Originally Posted by
audio-nut
Long stage lengths usually equals better utilization. VX has close to 13 hours of utilization a day; better than any domestic fleet in the US. VX also starts most fares sales.
They also need high utilization much more than any of their competitors, given that all their aircraft are really brand new and cost a fortune.
If they really are starting fare sales/wars, then that is incredible stupidity on their part, given that they really need the money, and if they manage to fill the plane with people buying the sale tickets and make no profit, then that is a huge opportunity cost being lost. Other airlines can afford it more simply because they are bigger, yet they do far less often.
Originally Posted by
audio-nut
6 aircraft sit 11 hours a day at JFK? I have not looked at their rotations but I doubt this is true.
Just from looking at flightstats.com, it seems that 4 aircraft overnight at JFK (9-10 hours) and another one sits around for about 5+ hours during the day.
They also seem to be relying on one hour turns for their afternoon flights, but at JFK that's just asking for trouble if they care about their on time performance at all.