The A380 is just pointless for the domestic US airlines, so the fact that QF and SQ will be launching them means little, since QF and SQ are the ones with massive feeder traffic between SYD, SIN, and LAX which is where these behemoths make sense.
SQ launching direct non-stop service between LAX and SYD will affect UA's ability to gain revenue premium cabin traffic on this route, but will do very little, I imagine, for the leisure vacation traveller looking for low fares. So upgrading the 744's Economy IFE is not going to happen, I expect.
SQ and QF could launch an Economy Class fare war to fill their A380s and this would put the squeeze on UA's Economy loads, as well. But with additional upgrade space for 1Ps and 2Ps on M/H fares, the bleeding might not be so bad. UA can also raise Q-W fares to recover additional revenue from upgrading 1Ks.
Not sure if UA flies 744s for their cargo lift capacity or for their passenger lift capacity, but if it's just the latter, UA could downgauge to a 777 (like they did with their New Zealand service) or just end LAX-SYD and fly everyone from SFO. Or they could just hand it over to NZ and SQ and pull out, completely.
Last edited by SEA_Tigger; Jan 19, 2005 at 12:58 pm