Originally Posted by SEA_Tigger
It depends on the traffic patterns between the two points.
There is enough demand between SEA and CPH for SK to launch service with an A340. If the only plane that could fly that route was a 777 or a 747, it wouldn't happen. There is enough demand between SEA and FRA for LH to justify an A340 (PDX offered them a better deal for the service, so we have to fly down to PDX first, but it's only 30 minutes).
Direct service is a benefit to many higher-revenue flyers, business and leisure. It's one thing to spend an hour at a hub airport between connections. It's another to spend five or ten. Also, time saved being able to fly direct is beneficial. One can save many, many hours with a direct flight, vs. connecting service and that service can command higher fares which can make smaller flights profitable enough to operate.
How many people flying on the SEA/CPH flight are going onto other points in Europe?--I would be most of them. FRA is a major hub for LH so the same logic applies. If LH started service from PDX to Berlin or PDX to HAM then you might have a stronger point.
Flying passengers from hub to hub is going to be the way most people are going to get from point A to point B. You will always have direct service to major cities but how many people are flying each day from SEA to BUD? or VIE? or DUS? or IST? --- not enough to justify the cost of a 7E7.