AC future ULH flight
 

Hi All,

Can AC will considering YVR-SIN/BKK/SGN/HAN nonstop? They do have more range to reaching into Southwest Asia from Vancouver, Canada.

According of the Great Circle Mapper:

http://www.gcmap.com/mapui?P=YVR-SIN...R-HAN,+YVR-SGN

Can 77LR or 787-9 will fly nonstop from YVR to SIN, BKK, SGN, and HAN, as well. They do have more capabilities and more fuel-efficient, as well.

As for YYZ, I do not think have enough range to reaching into Southeast Asia. Do they think AC can fly ultra long-haul flight to SIN, BKK, SGN, and HAN, as well.

According of the Great Circle Mapper:

http://www.gcmap.com/mapui?P=YYZ-SIN...Z-HAN,+YYZ-SGN

Perhaps, can AC will orders 77LR or 787-9 Dreamliner?

Let the speculation begin!

AC already owns a bunch of 77Ls and 789s with more on the way

A similar question came up recently on the issue of why AC doesn't fly to SIN.
(Not sure which thread, but perhaps those who explained why can post the link)

Equipment capability is not the only reason why an airline would choose a route. AC has aircraft that can do YVR-SYD/MEL but a key issue is can they fill the plane with enough pax to make the route profitable.

AC knows how many people fly to SIN or BKK if booked on AC metal (and codeshares) connecting to carriers like SQ, NH, TG, UA etc in SIN, HKG, NRT or even SFO and LAX, for example.

AC likely also knows how many pax may be flying non-*A carriers on these routes.

And of course, there is the issue of price. A few of us noted in other threads, the cost to fly AC YYZ-HKG-SIN is more expensive than whoever can get you to your main point in Asia and then connect to another carrier on another ticket for less.

Also see

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/air-c...il-2016-a.html

We are not talking about codeshare partners. I am talking about future ULH flight. Just stay on topics.

Who is off topic?

Anyways why would AC want to fly to ULH? ULH is Prince Abdul Majeed bin Abdulaziz Domestic Airport 25 kilometres southeast of Al-Ula, Saudi Arabia.

I understood exactly what you were talking about, thanks.

My points were that aircraft distance capabilities are not the only criteria for an airline (in this case AC) to add or consider a route.

The last part I added about codeshare may not matter to your questions or suggestions, but they are also factor into whether AC or others would add a route.

Not that it matters to your points, but yesterday on my SQ flight, I had an interesting conversation with the in-flight service manager and he wondered whether SQ would consider flying to YVR again now that they have newer equipment that can do the route more efficiently.

I honestly doubt it. As others have pointed out, the cost of ULH flights is very high. While potentially feasible while fuel prices are low, such routes would be very volatile.

BKK, SGN and HAN are not known as high-yield routes, and few pax are willing to pay a premium for a non-stop flight.

I'd argue SIN would be the likeliest option of those four, but between the many excellent one-stop options via NRT/HKG/TPE/ICN, AC's cost disadvantage of operating the route and the fact that the SIN population tends to be very loyal towards SQ, I doubt this would be an easy route for AC.

Not sure SIngapore's population is loyal to SQ, SQ is rather expensive for Singaporeans. Most Singaporeans tend to opt for foreign airlines. Back to topic, not sure if it's viable for AC to venture all the way to SIN or DPS or KUL. Their partners are doing a great job of connecting their Asia bound passengers from NRT,HND,HKG and China.

I mean AC should be targeting Europe, the Middle East and South America. It should aim for Americans by offering a free stopover in Canada.

The massive expense to tanker fuel for those very long routes has to be made up with non-stop fare premium from passengers. None of the destinations you list would provide that anywhere near the level required, year round
Not sure if this is a crack at a joke? But, "ULH" is a common abbreviation for ultra long haul

Fair point. I guess I should have said: "Pax ex-SIN who travel in more expensive booking classes and premium cabins (in particular business pax) - i.e. the pax AC would want and who would make such a route feasible - tend to have a strong preference for SQ IME."

No doubt many pax just choose the cheapest airline - but in order to operate a ULH flight profitably an airline needs good yields in the premium cabin and pax who are willing to pay a premium for a non-stop flight.

How would YVR-HAN even qualify as "ULH" since it's only 337 miles further than AC's nonstop YVR-HKG route?

not likely
 

There is no way AC will add SIN flights - irrespective of aircraft:
- SIN is a transit point, and AC wants to grow its origin and destination traffic
- AC's pricing to SIN can't compete with NH, UA;
- SIN is very well served by Star Alliance carriers;
- AC now has a code share with SQ.

I fully agree. As noted above, I doubt we'll see AC operating any of those flights; but I would argue that SIN probably is a more feasible ULH route than BKK, for instance; but that does not mean we will see either route happening..

Most Singaporeans may compare shop on their personal travels but many Singaporean corporations feel "morally obliged" to send their employees on SQ when on business travel, that's a big chunk of the premium cabin. At the end, many Singaporeans would prefer to fly SQ inasmuch as many Canadians would insist on AC even when a competitor, often with a higher Skytrax rating is offerring a cheaper fare on the route.

As to willingness to pay a premium for a non-stop or itinerary with fewer stops, the answer is yes even for some leisure travellers. I knew someone who went to HNL this winter from YYZ who decided to fly ACr non-stop from YYZ in economy at a price that was C$40 more expensive than UA "F" with 2 stops and reasonable layover/connection time of 1~2 hours at each stop and complimentary UC access as it was a transborder trip. I would fly with UA in a heartbeat.

Good to see I was not the only one to explain why these routes are not realistic considerations for AC, regardless of potential aircraft capabilities.

(it's tough posting alone at 2am ET when the rest of you are sleeping....):D