT (Capetown)?

Specialist routes such as these are some 5-8 years off at the earliest, but are those that could lead the way back to QF dominating the Australian international travel market. The new era of efficient smaller, long haul frames will upend the market in ways yet unimagined.

When will Alan Joyce buy more 787-9 ? Qantas has options for dozens and the 747 retires in 2020, Santiago and Johannesburg will require 787-9 too. With all the demands on the 787 fleet, it looks as the Red Roo will get more, perhaps when they order 777-8/9 Qantas will surprise us all.

Welcomed news from Qantas but they will need a fleet of more than 14 787s to continue this expansion strategy.

Dear Allan Joyce, why only the USA, how about countries in Europe or even Asia, what are your new 787s only geared to fly to the USA and no where else.

As a fairly frequent Sydney base then via Brissy to Asia on QF, I wouldn’t mind booking via Brissy to USA either. But what would be great in future is single QF terminal to make transfers seamless. The bus transfer is ok at BNE but it’s still a bus transfer.

Well, Chris. A very interesting discussion with most of us on the same page. Can we expect an analysis from you as soon as the announcement is made? Cheers and thanks for providing the forum.

Is there a possibility that Brisbane could end up scoring US pre-clearance like Shannon and Dubai have? That would be an advantage for future US flights also.

Would JFK be beyond the reach of the 787 from Brisbane? If not, then I'd rather do transfer at Brisbane than LAX and have all the domestic traffic funnelled through Queensland. I'm guessing though the logistics don't work and QF will wait for the Sunrise project to deliver an aircraft that can.

I think they should fly direct to Mexico, This would be so good for easy access into Central America,

I'm really crossing my fingers for Seattle! No more LAX stopover, trudging between terminals and putting up with some fairly average lounges, and trying to get the timing right between the inbound Qantas flight and the onwards Alaska Airlines flight to Seattle. I'd much prefer to fly top Brisbane, pop over to the international terminal, enjoy the very good Qantas BNE lounge, step onto the Dreamliner and then, next stop Seattle!

Non-stops are my preference, however in the meantime, ANY new route introduced that removes LAX as an intermediary step is a move forward.

Now that Air Canada is flying Melbourne-Vancouver this is actually my preferred way to Seattle, I don't mind a little bit of back-tracking and I'd rather transit at Vancouver than LAX any day.

If QF 09 and QF 10 can manage Perth and back from LHR, I would love to see a direct flight to and from Paris’ CDG using the B787. Given the developing commercial nexus with AF/KLM, it would appear a logical step and favoured by many Aussie francofiles.

Once again from Perth better choices with Singapore. Given up on retaining Platinum- most of my flights are to US. Welcome back the direct Singapore NYC flights

I live in Victoria and would much prefer to transit via Sydney; ease of airside transfers and great lounges. With arrivals BNE, immigration is crowded in the AM, the bus can be crowded and, would not even know how to use the train!

Interesting the options that Qantas are looking at as I am really surprised that Qantas does not consider direct flights from Adelaide to the West Coast of the US. There is still a lot of traffic going via Melbourne & Sydney and I would have thought with the smaller B787 it would be on the cards. Unsure why Qantas continues to snub Adelaide for all international flights on its own metal!!!!

QF will announce 4 additional 787’s in August.

With all these announcements I think QF should act immediately to have YVR in the list for all year around flights or at least a longer season than a month as it's today....I was trying to book something in January to fly 747 but the days I want most if it's business is full for YVR-SYD. Also AA should stop their pretentious actions and talk again with AK and WS for Codeshare /joint venture agreements to cover North America in better way for oneworld.