Delta exits LAX-LHR

[eolesen]

Did Richard Anderson go on vacation and forget to bring his iPhone?...

 

[WorldTraveler]

Meto
For whatever reason and with whatever end result DL is reshuffling a lot of international routes. It's way too early to know how it will all end

 

[commavia]

Yes, indeed - and we know broadly what the "whatever reason" is that Delta is making these international changes - and that is to optimize its network and maximize profitability given all of the evolving economic and competitive dynamics.
 
More specifically, the "whatever reason" that Delta is exiting another two U.S.-LHR markets (following first the unsuccessful MIA attempt, then reducing BOS to 1x daily) and handing it to a JV partner is because Delta has clearly concluded that said JV partner is better suited to make these routes/frequencies work.  And the "whatever reason" Delta is shifting Brazil capacity to Florida is because that's where the O&D is, and that's where the competition is undercutting Delta's ATL flights with new nonstop capacity.
 
In short, one could sum it up thusly: the reality is that the "whatever reason" Delta is making changes is the same "whatever reason" that AA, Southwest and United make changes - namely that Delta has limitations just like every other airline, Delta can't win everywhere, and just as Delta can do certain things others cannot, it's also true that some airlines can succeed in places where Delta clearly cannot.
 
Now let us forget all about what we've seen here tonight, lest it undermine the illusions of Delta grandeur and anti-AA talking points in the future.

 

[WorldTraveler]

Let's just say that DL is putting together a plan that will make DL far stronger where it matters most and the competitive advantage will be far greater
Some won't see it and that is all I can say

Sit tight for the big picture

 

[FrugalFlyerv2.0]

I wonder where those two Lhr slots will go. Dtw ,sea, or slc ? For me lax never made much sense . It was already covered by virgin .

 
Currently are MSP and SEA are the only DL hubs that do not have multiple flights (DL+VS) to LHR?  Maybe that's where the slots will be re-allocated to.

 

[FrugalFlyerv2.0]

Let's just say that DL is putting together a plan that will make DL far stronger where it matters most and the competitive advantage will be far greater Some won't see it and that is all I can say Sit tight for the big picture

 

 

[commavia]

Good for Delta that they're making a list and checking it twice on how to be competitive where it matters.  Meanwhile, so is every other airline - Delta's just like everybody else.  Welcome to reality.

 

[CLTUSCaptive]

Delta should have agreed to merge with USAirways , but hey, maybe they can find another oil refinery to buy 

 

[MAH4546]

He's deflecting.
 
The reality is that Delta's position with local LAX originating traffic still absolutely sucks, and DL/VS likely took a huge hit in revenue when Delta's subpar product replaced the Virgin product. 
 
Not to mention they had way too much capacity on a purely P2P route that AA/BA dominates. 

 

[eolesen]

Maybe they'll move one of the LHR slots over to MCO, so they can compete in South Florida...

 

[does this plane go to paris]

From the Puget Sound Business Journal
 
"....Alaska Airline’s trans-Pacific business got a boost in the last week, as one closely linked international airline stepped up its game, while a competitor decided to step back.
One boost came from Hainan Airlines' first flight of its new Shanghai-Seattle service on Monday, which will bring passengers to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Some of those passengers will feed into Alaska Air Group's (NYSE: ALK) network....."

 

[does this plane go to paris]

Forgot to add in this as well.
 
 
While Seattle-based Alaska is primarily a domestic carrier – with the exception of flights to Mexico – these confluence of factors suggest how closely tied it is with other carriers’ international flights.
For Chinese-owned Hainan, getting passengers from Alaska is a key part of the business model, and a way Hainan can compete against Delta, said Joel Chusid, executive director of Hainan Airlines in the United States.
Delta operates daily service between Seattle and both Beijing and Shanghai, now almost directly matching Hainan’s service.
Chusid estimated that about 100 Hainan passengers a day from Beijing connect with Alaska flights, a number he expects to parallel with the new Shanghai

 

[Kev3188]

Forgot to add in this as well.
 
 
While Seattle-based Alaska is primarily a domestic carrier – with the exception of flights to Mexico – these confluence of factors suggest how closely tied it is with other carriers’ international flights.
For Chinese-owned Hainan, getting passengers from Alaska is a key part of the business model, and a way Hainan can compete against Delta, said Joel Chusid, executive director of Hainan Airlines in the United States.
Delta operates daily service between Seattle and both Beijing and Shanghai, now almost directly matching Hainan’s service.
Chusid estimated that about 100 Hainan passengers a day from Beijing connect with Alaska flights, a number he expects to parallel with the new Shanghai

Sidebar: Wasn't Chusid a contributing author at Airways magazine for awhile?

 

[eolesen]

Sidebar: Wasn't Chusid a contributing author at Airways magazine for awhile?

Why, yes he was... and I think he still may be plus having a column on World Airline News.

I knew Joel at AMR. He lives in SEA, and has been heading up Hainan's US operations for just short of 9 years.

 

[FWAAA]

Apparently, VS will restore its second daily service this winter with a 346, replacing the DL 767:

http://airlineroute.net/2015/06/25/vs-lax-w15/

Those old four-engine 346s have to fly somewhere.