Originally Posted by
Hartmann
Oh, I am sure they've done the economic analysis as well and that they are much better informed than me. I just scratch my head every time I see a transcon on a 739 or 738. I'm sorry but 31" of pitch just isn't enough to make that flight anywhere near enjoyable.
I am not at all surprised to see CO fly 738's fly transcon. It's all part of Larry Kellner's approach of providing just a little less capacity than the market can bear in order to insure high LF's and therefore profitability.
Not a bad business model until you start looking at FC flying 100% full on a virtually constant basis on these transcons and then you have to ask yourself how much demand they're leaving unmet because of this approach.
There is absolutely no reason why CO couldn't launch a premium F transcon product out of EWR and turn it into a major profit center.
After all, EWR is already the launching pad of most of CO's premium BF product. One would imagine the demand is there as well for premium transcon F, a product that would have no competition out of EWR.
Regarding 31" seat pitch, if CO is flying 31" seat pitch EWR-HKG, then you can be pretty sure they won't increase it for a quick hop to the West Coast...