vtec1979
Jan 13, 05, 5:31 pm
Does anyone know when will CX start their double daily to SFO? I expect they will run the second flight in afternoon time, an A346 perhaps?
;)
;)
Cathay Pacific Asia Miles - Double Daily SFO - HKG??
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Rejuvenated
Jan 13, 05, 6:00 pm
I don't know exactly when they are going increase flights ex-SFO. However I do know that there are plans for that in the future according to a press release in July (http://www.cathay-usa.com/about/localpress/pressrelease.asp?idx=10) when CX relocated its regional office from Los Angeles to San Francisco in the fall of last year. The last few times I flew on CX873/872, the flights have been overbooked and jammed packed, so I guess its about time.
As for the second flight, I highly doubt that an A346 will be used because there are currently only 3 of them in the fleets and 2 of them are used for JFK flights while the other one seemed to be rotated between the other JFK flight and the SYD flight. I suspect that once CX puts that former SQ 744 aircraft into operation, this maybe the potential aircraft to be used for the second flight.
And just like you, I'm optimistic that second flight will be a daytime. Unlike ex-LAX where CX relies heavily on onward connecting pax beyond HKG, ex-SFO can support local traffic (pax flying SFO-HKG only) so the night arrival into HKG won't be a big concern.
But before we all get excited...let's wait until CX officially announces it. ;)
As for the second flight, I highly doubt that an A346 will be used because there are currently only 3 of them in the fleets and 2 of them are used for JFK flights while the other one seemed to be rotated between the other JFK flight and the SYD flight. I suspect that once CX puts that former SQ 744 aircraft into operation, this maybe the potential aircraft to be used for the second flight.
And just like you, I'm optimistic that second flight will be a daytime. Unlike ex-LAX where CX relies heavily on onward connecting pax beyond HKG, ex-SFO can support local traffic (pax flying SFO-HKG only) so the night arrival into HKG won't be a big concern.
But before we all get excited...let's wait until CX officially announces it. ;)
gmailflyer
Jan 13, 05, 6:32 pm
CX does carry a lot of connecting traffic on SFO-HKG. I am not sure if they can support a 747 with local traffic (O&D SFO-HKG) only. We have to wait and see. On the other hand, having an option in CA for a mid-day dep is not a bad option. They will be competing with UA so they have to see if they can do it with local traffic or draw connecting traffic.
Rejuvenated
Jan 13, 05, 6:49 pm
CX does carry a lot of connecting traffic on SFO-HKG. I am not sure if they can support a 747 with local traffic (O&D SFO-HKG) only. We have to wait and see. On the other hand, having an option in CA for a mid-day dep is not a bad option. They will be competing with UA so they have to see if they can do it with local traffic or draw connecting traffic.
From my experience and what I have heard from others, the majority who fly the SFO flights are HK natives, Canton natives in around Guangdong near HK, and Indians. Of course there are also some that connects to TPE, SIN, MNL, BKK. Most of the HK & Canton natives will likely disembark in HKG (this is where the bulk of the local traffic will come from). Indians make up the majority of those connecting pax ex-SFO....and starting in February, the CX flight to DEL will leave HKG at around 10pm. So a night arrival into HKG at around 8pm does look pretty good. Also there are available connections to TPE, BKK, MNL, SYD, MEL, AKL in addition to DEL leaving around that time frame.
From my experience and what I have heard from others, the majority who fly the SFO flights are HK natives, Canton natives in around Guangdong near HK, and Indians. Of course there are also some that connects to TPE, SIN, MNL, BKK. Most of the HK & Canton natives will likely disembark in HKG (this is where the bulk of the local traffic will come from). Indians make up the majority of those connecting pax ex-SFO....and starting in February, the CX flight to DEL will leave HKG at around 10pm. So a night arrival into HKG at around 8pm does look pretty good. Also there are available connections to TPE, BKK, MNL, SYD, MEL, AKL in addition to DEL leaving around that time frame.
fratboy
Jan 14, 05, 8:15 am
Did CX ever consider starting a ORD service, or would dbl daily LAX/SFO flights make it pointless ?
Rejuvenated
Jan 14, 05, 12:39 pm
Did CX ever consider starting a ORD service, or would dbl daily LAX/SFO flights make it pointless ?
It's SFO that needs to be "Doubled". LAX is already "Doubled". As far as ORD is concerned for the time being, the asian population is not sizable enough to warrant a CX flight, thus it would make more sense for CX to reroute ex-ORD pax through AA codeshares into LAX/SFO.
It's SFO that needs to be "Doubled". LAX is already "Doubled". As far as ORD is concerned for the time being, the asian population is not sizable enough to warrant a CX flight, thus it would make more sense for CX to reroute ex-ORD pax through AA codeshares into LAX/SFO.
studio76
Jan 14, 05, 12:43 pm
Did CX ever consider starting a ORD service, or would dbl daily LAX/SFO flights make it pointless ?
There is a lot of speculation on ORD-HKG in the AA forum. Many think CX isn't running the service because AA is interested in starting it, and will announce it if they get Shanghai rights (and therefore group it as part of an Asia/China marketing expansion)...
To many this seems like a guaranteed winner for either AA or CX. A hub to hub route, that would provide much better onward AA connections than LAX, SFO, or JFK. UA just announced yesterday that they were adding 3x 747 a week for a total of 10 weekly on the route.
An ORD-HKG flight would provide dozens of small to midsize US cities much easier oneworld access to HK...
There is a lot of speculation on ORD-HKG in the AA forum. Many think CX isn't running the service because AA is interested in starting it, and will announce it if they get Shanghai rights (and therefore group it as part of an Asia/China marketing expansion)...
To many this seems like a guaranteed winner for either AA or CX. A hub to hub route, that would provide much better onward AA connections than LAX, SFO, or JFK. UA just announced yesterday that they were adding 3x 747 a week for a total of 10 weekly on the route.
An ORD-HKG flight would provide dozens of small to midsize US cities much easier oneworld access to HK...
hongkongtraveller
Jan 14, 05, 9:50 pm
There is a lot of speculation on ORD-HKG in the AA forum. Many think CX isn't running the service because AA is interested in starting it, and will announce it if they get Shanghai rights (and therefore group it as part of an Asia/China marketing expansion)...
To many this seems like a guaranteed winner for either AA or CX. A hub to hub route, that would provide much better onward AA connections than LAX, SFO, or JFK. UA just announced yesterday that they were adding 3x 747 a week for a total of 10 weekly on the route.
An ORD-HKG flight would provide dozens of small to midsize US cities much easier oneworld access to HK...
UA on ORD-HKG is actually very good. The service was excellent, not what you expected on domestic UA. I was upgraded once from Y to J on ORD-HKG.
To many this seems like a guaranteed winner for either AA or CX. A hub to hub route, that would provide much better onward AA connections than LAX, SFO, or JFK. UA just announced yesterday that they were adding 3x 747 a week for a total of 10 weekly on the route.
An ORD-HKG flight would provide dozens of small to midsize US cities much easier oneworld access to HK...
UA on ORD-HKG is actually very good. The service was excellent, not what you expected on domestic UA. I was upgraded once from Y to J on ORD-HKG.