Delta plans to launch LAX-PVG
Jan 15, 2015, 5:14 pm
#61
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I am curious to know why DL wants to start LAX-PVG instead of LAX-PEK. There are already three airlines flying LAX-PVG, and DL will be the fourth. LAX-PEK has only one airline, and no US carriers, and I believe PEK is almost as big a market. Is it some regulatory issue on the Chinese side?
Plus, PEK wouldn't affect AA as much as LAX-PVG will.
Jan 15, 2015, 5:25 pm
#62
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Huh? How is DTW not a hub/gateway to Asia? DTW has nonstops to all of the same Asian destinations as SEA except for HKG right now. It also has NGO, which SEA doesn't have. In fact, there are more seats from DTW nonstop to Asia per day than there currently are from SEA to Asia.
Jan 20, 2015, 10:38 am
#63
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On the quarterly earnings call today, Delta expanded a little on its thought process on this route announcement. In particular
This Spring, Delta will relocate to be in the same terminal as MU in PVG — no longer off on its own. This will cut down MCT between flights and should ease the need for people to pick up and recheck bags. Delta is already connecting about 200 passengers per day onto MU at PVG — and they expect that to grow.
Also, Delta is opening a new maintenance facility in PVG, and this flight well help feed that.
They also mentioned the visa relaxation as well as some time that an airplane was sitting on the ground in LAX. So, in some ways this is "utilization flying" — believe it or not.
This Spring, Delta will relocate to be in the same terminal as MU in PVG — no longer off on its own. This will cut down MCT between flights and should ease the need for people to pick up and recheck bags. Delta is already connecting about 200 passengers per day onto MU at PVG — and they expect that to grow.
Also, Delta is opening a new maintenance facility in PVG, and this flight well help feed that.
They also mentioned the visa relaxation as well as some time that an airplane was sitting on the ground in LAX. So, in some ways this is "utilization flying" — believe it or not.
Last edited by jrkmsp; Jan 20, 2015 at 11:20 am
Jan 20, 2015, 1:20 pm
#64
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Does CZ use the same terminal at PVG as MU? I would guess yes, but does anyone know? Also, do MU and CZ have separate (SkyTeam) lounges at PVG?
The statement about connections onto MU without mention of CZ (which is based at CAN, but has lots of flights at PEK, PVG and SHA) seems strange. I wonder whether a JV with only MU is in the works, but this is just speculation.
The statement about connections onto MU without mention of CZ (which is based at CAN, but has lots of flights at PEK, PVG and SHA) seems strange. I wonder whether a JV with only MU is in the works, but this is just speculation.
Jan 20, 2015, 1:50 pm
#65
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Does CZ use the same terminal at PVG as MU? I would guess yes, but does anyone know? Also, do MU and CZ have separate (SkyTeam) lounges at PVG?
The statement about connections onto MU without mention of CZ (which is based at CAN, but has lots of flights at PEK, PVG and SHA) seems strange. I wonder whether a JV with only MU is in the works, but this is just speculation.
The statement about connections onto MU without mention of CZ (which is based at CAN, but has lots of flights at PEK, PVG and SHA) seems strange. I wonder whether a JV with only MU is in the works, but this is just speculation.
Jan 20, 2015, 6:00 pm
#67
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No JV until the US and China have open skies — which isn't happening any time soon. I believe MU and CZ both use the same terminal at PVG (I've been there once, but it was early in my frequent flyer days) and I believe they share lounges as well, but I've never really been able to figure out the Chinese lounge situation exactly.
Jan 20, 2015, 11:57 pm
#68
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1. NRT being their intra-Asian hub, so travelers from PVG to some other Asian destination must use NRT
2. Chinese travelers visiting Japan
Jan 21, 2015, 12:37 am
#69
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But by that logic, then why did DL drop NRT-PEK, and before that NRT-ICN, and before that NRT-PUS? (On those routes, just like on NRT-PVG, there is alternate SkyTeam service already.)
Jan 21, 2015, 5:37 am
#70
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Unfortunately, there is no money to be made for an airline like DL (or UA for that matter) on intra-Asian traffic. They are handicapped by having only one flight a day in each of these markets at not-the-best times, and hence will only attract the cheap traffic; business travelers will stick with 'home country' airlines which can offer more frequency, better times, direct flights, etc.
Jan 21, 2015, 7:49 am
#71
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I am quite certain DL has little to no interest in intra-Asian connections. They likely have barely more interest in competing for China-Japan tourists.
Jan 21, 2015, 9:08 am
#72
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They have dropped NRT-PUS, NRT-ICN, NRT-PEK, NRT-HKG, will dump NRT-TPE once they launch SEA-TPE next year, and will dump NRT-MNL if try to fly SEA-MNL. If I am not mistaken, I believe they route the 767 PDX-NRT-PVG-NRT-PDX. Once PDX-NRT ends, NRT-PVG goes with it. I'm surprised PDX-NRT has lasted this long. Must be the continued subsidy from Portland. ANA is likely to enter with market will the Dreamliner once Delta exists. Would probably turn the route into a profitable route with the better connecting NRT hub and far more economical plane than the gas guzzling 767.
Jan 21, 2015, 9:49 am
#73
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They have dropped NRT-PUS, NRT-ICN, NRT-PEK, NRT-HKG, will dump NRT-TPE once they launch SEA-TPE next year, and will dump NRT-MNL if try to fly SEA-MNL. If I am not mistaken, I believe they route the 767 PDX-NRT-PVG-NRT-PDX. Once PDX-NRT ends, NRT-PVG goes with it. I'm surprised PDX-NRT has lasted this long. Must be the continued subsidy from Portland. ANA is likely to enter with market will the Dreamliner once Delta exists. Would probably turn the route into a profitable route with the better connecting NRT hub and far more economical plane than the gas guzzling 767.
Jan 21, 2015, 9:55 am
#74
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I think one reason DL wanted LAX-PVG instead of JFK-PVG was the fact that UA was going to get a second frequency out of SFO-PVG meaning DL and MU were going to be at a serious disadvantage as UA would be operating a 747 and a 777 combined with the 789 through LAX compared to MU's lone A332 so DL and Skyteam wanted to get more flights into LAX-PVG.
Jan 21, 2015, 10:08 am
#75
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PDX-NRT is not subsidized. Nike and Intel in Portland have a HUGE contract with Delta and only book their employees on nonstops to Asia. PDX-NRT-PVG and PDX-NRT is very popular for Nike employees. If Delta pulls PDX-NRT, Nike will likely pull their Delta contract. ANA will probably enter PDX-NRT if Delta pulls out. Better connecting opportunities anyway.