flyerCO

Correct, but they could've picked SEA or YVR. They went with YVR for a reason. The flight was able to go nonstop for many years before, but continuedto go via YVR to pickup passengers. In fact CX had a nonstop JFK-HKG, the JFK-YVR-HKG was a 2nd daily frequency for JFK-HKG.

garykung

It is only part of the story. If COVID was the sole culprit, then CX needed not to cancel, but suspend the service, like other U.S. routes.

In short - CX made a bet and lost (as always).

The exact internal decision process was unknown. However, given the time between DL's cancellation announcement and CX's announcement, the decision was made recklessly, looking like CX just walked in when DL walked out.

Not exactly. But true. Just for Chinese alone, YVR has 2 times more than SEA. And the reason why it is JFK-YVR-HKG and not JFK-SEA-HKG is clearly FAA related.

Indeed, because at the minimum 1) FAA will not approve a foreign carrier for domestic market; 2) CBP would make an issue for immigration/customs.

Before its cancellation, CX's YVR-JFK was the only transborder flight that exempt preclearance process.

Repooc17

Nonstop flights between New York and Hong Kong have existed since early 2001 (20+ years ago). If I recall correctly, CO was the launch carrier, and UA followed like a month after (before the CO-UA merger). At its peak pre-Covid, CX had up to 4-5 flights a day (JFK + EWR), and UA had 2 flights a day (EWR only)

With advancement in aircraft technology, NYC-SIN has long been a reality already, NYC-HKG is a piece of cake in comparison.

flyerCO

They didn't need FAA approval. They weren't going to fly paying passengers just JFK-SEA as a primary motivation. Flying paying passengers JFK-YVR was a non-priority. They were stopping at YVR to pickup passengers to goto HKG. If they got a few extra $ flying passengers JFK-YVR great, but again didn't matter. YVR over SEA regardless of HKG or Chinese population was about fact either group is more populated in YVR.

QF flies (or flew pre CV19) SYD-LAX-JFK. They just cant accept paying passengers just LAX-JFK.

Actually DL YVR-ATL flight was not preclearance due to hour of departure. Sucked, you got ATL at same time as African flights.

garykung

Picking up or not - I do believe some kind of approval is needed.

flyerCO

I dont believe the bilateral treaty between US/HKG requires this. I could be wrong, but generally treaties would allow this.

MSPeconomist

PreCOVID-19, HKG-JFK was generally more expensive than HKG-YVR-NYC and similarly for award tickets, The nonstop seemed to have less availability than then direct/connection HKG-YVR-JFK. Maybe part of this difference is that nonstops are more desirable, especially in premium cabins.

lsquare

What about timing? Wasn't HKG-YVR-JFK a red-eye?

Robert Leach

At one time, Delta did operate LAX-HKG using MD-11 equipment. That operated for a few years in the 90's.

MSPeconomist

.....and for a brief period around 1997, PMNW operated a MSP-HKG nonstop, I suspect using a 747. At that time (shortly before the handover), the old Hong Kong airport was still being used. Landing there was fun.

flyerCO

My roommate from college flew that route in High school as part of school trip. He told me it was the best landing he could imagine. He's a pilot and even today he wishes had gotten chance to fly in himself.

MSPeconomist

I loved it; I had been told in advance what to expect. OTOH I would not have been comfortable flying into there on some LCC/ULCC.

garykung

I believe at that time UA (or Pam-Am) has LAX-HKG as well. BTW - UA did fly SEA-HKG in the past.

It was indeed 747.

So you mean CI?

lsquare

When did UA stopped flying SEA-HKG?

Since when was CI considered a LCC?

garykung

Don't know. I found out its existence from a UA TV ad decades ago broadcasted in Hong Kong (the ad mentioned SEA/SFO/LAX).

When CI became the champion of crashing in Kai Tak the most...