3Cforme

Even some Airbus examples of increased range for this don't cover the distance LAX-BNE.

soorox

According to the rumours, the plan is that VA will fly BNE-LAX daily with DL replacing VA's current x3 weekly MEL-LAX service - either its a direct replacement or maybe extra services at this moment is unknown.

What makes this rumour abit more credible this time round is that VA has applied for daily slots flying BNE-LAX, yet at the same time MEL is still retained - but we all know that VA has limited aircraft and won't be able to operate the x3 weekly services if the extra services to BNE are to happen.

I think its a win win proposition if DL is also willing to make the hop down to MEL as the 77L is better suited for the route. Its metal neutral anyways. And I simply don't see VA/DL abandoning MEL altogether considering both QF & UA seem to do quite well on the route, especially when UA announced MEL-LAX non-stop, sales exceeded expectations. VA/DL won't win any clients/customers by routing MEL pax through SYD/BNE/AKL.

DiverDave

Is MEL a slot restricted airport?

David

Dawgfan6291

No but does have the ability to cover other 777 routes (JFK-TLV for example) which can free up aircraft to get the needed LRs.

Also Delta has built in a nice amount of 777 flying to Europe that could be pulled also.

Dawgfan6291

yes, but not in the same way like a LHR.

most(all?) airports have slots, its just that they have the runway capacity to make things easy for a carrier to fly whatever/whenever.

the LHRs, LGAs, DCAs of the world have capacity controlling slots because of limited runway availability.

3Cforme

Maybe, but I don't perceive DL to be widebody-utilization-restricted. Has somebody done the math recently (and shown their work)? DL, seasonally, has had as many as eight widebody aircraft out of service at one time for lie-flats reconfiguration. That work is ended, and 767 tcons are being replaced in part by 757 lie-flats making yet more aircraft available for intercon flights. A 77L is likely DL's best-suited aircraft but DL has demonstrated lots of ability to shuffle.

soorox

It's official - VA will make BNE daily and cut its x3 weekly MEL-LAX service from 25OCT.

Hopefully this means DL might be able to step in.

MSPGabe

Where'd you see this?

kade Reid

http://m.theage.com.au/travel/travel-planning/travel-news/virgin-australia-axes-melbourne-to-los-angeles-services-announces-daily-flights-to-brisbane-20140723-3cez7.html

Or ABT

http://www.ausbt.com.au/virgin-australia-axes-melbourne-los-angeles-goes-daily-brisbane-lax?utm_source=internal&utm_medium=promobox&utm_ca mpaign=latestnews-articleleft

N830MH

Actually, it just only 2 777 aircraft from LAX-MEL-LAX, but not 3.

cdubose98

That would be nice, but given the DL/VA JV, I would think any plans for DL to start the route would've been mentioned at the same time as VA's cancellation announcement.

bruceatf

I have called dl as i am scheduled to fly lax to mel in march15. Dl rep was not aware of change but found that only the mel to lax service was being scrapped. does not make much sense to me as va flies only 3days per week from lax to mel. What will va do with 777's in mel(not flying back to lax). i'm confused

DL2SXM

10/25 is a pretty strange coincidence because that's when DL goes 777 on JFK - NRT - TLV. Can they do MEL with a 744? Rotate it in with the LAX - NRT 747 somehow, or continuing onto ATL?

ClipperDelta

The10/25-10/26 weekend is the end of the IATA northern Summer season and the start of the northern winter schedules. THat's when most of the international schedule/route changes take place.

Unfortunately, no LAX-MEL nonstops for DL/VA this coming season.

Supersonic Swinger

They will be redeployed to fly BNE-LAX daily.