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)
Jun 11, 2017, 12:35 pm
#511
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: los angeles, calif.
Programs: Alaska Airlines Gold MVP
Posts: 7,170
Interesting. I would be very curious to see how a hypothetical PHL-MXP flight did. I guess, as is well known, it isn't hard to fill a plane to Italy in the summer, and of course Alitalia's ongoing woes can't hurt, either. But I'd be skeptical of the viability of PHL-MXP. If AA wants to increase its presence/exposure in MXP - which, again, given Alitalia may be logical - it seems like the far better way to do it is simply to upgauge JFK/MIA-MXP to 777s.
Also, MIAMXP is already a 777.
Jun 12, 2017, 1:42 pm
#512
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: USA
Programs: AAdvantage, MileagePlus, SkyMiles
Posts: 4,159
How about JFK? I thought AA had a strong international network there... I'd rather that they expand in JFK than PHL, as it makes more sense. JFK also services premium markets, such as LAX/SFO transcontinental service, so it'd make more sense to serve international flights that connect to those premium flights.
Jun 12, 2017, 2:04 pm
#514
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: YYF/YLW
Programs: AA, DL, AS, VA, WS Silver
Posts: 5,950
How about JFK? I thought AA had a strong international network there... I'd rather that they expand in JFK than PHL, as it makes more sense. JFK also services premium markets, such as LAX/SFO transcontinental service, so it'd make more sense to serve international flights that connect to those premium flights.
Jun 12, 2017, 2:26 pm
#515
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Austin, TX - AUS
Programs: AA Platinum, Hilton, Hyatt, IHG, Marriott
Posts: 1,625
Jun 12, 2017, 2:32 pm
#516
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: The Frozen Tundra
Programs: Former AA EXP, DL PM, BAEC Bronze, SPG GOLD, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Platinum
Posts: 159
I am curious to know why there is no U.S. with a non-stop to VIE? What is it about VIE that no one has tried this. I mean both DL & AA gave BUD a try and AC Rouge goes from YYZ. BUD while a very beautiful city, economically VIE would have a higher score than BUD.....
Jun 12, 2017, 2:53 pm
#517
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Plano, TX, USA
Programs: AA: PPro, 4MM; HH: Lifetime Diamond; MAR Life Titanium Hertz: Prez Circle
Posts: 547
BUD made some strategic sense prior to Malev going belly up, as have previous attempts at making HEL service work. As for VIE, like any other location, the question is going to be on what AA management thinks its incremental revenue for any route. There's a reason why the same cities get service, and why airlines aren't necessarily looking to be the only one on a route. Sharing a profitable route is better than being exclusive on a money losing (can anyone say PHL-TLV?) one.
Jun 12, 2017, 3:01 pm
#518
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Austin, Texas
Programs: Airline nobody. Sad!
Posts: 26,062
AA used to have a partner from BUD, Malev, which collapsed several years ago. AA ceased BUD service shortly thereafter. Air Canada Scrooge's service is only seasonal. Also, there is no airline with a hub at BUD flying to the USA. VIE has a major airline hubbed there in OS, which flies several flights to the USA every day. The Budapest metro area also has about 700,000 more people than the Vienna metro area.
Jun 12, 2017, 3:03 pm
#519
Suspended
Join Date: May 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: DL Diamond, AAdvantage EXP, Hyatt Explorist, HHonors Diamond, Avis First
Posts: 7,344
FWIW DL did fly ATL-VIE for a while in he 2000's
Jun 12, 2017, 4:37 pm
#520
Moderator: Travel Safety/Security, Travel Tools, California, Los Angeles; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: oneword Emerald
Posts: 20,623
Jun 12, 2017, 5:07 pm
#521
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2001
Programs: DL 1 million, AA 1 mil, HH lapsed Diamond, Marriott Plat
Posts: 28,190
In 2007, Delta went crazy with 767s to Central and Eastern Europe, with Vienna, Prague, Kiev and even Bucharest. PRG still gets seasonal service. The rest are now served via CDG and AMS.
http://news.delta.com/delta-adds-vie...rnational-line
Why not VIE? I expect BA would point out they had five flights LHR-VIE today -- oneworld serves VIE well.
http://news.delta.com/delta-adds-vie...rnational-line
Why not VIE? I expect BA would point out they had five flights LHR-VIE today -- oneworld serves VIE well.
Jun 12, 2017, 6:14 pm
#522
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Phoenix/Columbus
Programs: Delta Silver Medallion, United Gold, US Airways silver
Posts: 1,717
fwiw, BA added a second flight three days a week this May and June and loads have been very light except for economy. On the days with the second flight the early LHR-PHX and the late PHX-LHR have had less premium demand. A colleague was on the earlier flight on Tuesday, with economy full, premium economy 50% full, club world less than 50% and 1 or 2 passengers in F.
So while BA seems successful in filling the daily 747 in all classes, demand beyond that seems weak at the moment. However this lack of demand certainly hasn't led to a reduction in premium pricing from PHX or an increase in award availability.
So while BA seems successful in filling the daily 747 in all classes, demand beyond that seems weak at the moment. However this lack of demand certainly hasn't led to a reduction in premium pricing from PHX or an increase in award availability.
Jun 15, 2017, 8:08 pm
#523
Join Date: May 2009
Location: PHL
Posts: 2,842
And, of course, that memo confirms two "new" PHL 767 routes. I can't help but wonder if, for 2018, AA opts not to bring back DFW-AMS and instead just consolidates AMS back to PHL only with an upgauge of the route to a 767. In general, it isn't that surprising to see 767s starting to move into PHL. There are several longstanding PHL-Europe routes that seem, in today's environment, better suited to a 767 than A330. (Same goes for several CLT-Europe routes, too.) I will also be curious how AA will flow/bridge 767s into PHL - both DFW-PHL and MIA-PHL have seen 767s periodically since the merger.
Now I'm definitely interested to see the "official" public announcement of these two "new" routes.
Jun 15, 2017, 9:34 pm
#524
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Arizona
Programs: BA (GGL G4L), AA (Gold), HH (Diamond); Marriott (Gold)
Posts: 3,011
The report I shared was from one of the flights last week. I'm certainly hope by for a second flight going forward, but loads have been fairly light. On the days with two flights, the ones that are optimized for connections via LHR have had more demand (So the early PHX departure (290) and the late LHR departure (289) )
Jun 17, 2017, 11:31 pm
#525
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PHX & AGP
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,453
The report I shared was from one of the flights last week. I'm certainly hope by for a second flight going forward, but loads have been fairly light. On the days with two flights, the ones that are optimized for connections via LHR have had more demand (So the early PHX departure (290) and the late LHR departure (289) )