Originally Posted by
FWAAA
My assumption has always been that PHL lacks numerous foreign carriers because PHL isn't really an attractive destination for international visitors like NYC, BOS, WAS, LAS, MCO, MIA, CHI, SFO, SEA, SAN and LAX. Those cities are places that attract significant numbers of foreign travelers, and most of them (not all, but most) also have significant numbers of foreign carrier flights. PHL and CLT have very little foreign carrier service, and I've never assumed that was because US had a very strong (or fortress) hub position. I've always figured it was because PHL was way down the list of destinations for affluent foreigners. Even more so for CLT.
Personally, I've never understood why this is the case in Philly. My thought was its proximity to JFK and EWR made it a harder sell. The other issue is Philly's primary economic drivers: healthcare and education, neither of which are as "global" of businesses as finance and tech are.
My sense is that OW carriers who need the feeder traffic beyond NY will look to add service to PHL. QR may have been the first example of such as move as QR seems to be adding service to many AA/US hubs, though not sur ehow the PHL service is doing. I would expect to see AB add service to TXL and either AA or JL add service to NRT. Would not hold my breath on CX as east coast feeder traffic can be serviced via a combination of ORD, DFW and JFK. No need for IB to start service to PHL but could reason a second daily flight (or larger aircraft) between PHL and MAD to support onward connections.