Originally Posted by
someone0000
When this come out? I know they had intentions to lease 777 but when was it confirmed that it was 77W?
It was
implied in the news since
First Class was mentioned to be part of the cabin structure. Unless it's a B777-300ER utilizing in long haul (such as JFK and YVR), there isn't a need of First Class in such an aircraft. Otherwise, Dynasty and Economy should be enough for China Airlines as their short haul hops with First Class is simply Bangkok and Tokyo Narita, and the lease wasn't opt to replace B747-400 (and it's getting remodeled), but the A340-300.
Originally Posted by
Chugach
I hope it's not true but wouldn't be too surprised if it is. CI doesn't have much in the way of enplanements at ANC. They've never done a hoot of advertising here, maybe simply deciding it just wasn't worth the time or money.
Also, ANC is so focused on cargo that the airport authority doesn't really appear to give much of a hoot about passenger service. The general attitude that I've seen is that as long as AS is here we're just peachy keen. With CI leaving, Alaska's last regularly scheduled link to Asia is gone, Japanese charters notwithstanding.
Does it really matter if CI flies passenger aircraft on ANC? CI only flies to Taipei, and it's hardly a destination in Asia that's really busy with the traffic, and Taipei does not have that many connections to offer as well.
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CI could be smart and offer some operations such as this to minimize their management hassle and utilize the aircrafts if they do indeed lease B777-300ER, and open routes (I am unsure if NGO is open skied to Taiwan, but I don't see a problem for NGO since it's not NRT, at least flights to US... but unsure about Canada). For example:
B777-300ER - at least 8 aircrafts needed
TPE-BKK-FCO 3 weekly
TPE-NGO-ANC 2 weekly
TPE-NGO-IAH 3 weekly
TPE-NGO-JFK 5 weekly
TPE-NGO-LAX 4 weekly (reduce TPE-LAX to 10 weekly B747-400)
TPE-NGO-SEA 4 weekly
TPE-NGO-SFO 4 weekly
TPE-NGO-YVR 3 weekly (reduce TPE-YVR to 4 weekly, and replace the A340-300 back to B747-400)
Basically making Nagoya a secondary hub.
B747-400 - at least 12 aircrafts needed
TPE-BKK-AMS 7 weekly
TPE-DPS 7 weekly
TPE-FRA 5 weekly
TPE-NRT-HNL 5 weekly (replace A330-300 back to B747-400)
TPE-HNL 2 weekly (replace A340-300 back to B747-400)
TPE-LAX 10 weekly
TPE-SFO 7 weekly
TPE-YVR 4 weekly
Short hops such as TPE-ICN, TPE-MNL, TPE-DEL, TPE-BKK can be replaced by A330-300, B747-400, or even B777-300ER when schedule permits with reduced frequencies (as all these aircraft's cabin will offer more seats than A340-300).
Also, make the B777-300ER cabin competitive by offering (I am taking this off my dream plans):
First Class / Layout 1-2-1 / 3 rows total 12 suite seats / 83" pitch / 180 full recline
Dynasty Class / Layout 2-2-2 / 8 rows total 48 seats / 60" pitch / 160-180 angle recline
Economy Class / Layout 3-3-3 and 2-3-2 / 201 seats / 34" pitch / 6 to 10 angle recline
With these seats, they can sure charge higher fares with better reasons.