Originally Posted by
FWAAA
I'm forgetting nothing.
You opined that you thought it would be better to fly the small 787 from MIA to EZE instead of from DFW, and I disagreed because MIA-EZE produces several times the O&D and several times the total passenger traffic to EZE than does DFW. The 787 is a smaller plane than 777s, and with almost triple the traffic from MIA, there's no need to downsize the plane to EZE compared to from DFW. DFW-EZE has always been a long and thin route compared to MIA-EZE. If there's any route to EZE that might not need a 777-sized airplane, it's DFW.
Yes, Argentina is in the midst of crisis, but unless it's affecting traffic between EZE and MIA more than it's affecting traffic between EZE and DFW, then DFW-EZE features "too much airplane," not MIA-EZE. AA's 787-8s seat approximately the same as the 763s, and will burn less fuel.
The 787 offers some fuel savings and for airplane geeks, a new experience. UA is proof that it's not a "game-changer." UA is a smaller airline than it was in 2011 and its revenues have not grown anywhere near as much as they've grown at DL, AA, US or WN, despite Smisek's obsessive repetition of the words "787" and "network."
MIA-EZE operates 2x 777 and 1x 763. The 763 flight is still profitable. 777's fly full but is also loaded of upgraded PAX - very few paid F/J which was not the case a few years back. The 787 replacing the 763 would allow the route to be even more profitable. When you have a cash cow, you drain it, especially when you can still take your money out (look at the situation in Venezuela where AA has $620 million trapped and can't repatriate. That's more than Q4's earnings for AA!)
I understand your point, we just have different opinions as to where we think the plane should go. Let's just agree to disagree.
I don't think AA sees the 787 as a game changer and it definitely isn't, but it positions the airline in a much better hedging situation should fuel prices increase again, and they will. Not only that, but it allows AA to grow into other markets. On the other hand, if UA thought the 787 was going to be a game changer for them, they didn't notice the had bigger problems than just the types of planes they operate.