Rumor: AA Considering LAX-AKL
Mar 1, 2015, 5:51 pm
#1
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Rumor: AA Considering LAX-AKL
http://www.ausbt.com.au/united-ameri...ts-to-auckland
Originally Posted by ABT
American Airlines and United Airlines are considering launching direct flights between the USA and New Zealand, potentially busting the Air New Zealand monopoly and giving Qantas travellers a US-via-Auckland option for stateside flights........
Last edited by JDiver; Mar 1, 2015 at 6:42 pm Reason: Close quote
Mar 1, 2015, 6:15 pm
#2
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Cool. Hope it happens. 
At just 6,500 miles, within range of a 772, of which AA has a bunch.
At just 6,500 miles, within range of a 772, of which AA has a bunch.
Mar 1, 2015, 6:23 pm
#3
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Potential good use of a 787?
Mar 1, 2015, 6:44 pm
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I'll "out myself" as having been very, very skeptical of this rumor which has been coming up in many threads here lately. The article certainly makes me second-guess the info I'd been given on this rumor (that it's unfounded) -- but it still would strike me as very, very surprising. I guess we'll see.
As far as:
Yeah-- you might say that!
I wouldn't be surprised-- if they offered this route-- if they didn't even go through the charade of offering milesAAvers and just made it their first route that was "AAnytime-level only"
As far as:
Yeah-- you might say that!
I wouldn't be surprised-- if they offered this route-- if they didn't even go through the charade of offering milesAAvers and just made it their first route that was "AAnytime-level only"
Mar 1, 2015, 6:48 pm
#6
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The article states UA is considering SFO-AKL, but alliance partner NZ already flies that. Would they actually compete head to head? (Even less reason to do so with a JBA, I suspect.)
AA could theoretically make out with a 787-823 because QF no longer has an AKL service from the USA since LAX-AKL-BNE was discontinued. But I also guess the load factors - passengers or cargo - are not there.
NZ is making out like pirates: http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/indu...ic-competition
AA could theoretically make out with a 787-823 because QF no longer has an AKL service from the USA since LAX-AKL-BNE was discontinued. But I also guess the load factors - passengers or cargo - are not there.
NZ is making out like pirates: http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/indu...ic-competition
Last edited by JDiver; Mar 1, 2015 at 7:46 pm
Mar 1, 2015, 6:53 pm
#7
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Both UA & QF used to fly LAX-AKL. If they had made good money they would still be flying that route.
AA would have a very limited NZ domestic partner (Qantas lcc subsidiary Jetstar).
UA would be head to head with Air NZ, and then reply on Air NZ for domestic flight connection.
AA would have a very limited NZ domestic partner (Qantas lcc subsidiary Jetstar).
UA would be head to head with Air NZ, and then reply on Air NZ for domestic flight connection.
Mar 1, 2015, 8:07 pm
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another way to get to get to PPT is always nice!
Mar 1, 2015, 8:12 pm
#9
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They just have an ATI with NZ. They don't share revenues other than via codeshare. But I'll believe it when i see it too. If it were to happen there would have to be a lot of unserved traffic on the route that is going another route.
Mar 1, 2015, 8:15 pm
#10
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What isn't AA considering these days out of LAX? Not likely to see much until they have quite a few 787's in the system. A daily route like this would take 2.5 planes to serve daily ( if they go daily).
Mar 1, 2015, 11:22 pm
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If anything maybe we could see NZ on SYD-SFO
Mar 1, 2015, 11:52 pm
#12
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It's a 13 hour flight from LAX to AKL and 12 hours back to LAX. Two hours on the ground at AKL and two hours on the ground at LAX and it looks to me like a round trip takes a little less than 30 hours, so I'd say that it would require more like 1.25 airframes, not 2.5.
Mar 2, 2015, 12:54 am
#13
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Whether LAX-AKL will work for AA is tbd. But that is what the 787 is supposed to do - allow routes that aren't feasible with a larger jet.
First flew LAX-AKL in '87 on NZ 742 but had to stop in Tahiti. Then the 744 came along and make it nonstop. I haven't been to AKL since QF stopped flying LAX-AKL nonstop.
Now an AA flight from LAX-AKL will initially be full of mileage runners, eVIP'ers, etc. But this is a route that used to work for QF - but not with 744. 787 need new routes and new destinations. Not sure if flying 787 to NRT and ICN where AA currently flies with 77W makes sense.
First flew LAX-AKL in '87 on NZ 742 but had to stop in Tahiti. Then the 744 came along and make it nonstop. I haven't been to AKL since QF stopped flying LAX-AKL nonstop.
Now an AA flight from LAX-AKL will initially be full of mileage runners, eVIP'ers, etc. But this is a route that used to work for QF - but not with 744. 787 need new routes and new destinations. Not sure if flying 787 to NRT and ICN where AA currently flies with 77W makes sense.
Mar 2, 2015, 1:02 am
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Whether LAX-AKL will work for AA is tbd. But that is what the 787 is supposed to do - allow routes that aren't feasible with a larger jet.
First flew LAX-AKL in '87 on NZ 742 but had to stop in Tahiti. Then the 744 came along and make it nonstop. I haven't been to AKL since QF stopped flying LAX-AKL nonstop.
Now an AA flight from LAX-AKL will initially be full of mileage runners, eVIP'ers, etc. But this is a route that used to work for QF - but not with 744. 787 need new routes and new destinations. Not sure if flying 787 to NRT and ICN where AA currently flies with 77W makes sense.
First flew LAX-AKL in '87 on NZ 742 but had to stop in Tahiti. Then the 744 came along and make it nonstop. I haven't been to AKL since QF stopped flying LAX-AKL nonstop.
Now an AA flight from LAX-AKL will initially be full of mileage runners, eVIP'ers, etc. But this is a route that used to work for QF - but not with 744. 787 need new routes and new destinations. Not sure if flying 787 to NRT and ICN where AA currently flies with 77W makes sense.
Mar 2, 2015, 8:34 am
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Considering Air New Zealand has a monopoly on North America-New Zealand flying, someone will considering starting LAX-AKL. Interesting United is looking at SFO-AKL rather than LAX-AKL as LAX-AKL is a much larger local market than SFO-AKL and they started nonstop MEL flying from LAX. With United and American receiving the 787 over the next few years, AKL would be a market to consider. American's Dreamliner would better serve the route as the premium seating ratio is lower than United's as AKL is a low yielding market.