Qantas will ramp up its flights from Sydney to Santiago and continue them through to Rio de Janeiro in June to cater for strong demand driven by the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
Between June 10 and June 30 Qantas will add two additional Sydney-Santiago flights, while extending four services from Santiago to Rio de Janeiro.
Qantas currently operates three Sydney-Santiago services each week (on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday) as well as codesharing on LAN's daily services.
Here's how the temporary timetable shapes up:
Qantas is the official airline of Australia's Socceroos and Qantas CEO International Simon Hickey expects Qantas' extension of flights from Santiago through to Rio would be welcomed by the many soccer fans who are currently waitlisted on packed flights to Rio.
"We are pleased to offer fans the opportunity to travel with Qantas all the way through to Rio in June and support the Socceroos as they take on the world,” said Hickey said, adding that the Qantas Boeing 747 from Sydney to Santiago and Rio will now be "the fastest way for fans to get from Sydney to Rio.
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David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.
21 Apr 2012
Total posts 3006
See! Another reason why Qantas should be protected by the QSA!
How else is the football team and their supporters going to get to Brazil?
Ahhh bless!
*sarcasm*....put that in there in case the subtext is not clear enough.
07 Oct 2012
Total posts 1250
With TAM in oneworld now, if QF had a plane that could Sao Paulo - SYD nonstop (say 3 x weekly) and could get some slots, there might be money there.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
31 Jan 2014
Total posts 21
Going from Rio/Sao Paulo via Santiago would enable QF to increase loads on the SYD-Santiago component. If they were to add a Brazil service, it would probably be in QF's interests not to go direct. Also, as the mileage would be slightly shorter than SYD-DFW, the Boeing 747-400ER or A380 would do the trick.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
17 Aug 2012
Total posts 2199
From New York, to Rio...
Air China - Phoenix Miles
20 Dec 2012
Total posts 105
LAN, Emirates, Etihad, Qatar, United and Delta can handle too.
07 Oct 2012
Total posts 1250
Can handle what?
Air China - Phoenix Miles
20 Dec 2012
Total posts 105
Transport passengers from either East coast of West coast of Australia to South America.
07 Oct 2012
Total posts 1250
Sure, you can add Singapore to your list amongst others... but South America via the Middle East from the East coast is a long-way. Additionally, the reach of the middle eastern airlines is small in latin america in comparison to their European/Asia/US networks. QF is the only non-stop option to Latin America (at least from Sydney) with LAN the other 1 stop option. Flying to south america via the USA is do-able, but best avoided due to the long waits at US customs... plus the major hubs for Latin American flights are Atlanta, Miami and Houston.
Air China - Phoenix Miles
20 Dec 2012
Total posts 105
If the price is attractive enough, travellers will pay for extra time.
12 Jun 2013
Total posts 732
Why would we send football players to a soccer match? Surely we should send soccer players?
21 Apr 2012
Total posts 3006
Same difference. Touché Hugo, touché LOL
07 Oct 2012
Total posts 1250
When stuff like this happens, it gives me some hope that QFi aint completely dead.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
07 May 2012
Total posts 371
Should do Rio as extention to the SCL flights on a perminate basis.
07 Oct 2012
Total posts 1250
Sao Paulo would make better sense. Business hub of south american, largest GDP in latin america, largest population in south america and oneworld hub for good inter-brazil connections.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
20 Sep 2013
Total posts 462
I would of thought the Qantas marketing people would have announced this decision at least 6mounths + out from the commencement of this service.As this would of given them a much better chance to fully develope the route with a better initial load factor.This could be an interesting longer term option for them.
Can anyone out there advise me if QF can pick up Santiago local joiners or do laws prevent that.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
19 Nov 2011
Total posts 243
I flew SYD to SCL return and was pleased with the direct opportunity to get there. I hope they potentially increase to daily and do lots of codeshare with LAN for all the many amazing destinations that South America has to offer.
If they want to extend to fly beyond SCL onwards to other parts of South America, that would be a bonus. Hopefully this route will develop and loads increase.
Again, price plays a role in getting passengers to fill the plane.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
05 Nov 2013
Total posts 15
meanwhile a seat on this flight costs $5000 return in economy, I'm happy with my Etihad seat for $3000...
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