DL Dropping AMS-BOM

[FrugalFlyerv2.0]

I think E was talking about SV = Saudia, not SU = Aeroflot.

 

[WorldTraveler]

yes you are right.... not sure that DL does much with them... which is ok with me.... both are part of the same "other group" of Skyteam members.

 

[jcw]

quick additional translation for folks:
 
At DL we had to lose money for a decade longer than AA to pull the route - we are slow learners over here at DL - see we have a ton of aircraft flying into AMS and could not passengers to partake in flying to BOM on DL metal - it took us a very long time to figure out passengers were not connecting to our BOM flight (I think it took us a decade to figure it out)  we are so good at what we do here at DL - we said to ourselves - let's see if we can make it up in volume - it just wasn't a good enough product for the traveling public to take advantage of - see the MH thing had nothing to do with it - it was just my way of changing topics away from DL having an unsuccessful route

 

[metopower]

USA to India market has been reduced to two airlines flying non stop. That is market driven. DL route from AMS to BOM was a holdover from NW. It served to keep a connection to India in hopes that the market would change . 330/767 depending on the season. Profitable until DL management came up with the " no fly routes" . Simply stated.. If there are conflicts or shooting wars or hostile governments ie Iran,Pakistan,Afghanistan, Iraq amongst others then DL will not route ac over those countries Now add Ukraine and the Himalayas into the mix ... Get a globe and find an economical route for those ac's. Foreign carriers don't have those restrictions. Atl- dxb is almost two plus hours longer now with the new routing. Smart move reluctantly taken I'm sure.its not a secret... Get flight tracker and check out the route for DL 7 dxb atl for nov 20. Then check the same flt a year ago.

 

[robbedagain]

meto how well does dl do on the DXB run   

 

[WorldTraveler]

thank you, meto

a REAL, ACTIVE DL pilot who confirms that DL places priority on safety and that such safety measures may cause significant economic harm to DL.

exactly what I have been saying for pages now.

I hope ATL-DXB is not at risk, meto.

Flight aware shows it is taking between 16 hrs 45 min and 17.15

here is the link for those who don't understand or won't accept the issues involved.

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/DAL7/history/20141122/1900Z/OMDB/KATL

robbed,
DL is likely a very profitable route - at least it generates a lot of revenue.

to meto's point, though, when you start significantly adding distance that wasn't there before and other carriers don't have to add, it does add costs.

 

[metopower]

Always full..and it is safe...

 

[WorldTraveler]

thank you, meto.

to clarify, the risk I am speaking of is financial, not safety.

just for contrast, here is flightaware for UA's flight DXB-IAD.

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/UAL977/history/20141122/2105Z/OMDB/KIAD

and Emirates on the same route

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/UAE231/history/20141121/2220Z/OMDB/KIAD

 

[metopower]

It is safe all the way around. You should have posted DL7 for 11/20/14 that would show the contrast.

 

[WorldTraveler]

I did note that routing, meto.

for those who aren't familiar with flightaware, if they click on the date of the flight in the list of flights on the lower half of the screen from the links above, it will give you the route for that day's flight.

again, thanks for your perspective which confirms how hostile the world is and how much work it takes to stay away from it all.

 

[FrugalFlyerv2.0]

Looking at the FlightAware maps/routes, I have a couple questions:
 
1)  it looks like UA doesn't have any qualms about flying over Iran, then continuing over Georgia, Azerbaijan, Ukraina - Novorossiya - Russia and onto Scandinavia and over the Atlantic.  So why does DL avoid flying over Iran and UA doesn't?
 
2)  looking at the DL route, it looks like it flew along the Saudi Arabia/Iraq border, Syria, Lebanon, Cyprus all the way over to Greece before heading north northwest.  Why?  Why not make the turn sooner (i.e. over Turkey)?

 

[metopower]

Simply because DL management and corporate security is over cautious . UA just complies to FAA directives.By the way we flew around not over all except for Saudi Arabia. Not flying over Turkey has to do with terrain and alternates.