Ed Bastian Thoughts on SLC Hub/Possible Asia
#47
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Personally, I’d take what DL management says about their future plans and interest with a grain of salt. They’ve had a history of saying they’re committed to something just to either not do it or retreat. (India, CVG, MEM, and etc)
#48
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#49
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thats pretty unlikely. the 339 wont have that much of a range bump over the 332.
A 251t 339 might be able to do it over a Delta 332 but I don't believe the first 10 or so 339s for Delta (at least) will be 251t. They will come as 242t frames.
Do you ever look anything up before posting? serious question.
Delta's 339s will have 12 less seats than the current Delta 333 (281 v 306)
More importantly, yes the 330N vs 330C is pretty much engines and aero upgrades. The fuselage length and width are staying the same size.
The reason Delta would add something like SLC-ICN is to free up more seats in SEA and/or LAX for local pax.
A 251t 339 might be able to do it over a Delta 332 but I don't believe the first 10 or so 339s for Delta (at least) will be 251t. They will come as 242t frames.
Do you ever look anything up before posting? serious question.
Delta's 339s will have 12 less seats than the current Delta 333 (281 v 306)
More importantly, yes the 330N vs 330C is pretty much engines and aero upgrades. The fuselage length and width are staying the same size.
The reason Delta would add something like SLC-ICN is to free up more seats in SEA and/or LAX for local pax.
#50
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GUM isn’t in South America... And wouldn’t LAX be a better hub for South America? LAX seems like it’d naturally have more O/D traffic than SLC. Even then, DL has tried LAX-GRU and it didn’t work out.
Personally, I’d take what DL management says about their future plans and interest with a grain of salt. They’ve had a history of saying they’re committed to something just to either not do it or retreat. (India, CVG, MEM, and etc)
As for South American hubs... ATL is, geographically, about as well positioned as any domestic hub (I think folks tend to think South America is much further west than it is). SLC is a smaller market and with markedly less feed than ATL. Without any geographical advantage (and, in fact, a disadvantage for the majority of the country), what would be the point? I just don’t see small Mountain West towns driving enough traffic to warrant any significant service.
#51
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Very true, especially for SEA which is so capacity constrained at the moment. Despite what rwya thinks, there is a ton of demand for travel to ICN and beyond or else skyteam service wouldn't be 2 A380s (LAX), 747 (SFO), 2 777s (SEA,YVR) and a 767 (SEA) traveling west coast to ICN and back on an almost daily basis, plus various flights from MSP, DTW, JFK, ATL and a few other large US cities.
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Yep, it's a fun/surprising bit of geographical trivia that most of Florida is longitudinally west of South America (not including the Galapagos)
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#54
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I disagree. I was flying out of Washington–Dulles because I had access to the Air France–KLM lounge, which is marginally better than the Sky Club at Washington–Reagan National and certainly better than Baltimore, which lacks a Sky Club. When I fly through Atlanta I almost always go to the Sky Club in the F Terminal because the food is much better than the Sky Club in the B Terminal.
I mean, if you're already out in Reston or something, sure. If you're DC proper? You'd have to be nuts (ceteris paribus) to haul out to IAD instead of DCA for a marginally better lounge.
#55
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It would be great for DEN travelers as well for an easy connection to Asia and want to avoid United as Delta provides much better service! It is great to see Delta's commitment to SLC continue as it is a great connecting point and has much less issues for travelers than DEN, SFO, SEA or even LAX in relation to weather and delays.
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Recapping this thread:
Asia -- doesn't make sense due to LAX and SEA (and why start a long/thin route out of SLC)
Europe -- doesn't make sense due to DTW, ATL, JFK (already have the CDG/AMS covered and DL provides one-stop via east coast hubs to other Europe cities)
South America -- doesn't make sense due to LAX and ATL (plus limited traffic)
So what exactly does Ed intend to do with this hypothetical SLC hub?
Asia -- doesn't make sense due to LAX and SEA (and why start a long/thin route out of SLC)
Europe -- doesn't make sense due to DTW, ATL, JFK (already have the CDG/AMS covered and DL provides one-stop via east coast hubs to other Europe cities)
South America -- doesn't make sense due to LAX and ATL (plus limited traffic)
So what exactly does Ed intend to do with this hypothetical SLC hub?
#60
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Recapping this thread:
Asia -- doesn't make sense due to LAX and SEA (and why start a long/thin route out of SLC)
Europe -- doesn't make sense due to DTW, ATL, JFK (already have the CDG/AMS covered and DL provides one-stop via east coast hubs to other Europe cities)
South America -- doesn't make sense due to LAX and ATL (plus limited traffic)
So what exactly does Ed intend to do with this hypothetical SLC hub?
Asia -- doesn't make sense due to LAX and SEA (and why start a long/thin route out of SLC)
Europe -- doesn't make sense due to DTW, ATL, JFK (already have the CDG/AMS covered and DL provides one-stop via east coast hubs to other Europe cities)
South America -- doesn't make sense due to LAX and ATL (plus limited traffic)
So what exactly does Ed intend to do with this hypothetical SLC hub?