Any Ideas about 2nd flight to HKG?

Does anyone have any thoughts about the upcoming 2nd daily flight to Hong Kong? What time will it depart London? I hope it will form a 2nd flight to Sydney leaving HK at around 11pm to give people wishing to fly to Sydney another option if they choose VS?

[mcmbenjamin]

Well from Jetstreamer's insightful post yeaterday, the flight most likly be a A340-300. From what I have read, this will only be a second flight to HKG at the moment without addtional services to SYD.

I would personally think that it would operate within 6 hours of the other flight so the ground staff could only coming once in HKG. I would hope they would allow time for the check in lines to die down and the CH to empty.

Hope it will reduce fares to Sydney, too.

For a potential trip in June, PE is c£2000, BA WT+ only £1000[:0]

I presume it's the high loads LHR-HKG that are responsible.

Luke

The last time we had extra flights to HKG the departure time was very close to the VS200. As always, I suppose it depends on available slots....

Originally posted by mcmbenjamin
I would personally think that it would operate within 6 hours of the other flight so the ground staff could only coming once in HKG. I would hope they would allow time for the check in lines to die down and the CH to empty.

Lol if they gave us two Lagos flights within hours of each other to check in an extra Hong Kong a couple of hours before wont cause much of an issue!

**IF** it ever does come to a second flight it'd probably only be before a couple of hours before the 200. At present, the HKG flight is one of those that people check in all day for for some reason.

It'll be 6am and someone will say "I'm travelling to Hong Kong"

Why run another flight so close to the other- even if the first flight is busy. Surely if you are wanting to compete with your competitors you try to spread the flights over a wider time to give your market more of a choice - otherwise it defeats the purpose of competiton. Leave late or leave during the day (and arrive London early evening - works for business just as much as arriving early morning- at least gives a chance to rest before work).

^It's all about the slots my friend! Beggers can't be choosers!

I don't think running two flights so close really matters - look at the New Yorks in the evening - they go every coupld of hours!

The HKG route isn't really about holiday travel either, and is not all that seasonal either, so they'll both always be quite busy regardless of the time!

I believe CX do a similar thing over in Zone B.

VS will run it so close for the same reason CX and BA do- becuase of the demand for flights around that time. Businessmen in particular bankers- want flights that land them in HKG mid/late pm- meal out with cilents- bed- full day of meetings- 9pm flight out of HKG- land 5am lhr and back into the city for a full day. Trust me- especially amongst one UK Bank- its very commom for that routine.

Look at LHR arrivals- BA have two HKG flights that arrvie 10mins apart.

BA flights are always jammed aswell. CX flight that arrives into LHR at something like 20.00 in the eveening carries no where near the same loads as the early morning arrivals...........