AA and the A380

[WorldTraveler]

DL doesn't fly the 773ER but instead the 772LR. The 773ER should be able to fly JNB-MIA if AA chose to do so, esp. given that AA's configuration is not very dense compared to other airlines. Whether AA intends to fly to S. Africa or Australia on its own metal is the real question. There are aircraft that could fly to both places in the current or planned fleet.

Fleet is merely an asset to use to meet your financial goals which is profitability since all of the US airlines are for-profit. If AA or DL or any airline can reach their financial goals with whatever fleet they have been handed, then that is the true measure of success.

The A380 works well for carriers such as in the Middle East and in Europe who have one very large hub that defines their network. US carriers, in part because of the size and population distribution of the US, have little need for an aircraft the size of the 380.

Relatively decent quality used 744s can be had for less than $50M, a massive discount over the 380 and the 748.

 

[777 fixer]

I guess I hallucinated about the time I flew LAX-SYD on VA a few years back... Since both VA and DL still use it, it clearly has the range from LAX. And, it has commonality and is currently in the fleet...

Adding the A340 would be a colossal mistake.

The only way they could add the A340 is to by them used. Airbus decided to stop making them in 2011. You can thank the 777 for that.

 

[700UW]

I think daytripper with his vast four years of experience should convince Doug to pay the AN-225 and convert it for passenger use.

 

[FWAAA]

DL doesn't fly the 773ER but instead the 772LR. The 773ER should be able to fly JNB-MIA if AA chose to do so, esp. given that AA's configuration is not very dense compared to other airlines. Whether AA intends to fly to S. Africa or Australia on its own metal is the real question. There are aircraft that could fly to both places in the current or planned fleet.

True, and if a fuel stop on the Westbound trip was requried, REC appears to be a convenient place on the way (almost no detour from the great circle route between JNB and MIA).

 

[snapthis]

I think daytripper with his vast four years of experience should convince Doug to pay the AN-225 and convert it for passenger use.

700UW is an aircraft operated by US Airways. What is your present position with the company?

700UW
REGISTRANT KEY FACTS
Registrant's Name Wells Fargo Bank Northwest Na Trustee
Registrant Type
Corporation
Registrant Address 299 S Main St # U1228-120
Salt Lake City UT 84111
US
AIRCRAFT KEY FACTS
Aircraft Manufacturer Name Airbus Industrie
Aircraft Model 03
Aircraft Tail/ID Number 700UW
Year Manufactured 1998
Aircraft Category
Land
Aircraft Type Fixed wing multi engine
Engine Type Turbo-fan
Number of Engines 2
Number of Seats 179
Airworthiness Classification
Standard
Airworthiness Date
19981123
Certification Issue Date 19981216
Last Activity Date 20081118
Serial Number

 

[zflygrl]

PHX to LHR.

 

[eolesen]

PHX to LHR.

Already served by AA thru the JV with BA.

 

[WNMECH]

700UW is an aircraft operated by US Airways. What is your present position with the company?

He is a retired stock clerk from US Airways but claims to have vast knowledge himself.
Just ask him, he will tell you how smart he thinks he is.

 

[FWAAA]

Already served by AA thru the JV with BA.

My guess is that the concept of an immunized joint venture is not very familiar to most US employees, which is understandable given that US does not participate in any immunized joint business arrangements with its Star Alliance "partners." BA flies roughly twice as many daily flights between the USA and London as AA - and did so before the joint venture was approved. Of course, the merger between US and AA isn't going to change that ratio by any appreciable amount. I'm surprised at the number of US employees who have posted things like "the new AA can compete against BA by flying to LHR from ABC," not realizing, of course, that AA and BA stopped competing against each other when the joint venture was finally approved. If BA and AA management agree that AA metal should replace some BA metal, I'm sure their joint venture agreement provides for that.

 

[eolesen]

If BA and AA management agree that AA metal should replace some BA metal, I'm sure their joint venture agreement provides for that.

I suspect BA and AA management would rather have AA metal replacing IB metal right about now, or perhaps going into a few other markets where oneworld has some new opportunity...

LIS is the market most impacted by TAM's defection --- TAP is somewhat on the ropes, and it wouldn't take much to really hurt them.

Add in service to LHR (BA), GIG &0 GRU (JJ), and JFK (AA), and that knocks out four of their five largest long-haul markets out of LIS (the fifth is YYZ); for short-haul, LHR (BA), CDG, MAD & BCN (IB), and MAN (BA) are in their top 8 markets.

If the oneworld carriers were to go into those markets, I'm sure between that, Ryanair, and the other two alliances, TAP would probably disappear rather quickly....

 

[robbedagain]

I did not know that TAP was in that bad of shape

 

[eolesen]

I did not know that TAP was in that bad of shape

Portugal and Spain are about two paychecks away from being the situation Greece has been in... that's hurt both TAP and Iberia in the process.