Originally Posted by
dkc192
FWIW this winter it seems like CX is only flying LAX-HKG once a day instead of their current almost twice a day (or at least only selling that one flight). Never thought I'd see the day when UA doubles up CX on frequency on this route.
I double checked and this is confirmed. UA will be alone flying LAX-HKG during the daytime and having a morning departure ex-HKG. The fact that United will be selling more seats than CX on LAX-HKG deserves a thread on its own. Could you imagine telling someone five years ago, when CX was flying thrice daily on LAX-HKG and AA had its own LAX-HKG flight, that not only would UA resume LAX-HKG, but it would go to double daily and CX would be down to just one daily flight this coming winter, with UA flying the majority of seats between LAX and HKG? Not sure if that says more about United being so strong on LAX-Intercontinental or CX struggling mightily on HKG-US flying. Given that data CF provided of UA's LFs to HKG being 84%, I have to think that LAX-HKG probably has the higher LF since LF for SFO-Pacific flights were lower than the ones he listed and UA is doing SFO-HKG double daily. All of this should shut the door on the idea that UA is burning through cash on LAX-HKG and CX is in more trouble. Just remarkable where UA is being the close number three carrier at LAX yet by year's end, they will have carried more passengers on their international flights ex-LAX than any other carrier. And we all remember when the 787-8s were initially delivered, they started flying LAX-Intercontinental as UA was burning the most cash on those flights and the switch to original Dreamliner configuration made those routes profitable. The 787-9 really is the perfect aircraft for UA's LAX operation given its size and fuel efficiency over both the 777-200ER and 777-300ER.