Originally Posted by
EWR764
This cut comes at the same time as a flurry of IAH-related schedule changes... IAH-ONT/YUL/LOS. SFO-FLL (also overflying IAH) has been seasonally reduced.
I wonder if UA is trying to kill two birds with one stone here... exit a saturated, low-yield market, and strengthen flow over IAH for any MSY-LAX pax who remain with United (as there will be some). IAH becomes the logical transfer point for both LAX-MSY and SFO-FLL.
Edit to add:
Based on the most recent schedule update, even with MSY cut, UA has increased daily departures at LAX for the fall schedule... just about all of the other remaining changes were added flights to spokes like FAT/TUS/LAS/ABQ/PSP/SAN/SMF, plus EWR went up to 15x.
I agree that UA has better flights to fly than LAX-MSY, with IAH on the way, but of the spokes you listed, except for LAS and SAN, the rest are 1 or 2x a day. I believe the only reason UA even fly's to those cities is to relieve SFO a bit. Eventually with more mainline and more capacity, UA can just fly those feeder express flights out of SFO with mainline, or connect them via DEN. LAS from LAX attracts international travelers mostly from Asia and some of Europe via LAX. LAX-LAS is a star alliance route, I fly that route often and it's mostly foreign tourist.
How long will LAX-SEA, DFW lasts? With 2 Express flights each, they may be on the chopping block soon. How can UA compete with DFW and AA?
LAX is losing UA passengers, not gaining, and the frequent fliers are moving on from UA. Which again, I think UA may be right in this decision, since they do have SFO. I just don't see outside of hub flying and some Hawaii, how they maintain Hub status.
As people will think I'm bashing UA, I'm not, I'm agreeing with UA here. DL, AA, Alaska/Virgin, WN, have really come in strong at LAX, they smelled blood during the bankruptcy, and have moved in on UA. This is nothing new, it's been shrinking for a while, and it won't be long until all the International flights are gone.