Qantas ready to restart international flights, bring Australians home

Qantas CEO Alan Joyce says international flights could recommence under a government subsidy.

By David Flynn, September 18 2020
Qantas ready to restart international flights, bring Australians home

Qantas is in discussions with the Federal Government about restarting international flights to help bring home some of the estimated 25,000 Australians who remain stranded overseas.

The flights would be subsidised by the government, with ticket prices set at "reasonable" rates so that passengers would not be "gouged by high airfares", says Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce.

Speaking with ABC Radio, Joyce said the airline stands ready to put its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners back into the skies under the same arrangement as across April-June 2020,  which saw the government underwrite the operating costs of each flight.

Those repatriation flights includes special charter services from India, Japan, Hawaii, South America and South Africa, along with regular flights from Auckland, Hong Kong, London and Los Angeles.

"We did a hundred flights like that pre-June to get a load of Australians home under that model," Joyce said.

"The issue for us is that we're burning $40 million in cash a week at the moment. We can’t put any services on unless we can cover the cash costs, because it's all about the survival of Qantas now."

How the Qantas repatriation flights would work

Joyce said that some international airlines which continue flying to Australia "are sponsored by their governments," name-dropping Singapore Airlines and Qatar Airways, "and that's fair enough."

"All we need is to cover the cost of the fuel, to cover the cost of the salaries of the pilots and the cabin crew and the airport costs."

The previous repatriation flights were operated a cost-recovery basis, with passenger revenue remitted to the government to offset the total cost of operations.

"We have been talking to the government about whether we can put special Qantas flights on to destinations and offer reasonable airfares," Joyce said.

"The government at the moment sponsors a regional network and a domestic network - if the economics are not covered by the cost of the airfares, the government subsidises to keep those destinations open."

"We're saying let's do the same thing internationally, and then you don’t get people being gouged by high airfares."

Joyce said Qantas was eager to bring back "as many Australians who want to get home, and we need to do that as fast as possible – we'd like to do it before Christmas." 

His comments come as the government moves to increase the number of international arrivals from 4,000 to 6,000 per week, effective as of Friday September 25.

Read more: Australian Government pushes to increase international passenger caps

David

David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.

08 Feb 2018

Total posts 158

If they used 787's and kept (on average) the middle seats free they'd have 39 spare seats, so in theory the government would just have to buy 39 seats or so. I would think middle seats free, plus masks and quarantine would be perfectly OK. I know the issue is the state inbound caps, but the states shouldn't be allowed to control immigration. Just learn from the Victorian quarantine errors and bring people home

Qantas

22 Oct 2012

Total posts 319

Don't forget that those same planes will be departing Australia almost empty, and someone has to pay the costs of that near empty plane.

not empty at all. Plenty of people going overseas or wanting to go overseas.

11 Jul 2020

Total posts 2

Good point Phil, I would be happy to fill that empty seat to visit my boyfriend in Paris and return to Australia at a higher price than pre-Covid rather than the very high prices the other airlines have to charge at present. Obviously hotel quarantine in compulsory and that’s fine for a while until the Victorian mess is under control. By early 2021 Australians returning need to home quarantine with very heavy fines for non-compliance $50,000 would keep people home. The whole population can not be penalised for the sake of a few selfish idiots! Keep Qantas flying moving forward! 

Keeping the middle seat free is not the required 1.5m distance that is required. If this is what we are talking about it would mean every second row with 1 passenger per seat. There were many flights already operated with them full and no cases on board. The problem at the moment is you can lift the cap with regards to how many passengers can be bought into the country but this still limits the airline to what they can carry, most are operating at a loss but are being heavily subsisted by there governments. So if a plane can carry 40 Business passengers then they will charge and bump the cheaper Economy passengers, this is why people can't get home. The Government needs to charter Qantas planes that fly to London, Los Angeles, Singapore/Hong kong then at least they can be full and get Aussies home.

what does keeping middle seats free do ? Absolutely nothing.

Exactly absolutely nothing! :-) 

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

04 Mar 2014

Total posts 204

The reason SQ/QR work is they can use their hubs to transfer people from a large range of destinations into different AU ports, an option not available to Qantas.  Would only work from destinations with large numbers of returning travelers. ie LHR / LAX etc....not economically viable to bother with

08 Feb 2018

Total posts 158

...except there aren't a large number of travellers allowed into Australia

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

13 Nov 2018

Total posts 105

A lightly loaded 787 can reach many places without the need to go through a “hub” and that’s the point. Remember LHR PER?

no, no, no.

Want an aircraft with as many seats as possible, as cheap as possible. I don't want to be subsidising the flights.

Can do a tech stop or stops in 100s of places, where passengers can probably get off, but not mingle with other airlines passengers, ie. shove them in a transit lounge by themselves.

Sharjah is a cheap port between EU & OZ. Flight could possibly continue onto NZ.

bmc
bmc

Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards

22 Aug 2013

Total posts 173

Tasmania (via premier Gutwein statements in media) has stated we will gladly accept returning Tasmanians from OS, however we do not have the infrastructure and personnel to process international arrivals. Bring back customs and border control officers to HBA and let's make Tasmania Great Again :)

QF

04 Apr 2014

Total posts 209

That’s all Alan Joyce wanted - for the Govt to cover his costs.  Job done.

I don't want to pay anymore. Too much taxpayers funds wasted already.

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

30 Aug 2016

Total posts 11

They need to resume Perth to London. 

A lot of people from UK need to get home, also for people who have an exemption to travel if they are going to UK, if they travel via Qatar, UAE or Singapore they will have to isolate upon arrival in UK, however Australia is on exempt list so direct flight to London would be popular for people who are travelling with exemptions. At the moment people have to fly via Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan or South Korea to get to UK without having to self isolate as these countries are on the exempt list along with Australia

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

03 Jul 2019

Total posts 1

Singapore is also on the UK's allowed list https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/england-removes-singapore-thailand-from-coronavirus-quarantine-list-adds-slovenia

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

30 Aug 2016

Total posts 11

Looks like it just got added today

When I checked yesterday it wasn’t

I’m an agent and had a client with an exemption who needed to fly to UK, had to go ADL-BNE with QF, BNE-TPE and TPE-LHR with CI

Booking her return flight was hard, due to the cap hardly any flights available. Had to do MAN-FRA with LH, FRA-ICN and ICN-SYD with OZ (flight to Sydney only had 1 J class seat left, all other flights are Flexi economy flights 

Very hard to get flights into Australia at the moment due to the cap 

Exactly !! Australians can fly to London from Europe and nearby countries board a Qantas plane and fly straight back to Perth!

09 May 2017

Total posts 36

We have credits with Qantas and would do this in a heartbeat

would qantas want to accept credits for repat charter flights ? Probably not.

09 May 2017

Total posts 36

I wouldn't hold my breath

Qantas

19 Apr 2012

Total posts 1424

William the idea is a good one but most of us are not allowed out.

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

13 Nov 2018

Total posts 105

Absolutely correct!

07 Mar 2017

Total posts 59

""are sponsored by their governments," name-dropping Singapore Airlines and Qatar Airways, "and that's fair enough.""


That's the opposite of what he said when Virgin were in financial difficulties.

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

28 Oct 2011

Total posts 464

The difference is those airlines are owned by their governments (either directly or via a wholly government-owned company in the case of Singapore). Quite different from governments putting in money to airlines that are owned by private enterprise (and in VA's case, largely owned by foreign governments).

QFF

16 May 2016

Total posts 64

There are multiple airlines CURRENTLY operating. There are PLENTY of seats available. The issue is passenger limits!!! 

Right now, UA and DL alone have 10/11 flights per week from the USA!!! QR via Middle East probably more. They are ready to sell more seats. 

The Government to subsidise these flights??? With my tax dollars, when there are flights available??? INSANE!!!!! 

KW72 Banned
KW72 Banned

17 Jun 2020

Total posts 238

There are several airlines that have shown commitment to the Australian travel market since April despite strange policy such as flight caps.

The government should only be sponsoring Qantas flights once they lift the inbound flight caps and only if there is insufficient capacity.

It would be disappointing if the government rewards the rent seeking corporate welfare attitude of Qantas after comments made towards Virgin. 

QFF

16 May 2016

Total posts 64

Absolutely. I am shaking my head in bewilderment at the thought of the Govt subsidising these flights, when there are literally thousands of seats a week available RIGHT NOW!!! 

If anything the Govt should be rewarding these carriers that have stayed in the market, while QF suspended everything almost immediately. 

Singapore Airlines - KrisFlyer

12 Apr 2017

Total posts 208

It is insane that as a nation or as states (we are currently not a nation), we are unable to receive more than a very small number of returned travellers. It is so simple. Test before boarding a flight, test on arrival, transfer to some accommodation and test after 3 days again. There are thousands of empty hotels rooms if that is the choice to hold travellers.

Incidentally, are we so backward that we cannot allow self isolation at home? Technology is available to ensure people stay where they should until allowed to be free from quarantine, it is not difficult.

Australians are being treated as criminals who cannot be trusted.

12 Dec 2012

Total posts 1027

Exactly. I'd be happy to be made to stay in a hotel, provided said hotel had usable internet access and the room had a fridge and microwave (and I can order in my own food).

The moment they try to charge me for their requirement of staying in a hotel, instead of at home, is the moment there is a problem.

If governments are going to make people that they are forcing into a hotel to pay for said hotel stay, then they should only force people into the hotels who can't or won't stay at home for the required quarantine period.

Just because 10-15% of people can't be trusted to stay at home in quarantine doesn't mean that everyone who will should be punished.

Agreed, mostly. I don't even have an issue with paying for the hotel quarantine, but not having the choice of where I stay, or what food I eat, is where I draw the line. Especially having seen some of the conditions people are being imprisoned in. The majority of self-isolated travellers in home-quarantine at the beginning (myself included) did the right thing, yet here we are, all being punished.

Couldn't agree more. Self-iso was more than acceptable, and would mitigate the need for these caps.

I got back in the window where self-isolation was permitted, and I did the right thing, but nobody checked that - if they put some rigid checks into place to ensure people were abiding by it (which they clearly can with the iron curtain around Melbourne now), then problem more or less solved.

03 Dec 2015

Total posts 3

I'm not sure we can trust people to self-isolate, given Melbourne's experience when they returned to Lockdown.  Police, how were checking on people who tested positive found 25% were not at home.  And might have been spreading the virus.  It is unfortunate that we have to plan procedures on the basis of the selfish attitudes of a significant number of people who sabotage the measures being taken to control the pandemic.  The safest method is to quarantine those within the country who test positive, and those entering from overseas, with no exceptions.

12 Dec 2012

Total posts 1027

Those reports were overstated. The numbers reported were people who didn't answer the door when officials (either police, ADF or Vic Health) went to check on them.

Later investigations found that the majority of those were people who didn't hear the door knock (eg asleep, in shower, in another part of property or outside for 'exercise' which was allowed at the time).

Most people are, and have been shown to be, willing to self isolate when required. The numbers of those unwilling to has remained consistent all year. ~10% of people on self isolation orders are not willing to, or are unable to, follow the rules and remain at home when instructed. Yet the other ~90% are punished.

Qantas

19 Apr 2012

Total posts 1424

Richard generally I agree with you with the idea of shorter quarantine (probably more than 3 days though) but the number of positive tests after day 10 thet have occurred is a worry and quarantining at home with a tracker is fine, but how do we stop visitors. As we have seen it only takes one for a cluster of quite a few to emerge.

Singapore Airlines - KrisFlyer

12 Apr 2017

Total posts 208

I did not mean leave after 3 days if clear. At least all would know if infected by then. Stay the full 10 days in isolation.

Qantas

19 Apr 2012

Total posts 1424

Richard as I said some are coming up positive several days after a day 3 test. Not a lot but enough to warrant some more monitoring if let out. The real issue is visitors. I read that Canada has a very big fine indeed.

05 Oct 2017

Total posts 520

I don't see facility quarantine ending before Dec 31 at the very earliest, but more likely June 30, 2021 as the treasurer indicated a couple of weeks back. Unfortunately, Australia is in the same category when it comes to imposing quarantines at hotels or government facilities as New Zealand, Thailand, Malaysia and China, among others.

11 Jul 2020

Total posts 2

Spot on Richard - Australia is now LA-LA land! 

P1
P1

24 Apr 2017

Total posts 80

Qantas is a private company, NOT our "National Airline". The government should not give them anything.

Our Airforce or Navy can bring people home if necessary, or even give a leg up to Virgin!

Qantas

22 Oct 2012

Total posts 319

However, the Australian Airforce or Navy has few if any planes that are suitable for carrying large numbers of civilians.  Even if they did, the costs of operating such flights are very high when you consider the amount of fuel they use, and the need to hire contract flight attendants for such trips to be operated by a Defence Force.  And do you expect the Air Force or Navy to start learning how to issue tickets to large numbers of passengers and learn how to provide catering to a large number of passengers?  In other words, leave long-haul transport of civilians to an airline that is experienced in doing it every day.

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

04 Nov 2017

Total posts 326

Virgin no longer has the capacity to operate long haul charters considering the new owners Bain are preparing to return the A330 to their lessors and preparing the 777s for long term parking in the American Desert.

23 Oct 2014

Total posts 231

The RAAF owns 5-10 A330’s with 250-300 seats, and the RAAF employs full time flight attendants. And the fuel burn is the same as commercial jets, and the government own the fuel (doesn’t tax itself) 

Agree. Or they could just let the heaps of existing inbound flights carry more than 50 pax. Doesn't even need QF to restart.

any australian airline is a flag carrier. qantas is 49% owned.

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

28 Oct 2011

Total posts 464

Both Qantas and Virgin were paid by the government to operate subsidised repatriation flights in March/April.

11 Jul 2020

Total posts 75

Finally some common sense. They could just utilise all  the economy seats as everyone will have to quarantine on their return or bring a A380 out of hibernation for this task. On the outbound flights they could move freight out of Australia and or people from overseas that have been stuck in Australia due to the hard international border closures for a reasonable seat price.

Let's see how long it takes the liberal government to get their act together and work something out with AJ. Maybe with a little bit of luck all overseas Aussies will be back in Australia well before Christmas.

The federal government should in my opinion oversee the quarantine process deploying our ADF for this task and a few local police officers in each state. This is an international repatriation so the federal government should be responsible for it all so long as all the state premiers are in agreement.

Time for endless talk is over, let's see some action and bring all our fellow Aussies back home. 

09 May 2017

Total posts 36

There are no quarantine hotels for them - the cap is causing the issue not the flights

ljcoz

there are literally 100s & 100s of hotels capable of being used for quarantine. What do you mean ?

05 Oct 2017

Total posts 520

My guess is the situation is the same as in Thailand. Some hotels have volunteered to become quarantine hotels, but of all the hotels available, only relatively few have been chosen (or approved) by the government. That limits incoming arrival numbers.

One possible reason why not any hotel can be chosen is the strict conditions under which the quarantine must take place, and to a lesser extent perhaps, some hotels and presumably customers too, believe that there's an "infection risk" emanating from staying at a hotel being used for quarantine purposes. Therefore, a duality emerges - two types of hotels - quarantine hotels which are only used for quarantine purposes for incoming travellers (international and domestic in some states) and tourist/business hotels that don't accept quarantined arrivals but function in their normal manner for domestic travellers.

Qantas

19 Apr 2012

Total posts 1424

The issue is that if you double the caps it is just not only beds but a whole support infrastructure. If you increase to 1,000 a day say in Sydney you need 14,000 beds just for that days arrivals. 10 days later before you have let any of those from day 1 out you are using over 100,000 beds plus thousands of support staff.

don't send them to SYD. SYD is a mess already.

CNS is perfect, Hilton is currently closed. Not sure it max occupancy, but just say it had 400 rooms. Most will be travelling with 1 other person, so that's 800 people can be accommodated & that's just 1 hotel.

Army can do security.

Room service/bar staff can deliver meals.

How many more staff are actually needed ? Not many.

Qantas

19 Apr 2012

Total posts 1424

Regular that means around 80 per day or a silk air 737 every other day. It could work as long as there was a return load unless they load it with seafood.

a more economical way is to bring in 500 at one time/flight.

Qantas

19 Apr 2012

Total posts 1424

That depends on if there are backloads of non Aussies and freight. A one off flight or one a week even may not be as economic as a daily 737. Returning people may prefer more frequent options.

Jetstar Airways - Qantas Frequent Flyer

24 Aug 2018

Total posts 105

If the people wishing to return to Aus. hold return tickets, they ought to be able to return at no cost to this country. Expatriates choosing to escape covid conditions in other countries ought not get a free ride as they are essentially (and have the capacity ) to be self funded travellers. Cases of dire circumstances ought to be considered and repayment schedules established where appropriate. Meanwhile opportunities to travel out of Australia need to be accelerated to ensure all flights in and out of the country are fully funded and cost neutral to the country.

09 May 2017

Total posts 36

happy to pay but can't get in due to caps on numbers entering

05 Oct 2017

Total posts 520

That's not how the government sees things. Currently everyone pays - Australian citizens, PR, approved categories of foreigners (international students etc.) I believe Australian citizens demonstrating genuine hardship may be eligible for a loan to cover the quarantine costs, but this must be repaid later.

What constitutes an "expat"? Australian citizens should always be treated preferentially, it's our country. There should never be double standards based on residency - it should be based on citizenship.

Some countries even charge foreigners more than locals for the quarantine costs, but I've never heard of a country treating it's own citizens like second class citizens just because they don't normally reside in the country of their passport nationality. 

Lmc
Lmc

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

09 Nov 2018

Total posts 104

Correct! Update the passenger limits!! 

I know outbound! But same same

A good friend flew out last week to Delhi via Dubai and the mel-Dxb flight would have had max 30 people and from Dubai to Delhi was a 99% full 777! 

29 Jan 2020

Total posts 33

The Airlines currently flying to Australia are gouging travellers with high fares....partly due to govt imposed caps.

Home quarantine is the solution, to utilise these empty seats and get lots more Australians home at reasonable fares.

But, tested before departure, on arrival, then they are escorted from airport to home,  and like Taiwan they must have a tracking device eg bracelet.....and as people who like travel...to encourage them to not breach quarantine.......10 year loss of passport if they breach quarantine!

For some fines don’t matter....I’m sure the well publicised couple from Victoria who returned from aspen, and breached home quarantine....would have had a different approach if a 10 year loss of passport was the penalty!

Singapore Airlines - KrisFlyer

12 Apr 2017

Total posts 208

Yes, perfect reasoning. For the Australian government to be blind to simple options like this is absurd. 

airlines not gouging at all, but with insanely low limits, only business class is available & the top business class fares at that.

While 100s of hotels in places like cairns are nearly empty.

Whether have 10 or 400 staying in one hotel, surely that still requires same numbers of army personnel to look after them & army personnel are being paid anyway, so very little cost.

Don't think army people get overtime ????????

Qantas

19 Apr 2012

Total posts 1424

Boeing you also need a big fat fine for visitors.

QF

04 Apr 2014

Total posts 209

Is it legal to deny access to a passport without an active criminal case?

10 Aug 2020

Total posts 21

Im pretty sure they could easily sell seats to people who want to get out of here.. there's alot of people out there that would like to leave here and not return... the way this country is going with it outrageous law's.. being treated like children.. it's really sad that so many people are buying into this government's and media rubbish... it's really made me seriously consider being an expat in the near future.... 

10 Sep 2020

Total posts 2

Other governments operated flights to NZ/AU to bring their citizens home in March and April, for example Germany and Switzerland. They then oncharged a nominal cost, they are published somewhere but around $1500-2000. 

No reason to make this more complicated than it needs to be. Less talk, more action.

18 Sep 2020

Total posts 2

The issue isn’t Exactly the caps. It’s the quarantine set up. If you have specially requested repatriation flights you have a known quantity of returnees all arriving together and Quarantining at the same time. This is much easier to administer at the Hotle end.  Also the costs of these flights would be Govt supported to the extent that Australian Airlines do not make a loss. That is totally different to covering all costs. 

09 May 2017

Total posts 36

one begats the other, the caps are there because they state the system can't cope otherwise

qantas could easily say $2000 one way LHR/CNS is break even at 100% load factor (0% or very low in outbound direction), when in reality it maybe 1/2 that.

Might be best to get a low cost such as Jetstar to operate flights. A Jetstar 787 can do LHR/CNS in 1 stop, with back rows curtained off for crew rest.

Better still use Scoot, or Air Asia.

Sounds like many would fly North Korean airline if they had to, to get home.

09 May 2017

Total posts 36

What many people don't understand is that the 27,000 quoted is not static, or everyone.  We live in London, we haven't registered with DFAT and are working to return over November to January to Australia (currently cancelled, waitlisted etc).  Google says 1,000,000 Australians live overseas - lets assume that has halved over the last 6 months.  Most of those Australians have stayed in position for the last 6 months. Many of those at some point will have visas expiring, jobs gone or life things happening in Australia that they want/need to get back for.  True demand is WAY higher than 27,000. 

Also, currently there is no way in the system to prioritise those in most distress.  If Qantas is paid to bring people home - they should have to apply for the positions and priority should be given to those in most need.

The current bottle neck is caps, if there were more allowed in (no judgement as to what should happen) there would be no cap on flight numbers and much more normalised fares.

https://hifly.aero/fleet/a380/

Hifly have a 471 (3 class) A380 (think it's ex Singapore) which believe is based in EU.

Perfect aircraft for repat flights.

there are plenty of aircraft, already with high density seating, such as B777s or A330s with 420 seats(in 2 classes), that would be perfect for repatriation flights.

These could easily be chartered by qantas or australian govt.

Australian govt used to use Hifly for troop charter flights.

hifly also have an A380 with 471 seats in 3 classes & IIRC it's based in EU. Perfect for repat flights.

Reason OZ govts have used them for troop movements previously. (they are cheapest by far)

18 Sep 2020

Total posts 4

IanD, the figure of 25% breaking quarantine is wrong.  That originated from the premier of Vic. which was refuted by the police minister,  I think,  who stated the real figure was a couple of percent as I remember.  In fact most people do the right thing and follow quarantine procedures

Qantas

19 Apr 2012

Total posts 1424

Darry from March they found it was higher than a couple of per cent. remember the Ruby Princess all told to self isolate immediately and then we saw what happened several hundred infections later. There is enough breaking loose lockdown rules let alone full self isolation in a separate room etc 

19 Sep 2020

Total posts 8

Air NZ started flying Brisbane to LA Cargo flights with 787s, they don't get sponsored by their gov to fly between Aust and the US, qantas just do not care, they just want to make heaps of money and if profit margins are low they don't even fly, they don't care about employees, pilots that need to fly to maintain certification, they want to punish them to punish union's, and than qantas will ask pilots to pay for simulator training from their own pocket if they want to get back to work. There is no need for government support at all, they can fly with or without passangers and not loose money, just like many other airlines, Now they want to get more money from state governments to relocate head office

Qantas

19 Apr 2012

Total posts 1424

Vannan qantas have cargo flights to all sorts of places including A333s to Asia and its own cargo planes 747s I think to the US.

Qantas

19 Apr 2012

Total posts 1424

The website ‘The Qantas Source’ has the cargo schedules for the A333s.

19 Sep 2020

Total posts 8

Patrickk and how is it that Air New Zeland has more cargo flights to and from tiny NZ than Qantas from all of Australia? Times 2 at least, air NZ, LATAM, Air Canada just to name a few fly cargo only flights to Australia, they don't get paid for it any more than Qantas does from their governments, Australian Federal governments pays to Singapore Airlines for cargo subsidies since Qantas refused to fly them, they wanted more money, dont tell me something you just think you know, "747s I think to the US" they are operated by Atlas air, if it was up to Qantas they would stop flying them too, Qantas is the most overrated airline in the world

Qantas

19 Apr 2012

Total posts 1424

Vannn I just checked and qantas operates a 747F, a 767F and a 757F plus a whole bunch of A333s regionally with belly cargo and it is easy to google their schedule Air New Zealand has one 777-200 freighter.  LATAM has more freighters 10 767s but they won’t come to Australia and  four 777f I presume some of those come to Australia. Air canada has converted 777s some of which come to Australia. It is up to Qantas and they have not returned the leases on the cargo planes. There is money in cargo and I looked it up. Qantas does fly cargo flights to Singapore, the schedule can be found;  so well done Singapore to get a government subsidy to fly lobsters ex WA. I am not sure what the ‘think I know refers to’. Qantas leases from Atlas air not the other way round as you suggest.

19 Sep 2020

Total posts 8

Patrickk Qantas has 1 767F, 2 747F owned by qantas but operated by atlas air, half the time on non Australian routes and 737Fs are only for domestic use, you are a kid, you don't need to have freighted aircraft to do cargo only flights, like I said Air NZ flies between Brisbane and LA direct flights with 787 just like many other, if you knew anything about aviation you would know thats really uncommon, foreign airliners come to Australia and fly passenger aircraft on cargo only flights while Qantas does nothing but a few Asian flights, they are using the opportunity to put their foot on their stuff and unions and while doing so punishing all of Australia, air freight is more expensive to and from Australia than just about anywhere else in the world, qantas carries less than 20% of international air cargo for Australia while Air NZ carries more than 60% for NZ, reading some numbers out of wiki doesn't give you full picture kiddo

Qantas

19 Apr 2012

Total posts 1424

Vannnn I thing we are looking at different websites  according to the website I checked  Qantas wet leases two Atlas Air Boeing 747-8F and as I said they use the A333s regionally in Asia: Hong Kong, Tokyo and Singapore. (which is where the action is), but without passengers, which as you say, and I agree with, is really uncomnon.. They may even use 737s to NZ. You cant say they do nothing then say they do something. As I said the 'Qantas Source' has these schedules. Is the 20% you refer to for the last six months. As the QF passenger share is a little over 20% the it is natural for freight to be the same or similar: not sure why you are suggesting it some how is remarkable, I am a little puzzled by the 'you are a kid', comment. I'm a bit long in the tooth for that sobriquet, so I may take it as a compliment. At my age we need every one we can get!!!

19 Sep 2020

Total posts 8

Patrickk I'm not looking at any website, I've worked in the industry long enough to know what's going on, qantas will never fly their old 737 converted freighters on top of ocean to the NZ, especially when they don't even have enough domestic capacity and again you have foreign aircraft flying with QF signs even on domestic routes. When passanger aircraft stops carrying people and luggage suddenly they have a lot of room for cargo, which is what every Normal airline does, there were many unprofitable routes that Qantas was operating before covid that can be profitably operated now but they prefer to push against industry, they know government wouldn't let last airline on an island country fail so they want to use the opportunity so you have foreign airliners benefiting

Qantas

19 Apr 2012

Total posts 1424

I was thinking of their newer passenger 737s to NZ with freight. They could also do lobster Perth to Singapore.

Qantas

19 Apr 2012

Total posts 1424

By the way vannn these are pretty well daily flights to each of those cities and Shanghai as well. There is even a Melbourne Perth Singapore A333 flight for lobsters.

11 Jul 2020

Total posts 75

Christmas day is 13 weeks away from Friday just gone ( Friday the 18th of September.) Let's hope the government's time frame to repatriate our fellow Aussies sees them all return home before Christmas. Frankly I dont care what airlines bring them home but some Aussies will need help with the cost. 

Seeing how much whinging Alan Joyce  has been making lately with his grounded fleet costing millions while its grounded you would like to think he and the government can come to some arrangement. Aussies need affordable airfares to get home. 

I think if Scomo fails to bring the majority of Australiand home by Christmas this will be another measure of his incompetence to look after all Aussies. 

He and his liberal/national government cant claim ignorance on this issue as most of us here having been discussing this under several forums on this site and it's been an ongoing issue for the federal government to fix for ages now. 

07 May 2020

Total posts 151

Anyway, looking forward to some kind of lockdown in Australia at Christmas. Beaten by fear of a virus.

Qantas

19 Apr 2012

Total posts 1424

GoRobin the way things are going in Europe and Canada etc we may be the only place outside of Asia without a lockdown.

don't you mean no lockdown or quarantine ?

Think election results in Qld & NZ will have a huge bearing on govt attitudes going forward.

P
P

17 Jan 2018

Total posts 84

I propose that all caps/restrictions be lifted for 6 weeks leading up to Christmas with mandatory 2 week home quarantine (including tagging). Then (if need be) 2 week lockdown starting in mid Jan for any hotspots. Everyone gets to enjoy Christmas and get to where they need to be. People have lives to lead and should be allowed to do so. Those that dont like it can stay indoors and get home delivery until they feel safe to leave the house.

Singapore Airlines - KrisFlyer

12 Apr 2017

Total posts 208

Love it! That gets my vote 😁

Qantas

19 Apr 2012

Total posts 1424

P and as well as trackers or a stamp on the back of the hand a la India they can add a big fat fine for visitors and regular door knock checks.

we propose that governor general get scomo in for a serious talk & tell him, that if he doesn't get his act together & open absolutely everything & start ignoring state premiers, that he'll get the boot, just like whitlam.

Not long not for qld & NZ elections.

10 Aug 2020

Total posts 21

As far as I'm aware kiwis are free and able to exit there country if they choose.. only Australians and a couple of other countries who are run by dictator's have no right to leave.. I have Always voted liberal but if the situation doesn't change with international travel and basic rights.. I will be looking for alternative.. 

19 Mar 2020

Total posts 2

This is honestly offensive. Alan Joyce at his finest. Qantas abandoned Australians without hesitation during the pandemic. Meanwhile airlines such as United, Delta, Emirates, Cathay, Qatar, JAL, and others continue to provide service to Australia. The United States airlines are actually adding capacity to Aus because the cargo demand is so high.  And yet, Qantas wants the government to foot the bill? Ridiculous. 

Qantas

19 Apr 2012

Total posts 1424

Bob you seem to forget the government is basically banning Australians from leaving  ( so no passengers) and Qantas has quite big cargo capacity happening with four passenger A333s at least on the job, as well as the two 747Fs plus a 767F, hardly a shabby effort on the cargo front. Qantas isn’t asking the government to foot the cargo bill. Others on this forum  seem to suggest the government is paying SQ to carry cargo which is indeed odd.


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