QF need a solid plan for India. India has the second largest population in the world, and in 10-20 years time will be up there with China and the US as the world's largest economies. Australia has a huge migrant Indian population, a significant proportion of whom are professionals and whom are likely to preference premium carriers when travelling. With the cancellation of QF 51/52 SIN-BOM earlier this month it once again sees the exiting of Qantas from the Indian sub-continent. Given the less than desirable timing of the SIN-BOM leg it is off little surprise that many SIN based QF and OW based customers would have opted for another carrier, and India is probably one of the countries that Joyce has been targeting when he goes on about some competitors having cost bases 20-30% lower. But at the end of the day as someone who transits to India several times a year the QF product is a world above the vinyl seats that Jet Airways (Qantas current code share partner) offer in Y/J. The biggest competitor on this route is SQ who offer multiple daily flights to SIN from some Australian cities, and then multiple onwards connections to India. This is where the Singapore based premium airline was meant to come in. Does anyone else feel that the decision to cancel 51/52 was planned last year, in preparation for the regional Asian carrier? I am also perplexed why Qantas are completely pulling out of one of the markets with the biggest growth potentials when they have said multiple times that the want to open up new opportunities. As it now stands the Singapore hub only services Europe for QF, asia is serviced by 3K.
As you mentioned, the profitability of this route for QF was questionable. The other factor which didn't help Qantas on this route was the fact that it arrived in BOM at 02:40, returning to SIN at 10am in order to meet the Europe-originating flights for the overnight back to Australia. These are hardly exceptional times for business travellers going between SIN and BOM. The SIN-BOM route is flown by those who want the best possible price (there are cheaper low cost carriers flying this route) and business people (who would opt for SIA due to the better scheduling and regularity).
For people like yourself travelling between Australia and India, Air India is expanding their routes between the two. However, if you're set on OW carriers your best bet is to transit through HKG or BKK which are both Cathay hub that fly to various cities in India.
Qantas still has too much of a Kangaroo route mentality even though Australia has become a lot more diverse in both our ethnic heritage and our palette for international destinations.
I agree that the timing is terrible. I did QF 81 ADL-SIN, then QF 51 SIN-BOM reccently, was exhausted arriving in Mumbai at that time. Am I right to assume that QFs current agreements with the Singapore Gov't prevent them from basing smaller jets in Singapore to do these legs at more desirable times? Going via HKG is an option I have looked at, but sig. adds to the travel time......for now I may have to contend with 9W codeshares from SIN to India. On a side note a morning departure from SYD - SIN would see an afternoon arrival in BOM if they flew the jet on...
A lot of things prevent QF from basing airplanes in SIN like they do with 3K. Number one is the trouble they'd have with the unions in Australia. Though they've managed to do it with Jetconnect flying between Aus & NZ, I doubt Qantas could acheive the same thing for the SIN hub without substantial comprimises with both the unions and the Australian Government.
Second is the opposition from both SIA and the Government of Singapore. Many airlines have tag flights from Singapore (TK to CGK, KL to DPS, CX to CMB & BKK/HKG, EK to CMB) however this is quite a different thing to having flights originate from SIN. 3K managed to do it because 51% is owned by Singapore entities, 49% by Qantas. There were also very few low-cost carriers at the time.
For the Indian market in particular I believe Qantas is more likely to introduce 3K routes than the reintroduce QF to India (via SIN or otherwise).
Yes Kingfisher were meant to fill the gap, I guess by offering OW flights and lounges etc. The King Fisher First lounges in Mumbai and Delhi are meant to be coming along well! MH would be a great alternative.
Oh and yes that dreamliner is horrendous! Indian design usually includes great use of colour.....and Jet and Kingfisher do a much better job at airline design and style.
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QF need a solid plan for India.
DrTGanguly
DrTGanguly
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 20 Nov 2011
Total posts 107
QF need a solid plan for India. India has the second largest population in the world, and in 10-20 years time will be up there with China and the US as the world's largest economies. Australia has a huge migrant Indian population, a significant proportion of whom are professionals and whom are likely to preference premium carriers when travelling. With the cancellation of QF 51/52 SIN-BOM earlier this month it once again sees the exiting of Qantas from the Indian sub-continent. Given the less than desirable timing of the SIN-BOM leg it is off little surprise that many SIN based QF and OW based customers would have opted for another carrier, and India is probably one of the countries that Joyce has been targeting when he goes on about some competitors having cost bases 20-30% lower. But at the end of the day as someone who transits to India several times a year the QF product is a world above the vinyl seats that Jet Airways (Qantas current code share partner) offer in Y/J. The biggest competitor on this route is SQ who offer multiple daily flights to SIN from some Australian cities, and then multiple onwards connections to India. This is where the Singapore based premium airline was meant to come in. Does anyone else feel that the decision to cancel 51/52 was planned last year, in preparation for the regional Asian carrier? I am also perplexed why Qantas are completely pulling out of one of the markets with the biggest growth potentials when they have said multiple times that the want to open up new opportunities. As it now stands the Singapore hub only services Europe for QF, asia is serviced by 3K.
PeterLoh
PeterLoh
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 25 May 2012
Total posts 356
As you mentioned, the profitability of this route for QF was questionable. The other factor which didn't help Qantas on this route was the fact that it arrived in BOM at 02:40, returning to SIN at 10am in order to meet the Europe-originating flights for the overnight back to Australia. These are hardly exceptional times for business travellers going between SIN and BOM. The SIN-BOM route is flown by those who want the best possible price (there are cheaper low cost carriers flying this route) and business people (who would opt for SIA due to the better scheduling and regularity).
For people like yourself travelling between Australia and India, Air India is expanding their routes between the two. However, if you're set on OW carriers your best bet is to transit through HKG or BKK which are both Cathay hub that fly to various cities in India.
Qantas still has too much of a Kangaroo route mentality even though Australia has become a lot more diverse in both our ethnic heritage and our palette for international destinations.
DrTGanguly
DrTGanguly
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 20 Nov 2011
Total posts 107
I agree that the timing is terrible. I did QF 81 ADL-SIN, then QF 51 SIN-BOM reccently, was exhausted arriving in Mumbai at that time. Am I right to assume that QFs current agreements with the Singapore Gov't prevent them from basing smaller jets in Singapore to do these legs at more desirable times? Going via HKG is an option I have looked at, but sig. adds to the travel time......for now I may have to contend with 9W codeshares from SIN to India. On a side note a morning departure from SYD - SIN would see an afternoon arrival in BOM if they flew the jet on...
PeterLoh
PeterLoh
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 25 May 2012
Total posts 356
A lot of things prevent QF from basing airplanes in SIN like they do with 3K. Number one is the trouble they'd have with the unions in Australia. Though they've managed to do it with Jetconnect flying between Aus & NZ, I doubt Qantas could acheive the same thing for the SIN hub without substantial comprimises with both the unions and the Australian Government.
Second is the opposition from both SIA and the Government of Singapore. Many airlines have tag flights from Singapore (TK to CGK, KL to DPS, CX to CMB & BKK/HKG, EK to CMB) however this is quite a different thing to having flights originate from SIN. 3K managed to do it because 51% is owned by Singapore entities, 49% by Qantas. There were also very few low-cost carriers at the time.
For the Indian market in particular I believe Qantas is more likely to introduce 3K routes than the reintroduce QF to India (via SIN or otherwise).
here2go
here2go
Qantas
Member since 10 Sep 2011
Total posts 45
Kingfisher was meant to fill the gap, wasn't it? :)
PeterLoh
PeterLoh
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 25 May 2012
Total posts 356
Yes, that was the plan but BA was/is sponsoring Kingfisher and QF only ever had codeshares with Jet Airways.
Hopefully MH can fill the void. It flies to 5 or 6 Indian cities from KUL.
yoshisturt
yoshisturt
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 29 Mar 2012
Total posts 45
After Air India's pathetic dreamliner, I think Qantas have to think about it...
DrTGanguly
DrTGanguly
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 20 Nov 2011
Total posts 107
Yes Kingfisher were meant to fill the gap, I guess by offering OW flights and lounges etc. The King Fisher First lounges in Mumbai and Delhi are meant to be coming along well! MH would be a great alternative.
Oh and yes that dreamliner is horrendous! Indian design usually includes great use of colour.....and Jet and Kingfisher do a much better job at airline design and style.