Delta is Ending PHL-LHR
Jun 23, 2017, 8:06 pm
#1
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Delta is Ending PHL-LHR
I saw this statement on Airliners.net. Any truth to this? I really liked the option of DL vs the awful BA/AA:
It looks like the last DL PHL-LHR flight will depart on March 23, 2018 and will return to PHL the following day. Currently there is not a bookable departure for the 757 out of PHL, so that does not give any hints about what the LHR slots could be used for. Loads have been awful on PHL-LHR, with many months below 50%, I am sure DL cannot wait to shift the slots elsewhere.
I find it interesting that Delta bought 5 slots to LHR, which it will receive on October 30, 2017 and now will have 7 more on March 24, 2017. So far, they have not announced any of their plans for these slots. The three options would be leasing/selling them, upping frequency on existing routes, or possibly adding new routes. What seems the most likely and what cities specifically seem the most likely?
For the 5x/week slots, DL has 5 morning arrivals on Sun/Tue/Wed/Thurs/Sat, which allows for Mon/Tue/Wed/Fri/Sat departures from a US station. The PHL slots give daily evening US arrivals for daily early morning arrivals into LHR.
It looks like the last DL PHL-LHR flight will depart on March 23, 2018 and will return to PHL the following day. Currently there is not a bookable departure for the 757 out of PHL, so that does not give any hints about what the LHR slots could be used for. Loads have been awful on PHL-LHR, with many months below 50%, I am sure DL cannot wait to shift the slots elsewhere.
I find it interesting that Delta bought 5 slots to LHR, which it will receive on October 30, 2017 and now will have 7 more on March 24, 2017. So far, they have not announced any of their plans for these slots. The three options would be leasing/selling them, upping frequency on existing routes, or possibly adding new routes. What seems the most likely and what cities specifically seem the most likely?
For the 5x/week slots, DL has 5 morning arrivals on Sun/Tue/Wed/Thurs/Sat, which allows for Mon/Tue/Wed/Fri/Sat departures from a US station. The PHL slots give daily evening US arrivals for daily early morning arrivals into LHR.
Jun 23, 2017, 8:11 pm
#2
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I saw this statement on Airliners.net. Any truth to this? I really liked the option of DL vs the awful BA/AA:
It looks like the last DL PHL-LHR flight will depart on March 23, 2018 and will return to PHL the following day. Currently there is not a bookable departure for the 757 out of PHL, so that does not give any hints about what the LHR slots could be used for. Loads have been awful on PHL-LHR, with many months below 50%, I am sure DL cannot wait to shift the slots elsewhere.
I find it interesting that Delta bought 5 slots to LHR, which it will receive on October 30, 2017 and now will have 7 more on March 24, 2017. So far, they have not announced any of their plans for these slots. The three options would be leasing/selling them, upping frequency on existing routes, or possibly adding new routes. What seems the most likely and what cities specifically seem the most likely?
For the 5x/week slots, DL has 5 morning arrivals on Sun/Tue/Wed/Thurs/Sat, which allows for Mon/Tue/Wed/Fri/Sat departures from a US station. The PHL slots give daily evening US arrivals for daily early morning arrivals into LHR.
It looks like the last DL PHL-LHR flight will depart on March 23, 2018 and will return to PHL the following day. Currently there is not a bookable departure for the 757 out of PHL, so that does not give any hints about what the LHR slots could be used for. Loads have been awful on PHL-LHR, with many months below 50%, I am sure DL cannot wait to shift the slots elsewhere.
I find it interesting that Delta bought 5 slots to LHR, which it will receive on October 30, 2017 and now will have 7 more on March 24, 2017. So far, they have not announced any of their plans for these slots. The three options would be leasing/selling them, upping frequency on existing routes, or possibly adding new routes. What seems the most likely and what cities specifically seem the most likely?
For the 5x/week slots, DL has 5 morning arrivals on Sun/Tue/Wed/Thurs/Sat, which allows for Mon/Tue/Wed/Fri/Sat departures from a US station. The PHL slots give daily evening US arrivals for daily early morning arrivals into LHR.
Of course, we all know where I want DL to use a LHR slot. They certainly seem to be racking them up lately.
Jun 23, 2017, 8:31 pm
#4
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Jun 23, 2017, 9:33 pm
#6
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Perhaps less likely than CVG because I'm not sure a 757 has the range year-round but there have been many rumblings in IND of a direct IND-LHR flight. Incentives have been bumped up big time and I could see DL trying to make an IND-LHR run work 5x a week. That said, I'm sure there are other markets IND is considering, but many people I've spoken with at the airport and at the Chamber of Commerce seem to think an announcement could come by year's end.
My thinking was AA would be the one, but I'm not sure they have open slots, and without a lounge in IND, would be a trickier proposition. Who knows--but just adding my two cents of wishful thinking
My thinking was AA would be the one, but I'm not sure they have open slots, and without a lounge in IND, would be a trickier proposition. Who knows--but just adding my two cents of wishful thinking
Jun 23, 2017, 9:59 pm
#7
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Perhaps less likely than CVG because I'm not sure a 757 has the range year-round but there have been many rumblings in IND of a direct IND-LHR flight. Incentives have been bumped up big time and I could see DL trying to make an IND-LHR run work 5x a week. That said, I'm sure there are other markets IND is considering, but many people I've spoken with at the airport and at the Chamber of Commerce seem to think an announcement could come by year's end.
My thinking was AA would be the one, but I'm not sure they have open slots, and without a lounge in IND, would be a trickier proposition. Who knows--but just adding my two cents of wishful thinking
My thinking was AA would be the one, but I'm not sure they have open slots, and without a lounge in IND, would be a trickier proposition. Who knows--but just adding my two cents of wishful thinking
If CVG isn't getting a LHR flight, then IND certainly isn't either. CVG has upped their incentives by a lot as well, and both cities have similar O/D situations. CVG has the benefit of feed, unlike IND.
In the end, the most likely use for the slot is the restoration of 2x daily DTW-LHR service.
Last edited by KDCAflyer; Jun 23, 2017 at 10:06 pm
Jun 23, 2017, 11:15 pm
#8
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Perhaps less likely than CVG because I'm not sure a 757 has the range year-round but there have been many rumblings in IND of a direct IND-LHR flight. Incentives have been bumped up big time and I could see DL trying to make an IND-LHR run work 5x a week. That said, I'm sure there are other markets IND is considering, but many people I've spoken with at the airport and at the Chamber of Commerce seem to think an announcement could come by year's end.
My thinking was AA would be the one, but I'm not sure they have open slots, and without a lounge in IND, would be a trickier proposition. Who knows--but just adding my two cents of wishful thinking
My thinking was AA would be the one, but I'm not sure they have open slots, and without a lounge in IND, would be a trickier proposition. Who knows--but just adding my two cents of wishful thinking
Jun 24, 2017, 6:26 am
#9
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BTW, after the TATL LHR-PHL lands, the 757 seems to be moved from A to to DL's domestic terminal at PHL (which would be D) and then flown to JFK (with passengers as DL 636) for a TATL flight eastbound.
Jun 24, 2017, 7:13 am
#10
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You can also fly from IND to CVG, right? Or people can drive from CVG to IND?
BTW, after the TATL LHR-PHL lands, the 757 seems to be moved from A to to DL's domestic terminal at PHL (which would be D) and then flown to JFK (with passengers as DL 636) for a TATL flight eastbound.
BTW, after the TATL LHR-PHL lands, the 757 seems to be moved from A to to DL's domestic terminal at PHL (which would be D) and then flown to JFK (with passengers as DL 636) for a TATL flight eastbound.
Jun 24, 2017, 8:42 am
#11
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The loads on PHL-LHR have been awful. DL only runs it to obtain the slot, so if the commitment for how long they have to run it is up, they are going to drop it and use the slot for something else.
Jun 24, 2017, 9:23 am
#12
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Big caveat I know this is very much wishful thinking and almost certainly not the direction DL will go.
With that out of the way I personally would love to see this route come to RDU though I'm certain AA would be none too pleased about it (they just upgauged to the 777 permanently citing significant increase in corporate demand).
On the flip side DL is continuing to invest heavily in RDU and if they can even flip 2-3 of the corporate contracts that have business in both RDU and LHR that should provide enough corporate base.
Again almost certainly a no but it's the internet so we can dream right?
With that out of the way I personally would love to see this route come to RDU though I'm certain AA would be none too pleased about it (they just upgauged to the 777 permanently citing significant increase in corporate demand).
On the flip side DL is continuing to invest heavily in RDU and if they can even flip 2-3 of the corporate contracts that have business in both RDU and LHR that should provide enough corporate base.
Again almost certainly a no but it's the internet so we can dream right?
Jun 24, 2017, 9:28 am
#13
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Big caveat I know this is very much wishful thinking and almost certainly not the direction DL will go.
With that out of the way I personally would love to see this route come to RDU though I'm certain AA would be none too pleased about it (they just upgauged to the 777 permanently citing significant increase in corporate demand).
On the flip side DL is continuing to invest heavily in RDU and if they can even flip 2-3 of the corporate contracts that have business in both RDU and LHR that should provide enough corporate base.
Again almost certainly a no but it's the internet so we can dream right?
With that out of the way I personally would love to see this route come to RDU though I'm certain AA would be none too pleased about it (they just upgauged to the 777 permanently citing significant increase in corporate demand).
On the flip side DL is continuing to invest heavily in RDU and if they can even flip 2-3 of the corporate contracts that have business in both RDU and LHR that should provide enough corporate base.
Again almost certainly a no but it's the internet so we can dream right?
Jun 24, 2017, 9:32 am
#14
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RDU-LHR seems unlikely, but more likely than IND-LHR. Honestly, CVG-LHR seems more likely than RDU-LHR. CVG has more feed and no direct competition.
Most likely scenario in my estimation is to increase frequency on an existing route (as someone up above mentioned).
Most likely scenario in my estimation is to increase frequency on an existing route (as someone up above mentioned).
Jun 24, 2017, 9:37 am
#15
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Yep. Probably DTW-LHR, or maybe ATL-LHR.