SBD wrote: ↑Wed Jul 08, 2020 10:42 pm
With Qantas retiring all of its 747s, and investing in long range 787s, I wonder if there are any end-points that could support non-stop flights to/from Adelaide. Do we have enough migrants, business connections and tourists (in and out) from concentrated places to operate regular flights direct to London (if the range is possible), Italy, Greece, India, Vietnam, South Sudan, Burundi or anywhere else? These are some of the accents I hear around Adelaide, but I don't know if any of them would want to visit back where they came from.
OlympusAnt wrote: ↑Fri Jul 10, 2020 7:45 pm
Maybe an ADL-MEL-SIN or ADL-PER-SIN routing could be an option? Clear international customs in Adelaide and land at the international terminals in PER or MEL. Would also be handy for NZ connections.
I think these sorts of routes might become popular again when international flights resume.
arki wrote: ↑Sat Jul 11, 2020 1:27 am
Frankly I think it is disgusting that Qantas doesn't fly international out of Adelaide and far less likely to do so now given current goings on. But what would be the use of having Qantas fly ADL-SIN (aside from making better use of QFF and Qantas Club)? Especially if it means a stop in either Perth of Melb. Direct ADL-SIN is going to be well covered if/when SIA go 2x daily, and I would rather book with SIA right through to another Asian destination if that is where I am heading.
Personally I think Qantas ADL-LAX would be a handy route to have, or at least ADL-HON.
We're talking about QANTAS here. They are very shrewd. If they haven't had a reason for direct international flights in the past I doubt they will introduce them anytime soon. Singapore was the only destination (and not even direct), and that was dropped years ago. New Zealand (Auckland or Christchurch) could be a chance if a bubble is introduced.
We have plenty of immigrants from many countries but none that would warrant direct flights. Not even the UK, business or tourism. It's easier for QANTAS to fly domestic to PER then LHR and the same with MEL then SIN to LHR.
Asia is still our best bet. China was a chance. Now with COVID-19 and the political situation we might not see anything happen for a while. China Southern dropped its flights. We also need to see whether CZ will align itself with Oneworld and QANTAS or remain outside the alliances. It was in SkyTeam before leaving. I think India has a future for Adelaide. At the moment they mostly fly with Singapore and Malaysia Airlines. Perhaps a further 20,000 immigrants from there might do the trick. Indians do fly back and forth at least once a year.
As for Singapore Airlines going twice daily there's doubts until COVID-19 is fully taken care of. If they do introduce the evening flight to SIN again it will be during our summer months, December and January and northern summer, June, July and perhaps August, but not all year round. For all year round they need us to travel more into Asia through Changi and viceversa. Europe is well taken care of by Qatar. They have done a good job of taking away many pax from SQ and more recently EK.
Our biggest issue is population. If Adelaide was similar to Perth and Brisbane, it would be a different story.
But talking about aviation and new routes in the current climate, not knowing what airlines will be around, the restrictions that will be the norm in future, how many will return to travelling and other issues, etc., is highly speculative and full of fraught.
Cheers
