SQ kills WLG-CBR, replaces it with WLG-MEL
#16
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: WLG (previously SOU and PLH)
Programs: NZ Elite, QFWP, IHG Plat, *wood Gold
Posts: 532
[QUOTE=nzkarit;29334651....Melbourne Wellington is already a route that NZ can't make a daily service, so adding a 772 four days a week is not going to be healthy to it and will leave Wellington in a bad spot when the subsidy runs out and SQ leaves Wellington and QF and NZ have the planes deployed elsewhere and can't pick up extra flights.[/QUOTE]
Who says it will stay as a 772 ....
Who says it will stay as a 772 ....
#17
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 2,645
#18
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: NZ
Programs: NZ Gold, BA Gold, QF Silver, IHG Platinum Elite Ambassador, Accor Diamond
Posts: 1,048
I suspect it is a route for the 787-10, given they are the replacement for the 777-200. Not sure about its performance for WLG's runway in terms of payload/etc though.
#19
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Perth (PER)
Programs: VA Gold
Posts: 263
If they ditch it, they may well run foul of the ACCC if they intend to continue the VA partnership. If.
#20
Join Date: Dec 2007
Programs: Air New Zealand Elite
Posts: 446
I guess with the Wellington runway extension pretty well not going to go ahead there wasn’t going to be much upside for SQ to keep pursuing the WLg-CBR route. Air Nz will be pleased about that. One less threat to their AKLhub. I’m sure one of the Chinese airlines would have supported the runway extension if it had happened. I was really wanting to support the SQ initiative but I just couldn’t get my head round going to Canberra for a holiday. Just looked like not a very exciting place to visit. I did see a lot of adverts lately by SQ it obviously was a last ditch effort. If I’m honest the market in WLG was just too small to sustain this initiative.
#21
Join Date: Feb 2007
Programs: NZ Koru
Posts: 6,414
I guess with the Wellington runway extension pretty well not going to go ahead there wasn’t going to be much upside for SQ to keep pursuing the WLg-CBR route. Air Nz will be pleased about that. One less threat to their AKLhub. I’m sure one of the Chinese airlines would have supported the runway extension if it had happened. I was really wanting to support the SQ initiative but I just couldn’t get my head round going to Canberra for a holiday. Just looked like not a very exciting place to visit. I did see a lot of adverts lately by SQ it obviously was a last ditch effort. If I’m honest the market in WLG was just too small to sustain this initiative.
#22
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: New Zealand (most of the time)
Programs: Air NZ Elite *G, Honors Gold, IHG Platinum Elite
Posts: 6,115
I guess with the Wellington runway extension pretty well not going to go ahead there wasn’t going to be much upside for SQ to keep pursuing the WLg-CBR route. Air Nz will be pleased about that. One less threat to their AKLhub. I’m sure one of the Chinese airlines would have supported the runway extension if it had happened. I was really wanting to support the SQ initiative but I just couldn’t get my head round going to Canberra for a holiday. Just looked like not a very exciting place to visit. I did see a lot of adverts lately by SQ it obviously was a last ditch effort. If I’m honest the market in WLG was just too small to sustain this initiative.
As for comparing CBR with SIN and the pricing it's pretty hard to pitch low pricing to CBR when SQ are paying around $250 in taxes for a return flight from WLG to CBR but it's only $100 in taxes to fly from WLG to SIN return.
Something has to happen about TT taxes, but there is no sign of that happening any time soon.
#23
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: New Zealand (most of the time)
Programs: Air NZ Elite *G, Honors Gold, IHG Platinum Elite
Posts: 6,115
Which is capacity dumping that the WEL-MEL route route simply won't be able to sustain.
#24
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 2,645
Though it will be the last route to get a new plane as why put a good product on, when you have guaranteed money what ever plane you fly?
The report on the new Wellington length only covered new runway length and didn't do the 78X in it's performance calculations. http://www.gw.govt.nz/assets/Resourc...way-Length.pdf
#25
Join Date: Feb 2007
Programs: NZ Koru
Posts: 6,414
WLG-MEL - This July
NZ 6x A320 (168) = 1,008 weekly seats each way
QF 7x 738 (174) = 1,218 weekly seats each way
Currently there is 2,226 seats each way per week.
SQ 4x 77E (266) = 1064 additional weekly seats each-way.
New totally weekly seats each-way = 3290.
Taking into account that some passengers will be going to SIN and Beyond, there is still noway that Wellington could support that many additional weekly seats to Melbourne. Already an percentage of the traffic to Melbourne will be travel beyond.
Do wonder if NZ will decided to drop the WEL-MEL route and codeshare on the SQ service, since SQ is getting funded to fly to WLG. I can see NZ dropping the route in protest to teach the WCC and WLG an lession.
NZ 6x A320 (168) = 1,008 weekly seats each way
QF 7x 738 (174) = 1,218 weekly seats each way
Currently there is 2,226 seats each way per week.
SQ 4x 77E (266) = 1064 additional weekly seats each-way.
New totally weekly seats each-way = 3290.
Taking into account that some passengers will be going to SIN and Beyond, there is still noway that Wellington could support that many additional weekly seats to Melbourne. Already an percentage of the traffic to Melbourne will be travel beyond.
Do wonder if NZ will decided to drop the WEL-MEL route and codeshare on the SQ service, since SQ is getting funded to fly to WLG. I can see NZ dropping the route in protest to teach the WCC and WLG an lession.
#27
Join Date: Feb 2007
Programs: NZ Koru
Posts: 6,414
#28
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,018
Over the last few years China Airlines has been the cheapest trans Tasman at ~$185 - $220 one way or more (full service, meal & baggage).
For the last ~4 years I have been flying TT every ~4 weeks on a range of carriers/airports
#29
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 778
#30
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Wellington, New Zealand
Programs: NZ*G, QRPC Gold
Posts: 127
Well at that price point, I certainly jumped on it. And have joked with my friends that WLG people will be in constant "orbit" over the Tasman if the prices remain at that level (which, sadly, won't happen). I think there may be a fair bit of regional interest in WLG as a departure point, beyond its normal catchment area. I can never see Air NZ interlining and "feeding" this service though, without some sour grapes.