TurboFan779

With Uniteds 773ERs beginning delivery in about 3 months, does anyone know what routes these 10 aircraft will deploy on internationally?

Here are the two options I've heard:
Less likely: Be based out of SFO, and replace some 747s on SFO-Asia routes. I think this is less likely as I am pretty sure I've read United purchased the A350-1000s for this.

More likely: Replace some 772ERs out of busy EWR routes. I think this is more likely as those freed up 772ERs will replace the 772As on international routes, and those 772As will be converted to domestic high density config. This will help free up some 737s, 757s to begin replacing A319s/A320s. The A320s will then take over current E175 routes, and those E175s will take over CRJ200 routes, allowing United to finally retire all of its sub 75 passenger planes.

Also, anyone think these 773s will get placed on domestic routes first? I know they did that with 787s, but I think that was just for training pilots? If that was the reason, I don't expect we will see them flying domestic as pilots already flying 772s will have no problem switching to 773s.

Opinions?

Side note, being a 1k on my 4th year now, I am really glad United is purchasing virtually every type of new aircraft, giving me the chance to experience them all. And I have Lufthansa (Star Alliance) for the 748/A380/A340s :]

JOSECONLSCREW28

3 will be sent to SFO rest to EWR.

Will fly domestic hub to hub routes prior to being put on intl routes

Will fly ULH routes out of EWR & SFO.

Rumored first intl routes I'm hearing are EWR-HKG & SFO-AKL.

PsiFighter37

The first one makes sense, but putting one on SFO-AKL for SF? That would be a bit of a surprise...feel like a business-heavy route (SFO-HKG, SFO-NRT) makes more sense.

My hope is that it flies EWR-PVG by mid-year next year

FlyHighInTheSky

Any idea when the first routes will be officially announced?

mahasamatman

Other aircraft are better suited for those relatively short routes.

In The 216

I am flying HKG-EWR in J in mid-December. Fingers crossed but it still seems unlikely given rumored delivery scheduled and then IOE flights, etc.

EWR764

We probably won't see the 77W deployed on a ULH route until there are 3-4 ships in the fleet, to reliably support daily service.

Given the delivery schedule, though, that won't take long. January, February 2017 is realistic.

mh3265a

If EWR getting a bulk of the 773s then I wonder if the DEL and BOM routes will be upgraded. That would be nice.

username

While it does not make sense to me as TPE is not a heavy business route, they switched to the 789 from the 772 - then they are substituting the 789 with 744s for periods later this year and early next. So, maybe 77W is on the horizon? I agree that routes like HKG and NRT probably should get it first.

transportprof

Unless you're in the 10 across seating in the galley slave cabin.

PsiFighter37

SFO-HKG is a longer route than SFO-AKL, according to GCM. And with both locations having Polaris lounges, it would seem to make more sense from that perspective as well.

DA201

What you are saying is pretty much in line with what I heard. But SFO-AKL? I didn't hear this one. Also wouldn't expect this. I would think more SFO-NRT/HND/HKG/PVG/PEK/ICN.

theasianguy

The first SFO routes to receive the 77W will most likely be NRT and HKG since those airports are getting Polaris lounges (and high premium demand). Sounds about right for a 3 aircraft rotation. PVG will go double daily 787s, so no chance there. I think ICN/PEK will remain 747s until the first A350s come.

Duke787

That's the catch-22 with the 77W. If flying J, I want to see them on routes I'm flying. If flying Y, no thank you.

CALMSP

MD of Planning stated yesterday that the introduction of the 773 in EWR would start 1H17. That was in response to a question, so no true info if it was SFO or EWR first.