777s To Be Based In GUM?
Oct 6, 2008 | 7:30 am
#1
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777s To Be Based In GUM?
Now here is an interesting rumor that seems to make sense once you stop and think about it. According to a post on a.net, CO may add 4 older 777s to the fleet for use out of the GUM hub.
I think they could make this work and it would be a positive impact to the network as it could free up 772s for new Asia destinations.
Discuss.
I think they could make this work and it would be a positive impact to the network as it could free up 772s for new Asia destinations.
Discuss.
Oct 6, 2008 | 7:41 am
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Now here is an interesting rumor that seems to make sense once you stop and think about it. According to a post on a.net, CO may add 4 older 777s to the fleet for use out of the GUM hub.
I think they could make this work and it would be a positive impact to the network as it could free up 772s for new Asia destinations.
Discuss.
I think they could make this work and it would be a positive impact to the network as it could free up 772s for new Asia destinations.
Discuss.
I wonder what kind of seats they would use up front .
Oct 6, 2008 | 7:41 am
#3
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How does this make sense? It only helps if they want to reposition 76s elsewhere in the system, not the existing 772s. By older 777s do you mean some of the very old ones with the older engines? I've read somewhere (I think on the AC forum) that some are on the market, but I cannot imagine CO adding a different 772 configuration to the fleet, especially not in GUM. What types of routes would you expect to see??
ETA: I just read the .nut thread and still don't see it making a lot of sense.
ETA: I just read the .nut thread and still don't see it making a lot of sense.
Oct 6, 2008 | 7:42 am
#4
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IAH/LAX-GUM nonstops have been considered for years. If CO does add some extra 777 lift, expect one or both of these flights to show up, and likely a decline in the HNL service from the US mainland.
Oct 6, 2008 | 7:48 am
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I look at this as an effective method of freeing up widebodies and adding more lift to the CO Mic fleet. Having a subfleet in GUM has far less of an impact that trying to use them out of EWR/IAH and, more importantly, the older 777s are available pretty quick. I am sure Boeing can held barter a deal, and CO is then able to free up 772s for long haul flights to Asia by using the 764s to Europe. Is it a perfect solution, heck no, but it is a creative one that allows them to add new destinations while awaiting 787s.
Plus, having 77As in the Pacific will enable more cargo, which is more $$$$ to the bottom line.
Plus, having 77As in the Pacific will enable more cargo, which is more $$$$ to the bottom line.
Oct 6, 2008 | 7:52 am
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Oct 6, 2008 | 7:59 am
#7
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I assume it would free up 4 aircraft since 4 is the number of 777's being talked about. They need 2? for Shanghai next year so that leaves 2 more and assumes there is no extra value in using Triple 7's with 48 to 50 BF seats to Heathrow.
Oct 6, 2008 | 8:09 am
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I managed the LR on DL JFK-ATL (new BE seats are great). I'm scheduled for the 773 on KE next year.
As for these 4 77As, I'd be curious to see how CO reallocates widebodies if it takes on those aircraft. Will CO finally start operating IAH-FRA nonstop on its own metal once it joins *A? It would be nice to have a departure option to FRA that leaves after 3:30pm (LH's departure time).
As for these 4 77As, I'd be curious to see how CO reallocates widebodies if it takes on those aircraft. Will CO finally start operating IAH-FRA nonstop on its own metal once it joins *A? It would be nice to have a departure option to FRA that leaves after 3:30pm (LH's departure time).
Oct 6, 2008 | 8:11 am
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Oct 6, 2008 | 8:55 am
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I managed the LR on DL JFK-ATL (new BE seats are great). I'm scheduled for the 773 on KE next year.
As for these 4 77As, I'd be curious to see how CO reallocates widebodies if it takes on those aircraft. Will CO finally start operating IAH-FRA nonstop on its own metal once it joins *A? It would be nice to have a departure option to FRA that leaves after 3:30pm (LH's departure time).
As for these 4 77As, I'd be curious to see how CO reallocates widebodies if it takes on those aircraft. Will CO finally start operating IAH-FRA nonstop on its own metal once it joins *A? It would be nice to have a departure option to FRA that leaves after 3:30pm (LH's departure time).
Oct 6, 2008 | 9:01 am
#12
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LAX-HNL has been getting downgraded recently, and there is no indication that CO really has a lot of demand to justify the bigger bird. Maybe there is cargo demand, but I'd be surprised, as that is a relatively well served route. HNL-NGO wasn't drawing yields either. They could run it on the GUM-NRT run and get rid of the wing-tip flight that they have with a 738/764 at one point in the day, but I'm not sure just how great the demand really is. With the number of routes that got cut out of GUM on the 738 it seems unlikely to me that there is a lot of demand to up-gauge things, but maybe there is.
Oct 6, 2008 | 9:05 am
#13
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It is fun to speculate about this. I just wonder given the credit crunch right now, the high price of oil (which has nowhere to go but up), and less money being spent by consumers on travel. Would this be a wise or prudent move by CO to take purchase 4 more 777s.
Are the loads large enough both in Pax and Cargo for this?
Are the loads large enough both in Pax and Cargo for this?
Oct 6, 2008 | 9:15 am
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for the 77A: wikipedia says 88 produced, 86 in use
According to Boeing's list, here are the deliveries (not sure which are where now)
Air China: 10
ANA: 16
BA: 5
Cathay: 5
China Southern: 4
EK: 3
JAL: 15
Thai: 8
UA: 22
According to Boeing's list, here are the deliveries (not sure which are where now)
Air China: 10
ANA: 16
BA: 5
Cathay: 5
China Southern: 4
EK: 3
JAL: 15
Thai: 8
UA: 22
Oct 6, 2008 | 9:21 am
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Right. I was contemplating that the 77As might result in a few 764s getting reconfigured for TATL service to serve key routes like IAH-FRA (which will likely become a key route post *A transition). Right now, LH has a monopoly on that route.