QANTAS services on the key Melbourne-Sydney trunk route are among the most lucrative in the world, ranking second place internationally in a list of the top routes for revenue.
Figures released by OAG show only one airline route generating higher levels of revenue, with British Airways’ operations between New York’s JFK airport and London Heathrow raking in almost US$1.04 billion in the year to Mar 2018.
Qantas flights on the MEL-SYD route generated almost US$855 million over the same period, followed by Emirates and its LHR-DXB services which drew revenue of US$819 million.
Other top 10 earners included Singapore Airlines LHR-SIN (US$710 million), American Airlines LAX-JFK (US$698 million), United Airlines SFO-EWR (US$688 million), Cathay Pacific HKG-LHR (US$632 million), Qatar Airways LHR-DOH (US$553 million), Air Canada YVR-YYZ (US$552 million) and Singapore Airlines SYD-SIN (US$544 million).
OAG notes that five of the top 10 revenue earners are either to or from London Heathrow, “which may explain the ongoing debate about the third runway with the increased competition damaging those lucrative earners”.
It says all of the top 10 routes are high-cost operations, combining generally wide-bodied services with high frequency.
OAG highlighted the frequency of Qantas MEL-SYD operations in particular, with the Australian carrier operating around 65 flights a day on the route.
Source: traveldaily