Originally Posted by
skipness1E
Is there cargo? Yes.
Are the US flights loss making? Almost certainly.
The question "are the US flights loss-making?" is the wrong one. From a business perspective, the more appropriate question is "does BA reduce its losses by operating these flights (vis-a-vis not operating them)?"
Because BA expects to reduce its losses by carrying out these US flights. If the aircraft remained on the ground, the financing cost of the aircraft remained largely unchanged. Payrolls cannot be brought down 1:1 with a reduction in operations. Etc.
---
And, btw, SQ recently announced that operating certain intercontinental routes with as little as 30 pax on board is having a positive contribution margin for them. Part of the reason is what previous posters suggested: Cargo isn't doing so badly these days.