News & Discussion: Adelaide Airport & Airlines

[Splashmo]

It's true that Qantas doesn't have any services to feed into in Singapore with this Emirates deal. But nobody is going to fly with Emirates from Adelaide to Northeast and Southeast Asia. I would've thought ADL-Hong Kong would be a good alternative, but again maybe Qantas just doesn't have the partnerships to give passengers any onward travel options.

I guess the only hope - as muzzamo suggested - is to get Jetstar going on this route, so there's a connection to all the Jetstar Asia offerings. But that certainly won't suit many travellers.

[Wayno]

Qantas has also cut back its Perth-Singapore flights, and ceased Perth-HK flights. If you ask me it's somehow part of a strategy to weaken the TWUs grip. No surprise the TWU just (2 days ago) called for a 'qantas/emirates' inquiry.

Will be interesting to see how this plays out over next couple of years.

[Stefan P]

I was quite shocked to hear this today. With Singapore Airlines changing their schedules last week to a 1040 departure, this gave me an idea as to what QF81/82 timings would be like when the new schedules would be announced. In some ways it was bound to happen eventually, it was really a wasted flight being at 3 times a week.

The ball is now in Singapore Airlines court and will be interesting to see what they do. Will we Scoot Airlines here, Jetstar is the best option but might be a while until we see that.

[muzzamo]

The jetstar thing might be a fleet issue - I know Qantas had big plans for the 787 at Jetstar which has been continually delayed..

[Maximus]

From The Australian this morning:

But the decision to axe the three times weekly international flights to Adelaide was slammed by independent senator Nick Xenophon.

Senator Xenophon, who has raised concerns about the impact of the Qantas-Emirates alliance, said he was assured in September that the Adelaide-Singapore service was safe.

He said that assurance had now been broken, and he would mount a fresh case with the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission that the Qantas decision to abandon Adelaide was not in the public interest.

EDIT: Universal condemnation from both sides of state politics in this article. It also mentions that Qantas is "considering resuming Adelaide - Auckland flights".

[rubberman]

The ball is now in Singapore Airlines court and will be interesting to see what they do. Will we Scoot Airlines here, Jetstar is the best option but might be a while until we see that.

The problem with LCC on international flights is that the low cost model means that when you get out at Changi, you need to go through immigration, get your bags and then check back in if you need an onward flight. That gets pretty annoying after the first time. Especially as it means that your flight connections need to be much much further apart to take into account mandatory check in times for onward flights. Similarly, on a seven plus hour flight, passengers need one meal. Sure, on a four hour or less flight, who cares about food or drink? But on a seven hour one? Now Jetstar could provide a meal, and it could also forward bags too - but that means extra cost, and extra cost means that their competitiveness against other airlines goes down to the point where you might as well go full service.

The other problem for the Qantas group is that anyone in business wanting to go to Asia from Adelaide is not going to be want to choose Qantas. Who wants to go from Adelaide to Dubai to Hong Kong or Singapore when CX and SQ are available? That market is now lost to the Qantas group.

Basically, Qantas is stuffed, and I am using my FF points as quickly as I can.

[Nathan]

Now Jetstar could provide a meal, and it could also forward bags too - but that means extra cost, and extra cost means that their competitiveness against other airlines goes down to the point where you might as well go full service.

Jetstar do provide meals on their international flights, at least they did the last time I flew with them to Japan. It wasn't "full service", but it wasn't as bare bones as the domestic routes.

[muzzamo]

The problem with LCC on international flights is that the low cost model means that when you get out at Changi, you need to go through immigration, get your bags and then check back in if you need an onward flight. That gets pretty annoying after the first time. Especially as it means that your flight connections need to be much much further apart to take into account mandatory check in times for onward flights. Similarly, on a seven plus hour flight, passengers need one meal. Sure, on a four hour or less flight, who cares about food or drink? But on a seven hour one? Now Jetstar could provide a meal, and it could also forward bags too.

I'm fairly sure that Jetstar, under certain conditions, does luggage forwarding through Changi.

[Aidan]

The ball is now in Singapore Airlines court and will be interesting to see what they do. Will we Scoot Airlines here, Jetstar is the best option but might be a while until we see that.

The problem with LCC on international flights is that the low cost model means that when you get out at Changi, you need to go through immigration, get your bags and then check back in if you need an onward flight.

That's not a problem with the low cost model, that's a problem with the setup at Changi for low cost airlines.

That gets pretty annoying after the first time. Especially as it means that your flight connections need to be much much further apart to take into account mandatory check in times for onward flights. Similarly, on a seven plus hour flight, passengers need one meal. Sure, on a four hour or less flight, who cares about food or drink? But on a seven hour one? Now Jetstar could provide a meal, and it could also forward bags too - but that means extra cost, and extra cost means that their competitiveness against other airlines goes down to the point where you might as well go full service.

Considering how bad airline food generally is, I'd much rather have cheaper fares and the opportunity to buy food than have the meals included in the price.

The other problem for the Qantas group is that anyone in business wanting to go to Asia from Adelaide is not going to be want to choose Qantas. Who wants to go from Adelaide to Dubai to Hong Kong or Singapore when CX and SQ are available? That market is now lost to the Qantas group.

Basically, Qantas is stuffed, and I am using my FF points as quickly as I can.

It wouldn't be Dubai, it would be Sydney. But I expect the answer would be anyone trying to use up their FF points as quickly as they can!

[rubberman]

It is not merely at Changi.

The same problem exists at other airports - it is not just a function of Changi's budget terminal. If it is point to point, the baggage comes out AFTER immigration....you are in Singapore, Thailand, wherever, and you can't just duck back in with your luggage once past customs. BTW if Jetstar uses the Budgie Terminal, it is only very recently. Last June, when I travelled there last, it was the main terminal - and same problem of having to exit customs to get the bags, then check back in.

Food. Er, if you buy your food on the plane and get a cheaper fare, how is that any different to paying more for the fare and having the food included? And at the food prices Jetstar charge, and the fact you have to stuff around with a credit card on the plane, yeah, I see how that is going to woo people from the competition. Like I say, no big deal on short hops - one can always delay a meal, and for the relative few who cannot wait to eat it is not a problem on the plane to serve them and do the credit card business. But when it is a 7 hour flight, and most people will at least want a snack?

[utaussiefan]

Jetstar operate out of Terminal 1 in Singapore Airport, exactly the same as Qantas. I don't think people would have much of a problem if they had to fly Jetstar.

[Aidan]

It is not merely at Changi.

The same problem exists at other airports - it is not just a function of Changi's budget terminal. If it is point to point, the baggage comes out AFTER immigration....you are in Singapore, Thailand, wherever, and you can't just duck back in with your luggage once past customs. BTW if Jetstar uses the Budgie Terminal, it is only very recently. Last June, when I travelled there last, it was the main terminal - and same problem of having to exit customs to get the bags, then check back in.

Yes, Changi is not unique in that respect, but it's still in the minority.

Food. Er, if you buy your food on the plane and get a cheaper fare, how is that any different to paying more for the fare and having the food included?

You get a better choice of food and the choice of when to eat it.

[rubberman]

Changi with a budget terminal is in the minority of airports in that respect (but it has nothing to do with Jetstar), but most, if not all, international airports have the baggage claim after immigration. The issue of having to go through immigration and re-check in therefore pertains to almost every single international airport - not a minority. That is the material point.

Better choice of food on Jetstar? Ok, I guess it is all a matter of taste. Most of the Jetstar flights I have been on, they have run out of options by the time they get to seat 12, and by the end of the plane you are lucky if there are any choices at all if you haven't ordered before the flight. And if you have, guess what? You are paying through the nose. Having said that, food is a very personal choice, so if your opinion of Jetstar food is that it is better than Qantas' or Singapore or Malaysian, then I cannot quibble. The issue of how long it would take to serve the meals given the need to use credit cards is another matter entirely, and on a long flight becomes something of an issue.

Has the Jetstar service from MEL been so successful that they think it will work from ADL?

[Julious91]

Hey people, julious here.

First time contributor.. But I've been following this thread for as long as emirates have flirted with coming to Adelaide.

With qantas essentially giving Adelaide up to emirates, I do see a few positives this might make... Although they certainly won't make a certain independent MP very happy.. I don't know, perhaps I'm being optimistic.

For starters, I can now see Emirates toying with the idea of opening up it's own lounge. Much like Singapore airlines where it's located after going through customs to enter airside.

Secondly, could emirates start up another flight to Adelaide, via Singapore/KL/BKK? Thereby increasing emirates, or 'qantas' presence in Adelaide?

Another thing I have thought about which I haven't been able to get answers for, is qantas's possibility of ADL-AKL flights.
One of the reasons I remember hearing why those flights were canned was due to the times that they departed and arrived. Given that emirates arrive rathr late at night... Would it work better this time around?

I have a rather inquisitive mind

Julious

[Stefan P]

Evening all,

The 1st of 2 China Southern charters is due tomorrow 8/2/13 at 0925 from Guangzhou. It is due to depart back to Guangzhou at 1125. The flight is ops by a B777-200.

The next charter will be on 15/2/13.