As Cal announce new service to Hamburg, Berlin and Bristol. As United announces a build up in its international flying. Even Delta is adding new routes, where are we? Is this a new strategy? Are we going to stand by the way side and see our competition eat up one of the only areas where revenue and profits seem to still exist?
New International Service
- Thread starter FA Mikey
- Start date
I've wondered about that as well. DL and CO announce new flights to Berlin and DL already flies to other cities in Germany. I've heard over the years that Berlin just doesn't present profitable opportunities - is that really true? If so, how can CO and DL both justify new service there? Maybe they will learn their lesson after a few months?
There is lots of USA-Germany traffic; LH flies plenty of planes between Frankfurt and several USA cities. AA has what, a couple of daily flights to FRA?
There is lots of USA-Germany traffic; LH flies plenty of planes between Frankfurt and several USA cities. AA has what, a couple of daily flights to FRA?
FWAAA said:
I still don't get why AA doesn't fly Miami-Frankfurt. The yield isn't like Miami-Madrid/Heathrow/Paris, but it still isn't terrible. And with the two-class 763s, no reason it can't work. I know they flew it in the past, and did have yield issues (mainly that the high-yielding consumers all perferred LH), but I see no reason why they can't make it work again.
And they should give Miami-Barcelona a shot...that route could do really well. So could O'Hare-Moscow (announced in '99, never started).
AA will likely be announcing a new South American destination by the end of the year to start in March 2005. Stay tuned...
Oh yeah, and don't forget Continental is starting Belfast in May, too. And applied yesterday with DOT to start Newark-Moscow in May as well. And, they applied a few weeks ago, and were approved, to start Newark-Lagos in April, but may put it on hold due to security and crew rest concerns.
jimntx
Veteran
Could the refusal to allow sell-through have anything to do with the fact that LH is in Star Alliance?
PHX Flyer
Member
Yeah, I think American is indeed missing out there. I fly around three times per year from JFK to Cologne, Germany. Iam (still) a loyal AA customer and usually connect through LHR. However, the frequent delays are a real pain in the neck, and increasing the connecting times is not the answer. Compared to a nonstop flight, I waste about five hours each way to make the connection. The same is true for FRA. So, if someone offered nonstops to CGN again (and there's agood chance that this will happen soon), I would jump ship in a heartbeat. The problem is that the major European hubs don't have enough runway and terminal capacity to offer smooth connections, and this won't change in the foreseeable future, if ever.
Continental's situation is unique in that EWR has still some free runway and terminal capacity. Besides, its geographic location allows for the use of the highly cost-effective B757. Since ORD is pretty much in the same situation as LHR and FRA, there is no room for AA to duplicate CO's strategy. If CO's strategy proves to be successful, AA may have a chance to catch up in 2006, when the new JFK terminal opens and the slot restrictions are lifted there.
Continental's situation is unique in that EWR has still some free runway and terminal capacity. Besides, its geographic location allows for the use of the highly cost-effective B757. Since ORD is pretty much in the same situation as LHR and FRA, there is no room for AA to duplicate CO's strategy. If CO's strategy proves to be successful, AA may have a chance to catch up in 2006, when the new JFK terminal opens and the slot restrictions are lifted there.
PHX Flyer said:
CAL also has the advantage of a strong NYC hub + stronger O&D market (generally) to Europe than Chicago. While ORD has more connection opportunities than EWR, EWR has more local and high yielding traffic than ORD.
Although, I do find it interesting that SkyTeam co-members announce competing service to Berlin within days of each other. Maybe there is an unofficial push on Star Alliance from the SkyTeam?
PHX Flyer said:
Let's hope that happens.
Minor corrections: I thought the JFK slot restrictions were gone in 2007 and everything I can find about the AA JFK terminal construction indicates that it will be about 2008 or so before it opens. I hope I'm wrong about that.
Even worse about the new JFK terminal - I read a report that it will only contain 39 gates instead of the original design for 56.
In late 2001, AA announced an acceleration in construction, but in 2002 applied the brakes and basically shut down construction for a year.
Anyone have any updated info on JFK?
funguy2 said:
CAL does not have an anti-trust immunized agreement with Skyteam; thus they cannot coordinate routes, schedules, and fares as other members can. They have a simple codeshare. I'm sure DAL and CAL wish the other guy wasn't flying to Berlin, but that's competition.
