Originally Posted by
Mwenenzi
It lasted less than day, too bad. Looks to have been a mistake,
Originally Posted by
Longboater
No non-stop competition which will not be changing until the re-opening of Russia airspace. Same season why CX is back on ORD-HKG, albeit at five times weekly and using the 280 seat A350-900 versus the A350-1000 on JFK-HKG. Timings on ORD-HKG strongly suggest that CX is only flying passengers from ORD to HKG, and few onward connections to or from HKG, whereas JFK-HKG, two of three flights are good for connections at HKG, even though one HKG-JFK flight leaves after 2 AM during DST and after 3 AM without DST. The disappearance of the old JFK-YVR-HKG flight is likely why this is an odd flight schedule. However, given CX's seating capacity for the A350-1000 is quite a big larger than the previous low-density 777-300ER, albeit without First Class, CX is actually nearly back to the same capacity on JFK-HKG, if the JFK-YVR-HKG flight is included in that. As for SFO-HKG, it is down to a single daily flight at the end of October, operated on a A350-900. Given its flight pattern and UA uses two 350 seat 777-300ERs, its not like CX is using it for range. Only the LAX-HKG flight is the sole CX US flight that is selling First Class and all those seats in Business/Premium Economy. Despite the flight patterns for both flights being conducive to connections at HKG, its not like CX is chasing after passengers in the year for VFR traffic.
The good news for CX is that it is making money again despite their meltdown at the end of last year but the US network is a shell of itself. I still remember with great fanfare when CX started IAD-HKG, specifically with the A350-1000 as they marketed it as the perfect plane for the route as it was going to be the connecting to SE Asia for those in the DC Area. Now its gone, along with it SEA/EWR-HKG as those two also really targeted connecting traffic at HKG to feed to SE Asia.
CX has had difficulty regaining their footing coming out of the pandemic, thank goodness they had a solid year last year profit-wise. They and the airport slimmed down too much and have tons of staff in training, it will take some time. Earlier this year they still had 21 WB planes in storage due to a lack of pilots to fly them.
Can CX overfly Russia to the US? If they can, I am not surprised they are restarting East Coast flights first which would capitalize on this advantage.