Qantas to kill Sydney-San Francisco direct flights

Qantas is reportedly cancelling the route that most commonly ferries technology industry execs between Australia and Silicon Valley - its direct flight service between Sydney and San Francisco.

The Sydney-San Francisco direct route – whilst popular – will be replaced by services between Sydney and Dallas.

A report in the Australian Business Traveller by former IT journalist David Flynn noted that re-checking bags (as per the United States' post 9/11 regulations) at Los Angeles or Dallas and connecting to a San Francisco flight would add at least four to five hours travel in each direction.

Flynn's report noted that the change was aligned with Qantas' U.S. codeshare partner, American Airlines, which is shifting its hub to Dallas.

Qantas has little in the way of spare aircraft, parts or standby staff on the ground at San Francisco - with safety incidents in September and December 2010 leaving its staff scrambling to find passengers hotel rooms and accommodation.

Qantas has been contacted for comment.