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Qantas eyes Europe after UK runway back flip
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Qantas has warned that it will be seeking new hubs in Europe and thus new travel destinations because of the UK’s recent decision to halt further runway development at London Heathrow and Gatwick on environmental grounds.
Speaking exclusively to ATW's Eco-Aviation Today, Qantas CEO Alan Joyce said the airline, while not ruling out other destinations in the UK, is now eyeing Berlin and Madrid as hubs for future growth. “Certainly the UK is important but we have to look for other gateway opportunities, and with Air Berlin joining oneworld Berlin will be a natural fit,” he said. “We are also looking at Madrid with British Airways to build its operations there with the pending merger with Iberia. Airlines are now making decisions around these new environmental taxes and restrictions such as runways,” he noted.
QF has four slots into Heathrow and will move to an all-A380 operation as soon as aircraft are delivered. It also is looking at other southern European hubs for its low-cost subsidiary Jetstar from next year. Another part of the equation is the UK's distance-based Passenger Duty Tax, which disadvantages Qantas against operators such as Emirates that hub from Dubai.
In July last year, the Dutch government was forced to abandon its deeply unpopular "eco tax" on passengers of €11 ($14) for intra-EU flights and €45 for intercontinental flights from all Dutch airports. The tax was introduced on July 1, 2008, in the face of strong protests by airline and airport groups and resulted in a significant drop in passengers through Schiphol, with most opting to fly to their intended destinations from Belgian or German airports.
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Discuss this article 20
Madrid would be a fantastic
By tallboyozMadrid would be a fantastic new hub for Qantas.
As a frequent traveller both with QF/oneworld and through that region one thing currently lacking is an easy and direct way to travel from the Iberian peninsular to the Asia Pacific and v/v.
Madrid Barajas has plenty of capacity and a very nice new terminal structure (IMHO the best in Europe), and efficiency there has improved dramatically since the new terminal opened.
Can't happen fast enough for me, so I hope they seriously consider this option.
Always wondered why QF never
By AnonymousAlways wondered why QF never served MAN/GLA? Surely they could fill those flights?
If Berlin is on the agenda
By balint01If Berlin is on the agenda due to Air Berlin, why not considering Helsinki or Budapest as well. Helsinki may be too far up North for any onward European connections, but Budapest is in a central location, and fellow oneworld member Malev could take the passengers onwards to other Western-European destinations - without any flying "backwards" (as it would be the case with Madrid for example). If QF moves out of London and is looking for another oneworld member's hub as a potential hub, it will be for connecting flights and not for p2p traffic anyways...
QF used to fly from SYD to
By CinderwoldQF used to fly from SYD to MAN with a stop in Frankfurt they scrapped the service about 8 years ago and sent everyone through LHR. Maybe they will come back now instead if they cant get the capacity they need at LHR. BA has numerous flights down to london on their shuttle services, make a change for it to be the other way round.
Madrid looks like an airport
By The FonzMadrid looks like an airport in rapid expansion.Etihad and Emirates are flying there now as well and more flights to Asia are in the pipeline, the times MAD was Europe's hub to Latin America only have gone.
Berlin might just not have the catch MAD offers especially with IB merging with BA.
If Qantas wants to take
By JanosIf Qantas wants to take advantage from the oneworld membership, Budapest might be fine for them as well. Budapest does not have any direct flights to SIN / BKK / HKK, and Malev (the Hungarian carrier) has good connections within Europe.
Still, Berlin's airport can itself provide more O&D pax to Qantas. Plus AirBerlin's transit pax will provide even more - this is more sexy for Qantas I think.
Madrid is I think not the best choice for Qantas: Gulf carriers are already there; it's location is bad if you are comming from East and looking for transit passengers (still: it is perfect to/from South America).
Berlin will be a good option
By FelixBerlin will be a good option for QF after the Berlin Brandenburg International Airport is finished. Unlike Frankfurt, it will offer quick and easy connections to other European destinations. Berlin seems to be overlooked by the major airlines, which is sad since it is an amazing city and would give a great hub.
The redeveloped Berlin
By KiwiandrewThe redeveloped Berlin airport could make sense , but Madrid ! I can't see it , for pax coming from Australia/Asia it is almost on the far edge of the continent . For QF to try to use it as a European hub would be a bit like AA deciding to use BUD as their European hub .... for most destinations it would involve considerable backtracking , a problem QF already has with LHR , but in that instance it is at least mitigated by the high volume of O&D traffic .
Qantas is not an attractive
By AnonymousQantas is not an attractive option for travel to Europe because its London hub is so far from other desirable destinations. The airline needs to look at more point to point services rather than flying through hubs. I hope they do this when they get the 787s.
How about Istanbul? Close to
By HaksHow about Istanbul? Close to Europe, Russia, Middle East, Africa.....A good hub.
athens will also be a good
By Anonymousathens will also be a good connector airport close to all connections into africa, middle east and of course europe.
Word on the streets is Qantas
By Peter TullerWord on the streets is Qantas has chosen Berlin as the new hub
Does anyone know where I can
By AnonymousDoes anyone know where I can find a description of the four slots Qantas possesses at LHR?
@Haks: IST is already at
By civet five@Haks: IST is already at capacity and has no room to grow. TK's operation will begin suffering soon because of this.
BUD is a terrible option because the O&D is minimal and what is there is mostly low yielding. MA's connecting banks are terribly inconvenient compared to what's available at ZRH, FRA MUC, and VIE nearby. MA needs to become Oneworld's OS: capture the Eastern European and Balkan feed with a few key midhaul and longhaul destinations.
HEL would be an interesting option, but I just don't see it happening. MAD and BER really are the best bets.
Finally someone at Qantas is
By albvasFinally someone at Qantas is thinking outside the box!
What about LGW?
By JeroenWhat about LGW?
Istanbul has two airports.
By KJIstanbul has two airports. There is a lot room for growth in SAW, Sabiha Gokcen International Airport, operated by India’s GMR Group and Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad.
No other city can beat Istanbul for location. Eastern edge of Europe is perfect for Qantas. Istanbul also offers excellent accomodation facilities. More importantly entry to Turkey is visa free for Qantas' non Australian and non EU customers.
Copenhagen?
By MatthewqfCopenhagen?
HEL would be an interesting
By HEL closest to SYDHEL would be an interesting option.
Sounds odd perhaps but HEL actually is the closest EU hub from SYD, according to the great circle map.
4 Slots possessed by
By Thaipug4 Slots possessed by Qantas
London / Singapore / Sydney
London / Singapore / Melbourne
London / Hong Kong / Melbourne
London / Bangkok / Sydney
and vv
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