Originally Posted by
Tractor Boy
If someone was to do the math, I think the 5 sardine cans + the 787s would represent a pretty significant percentage capacity boost that AC is facing. This is not a small increase we are talking about.
And the issue isn't filling the planes - the issue is filling them at a RASM that makes sense.
AC still has a pretty large fleet, so even with 787's having 20% more seats than the 763s they are replacing and the 458 seat 777s, I think the dent is relatively minor. The 787s deliveries are stretched out over so many years it'll be gradual.
And people complain on one hand that the 777HDs aren't leading to lower prices, while on the other hand AC won't be able to fill them at decent fares which will lead to a RASM drop. However this doesn't seem to be true, YUL-CDG and YVR-HKG are both having no issue filling the seats, I hear they are actually frequently oversold! The domestic legs.... not so great.
So if AC's 777HDs are flying full, either AC IS charging lower fares (against what is claimed by some), or RASM should remain just as high since the planes are full.