Qantas returns to OOL

[Beau Chenery]

About time..

http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/2012/08/13/436583_gold-coast-news.html

[markr]

Should be a red tail into OOL this afternoon as a junket for the press and VIPs for the announcement.

[Lukas M]

QF1360 due about 1420

[Brandon Giacomin]

VH-VZT is operating this service.

[A Coghill]

Managed to snap its arrival for work. Just after i made it to near the runway, Dragon 06 did a fly over about 5 mins before QF1360.

I tried a new spot near the GA runup bay, but the primary windsock was smack bang in the way. Another one for the jackedup pile.

Will post pics tonight after processing.

[Brandon Giacomin]

3 flights daily with Boeing 737-800s from late October.

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/busines ... 2442o.html

Qantas will step up efforts to repel the advances of Virgin Australia and Tiger Airways following its decision to recommence services to the Gold Coast after a five-year absence.

The airline’s chief executive, Alan Joyce, joined the Queensland Premier, Campbell Newman, at Gold Coast Airport this afternoon for a cermony to launch the new services. From late October, Qantas will operate three flights a day between Sydney and the Gold Coast using single-aisle Boeing 737-800 aircraft.

Qantas will also refurbish the lounge at the airport, which is being used by Jetstar passengers, and reopen it as a Qantas Club facility by the end of the year.

Qantas stopped flying to the Gold Coast in July 2008, leaving its budget offshoot, Jetstar, to service the large leisure destination.

The Qantas chief executive, Alan Joyce, said today that the airline was responding to demand from customers for a renewal of services.

"With the massive development of south-east Queensland, the Gold Coast is Australia's sixth largest city and a fast-growing premium travel market," he said. "Our customers have told us that they want a premium leisure and business service, complementing Jetstar's existing services."

Pressure has been building on Qantas to recommence services, which has become more pronounced as Virgin ramps up efforts across Australia to snare a bigger share of the lucrative corporate travel market.

Virgin has increased capacity on routes to the Gold Coast by 7 per cent over the last year. It launched business-class services a year ago, and has since opened a lounge at the airport at Coolangatta.

After opening a second Australian base last month, the Singapore Airlines-backed Tiger Airways also began services between Sydney and the Gold Coast last month.

Shares in Qantas were up 1.75 cents, or 1.5 per cent, at $1.1575 in mid-afternoon trade.

[markr]

$48 special online now but not yet bookable.

[Brandon Giacomin]

Effective Sunday 28 October 2012

Sydney - Gold Coast
QF860 SYD 0710 OOL 0735 B738 x67
QF860 SYD 0900 OOL 0925 B738 67
QF862 SYD 1145 OOL 1210 B738 x67
QF862 SYD 1200 OOL 1225 B738 67
QF864 SYD 1635 OOL 1700 B738 D

Gold Coast - Sydney
QF861 OOL 0815 SYD 1035 B738 x67
QF861 OOL 1005 SYD 1225 B738 67
QF863 OOL 1250 SYD 1510 B738 x67
QF863 OOL 1305 SYD 1525 B738 67
QF865 OOL 1740 SYD 2000B738 D

[A Coghill]

QF1360 arrived just before 1500.


Qantas QF1360 - Boeing 737-800 (VH-VZT) by coghilla, on Flickr


Qantas QF1360 - Boeing 737-800 (VH-VZT) by coghilla, on Flickr


Qantas QF1360 - Boeing 737-800 (VH-VZT) by coghilla, on Flickr


Qantas QF1360 - Boeing 737-800 (VH-VZT) by coghilla, on Flickr


Qantas QF1360 - Boeing 737-800 (VH-VZT) by coghilla, on Flickr


Untitled by coghilla, on Flickr

[Brock L]

Great news, excellent that the Jetstar lounge will be refurbished into a Qantas Club as well. It's all go at OOL!

[Grant G]

I think you will find the reason that Qantas has decided to fly back to OOL is that Qantaslink is after the rights for FIFO operations from OOL and by them flying into OOL it will give them a better chance.

[Peter Cokley]

I think you will find the reason that Qantas has decided to fly back to OOL is that Qantaslink is after the rights for FIFO operations from OOL and by them flying into OOL it will give them a better chance.

That sounds very likely and good detective work indeed as I always suspect the real reasons are different to what the press releases tell us! FIFO is often on local news as a dream for the area.

Another thought is about a year ago the Virgin boss, plus a big media crew, were here at Cooly pushing the benefits for the business class travelers. A similar big billboard greeted the business account traveller on arrival at Cooly so maybe Qantas heard about the "suits" being pampered on Virgin? Virgin pilots now wear a tie which is an image ego statement to people who think that Is important for the status of the business passenger.

[Brock L]

Inaugural flight today is being operated by VH-XZA in the "Spirit of Australians" scheme. It is running on time for a 0925 arrival.

[Peter Cokley]

No wide body jobs in that list yet Ansett 767 planes were frequent here and TAA used A300s on a regular basis.

Either spare B767 or newer A330s ??

Effective Sunday 28 October 2012
Sydney - Gold Coast
QF860 SYD 0710 OOL 0735 B738 x67
QF860 SYD 0900 OOL 0925 B738 67
QF862 SYD 1145 OOL 1210 B738 x67
QF862 SYD 1200 OOL 1225 B738 67
QF864 SYD 1635 OOL 1700 B738 D

Gold Coast - Sydney
QF861 OOL 0815 SYD 1035 B738 x67
QF861 OOL 1005 SYD 1225 B738 67
QF863 OOL 1250 SYD 1510 B738 x67
QF863 OOL 1305 SYD 1525 B738 67
QF865 OOL 1740 SYD 2000B738 D

[Brandon Giacomin]

Another very new one, VH-XZC is operating the QF862/3 rotation this afternoon