mayodave

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/catha...tinations.html

Dan72

"CX firing warning shots at CX I reckon"

I'm not sure I understand the title... Also as this is about a thread elsewhere, wouldn't that be the best place for this thread too?

eddyegghead

I have a feeling OP meant to title the thread "CX firing warning shots at BA, I reckon"

Anyway, regardless, I disagree. Historically CX and BA have never had any kind of close partnership, particularly due to competition on the LHR-HKG route. Thus I don't think there is any kind of 'warning' for CX to make to BA - and there is no indication that CX will leave OneWorld. CX are simply offering their customers alternative options.

QR recently said that code-shares with BA are due to start soon, with other OW members to follow, so I suspect all we are seeing here is QR initiating greater integration into the network. Al Bakar also said he was very interested in ultimately starting a joint venture, specifically with BA, so I don't think there's too much to read into the CX situation.

Cap'n Benj

If it is the case they're firing warning shots at their own HKG-LHR traffic too!

TabTraveller

If a JV would mean QR ensuring some consistency on their LHR hard product that would be a very welcome thing.

ian001

I can't see how CX co-operating with a carrier that BA sponsored into Oneworld can be seen as a "warning shot" at BA.

mayodave

Should have made it more clear I meant BA and in particular LHR, I know from people I know at CX a lot of people in the industry are working hard to get alternatives into Europe without being held to randsome by LHR

Mutu

In part this is the same issue QF had connecting pax through LHR - the neeed to back track.

It seems perfectly logical for CX to offer a more direct routing within the Oneworld alliance framework than not too.

As others have said BA and CX have the LHR/HKG market sewn up and therefore need to act as commercial competitors in the fullest sense between those city pairs. Beyond HKG there is opportunity for BA to connect its pax on CX metal. Beyond LHR (ie TATL) its less compelling for CX to route pax westwards to the USA. So it doesnt happen.

Not sure they could do much else to cooperate?

Certainly no "warning shots"

Now BA and MH cooperating beyond KUL: That would possibly be a warning short to CX if it happened!!

nux

Similar to what QF has done really, makes some sense to transfer in the middle east when travelling from Europe to Asia/Oceania rather than in London.

However it will really depend on the CX timing to DOH, and equipment used by QR. HKG-LHR is a good flight length, with a few hours on BA shorthaul. HKG-DOH is shorter which will minimise sleep opportunity, and will have a longer leg to the European destination.

From a quick look, the ATH timings do not save that much compared to going via LHR, and HKG-GVA looks to be quicker going via LHR than DOH with current scheduling.

TPJ

The only oneWorld hub CX serves ins LHR - right? (as FRA is definitely not an AB hub).

Adding route via DOH makes sense. CX LHR flights are full already, so risk of cannibalizing the LHR traffic is low...

NickW

Um apart from DOH (QR), TYO (JL), SYD (QF), NYC (AA), KUL (MH) ... ?

irishguy28

Exactly...and only a short while after BA and CX themselves deepened their co-operation in a similar manner, with BA applying its codes to CX flights to Australia (and New Zealand?).

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...ar-2013-a.html

I think the OP may have somehow picked up the wrong end of the stick on this story.

onobond

Yes, and LAX (AA+BA), SFO (AA+BA) and ORD (AA+BA). All small insignificant OW hubs

irishguy28

I presume TPJ intended his/her remark to refer solely to Europe only - as that is the scope of the current discussion - codeshares to European destinations (the other oneworld hubs mentioned are not exactly useful in providing connections to CX customers bound for Europe!)

CX service to DOH doesn't actually start for another 2 weeks or so...

Cap'n Benj

Without knowing how many people on these 'full' flights transfer to Euro destinations its impossible to really judge the risk.

if 50% are connecting elsewhere, then the flights may not remain full for long, if everyone decides to instead go via DOH (unlikely)