Originally Posted by
UA_Flyer
my guess for the route announcement:
the return of LAX-SIN
Looks like more capacity between TPE-US than HKG-US or SIN-US.
TPE and IAD airport authority just recently signed a MoU to promote direct flights between the two airports.
My guess is LAX-SIN returns a year from now, once UA has enough High J 789s to operate it, although I think we'll get a firm update as to when the High J 789s will enter into service. Another 789 is scheduled to be delivered this coming Thursday morning, CHS-IAD, meaning we could between as few as just one frame to three frames away from getting the first High J 789. Still no clarification which frame number it will be but its possible that the first High J 789 isn't delivered until the very end of the year and revenue service doesn't commence until January. Condition of LAX-SIN resuming is likely the second LAX-HKG going away, which, if SFO-BKK/SGN nonstops commence, would be doable given the limitations of space UA has at LAX. UA was doing fine with the single daily 789 on LAX-HKG but quickly ran into an overcapacity problem with the second flight as they are try to make up for the inability to resume EWR-HKG without Russian airspace access. I wonder how more creative UA can get with more widebody international flights ex-LAX, thinking another TATL flight, although if SFO-LHR is going all High J 789 and LAX-LHR follows suit, could see a return of the second LAX-LHR flight.
Just a side note, if and when UA goes from double daily standard 789 configuration SFO-SIN to double daily High-J 789 and a resumption of LAX-SIN with the High-J 789, the overall number of seats in regular economy will shrink by a total of 46 seats or roughly just over 15% fewer than today and economy plus seats will increase by a third. Given the usually long upgrade lists for both cabins on SFO-SIN, should be a welcome change to see the overall number of Polaris seats doubled and Premium Plus seats increased by 150% compared to the current schedule.