It has nothing to do with ticket prices. AA's actually begun placing restrictions on some of its cheapest sale tickets (including to places other than NRT -- but it varies based on your location) mandating connections at JFK. I can usually save $25 (on average) by choosing a connection at JFK -- but since AA only serves LGA from DTW, I'll blow the savings on transportation to JFK. However, more recently AA has discounted their connections via JFK as much as $60 from DTW.

JFK-NRT had the worst loads in DL's entire network, sometimes dropping to 30%. UA has flown a B772 on this route for awhile. NW - which flies a 401-passenger B744 on this route - only fills it up 75-80% at peak when the rest of their network is at 94%+. I'm guessing there's too much capacity in this market. CO also competes from EWR (among US-based carriers).

If loads don't improved, I'd expect AA to drop the route and use the slots for MIA-NRT, or maybe BOS-NRT (they have rights to both routes).

[This message has been edited by IndustrialPatent (edited 02-13-2003).]