KL791 to GRU left today with 352 passengers on board the B77W, but that was only because yesterday's AMS GRU had been cancelled and most passengers had been rebooked to today's service rather that to last night's Air France service via Paris. Other than that, loads to and from GRU have been rather weak, around 55% load factor only, including non rev traffic. Revenue load factor is just around 50%.
The seatmap clearly shows that KLM is after low yielding pax...it isnt the right frame for GRU market. Full stop. It could work for GIG, but not for GRU...
The seatmap clearly shows that KLM is after low yielding pax...it isnt the right frame for GRU market. Full stop. It could work for GIG, but not for GRU...
Rgs,
The 35 WBC seats in ridiculous for just about any market in an aircraft of that size. GRU, SIN, DXB, YYZ and JFK, to name just a few, could all fill many more premium seats. Meanwhile the B77W is shuttling between AMS and GRU and DXB half empty or worse in economy on weekdays. I honestly don't know what they are thinking...
The 35 WBC seats in ridiculous for just about any market in an aircraft of that size. GRU, SIN, DXB, YYZ and JFK, to name just a few, could all fill many more premium seats. Meanwhile the B77W is shuttling between AMS and GRU and DXB half empty or worse in economy on weekdays. I honestly don't know what they are thinking...
Are there any chances that KLM is going to enlarge the WBC cabin on the 772?As it's almost sure that the 772 will also be equipped with 10 abreast in eco in the near future. Pitch will increase a bit but with this move they could make an second J cabin with 7 or even 14 seats without bringing down the total seatcount. An Y+ cabin could also be an option to solve the
lack of premium seats in some markets, but I in person don't know if KLM will introduce a real Y+ like VS and BA or just some seats with a bit of extra legroom. And if it is an real Y+ or this will be a true alternative for an J class passenger.
BUT, the question if KLM will make such move because KLM always keeps the cabin of there aircraft in one config. And I don't know if there are 777 stations that really need the range but still strugle to fill the 35 WBC seats. MNL and LIM come in mind.
On the 77W reconfig i recieved an message from an friend working for KLM he picked up that it is almost sure that the Config will change to 49J/360Y when a third frame joins the fleet in 2009 as they won't have enought time to change the config of BVA before the start of the summer schedule.
I don't know of any B777 station for which the 35 WBC seats are considerably too many. Sure enough, for some lower yielding stations, KLM is selling more lower Z-fares, but none of the stations, not even MNL and LIM, have trouble achieving a reasonable revenue load factor in WBC.
There are quite a few stations, however, for which the 35-seats WBC is considerably too small. SIN is probably the number one on that list: KL837 AMS SIN achieved a WBC revenue load factor of over 98% in February, which basically means that there were hardly any seats taken by non rev traffic, let alone empty seats. DXB, GRU, CPT, JFK and YYZ can all fill more than 35 WBC seats.
DXB, GRU, CPT, JFK and YYZ can all fill more than 35 WBC seats.
By competing on price, presumably? That 35-seat cabin is an absolutely miserable experience. How they managed to get it so wrong in every single aspect of the design is beyond comprehension. Surely an achievement that merits an award of some kind?
That 35-seat cabin is an absolutely miserable experience. How they managed to get it so wrong in every single aspect of the design is beyond comprehension. Surely an achievement that merits an award of some kind?
While the new seats in itself are definitely an improvement, the 35-seat cabin of the new B77W feels, if possible, even more crowded and cramped than that of the B772ER.
While the new seats in itself are definitely an improvement, the 35-seat cabin of the new B77W feels, if possible, even more crowded and cramped than that of the B772ER.
KLM is now the airline which competes for the holiday, discounted, economy class passangers...It is really impressive how KLM, over an over again, is just undermining its own credibility and scaring away premium passangers. We would all expect KL's new B77W to be its flagship model, but it is just a shame. Just look around in the industry, even US carriers are now offering better product, i.e. DL new B777LR has great seat and product on business class.
BUT, the question if KLM will make such move because KLM always keeps the cabin of there aircraft in one config. And I don't know if there are 777 stations that really need the range but still strugle to fill the 35 WBC seats. MNL and LIM come in mind.
klm312
Have been flying AMS-MNL-AMS a lot lately and not once a single seat in C was empty, including the dreaded middle seats! Talking to the MNL station supervisor during check in: "cant remember any free seats (Y & C) for quiet some time". So think that there is no issue of much free seats on this route.
PH-BVA is flying to Toronto today. The B77W was deployed in lieu of the regular B772ER because KLM has a bunch of stranded passengers to pick up after the diversions and cancellations over the weekend. KL691 left AMS for YYZ with 307 passengers on board, the return flight KL692 is supposed to be fully booked at 425 pax. KL427/428 will be operated with B772ER today instead of the planned B77W.
. Work out the ratios!
