Originally Posted by
Infinite1K
Depends on how they do things, no? For the current SFO/LAX-EWR routes if they go all A321neo + SFO/LAX-JFK then maybe? But if they continue with the model of sprinkling some Polaris wide bodies with the A321neos, then I think they could certainly support additional routes.
The current 752 fleet does both international and domestic. If the international goes to the XLR, then I think 40 could cover quite a bit of ground, particularly if supplemented with some wide bodies.
Originally Posted by
Infinite1K
You could have both, no?
Probably. Widebodies aren't going away on the EWR transcons. The current EWR-LAX/SFO 757 schedule, plus winter BOS-LAX/SFO, plus a prospective ~15x JFK-LAX/SFO schedule would occupy about 30 or so frames of flying, leaving another 10 to be allocated elsewhere. This does not count deploying some XLRs on transcon routes between international flights (50 on order).
They’ll also need additional equipment once they re-enter JFK in 2027, either directly for JFK-LAX/SFO or to backfill if they take 752s or 763s off other routes and fly them out of JFK
Yes. The 321s will likely be used on JFK-SFO/LAX when they relaunch.
Originally Posted by
tcdtcd
If they’re going in that direction, then I’d think a hub (IAD) would get the lie flats vs a non-hub (BOS). Otherwise you will have other non-hubs like MIA, SNA, SAN, and SEA complaining.
Maybe. As it is now, outside of LAX/SFO, 757s from IAD are pretty rare. I'm not sure the market would support a huge expansion of domestic flat bed flying, or at least pay a meaningful premium for it.
BOS has the premium demand, and I think United would prefer to capture it year-round if it had the airplanes to do it.