Hello, I read an article in The West, and it suggested Norwegian airlines is looking to start a route between BA and Asia, via Perth. I wondered if the Australian Business Traveler has heard anything further on this, and when it is likely to start? Would certainly be a great new route to open up!
Norwegian Argentina (because that’s not a confusing name) have applied for and been granted route authority, but nothing else yet. Will be a long while, if it ever eventuates.
To quote Ellis Taylor from Flight Global on this today: "And herein lies the danger of Argentina's regulatory processes - just
because a filing is made and granted does not in any way mean it's going
to happen. Barnaby Joyce will be PM before this route takes off."
It's also only an 'approval' at this stage and only for the first part of the trip between Perth and Buenos Aires: they don't currently have approval to fly from Perth to Singapore and would need this to run their full intended route.
I'll also highlight that the approval has also been sought by Norwegian Air Argentina: an airline with only one aircraft in its fleet - a single Boeing 737-800 that could barely fly Brisbane-Bali, let alone a 15-hour flight like South America to Perth. Its parent company, Norwegian Air Shuttle, also operates a fleet of only Boeing 737s (with more Boeing 737s and some A321LRs on order, but no wide-body aircraft).
A separate division of the same company, Norwegian Long Haul, does operate Boeing 787s, but would either need to transfer some to Norwegian Air Argentina or operate flights on behalf of that airline if allowed under the permissions received. Geoff Thomas does note in the story that a Boeing 787 could fly the route, but hasn't explained how that might work for an airline that doesn't technically have any in its fleet.
Geoff also points out that three other airlines already have the necessary approval for such a route (Qantas, Singapore Airlines and China Eastern), but it's worth pointing out that none of these airlines are actually operating or have announced such a service.
So, for now, it's a nice headline, but whether or not any such route actually materialises remains to be seen: and should a firm announcement be made in the future, that's when we'd consider coverage. :)
Why via Perth? Wouldn’t Sydney - Buenos Aires be a shorter route with more customers?
I'm guessing because PER-SIN is a better connection/shorter flight than SYD-SIN, and since the EZE-PER sector would ideally go directly over the pole, it wouldn't actually be a much longer flight.
Though if I'm not mistaken they also filed and got approval for EZE-SYD.
To quote Ellis Taylor from Flight Global on this today: "And herein lies the danger of Argentina's regulatory processes - just
because a filing is made and granted does not in any way mean it's going
to happen. Barnaby Joyce will be PM before this route takes off."
It's also only an 'approval' at this stage and only for the first part of the trip between Perth and Buenos Aires: they don't currently have approval to fly from Perth to Singapore and would need this to run their full intended route.
I'll also highlight that the approval has also been sought by Norwegian Air Argentina: an airline with only one aircraft in its fleet - a single Boeing 737-800 that could barely fly Brisbane-Bali, let alone a 15-hour flight like South America to Perth. Its parent company, Norwegian Air Shuttle, also operates a fleet of only Boeing 737s (with more Boeing 737s and some A321LRs on order, but no wide-body aircraft).
A separate division of the same company, Norwegian Long Haul, does operate Boeing 787s, but would either need to transfer some to Norwegian Air Argentina or operate flights on behalf of that airline if allowed under the permissions received. Geoff Thomas does note in the story that a Boeing 787 could fly the route, but hasn't explained how that might work for an airline that doesn't technically have any in its fleet.
Geoff also points out that three other airlines already have the necessary approval for such a route (Qantas, Singapore Airlines and China Eastern), but it's worth pointing out that none of these airlines are actually operating or have announced such a service.
So, for now, it's a nice headline, but whether or not any such route actually materialises remains to be seen: and should a firm announcement be made in the future, that's when we'd consider coverage. :)
It's really not going to be difficult for the Norwegian group to transfer a 787 or 2 from one sub to another to operate a new route. That is the least of their concerns.
Perth - Buenos Aires is directly over south pole. Around turn of century i was involved in preliminary planning for a record breaking flight around the world via both poles using a 747. Departing New York then to Buenos aries, Perth, Shanghai and home via pole. Basically stayed on same heading all the way! Didn't happen due to events of 9/11
Hi Guest, join in the discussion on
Perth - Buenos Aires direct
Mjudd
Mjudd
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 14 Dec 2016
Total posts 57
Hello,
I read an article in The West, and it suggested Norwegian airlines is looking to start a route between BA and Asia, via Perth. I wondered if the Australian Business Traveler has heard anything further on this, and when it is likely to start?
Would certainly be a great new route to open up!
MattJelonek
MattJelonek
Turkish Airlines - Miles & Smiles
Member since 08 Jun 2014
Total posts 91
Would that be a Third freedom flight? Wouldn’t they have to fly back to their Hub though?
Mjudd
Mjudd
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 14 Dec 2016
Total posts 57
Mjudd
Mjudd
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 14 Dec 2016
Total posts 57
Not sure, however apparently it has been approved
hutch
hutch
Member since 07 Oct 2012
Total posts 772
They have an Argentina subsidiary... So BA is a hub.
Dredgy
Dredgy
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 02 Apr 2017
Total posts 182
Norwegian Argentina (because that’s not a confusing name) have applied for and been granted route authority, but nothing else yet. Will be a long while, if it ever eventuates.
Chris C.
Chris C.
Member since 24 Apr 2012
Total posts 1,116
To quote Ellis Taylor from Flight Global on this today: "And herein lies the danger of Argentina's regulatory processes - just because a filing is made and granted does not in any way mean it's going to happen. Barnaby Joyce will be PM before this route takes off."
It's also only an 'approval' at this stage and only for the first part of the trip between Perth and Buenos Aires: they don't currently have approval to fly from Perth to Singapore and would need this to run their full intended route.
I'll also highlight that the approval has also been sought by Norwegian Air Argentina: an airline with only one aircraft in its fleet - a single Boeing 737-800 that could barely fly Brisbane-Bali, let alone a 15-hour flight like South America to Perth. Its parent company, Norwegian Air Shuttle, also operates a fleet of only Boeing 737s (with more Boeing 737s and some A321LRs on order, but no wide-body aircraft).
A separate division of the same company, Norwegian Long Haul, does operate Boeing 787s, but would either need to transfer some to Norwegian Air Argentina or operate flights on behalf of that airline if allowed under the permissions received. Geoff Thomas does note in the story that a Boeing 787 could fly the route, but hasn't explained how that might work for an airline that doesn't technically have any in its fleet.
Geoff also points out that three other airlines already have the necessary approval for such a route (Qantas, Singapore Airlines and China Eastern), but it's worth pointing out that none of these airlines are actually operating or have announced such a service.
So, for now, it's a nice headline, but whether or not any such route actually materialises remains to be seen: and should a firm announcement be made in the future, that's when we'd consider coverage. :)
MattJelonek
MattJelonek
Turkish Airlines - Miles & Smiles
Member since 08 Jun 2014
Total posts 91
Shame the link wasn’t posted first or Norwegian BA in the post 😂 Silly me... Not 🙄
GregXL
GregXL
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 26 May 2014
Total posts 320
Why via Perth? Wouldn’t Sydney - Buenos Aires be a shorter route with more customers?
Dredgy
Dredgy
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 02 Apr 2017
Total posts 182
I'm guessing because PER-SIN is a better connection/shorter flight than SYD-SIN, and since the EZE-PER sector would ideally go directly over the pole, it wouldn't actually be a much longer flight.
GregXL
GregXL
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 26 May 2014
Total posts 320
Yes, SIN-SYD-EZE is further than SIN-PER-EZE, by around 1,600km.
smit0847
smit0847
Member since 30 Aug 2013
Total posts 150
It's also only an 'approval' at this stage and only for the first part of the trip between Perth and Buenos Aires: they don't currently have approval to fly from Perth to Singapore and would need this to run their full intended route.
I'll also highlight that the approval has also been sought by Norwegian Air Argentina: an airline with only one aircraft in its fleet - a single Boeing 737-800 that could barely fly Brisbane-Bali, let alone a 15-hour flight like South America to Perth. Its parent company, Norwegian Air Shuttle, also operates a fleet of only Boeing 737s (with more Boeing 737s and some A321LRs on order, but no wide-body aircraft).
A separate division of the same company, Norwegian Long Haul, does operate Boeing 787s, but would either need to transfer some to Norwegian Air Argentina or operate flights on behalf of that airline if allowed under the permissions received. Geoff Thomas does note in the story that a Boeing 787 could fly the route, but hasn't explained how that might work for an airline that doesn't technically have any in its fleet.
Geoff also points out that three other airlines already have the necessary approval for such a route (Qantas, Singapore Airlines and China Eastern), but it's worth pointing out that none of these airlines are actually operating or have announced such a service.
So, for now, it's a nice headline, but whether or not any such route actually materialises remains to be seen: and should a firm announcement be made in the future, that's when we'd consider coverage. :)
It's really not going to be difficult for the Norwegian group to transfer a 787 or 2 from one sub to another to operate a new route. That is the least of their concerns.
aniljak
aniljak
Member since 15 Sep 2012
Total posts 99
Perth - Buenos Aires is directly over south pole. Around turn of century i was involved in preliminary planning for a record breaking flight around the world via both poles using a 747. Departing New York then to Buenos aries, Perth, Shanghai and home via pole. Basically stayed on same heading all the way! Didn't happen due to events of 9/11