Originally Posted by ani90

But is it not an even greater supposition that one can judge profitability of two routes by the cost of P fares tickets? Is that the 150 plus other passengers in the flight traveling on fares other than P fares; passengers for which that pair is not O and D (i.e where either is a connecting airport); cargo; the cumulative number of flights (ie seats being sold) on that route; and costs and opportunity costs associated with running a particular route and flight, do not contribute to profitability? I think it is far too simplistic if we assume that differential cost and availability of discounted business fares or upgrades is indicative of profitability of one route compared to another

I can't get it either. UA runs more flights on this route than any other intercontinental city pair. Maybe I am naive, but why would an airline run 7 flights a day on a money losing route?