Nov 26, 2014, 4:51 am
Last edit by: IADCAflyer
Speculation: New Routes, Hubs, Flights (2017 Onward)
Because there is community interest in having a purely speculative discussion about whether other airports will pop up to become focus cities or hubs, new routes, etc. the following new thread has been amalgamated on this topic.Note:
Going: 9 A330-300, ER190, some older 757-200 and 8 767-300ER (leaving 17), MD-80
Coming: Remainder of 16 Boeing 26 787-8, 22 Boeing 787-9 (began later 2016). A320 family - 100 A321neo, and B737-800 (100 737-MAX8) aircraft.
See Cranky Flier article on 2016 fleet changes, AA-HP-US. Link.
Also see: HELP DESK: General questions about aircraft equipment, fleet, seats, IFE, etc.
Speculation fun time: Will xxx be the next AA focus city / hub? (consolidated)
Obsolete posts from 2015 on have been moved to ARCHIVE: Speculation: Possible Routes (Flights) and Hubs, Discussion - 2015 on
All posts prior to 2015 have been moved here: ARCHIVE: Routes (Flights) and Hubs (Speculation, News and Discussion)
Speculation: Possible Routes (Flights) and Hubs, Discussion - (2017 on)
Aug 20, 2017, 10:48 am
#676
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Switzerland / Estonia
Programs: AY+ Platinum, BAEC Silver, airbaltic VIP, HH Diamond, Radisson VIP, IHG Diamond Elite
Posts: 6,525
Flight schedule for ZRH from PHL according to Routesonline:
Philadelphia – Zurich eff 25MAR18 1 daily, service resumption since September 2016
AA092 PHL1820 – 0825+1ZRH 763 D
AA093 ZRH1015 – 1320PHL 763 D
Philadelphia – Zurich eff 25MAR18 1 daily, service resumption since September 2016
AA092 PHL1820 – 0825+1ZRH 763 D
AA093 ZRH1015 – 1320PHL 763 D
Aug 20, 2017, 10:50 am
#677
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: FIND ME ON TWITTER FOR THE LATEST
Posts: 27,730
Yep, it's all loaded up on AA.com and EF. Fantastic award availability too!
Aug 20, 2017, 2:08 pm
#679
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 69
The prognostications of doom and gloom for PHL as a hub in general, and transatlantic in particular - including some on these very pages - were never plausible.
PHL is extremely valuable to AA. Its strengths as a connecting hub - the combination of a level of O&D demand, relative lack of competition, capacity for both domestic and international traffic, and capability to cater to multiple banks of omni-directional connections throughout the day - are unrivaled by any other hub in the northeast except EWR.
Aug 20, 2017, 8:03 pm
#680
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PHX & AGP
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,449
I'm thinking this is a error and a 77W will go back on the route.
Yes and Yes (it was really to Oxnard) I did these two because of fare price but the amount of time it took to each location, the amount I saved wasn't worth the hassle of the drive.
Yes, hence why I stated "until it's gone."
Have you ever driven from South Miami to Fort Lauderdale? Or from LGB to Ventura for that matter? I'm not implying that the drive up 95 in S. Florida is pleasant in any way, but you're comparing it to a drive more than twice the distance across what is arguably the worst city to drive in in the county.
Have you ever driven from South Miami to Fort Lauderdale? Or from LGB to Ventura for that matter? I'm not implying that the drive up 95 in S. Florida is pleasant in any way, but you're comparing it to a drive more than twice the distance across what is arguably the worst city to drive in in the county.
Aug 20, 2017, 10:18 pm
#681
Join Date: Sep 2015
Programs: UA Million Mile, Mileage Plus Premier 1K, SkyMiles Gold Medallion, AAdvantage Gold
Posts: 875
PHL is extremely valuable to AA. Its strengths as a connecting hub - the combination of a level of O&D demand, relative lack of competition, capacity for both domestic and international traffic, and capability to cater to multiple banks of omni-directional connections throughout the day - are unrivaled by any other hub in the northeast except EWR.
Aug 21, 2017, 12:26 pm
#683
Join Date: May 2009
Location: PHL
Posts: 2,842
PHL doesn't really have the best O&D to be a stellar TATL hub. WAS, NYC, and BOS are all ahead of PHL by a fair margin. However, your other points are spot on. PHL is not slot restricted, like JFK, and not restricted in any other way, meaning there is no growth cap. Also, PHL is able to be a fortress hub for AA, which is really valuable. It is similar to DL @SLC or AA @CLT: it's geographic and competitive advantages outweigh the lower O&D.
Aug 21, 2017, 3:04 pm
#685
Join Date: May 2011
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EXP, LT Gold
Posts: 3,146
http://viewfromthewing.boardingarea....going-forward/
Aug 21, 2017, 3:53 pm
#686
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 69
PHL doesn't really have the best O&D to be a stellar TATL hub. WAS, NYC, and BOS are all ahead of PHL by a fair margin. However, your other points are spot on. PHL is not slot restricted, like JFK, and not restricted in any other way, meaning there is no growth cap. Also, PHL is able to be a fortress hub for AA, which is really valuable. It is similar to DL @SLC or AA @CLT: it's geographic and competitive advantages outweigh the lower O&D.
Aug 21, 2017, 4:04 pm
#687
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: DEN
Programs: AA EXP, AA Million Miles, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,581
As a DEN-based flyer - I am very happy to see a JFK flight added. It's long been the one missing link from AA's service here - and much more useful than a LGA flight for the TATL connection opportunities (even if some of them are being reduced out of JFK). More options is a good thing.
Groan.So much for it being a useful addition.
(well, I suppose I could use it to connect to the daytime JFK-LHR services, but ugh).
[apologies is this was posted earlier and I missed it]
Aug 21, 2017, 4:26 pm
#688
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Austin
Posts: 4,629
He didn't mention how profitable PHL was, but he did mention wanting to grow EWR like PHL.
http://viewfromthewing.boardingarea....going-forward/
http://viewfromthewing.boardingarea....going-forward/
Aug 21, 2017, 4:52 pm
#690
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Usually in SAN or Central Europe.
Programs: AA:EXP/1MM. Accor/Radisson:Silver; HH:Gold; ICH:Plt Amb.
Posts: 22,307
Then what's the point? 
It seems that they are doing this for the O&D traffic instead of connecting traffic to Europe. So why not just fly into LGA instead (where you can have domestic connections there as well, like DCA and BOS)?
It seems that they are doing this for the O&D traffic instead of connecting traffic to Europe. So why not just fly into LGA instead (where you can have domestic connections there as well, like DCA and BOS)?