Qantas to keep Dubai hub even as it plans non-stop Sydney-London
By David Flynn, June 9 2017
Qantas plans to continue its alliance with Emirates and use Dubai as a hub airport for connecting passengers, even as it launches more non-stop flights between Australia and Europe.
The March 2018 debut of direct Perth-London flights on the airline's new Boeing 787 Dreamliner is likely to be followed by a second European city – tipped to be Paris – by the second half of next year, after Qantas brought forward the delivery of its next four Boeing 787s.
Other European cities cited by Qantas as likely candidates for additional non-stop Dreamliner flights include Rome and Frankfurt, once the airline takes up additional Boeing 787 orders to grow its fleet.
However, Qantas will also seek to renew its current five-year partnership with Emirates which began in April 2013.
Non-stop vs the Emirates network
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the International Air Transport Association's annual general meeting in Cancun, Mexico this week, Qantas CEO Alan Joyce said that "even when we start flying direct to London, still Dubai will play a big role."
"Emirates has 40 destinations in Europe. We're never going to fly direct to places like Venice and Prague."
That extensive network was a key plank in the original Qantas-Emirates alliance, which also saw Dubai replace Singapore as the stopover point for the airline's Kangaroo Route between Australia and London.
However, once Qantas launches its direct Perth-London flights the airline will shutter its Melbourne-Dubai-London Airbus A380 service – and Fairfax Media notes that "Qantas would not be drawn on whether Sydney to London flights would eventually route via Perth."
'Dubai' and 'direct' not in competition
Joyce expects that flights via Dubai will carry the bulk of the airline's European-bound travellers, while the direct Boeing 787 services – which carry fewer passengers and are likely to come with a price premium – will be more niche.
Qantas is also planning longer-range direct flights such as Sydney to London and Melbourne to Rome – both without the need to stop at Perth – as well as non-stop flights to New York, Chicago and Boston.
These would rely on new aircraft such as the Boeing 777X or Airbus A350-900ULR, and Qantas is in discussions with both aircraft manufacturers about taking its long-range fleet into the next decade.
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.
28 Oct 2011
Total posts 645
Makes sense to me. Qantas aircraft will pick to fly to select longer haul destinations NON STOP, to service those who will pay a more for less time/hassle, which is a 'market' from/to AUS. and along with a few regional ports (within 8-14hrs, middle east/asia), funnel pax onto partner airlines to reach other destinations. I have always found it bizarre that people expect Qantas (a publically owned company) to fly to/from ALL ports across the globe, yet they don't expect other airlines controlled by various govts/'authorities' to do the same!!!
28 Oct 2011
Total posts 645
AUS is a country of 25million ish population, and the rest of the world comprises 7billion ish, YET some people expect the SOLE premium airline of AUS to service THE REST OF THE WORLD!!!! LOL.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
25 May 2017
Total posts 77
Bring back via Singapore or other Asian cities. Biggest mistake QF made was this arrangement. Never have I or will I fly QF to Europe while they offer this route.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
09 Feb 2015
Total posts 388
A large majority certainly prefer Singapore or HK as stopover options to LHR.
Qantas
02 May 2016
Total posts 62
Bring back Singapore as transit makes no sense for QF, they will never compete with SQ for onward destinations out of SIN and will certainly never be codeshare. Dubai and the EK relationship gives them significant connections into Europe and Africa not possible out of SIN or HKG, and the financial results of QF versus CX, SQ etc speak for themselves
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
21 Mar 2013
Total posts 132
What I would really love is for QF to keep the EK alliance, but increase their AY codeshares to other cities within Europe, especially on routes not served by EK. Imagine if there was a QF codeshare to cities like Berlin, Gothenburg, Krakow and Tallinn.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
29 Jul 2013
Total posts 203
I like the idea of QF metal on PER to TXL direct for onward connections on AB!
QFF
12 Apr 2013
Total posts 1560
I dreaming for tight alliance between QF and AY for quite a while. AY is very nice company of very small nation (5.5m only!), yet very successfully serving Europe - PlentyOfAsia routes. Transit in HEL is easy and effortless so for me flying say MEL-SYD-DXB-WAW vs say MEL-SIN-HEL-WAW is no brainier choice in favor of second option. I honestly believe that QF-AY alliance will be beneficial for both companies since AY does not fly and not plan to fly to AUS while "relationship" with EK INHO is really one-sided in favor to EK, basically master-slave relationship.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
25 Nov 2016
Total posts 64
It's good QF and EK alliance will continue. Dubai is a great springboard to Europe. Also, EK planes, especially Bus class are so much better. I know QF needs to run a business and make a profit but at the same time it needs to provide a service people want to buy including customers flying on quality planes, comfortable seats, good food and quality lounges. I can never fault QF staff who are at the coalface but they are guided by decisions made from boardrooms and number crunchers. And the QF FF program is making a lot of money for the business.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer - Chairmans Lounge
01 Sep 2011
Total posts 416
Seriously ...? EK business better? Tired and cramped is my view and as for the 777 ones, they are down right poor.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
25 Nov 2016
Total posts 64
In 2016 EK ranked number four out of top ten for BC. QF doesn't get a mention. Says it all
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer - Chairmans Lounge
01 Sep 2011
Total posts 416
not in my view.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
28 Oct 2011
Total posts 467
I think the criticism of QF's A380 service in Business is almost totally the issue of the now outdated Skybeds, which have zero privacy and zero storage, as well as the lack of direct aisle access for many. The EK J suite is FAR superior. If and when QF put their A330 J suits onto the A380s, then that problem will disappear.
QFF
12 Apr 2013
Total posts 1560
If you like EK planes and service so much (I disagree, BTW) then why not buy EK tickets directly from EK? They usually cheaper and EK (unlike QF) flying from all major AUS cities to DXB.
QF NZ
28 Jul 2013
Total posts 29
If I am going to Europe I just love an afternoon flight to Asia, with great food and a few drinks, a short stop and then a flat bed and a long kip to Europe, SIN does that, Dubai does not. And staying on the same plane gives a much shorter stop in SIN.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer - Chairmans Lounge
01 Sep 2011
Total posts 416
SIN is a way, way nicer airport than DXB. Night and day in my view.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
28 Oct 2011
Total posts 467
True, though on the way back, LHR-DXB-Australia is the better option, for the same reason.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
29 Jul 2013
Total posts 203
Imagine is QF and BA became friends again so you could do QF to SIN and then codeshare on BA from SIN to LHR before returning on QF via DXB! Perfect flight routing - get a little work done, have some dinner and watch a movie on the short leg, stretch your legs and have a shower on the transit stop and then bed down for a good night's sleep on the long leg. Perfect!!
QFF
12 Apr 2013
Total posts 1560
Not in my view as very least if you fly business where you can stretch. When you flying back you flying against sun and it very easy make connection when you departure very late 10pm or so and arrive home very early 6am or so. IMHO cannot be better.
12 Dec 2012
Total posts 1031
Why does this speculation persist? It is not possible for 4 787s to replace 3 747s, as planned, and open a new route to Europe. The 2nd batch of 787s will need to be placed on existing 747 routes in order to allow the planned retirement of VH-OJS, VH-OJT and VH-OJU.
The 5th-8th 787s can not open new routes without either keeping at least 1 of the planned retirement aircraft and/or cutting another route.
11 May 2017
Total posts 4
29 Jan 2012
Total posts 184
Asia will always be the preferred stopover choice for flights to Europe when travelling Eastbound. QF with it's EK bond is a fly by night venture and may last another 5 years but that will be all. Ultra long flight in a 789 - realistically a failure. Aircraft to small for the long distance, comfort wise, as is only designed to replace 767 / A330 type aircraft. Wide bodies A380 / 748 aircraft have the room and comfort needed for the long haul routes. Passengers will vote with their bookings. Price premium fares for long haul 789 aircraft over wide bodied - will not work. It did once with the Pan Am 747SP when competing against its own 747's with their one stop, but that was a completely different situation and in another time. QF should take note as the competition is on its heals and has already caught up, QF just haven't realised it yet!
04 May 2016
Total posts 34
So once QF adds PER-CDG, PER-FRA, PER-FCO, we'll be back to pre-9/11 days when QF flew 747s to CDG / FRA / FCO via SIN and BKK. Except you'll have the 'pleasure' of a Perth transit/stopover and a 17 hour leg to Europe, over SIN or BKK and more palatable leg durations. Or the horrid domestic to international transfer bus in SYD if you have to go via DXB.
Meh.
Just further reinforces my switch to Star (TG, SQ) when QF married EK.
Even if they eventually do MEL-Europe I can't see myself wanting to spend that long in a plane.
03 May 2013
Total posts 680
I agree Traveller90 for us aussies the 787 is a small plane for ultra long haul. I'm really hoping QF goes for the Airbus A350 ULR perhaps even the rumoured A380 NEO. Aus is just too far from major world capitals for small 787's comfort wise.
23 Feb 2017
Total posts 17
Greetings from the North of England. From where I live, only a fool would struggle to get to the hell-hole that is Heathrow. For me this means MAN-DXB (another hell-hole)-Aus or MAN-SIN-Aus on SQ. London is irrelevant.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
14 Sep 2012
Total posts 382
I've tried looking at many European cities but taking the QF flight to DXB arrives around midnight and all the EK flights to Europe leave the next morning so forcing an overnight stay, much better off flying EK all the way from OZ. You'd really only fly QF if you're going to LHR I think.
24 Apr 2014
Total posts 269
Remember when QF did fly to Rome, Frankfurt, Paris and London all on their own planes? History is repeating itself.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
25 Nov 2016
Total posts 64
Was that when they allowed smoking on planes? I remember catching flights years ago and the smoking section was upfront and non smoking in the back. This cloud of tobacco smoke would drift from the front to the back like a fog. The Horror lol. And smokers would come to the back to escape it. Good luck.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
17 May 2015
Total posts 54
I wonder if Qantas would schedule a Mel/Syd/Bris to DXB and then back again allowing us to then jump on an EK out to Europe. Better use of a A380...less time sitting around.
05 May 2016
Total posts 616
If DXB is still so important it's crazy that they plan to stop flying there from MEL. On the one hand talking up the partnership and on the other hand discouraging flying via DXB by cutting QF operated services.
If you can't join the upgrade lottery flying via DXB on a QF ticket then a major reason to remain loyal to flying on QF tickets is taken away and flying other airlines becomes that much more attractive.
If QF flies SYD-LHR direct I fully expect they'll do MEL-LHR as well and that puts the future of PER as a hub in question. PER is a stop gap.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
17 Oct 2014
Total posts 14
chap6595 I agree and believe that as the QF B789 fleet grows, we will see a return to Dubai from MEL with possibly the addition of PER & BNE to DXB. I'm hopeful that QF will also add additional trans pac services to DFW from MEL & possibly BNE as well as expanded services to SFO. The B787 will indeed be a game changer for QF coupled with a future fleet of B777X's, QF will be a different airline in years to come there's no doubt.
QANTAS
12 Jun 2014
Total posts 22
QF would need to fly the 787 from multiple AU destinations to DXB to get good utilisation, yes. It's a ~14 hour flight.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
09 Jun 2017
Total posts 4
Good news for us QC members stuck in Adelaide wanting to get to Europe. At least we can book a QF flight number on a EK operated flight and still use the EK business lounge in DXB.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
22 Jul 2015
Total posts 219
A few comments about SIN or HK being the preferred choice of stop. If one travels for business then the choice is irrelevant. It's 90 mins whether in DXB or SIN. Enough time to freshen up. If you have time for a night or two then it's a personal choice. I like the lounges as DXB for the convenience. The SIN and HK lounges are also fine. But to allude to reasons relating to Dubai being in the Mid East and so on is just ridiculous. I have stayed there many times and have never had a problem. Folks an airport is an airport. The only time recently that the choice of airport is relevant to me is in NYC. JFK and reaching it from Midtown Manhattan is a nightmare. So La Guardia is it for me. Otherwise an airport is simply a point of transit and to board a plane. A fancy bus stop.
QFF
12 Apr 2013
Total posts 1560
IMHO plainly stupid. If QF keeps only SYD-DXB flight then yes it means that one can get DXB - NameCityInEurope in one jump, but then it require changing flight in SYD. According to my experience it is far easier and simple to change flight say in Helsinki than in Sydney and especially so on fly back.
In other words as usual - if you like EK and keen to change flight in DXB then by all means buy EK ticket on EK metal.
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