Originally Posted by
jtav559
LAX-HKG seems like a very safe bet for a potential route. While the 789 sounds good in economic theory (reduced CASM cost), the cargo demands and demand for premium seats on that route ultimately points to a 77W hauling the mail.
The thing that I feel like most of us pontificators are forgetting is that there is a limited # of 77W's that AA has flying around. With the SYD route, an additional LAX-LHR frequency mentioned upthread, and other moves, there can't be that many 77W's that are unspoken for, no?
Are there routes the 77W is currently running that a 789 would be better suited to perform? South America comes to mind.
There are two 77Ws left to be delivered next year. Only three aircraft are needed to do a hypothetical DFW-HKG-LAX-HKG-DFW. The 77W does thrice daily MIA-GRU. With the current state of the Brazilian economy, I can see the how some of those flights become 77Ds next year. Keep in mind JFK-LHR was thrice daily 77W but by next spring will be once daily 77W and thrice daily 77D. There are rumours that DFW-NRT will become a single daily 77W. Due aircraft utilisation, it's entirely possible AA could start LAX-HKG with the 77W and convert DFW-NRT to one single daily 77W, without changing the current 77W schedule. DFW-AUH appears to be a dead idea.