Payload Optimized [The Definitive Thread]
Jan 20, 2017 | 10:47 am
#61
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And, presumably, those would be covered by the people covering the inauguration. I highly doubt that the weight restrictions are down to some local reporters flying around the country to cover some protests.
Jan 20, 2017 | 11:08 am
#62
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Whatever! The majority of the marches and protests will happen today in DC, and it's doubtful they will continue tomorrow.
Last edited by audidudi; Jan 20, 2017 at 12:06 pm Reason: I corrected a spelling mistake!
Jan 20, 2017 | 11:23 am
#63
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It was just a thought that some news/film crew checks 20+ ~100lbs bags would weight restrict the flight...they could be going anywhere not DC, may not have anything to with anything. Film crew going SMF/MSP/YYZ to film a movie could do it too.
Jan 20, 2017 | 12:05 pm
#64
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Very true! I think it was probably a weight-and-balance issue though!
Jan 20, 2017 | 12:09 pm
#65
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-FlyerBeek
Jan 20, 2017 | 7:03 pm
#66
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wow, why in the world did they go backwards/continue to stay there with no dedicated cargo fleet. They sure are missing out on money, and they wouldn't run into problems like this if they flew cargo flights
Jan 20, 2017 | 8:40 pm
#67
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DL's cargo operation in the early '60s consisted of a handful of Curtiss C-46s (World War II vintage twin-engine transport); in 1969 they were operating about a dozen flights with Lockheed L-100s (civilian version of the C-130)
Jan 20, 2017 | 9:33 pm
#68
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Wow, JRL, looking at the bottom right corner block in your pic, I notice that they recycled the term: "Basic Economy Class" from 1969! 
Jan 21, 2017 | 7:53 am
#69
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I was sitting too far back to see what happened but a few bags went back to the front at the end of the boarding process. Didn't see any passengers deplane and all seats seemed full, so I guess they either found space for them in F or the closets, or people voluntarily separated from their bags.
Jan 21, 2017 | 8:08 am
#70
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https://www.statista.com/statistics/...cargo-revenue/
In addition, cargo on board passenger flights helps make some routes profitable. You don't need to fill the plane with passengers if you have good cargo on board. While dedicated cargo planes allow you to fly other routes, or have more flexibility to meet one-off demand, the empty bellies of passenger planes are there to use.
So, yes, having some cargo planes can bring some additional revenue, but just using what extra space you have in the business you specialize in makes a lot of sense.
Cheers,
GenevaFlyer
Jan 21, 2017 | 9:53 am
#71
Join Date: May 2015
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Flights are payload optimized all the time depending on the route. My local airport has two flights that are payload optimized every day. Once route is less than an hour (739) and one is non-D1 transcon (319/320). Where I am, it's never had anything to do with cargo. It's all about the weather (temperature, altitude, visibility, topography), aircraft type, passenger load, and weight distribution.
Jan 21, 2017 | 12:35 pm
#73
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Jan 21, 2017 | 12:40 pm
#74
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To be honest, cargo revenue has been going down significantly lately. Just as an example, here's AF/KL's cargo revenue over the past years, down 25%:
https://www.statista.com/statistics/409246/air-france-klm-total-annual-cargo-revenue/
In addition, cargo on board passenger flights helps make some routes profitable. You don't need to fill the plane with passengers if you have good cargo on board. While dedicated cargo planes allow you to fly other routes, or have more flexibility to meet one-off demand, the empty bellies of passenger planes are there to use.
So, yes, having some cargo planes can bring some additional revenue, but just using what extra space you have in the business you specialize in makes a lot of sense.
Cheers,
GenevaFlyer
https://www.statista.com/statistics/409246/air-france-klm-total-annual-cargo-revenue/
In addition, cargo on board passenger flights helps make some routes profitable. You don't need to fill the plane with passengers if you have good cargo on board. While dedicated cargo planes allow you to fly other routes, or have more flexibility to meet one-off demand, the empty bellies of passenger planes are there to use.
So, yes, having some cargo planes can bring some additional revenue, but just using what extra space you have in the business you specialize in makes a lot of sense.
Cheers,
GenevaFlyer
Jan 21, 2017 | 12:59 pm
#75
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Strange that you were payload optimized going eastbound. I've only heard of that being an issue westbound on MD-90 flights from MSP to the West coast. It didn't look like your flight had much of a tailwind to work with, but you weren't facing a wind or having to avoid weather either. It also appears to have left with nearly all seats filled. Could have been lots of reasons I guess. Might have been cargo that had to fly. Could have been a mechanical issue that created a fuel burn penalty. Could have been fuel for holding at MSP due to the foggy day we had. Strange. Still, that's one reason I avoid those MD-90s to California. It doesn't take much to create weight restrictions.