Longboater

Well, this announcement will clarify two questions that have been raised on this board. I would say the odds are heavily in favour of LAX-AKL instead of DFW-AKL. (The latter makes little sense as the total volume of traffic to AKL is heavily skewed towards the West Coast rather than the Central US.) Also, what specific equipment will be operating the route. I doubt this route would be under consideration without the Dreamliner. Could this potentially be the first 789 route? The first one is tentatively schedule to be delivered in ten months, assuming AA has chosen a J seat supplier that can deliver the seats by then. Slightly off topic, will the planned configuration of 28J/261Y change with the new J seats? Its still a VERY low premium ratio plane, but perfect for LAX-AKL.

bthotugigem05

It's currently 2:45pm tomorrow in NZ...

Fanjet

What's wrong with the 788? Even QF was flying LAX-AKL with a 332 before dropping the service.

Longboater

789>788, its not even close. I would not be surprised to see this route start out as a 788 and eventually end up as a 789. The Dreamliner is MUCH more fuel efficient than the 332 QF used. More importantly, the Dreamliner will not be subjected to the weight restrictions as the 332 constantly suffered and carry quite a bit of cargo. (A full belly of cargo for the 789.) Given AKL's yields are not the highest in the world, makes sense to have a large Y cabin and a relatively small J cabin.

Juanefny

I disagree. I mean they could think that, but I think it would be profitable. They could replace one flight to Chicago and one to Dallas with this redeye. I know it would work. The aa loads to Dallas out of Abq are great.

beyondhere

Just curious: which unique destinations would MIA service that DFW doesn't through this red-eye flight? The most popular destinations from that list could eventually be serviced from DFW too.

Longboater

On TB, it's been confirmed it will be LAX-AKL.

Juanefny

Any early morning northeast flights, pop, sju, sti, sdq etc etc etc

MAH4546

There is also a press conference in Los Angeles tomorrow.

Purely speculative on my part, but wonder if AA will also be announcing some more LAX domestic flying.

Previous announcements like LAXPVG and LAXGRU (but not LAXSYD) also were joined by significant domestic LAX expansion.

nov11

If there's another international route announcement other than LAX-AKL from LAX, my hunch would be LAX-CDG on B788.

Longboater

Question is where is the room to expand? Since you are pretty well in the know about AA at LAX, have any idea of when those dedicated gates at TBIT go to AA along with the connecting tunnel? The LAX-PVG/GRU were along the lines of appropriate and much needed downgauging.

On an unrelated note, JonNYC mentioned there will be further cuts/adds in the coming weeks to the international route on TB. I assume the next couple of 787 routes will be announced shortly as the two scheduled for delivery in February have yet to be assigned to a particular route or two. I will go out on a limb and say that by the end of next year, ORD-PEK/PVG will be Dreamliner routes. (Would not be surprised if they are the next in line to become 788 routes.)

sagechan

I didn't think AA had said anything about 789 seating yet?

Longboater

JonNYC revealed the configuration a year ago.

JonNYC

Thanks

There was this detail, which I -assume- (but can't say I know for 100% sure) is still accurate:

http://www.travelingbetter.com/showp...62&postcount=7

28/51/210 (J/MCE/Y)

TWA884

Even though the TBIT connector - which BTW is not a tunnel - is still under construction, AA is already using as many as four TBIT gates at a time (153,155, 157 and 159).