QF Drop BKK/HKG - LHR

QANTAS are dropping BKK/HKG-LHR. they will use BA to codeshare on the above routes. BA will drop BKK-SYD and upgrade LHR/SIN/SYD from 777 to 744.

Good news on the LHR/HKG/LHR for VS..one less airline to compete against and with rumours rife on NZ pulling their HKG route (I could see a codeshare to HKG on VS metal in place of their own flights. Maybe with sufficient figuers for the 2nd HKG to come back for VS?

BA to increase LHR/HKG ops to 17p/w with QANTAS cancellation!

Interesting times!

The problem is that the one VS flight on the LHR-HKG route is always so busy there isn't much extra capacity to sell but I agree it may just nudge them into restoring that second flight.

I would be surprised if NZ pull out of LHR-HKG because that is part of their round-the -world-service (I cannot think of another carrierthat offers this using their own planes).
Having said that the link between VS and NZ is pretty strong with mutual Fc benefits and even the same seats in J and of course if VS join *A ........

Interesting times indeed! There's been some (typically heated) chatter on flyertalk about the possibility of BA withdrawing from T3 too, which this news may or may not support.

I too hope that demand will lead to a reintroduction of the VS238 (liked the timing of this flight), but presumably BA and CX will try hard to hoover up the QF LHR-HKG passengers, especially with the increased BA service.

It does make you think about how routes and schedules could be dovetailed if VS were to join an alliance...

Qantas have also anounced today the deferred delivery of six of its 10 remaining A380's until at least 2018.
I am sure this must all be linked. I wonder just how much trouble QF are actually in?

Details here http://www.a380production.com/

Surely if BA withdraw from T3 it would simply to consolidate in to T5 rather than dropping flights / destinations?

My understanding is that until T5 is fully opened that would not be possible hence the temporary split.

Surely if BA withdraw from T3 it would simply to consolidate in to T5 rather than dropping flights / destinations?

Yes, I am sure you're right. I think the argument is that (in this case) the changes enable them to relocate the LHR-BKK service to T5 much more easily than would otherwise be the case.

My understanding is that until T5 is fully opened that would not be possible hence the temporary split.

Terminal 5 is now fully open. T5C opened in June, so the terminal is now at maximum availability.

I get the hunch that the adjustments to the JSA with Qantas will enable a shift of the JSA services in to T5. Could be totally wrong and I have no foundation to my hunch!

Some Qantas gumph here

http://www.qantas.com.au/travel/airline ... /global/en

Surely if BA withdraw from T3 it would simply to consolidate in to T5 rather than dropping flights / destinations?

My understanding is that until T5 is fully opened that would not be possible hence the temporary split.

The split between T5 and T3 is likely to remain for the foreseeable future. T5C has reduced the need for bussing and has not led to any routes transferring from T3 to T5.

It is feasible that the remaining BA/QF services to BKK/SIN could transfer to T5 following the reduction in QF's services from 4 to 2 a day. However, the issue with other airlines moving into T5 is that the entire terminal is set up for BA and its processes. It is for this reason that the move by Iberia into T5 has been delayed (BA's Madrid services are moving next season).

BA is likely to stay in T3 with its Oneworld partners and I understand there are plans for Oneworld airlines to integrate their operations at T3.