IAH - TLV
May 5, 2010 | 3:25 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Houston, TX
Programs: UA 1MM Premier Gold, DL Silver Medallion, HHonors Gold, Marriot Rewards Gold
Posts: 660
IAH - TLV
Howdy UniCon fellows,
A Couple of years ago CO suggested opening a new IAH - TLV route to compete with DL ATL -TLV that is doing well.
With the upcoming merger, and as a regular on this route (via EWR), any "hunch" on where that'll go?
Thanks!
A Couple of years ago CO suggested opening a new IAH - TLV route to compete with DL ATL -TLV that is doing well.
With the upcoming merger, and as a regular on this route (via EWR), any "hunch" on where that'll go?
Thanks!
May 5, 2010 | 3:29 pm
#2
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PSM
Posts: 69,232
Probably not until the new aircraft start to arrive. Even with all the wide-bodies UA has I'm guessing they're not going to go after that route yet.
May 5, 2010 | 5:17 pm
#3
Join Date: May 2003
Location: New York, NY, USA
Posts: 202
We'll have to see what happens with the initial reshuffling of long haul routes with the consolidation of the widebody fleets.
Look at the history of DL's service to TLV as an example. When they bought Pan Am's European route network, they inherited a CDG-TLV route that connected at CDG to the various flights from the east coast. DL switched to nonstop JFK-TLV for a while, but discontinued it.
A few years ago, they launched ATL-TLV, which was quite successful, as it captured a lot of the TLV traffic from the south, and was just as easy a connection from the west coast as a change at EWR (to CO or LY) or JFK (to LY). With the merging of the DL and NW widebody fleets, DL now also offers JFK-TLV using ex-NW 744s.
I would be thoroughly unsurprised if the CO-UA merger brings some of the UA 744s to TLV, either on current EWR routes (which could easily utilize the extra passenger and cargo capacity) or with new TLV flights from either IAH or ORD. I think ORD is the more likely scenario, given its larger Jewish community.
When the 787s start coming online, with their longer range, it's not out of the realm of possibility to see LAX-TLV or SFO-TLV. There is certainly a market for nonstop service between the west coast and TLV, and the 787 will be one of the few aircraft out there with the range to do it.
At 2 flights a day, it's my understanding that TLV is one of the more profitable destinations in CO's network. Add a daily flight from ORD, and perhaps even one from LAX and it will be a cash cow...
-JMP
Look at the history of DL's service to TLV as an example. When they bought Pan Am's European route network, they inherited a CDG-TLV route that connected at CDG to the various flights from the east coast. DL switched to nonstop JFK-TLV for a while, but discontinued it.
A few years ago, they launched ATL-TLV, which was quite successful, as it captured a lot of the TLV traffic from the south, and was just as easy a connection from the west coast as a change at EWR (to CO or LY) or JFK (to LY). With the merging of the DL and NW widebody fleets, DL now also offers JFK-TLV using ex-NW 744s.
I would be thoroughly unsurprised if the CO-UA merger brings some of the UA 744s to TLV, either on current EWR routes (which could easily utilize the extra passenger and cargo capacity) or with new TLV flights from either IAH or ORD. I think ORD is the more likely scenario, given its larger Jewish community.
When the 787s start coming online, with their longer range, it's not out of the realm of possibility to see LAX-TLV or SFO-TLV. There is certainly a market for nonstop service between the west coast and TLV, and the 787 will be one of the few aircraft out there with the range to do it.
At 2 flights a day, it's my understanding that TLV is one of the more profitable destinations in CO's network. Add a daily flight from ORD, and perhaps even one from LAX and it will be a cash cow...
-JMP
May 5, 2010 | 7:03 pm
#4
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: CLE
Programs: UA GS+LT UC, AA EXP+LT PLT, Fairmont LT PLT, Marriott PLT, Hilton DIA, Hyatt Glob, Avis CHM
Posts: 4,889
IAH-TLV has close to no chance of happening post-UA merger.
IAD, ORD, LAX, and SFO all have a better shot at TLV flights than IAH.
IAD, ORD, LAX, and SFO all have a better shot at TLV flights than IAH.