News & Discussion: Adelaide Airport & Airlines

[Ho Really]

Flight operates Monday, Thursday and Sunday's
SQ277 Dep SIN 0720 Arr ADL 1540
SQ276 Dep ADL1700 Arr SIN 2300

Not sure if anyone noticed the change in departure/arrival times of SQ277/276 flights since SIA last operated this expanded service (Northern summer season June-August 2014)? At that time it was jacked up to 12 flights weekly from 10.

In late January this year SIA operated a single flight departing SIN at 07:30 with arrival of 16:00 in ADL. Not sure if that was due to the TDU and SIA's premier partnership (sponsorship) in the event and possibly the flying of some competitors out. It also could've been a test run.

Previously SQ277 departed Changi at 08:30. While SQ276 arrived at Changi at 00:05. This is good for those catching late night flights to Europe and those not wanting to leave early from Adelaide. In particular Frankfurt with a scheduled flight out of Changi at at 23:55. Paris is scheduled at 00:10. Both previously would be an hour or so later if arriving at 00:05. London is at 23:30 which means you'll need to fly out on SQ278 in the morning and hang around Changi or take SQ276 and depart on the 01:20 flight (stopover of 2hrs 20mins) for a LHR arrival at 07:45.

Would be nice if this service was continued for other times of the year too.

Cheers

[Norman]

These expanded services have always operated in December and January for the extra demand during the holidays. They have done this for several years now, nothing specific for the TDU (although that might be one of the reasons for the extra demand).

[Ho Really]

...They have done this for several years now, nothing specific for the TDU (although that might be one of the reasons for the extra demand).

You misunderstood what I said. It was in reference to that single flight that departed Changi (SIN) at 07:30 instead of the regular time of 08:30. They may have changed the time of that departure specifically so the flight leaving Adelaide (SQ276) would arrive earlier and make it easier for those wanting to return to Europe on the day after the end of the TDU. If that wasn't the reason, they may have done it as a test run. It is unusual for a flight to leave 1 hour early.

Cheers

[electrictechron]

We had around three QF A330's today... any info on why?

[rubberman]

We had around three QF A330's today... any info on why?

Not sure, but FlightRadar has a QF1362 from ADL-DRW flown by an A330 today. No idea why. Possibly some extra holiday traffic.

[electrictechron]

We had around three QF A330's today... any info on why?

Not sure, but FlightRadar has a QF1362 from ADL-DRW flown by an A330 today. No idea why. Possibly some extra holiday traffic.

Well a Qantas 747, VH-OJT just landed as I am posting this. Qantas seem to be off loading their heavys here.

[utaussiefan]

We had around three QF A330's today... any info on why?

The Australian Defense Force had chartered the aircraft this weekend. A large number of personnel will be going through the airport this weekend.
On Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th March, Qantas will be operating additional services. Aircraft will arrive as ferry flights with no passengers. The aircraft include an A330 and a 747.

[Stefan P]

Morning all,

Looks like China Southern is the next airline for Adelaide, beginning in 2017.

DIRECT flights from Adelaide to mainland China could be available as soon as next year, as a result of a tourism agreement between the State Government and one of the world’s biggest airlines.

A pact with China Southern Airlines to promote tourism between South Australia and China was signed on Friday, paving the way for a direct ­service to the nation’s third largest city, Guangzhou.

Premier Jay Weatherill, who is leading the state’s biggest ever trade mission to China, said the airline’s interest was growing.

“Securing this service with direct flights to mainland China would create around 100 direct jobs, as well as flow-on benefits for our hotels, our restaurants and other tourism operators,” he said.

Guangzhou has 14 million residents and is a major trading port city near Hong Kong and Macau. China Southern Airlines operates more than 2000 flights a day to about 200 destinations across China and around the world.

Tourism Minister Leon Bignell said the airline had indicated it wanted to start flying directly to Adelaide “in the next year to two years” but he hoped it would be sooner, likely starting with three flights a week and building to a daily service.

Mr Bignell said Guangzhou would be a “tremendous connection” for Adelaide because it was the capital of China’s richest province, Guandong, home to well over 100 million people.

As well as boosting Chinese tourist numbers to SA, the route would help draw more European visitors via Guangzhou, he said. It would also provide a direct freight link to key Chinese markets for SA produce such as lobsters, oysters and berries, which are often sent through Melbourne and Vietnam.

China is SA’s fourth largest tourism market, with 32,000 Chinese visitors here last year, up almost 5 per cent on 2014.

Direct flights are already available to Hong Kong with Cathay Pacific.

The trade visit, on the 30th anniversary of SA’s sister state relationship with Shandong province, has taken more than 160 people to China, including ministers and representatives from more than 100 companies. At least 20 agreements are being signed.

The China Railway Group, the world’s second largest infrastructure company, has agreed to pursue mining opportunities in SA, and information technology giant Inspur will establish a data centre here. Six sister school relationships will be set up through the Shandong Provincial Education Department.

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/travel/tr ... de0aec61f4

[phenom]

Great news for SA - hopefully Adelaide Airport can step up on the timeline for increasing the capacity for receiving international arrivals.

[Torrens_5022]

Guangzhou is massive, the metro area has a similar population to Australia.
I wonder how much the airfares will be, would be a nice cheap trip to Asia.

[ChillyPhilly]

It seems that China Southern Airlines may be yet another huge sponsorship for Port Adelaide FC too.

[Ho Really]

It was about time China Southern. Even though Chinese visitors increased, South Australia was still losing out to the other states without a direct service to mainland China. Not all Chinese fly with Cathay Pacific. Now to make it perfect, China Eastern (Shanghai) or Air China (Beijing) should come on board too, to fill in the gaps of the massive Chinese market. Anyhow it is a good start. One good thing is that now we have a SkyTeam Airline Alliance member flying into Adelaide. Also a cheaper option for those wanting to fly to Europe via China or even North America. Business Class also cheaper. One word of caution though. Don't compare them to Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines, Etihad, Emirates or Qatar (also QANTAS for that matter). They're an airline that's improving. Would be interesting to see whether they'll employ any Aussies on this service.

Cheers

Note: QANTAS has codeshare agreements with both China Southern and China Eastern.

[Ho Really]

Today's announcement Hobart's airport runway extension being approved and the possibility of direct international flights, could spell good news for Adelaide Airport. I think now is a good time for the SA Government to work together with Tasmania to attract more Asian airlines. China Eastern may be their first international customer with direct flights. Adelaide could act as a stopover for some flights to Hobart. In the same ilk as Singapore Airlines' service to Canberra and Wellington, NZ. Both Singapore Airlines and Cathay Pacific could increase their frequency. In particular Cathay Pacific which doesn't fly daily. Other Chinese airlines could do the same if they think Adelaide on its own isn't enough. A layover of 90 minutes or thereabouts should be enough in Adelaide. I haven't worked out the exact times but I think both SQ and CX morning flights into Adelaide could work out. All depends on slots at Changi and Chek Lap Kok. SQ could increase from daily to 10-weekly and make that permanent. Just a thought. Ideas fellows?

Cheers

[Bacon]

Qatar Airways kickstarts Adelaide flights with Australia’s first A350

SOUTH Australians should “send a message” to national airline Qantas by choosing to fly airlines with direct international flights from Adelaide, like Qatar Airways, SA Tourism Minister Leon Bignell says.


Qantas stopped its international direct flights from Adelaide in May 2013, forcing Adelaide travellers using their services to fly interstate to board onward overseas flights.

At Adelaide Airport to launch Qatar Airways’ direct daily flights to and from Adelaide, Mr Bignell’s message was clear, though he stopped shy of using the word “boycott”.

“This is a free market,” he said.

“We have got lots of airlines that do support SA and so for anyone considering flying to Asia or Europe, don’t go via Melbourne or Sydney or Brisbane to get there.

Daily flights from Doha-Adelaide will begin after @qatarairways touched down in #SouthAustralia for the first time pic.twitter.com/aHWxImlOZ6
— South Australia (@southaustralia) May 3, 2016
“Don’t go Qantas if you have to get to eastern states to get out of Australia.

“We have airlines here that do the right thing and fly in and out of Adelaide. That’s very important for us not just in tourism and also for trade.

“Stick with SA airlines that support us and fly direct out of Adelaide.

“Support them and maybe that will send a message to Qantas.”

Qatar Airways begins its daily services to and from Adelaide to Doha in the Middle East today with a showstopper for its rivals — flying the first A350 into Australia this evening.

The airline already flies from Sydney, Melbourne and Perth but uses larger Boeing 777s on those routes. But the world’s newest commercial jet is its aircraft of choice for Adelaide.


The flights will arrive from Doha at 4.25pm and depart at 9.30pm. Today’s inaugural flight is due to land early at 3.45pm.

The Advertiser’s Travel Reporter Brad Crouch recently tested A350’s claims to reduce jet-lag with some great results.

Mr Bignell has previously said the flights will be worth $41 million a year to the economy, creating 228 jobs.

It is also expected to fuel inbound tourism and provide a direct freight route to Doha and beyond for South Australian produce, including seafood.

Mr Bignell revealed today the SA Government, Adelaide Airport and Qatar were jointly putting in funds to market SA as a tourism destination.

He also ruled out removing the night flights curfew at Adelaide Airport, saying international airports around the world had them and had managed operations around those times.

Akbar Al Baker will lead a delegation from Qatar on the inaugural flight.

“Adelaide is an important addition to our route map, and we are pleased to offer the people of South Australia the most modern aircraft in the industry to connect them with 38 countries in Europe, 23 countries in Africa, and 27 destinations in the Middle East,” Mr Al Baker said in a statement.

Adelaide Airport managing director Mark Young the new service was “excellent news” for both the local tourism industry and South Australians travelling abroad.

“We’re excited to be the first airport in Australia to welcome the new-generation Airbus A350-900 aircraft — one of the world’s most technologically advanced twin-engine aircraft.”

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/business/ ... add076a422

[Ho Really]

Waiting anxiously for some nice photos of Qatar Airways QR914/915 beautiful A350.

Cheers