liyangjen

According to the FlyerTalk Forums:

http://www.airliners.net/aviation-fo....main/4089268/

"CO filed with the DOT to return its 7 frequencies supporting IAH-GYE and its 7 frequencies supporting IAH-CLO.

CO also filed to request that 2 of its frequencies on each of its coming EWR-PVG as well as its existing EWR-PEK be converted to seasonal frequencies so that CO can operate 5 days/week to each destination during off-peak periods."

craz

wonder why they want to return the GYE when they can run it by doing IAH-UIO-GYE-IAH thats what Taca does but out of SJO, I think LAN does the same

dvs7310

I'm really surprised by the China reductions. Those were supposed to be prime routes...

CZ was supposed to start PEK-EWR this month too, but I can't find where they have started service yet or canceled/delayed the start.

Also noticed on CZ's website they have some 772's for sale.

tourismspecialist

TACA and LAN do this routing, as well as Delta, KLM, Iberia, etc. It's actually kindof a drag, at least when I did it with a Delta flight, as Ecuadorian authorities make everyone get off the plane on all stops and go through security again. CO may have decided to increase service in GYE since it seems that Delta is ready to decrease flights, mostly to GYE, but also to UIO.

oopsz

Soft economy and weak dollar are screwing imports, and the Chinese aren't giving out business visas until after the olympics.. that would explain it for the short term.

craz

I got it wrong.

Steph3n

"CO filed with the DOT to return its 7 frequencies supporting IAH-GYE"

seems to say otherwise

craz

got ya thanks for the clarification, I took "return" as meaning CO was giving the DOT the routes back, didnt know CO stopped flying it.

Totoro

I thought that domestic flying was so unprofitable that only deploying planes on international flights (esp quasi-monopoly routes awarded to only a few airlines) would generate profits. Again, the "conventional wisdom" proven wrong. I love hearing journalists quote one another without a clue about the industry they write about.

Steph3n

you know you may be right....

FWAAA

craz was right. So was the OP. CO has decided to give these frequencies back to DOT, effective Sept 10, 2008.

Steph3n

Ya I was reading it return to make a world of difference

supermasterphil

The redcuction of the China routes is really a discrace for Continental. If they can't fill a plane to Shanghai, that says a whole lot about their service. New York and Shanghai should have a ridiculous demand, especially as China - US routes are so restricted.

for CO!

craz

good to know my reading ability isnt going the way of my Speling (intended) and Grammar

From NYC

Given that CO is still months away from even starting the EWR-PVG route, might this be due to the constriction on the number of actual aircraft CO will have in its fleet? When the PVG route was applied for, everyone thought the 787 would be in service by the start date. That's not going to be happening and, despite Boeing's most recent statements, I don't think anyone is 100% confident the latest delivery dates will be met. Using the "seasonal" excuse could be a good way to cover bases in case there simply aren't enough aircraft to go around, just in case PVG, because of economic conditions when the route actually starts running, isn't the whopper we all think it actually will be. CO isn't obligated to run less frequent flights; justs wants the option to do so.