Originally Posted by
Aspen
Why then does UA leave a 747 unused for just over 12 hours at LAX?
(The aeroplane from Sydney arrives at LAX ~10.00 next departs after 22.00)
Over a decade ago UAL did actually fly a turn LAX-DEN-LAX with a 747-400 - it seems an achievable turn regarding sufficient time and traffic between two hubs.
The dynamics are very different nowadays, customers want more frequencies/flight options. Also, the cost of operating a 744 over 2-4 Airbuses/737s/757s is much higher. Imagine a 747 flight getting cancelled and the chaos it would cause.
There are many factors that favors having more individual flights per day on a route rather than bigger planes with less frequencies.