AA to launch Valencia, Venezuela (VLN)
Aug 28, 2011, 12:25 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: los angeles, calif.
Programs: Alaska Airlines Gold MVP
Posts: 7,170
AA to launch Valencia, Venezuela (VLN)
American Airlines launch service to Valencia, Venezuela on 17 November 2011. American applied for this route in 2006. It took five years for the Venezuelan government to approve it.
AA 1957 MIA 1645-2020 VLN 738 Daily
AA 1956 VLN 0835-1130 MIA 738 Daily
AA 1957 MIA 1645-2020 VLN 738 Daily
AA 1956 VLN 0835-1130 MIA 738 Daily
Aug 28, 2011, 1:18 pm
#2
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 94
Congratulations on finally getting approval, no doubt the route will be successful... But is AA aware that there are cities in the U.S. that are larger and wealthier than Valencia that still are not connected to MIA?
Aug 28, 2011, 1:27 pm
#3
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador, AA EXP
Posts: 2,704
International routes are profitable. Even on a price per mile basis, cheap Y fares are more expensive than domestic flying. Prices are cheaper because there is less competition, especially to Venezuela. And there are barriers to entry because Venezuela has strict rules for adding routes, so not every carrier can enter the market.
Aug 28, 2011, 1:41 pm
#4
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: BOS
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 7,710
Network expansion is good, and Venezuela does have unique government considerations... but I would be much happier with a flight to Ciudad Guayana or Ciudad Bolivar.
Valencia is at most 150 miles from Caracas and not exactly a major tourist destination. While the cities on the Orinoco are currently much more remote, a more interesting destination and the gateway to Angel falls.
It's understandable that the Venezuelan government is more interested in helping their citizens travel rather than foreign tourists, but I hope AA is pushing for an Orinoco route.
Valencia is at most 150 miles from Caracas and not exactly a major tourist destination. While the cities on the Orinoco are currently much more remote, a more interesting destination and the gateway to Angel falls.
It's understandable that the Venezuelan government is more interested in helping their citizens travel rather than foreign tourists, but I hope AA is pushing for an Orinoco route.
Aug 28, 2011, 2:30 pm
#5
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Boston, MA (BOS)
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Great news.
Like where? I think AA is missing opportunities in AUS, MCI, SAN, SEA, and SLC for example. MIA is pretty well covered by AA and many cities have ample service on other carriers to FLL.
AUS has been announced but never actually operated; MCI is a possibility; SEA may also work. DL may well come in and do SLC at the rate things are going now.
I could see AA co-existing with AS on the route by doing the following with a 738:
AA XXXX MIA 1900-2225 SEA
AA XXXX SEA 0700-1515 MIA
Internationally I'd really like to see BAQ, NRT, and TLV.
AUS has been announced but never actually operated; MCI is a possibility; SEA may also work. DL may well come in and do SLC at the rate things are going now.
I could see AA co-existing with AS on the route by doing the following with a 738:
AA XXXX MIA 1900-2225 SEA
AA XXXX SEA 0700-1515 MIA
Internationally I'd really like to see BAQ, NRT, and TLV.
Last edited by AAerSTL; Aug 28, 2011 at 2:35 pm
Aug 28, 2011, 2:42 pm
#6
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I was hoping this was Valencia, Spain.
Anyways, both cities are kind of random.
Anyways, both cities are kind of random.
Aug 28, 2011, 3:55 pm
#7
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Aug 28, 2011, 5:49 pm
#8
Join Date: Dec 2007
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AA Could really expand its MCI operation to MIA and LAX. I think a CRJ from LAX and (perhaps a CRJ?) from MIA would be great. Probably could increase the FF base there and AC members--the station is very lucky to have an AC.
As for VLN-what do you propose took Chavez and company so long to say yes to this one? You'd think they'd want tourism there..
As for VLN-what do you propose took Chavez and company so long to say yes to this one? You'd think they'd want tourism there..
Aug 28, 2011, 6:10 pm
#9
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: San Jose, Costa Rica
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Thanks for the news, MAH4546. 
Valencia is Venezuela's third largest city (2.1 million people) and one of its fastest growing (if not the fastest). One of Chavez's goals has been to decentralize the country's industry and Valencia has become the prime beneficiary of that plan. I'm sure service is being established with business concerns in mind rather than tourism.
But I too would love to see AA service to the Orinoco region.
Valencia is Venezuela's third largest city (2.1 million people) and one of its fastest growing (if not the fastest). One of Chavez's goals has been to decentralize the country's industry and Valencia has become the prime beneficiary of that plan. I'm sure service is being established with business concerns in mind rather than tourism.
But I too would love to see AA service to the Orinoco region.
Aug 28, 2011, 7:10 pm
#10
Join Date: Jul 2009
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Network expansion is good, and Venezuela does have unique government considerations... but I would be much happier with a flight to Ciudad Guayana or Ciudad Bolivar.
Valencia is at most 150 miles from Caracas and not exactly a major tourist destination. While the cities on the Orinoco are currently much more remote, a more interesting destination and the gateway to Angel falls.
It's understandable that the Venezuelan government is more interested in helping their citizens travel rather than foreign tourists, but I hope AA is pushing for an Orinoco route.
Valencia is at most 150 miles from Caracas and not exactly a major tourist destination. While the cities on the Orinoco are currently much more remote, a more interesting destination and the gateway to Angel falls.
It's understandable that the Venezuelan government is more interested in helping their citizens travel rather than foreign tourists, but I hope AA is pushing for an Orinoco route.
People that want to go to the Angel Falls, Orinoco River/Gran Sabana, etc. will do so regardless of having to go thru VLN or CCS. Now, the day that they actually start producing and exporting light crude oil from the Orinoco Belt (sand basin), then I can see it happenning.
Aug 28, 2011, 7:37 pm
#11
Join Date: Jun 2011
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Posts: 7,710
Some people will, but I believe there are a lot of marginal travelers who would either go or go back if it became more convenient. It's pretty ridiculous that it's more expensive and takes longer to get from BOS to Angel falls, than to most second tier cities in India or Siberia.
Aug 28, 2011, 7:57 pm
#13
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Aug 28, 2011, 8:09 pm
#14
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 5,439
MIA is an international hub, which means that there is no need to connect it to large number of places domestically, especially cities where International demand is low. They can easily be routed through DFW or ORD instead.
Aug 29, 2011, 12:48 am
#15
Join Date: Apr 2010
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Posts: 2,704
You're right about that. Most flights to JFK and MIA seem to be timed for international connections, with exception to transcons.