As Qantas continues to suffer, it is still attempting to reshape its Asian network, with the big Airbus A380 featuring on the Sydney to Hong Kong route due to be removed from the route, and switched to allow the Dallas route to operate.
Qantas Airbus A380 at London Heathrow – Image GhettoIFE.
Currently, the route is operated throughout the year, five days a week. This is due to change from 29th September, where the route will be downgraded to operate with Three Class Boeing 747-400s.
The new timetable looks like this:
QF127 DEPART SYD 11:25 ARRIVE HKG 17:45 QF128 DEPART HKG 19:45 ARRIVE SYD 08:10+1 Commences: 29th September 2014 Booked Equipment: Boeing 747-400 - Three Class Equipment Data - Airlineroute
The plane will offer Business Class, Premium Economy and Economy class seats.
There is a reprieve during the Christmas and New Year period, where the A380 will return to the route five days a week between 11th December 2014 and 26th January 2015.
With the loss of the A380 on this route, there will be a cut in capacity between the two cities. However, other airlines will still operate on the Hong Kong – Sydney route, with Cathay Pacific operating a direct route – and plenty of other one-stop options in the area.
And as for Qantas, hopefully rebalancing the route will help its Asian routes become more profitable.
For those redeeming miles however, it’s one less First Class cabin available to book…
I wouldn’t say its one less F route to book with miles as the A380 is now going to DFW on which F was not previously sold / available for award bookings.