Bizzare Route Buzz
 

:confused: I was told by a neighbor whom works for Delta that in addition to their new non-stop ATL-GIG flights (we all know) starting in Oct. that they are going to add GIG-JNB Non-Stop! I am not sure about the 5th freedom rights issue, or even understand same, but how can a US carrier originate in Brasil?
For that matter how could they (DL) do a stop-over in GIG and continue to JNB? I know that market needs another carrier as RG pulled the plug on it's route late last year (I think Oct. 04?)
Any news or comments?
I have posted this on the AIRWISE forum, as well. :confused:

I'd be very surprised if Delta did this. I don't think they would have enough O/D traffic in Brasil without a Brasillian or South American partner. Further, I can't imagine it would be very much time-savings over the CONUS-CDG-JNB routing. Finally, I'm not sure DL has equipment for a GIG-JNB flight (I'm not sure the 763-ER's can handle it.

That said, it would make for a creative award routing (CONUS-GIG (stopover) -JNB (destination) -CDG (stopover) -CONUS).

I have flown on United Airlines round-trip solely between Buenos Aires, Argentina and Montevideo, Uruguay.

American Airlines offers the same service within an hour of the United Airlines flights.

Why not? Delta has had 763 flights over the 4451 mileage before...and they probably do now but I just don't know those routes off the top of my head. Or is there another reason the plane is not suitable for that route?

JFK-IST is 5016 mi using a 763, and ATL-AMS is 4400. I can't think of any reason why the 763 wouldn't work for this route.

Both JFK-ATH and JFK-IST flights are over 4500 miles.

I would appreciate any more info if someone can find out. I just spent 360K on two UC seats on VS using DL miles to get to JNB for next April. I think a GIG connection on DL metal will amount to a shorter total flight time and less miles.

thanks,
Marc

I didn't know squat about 5th freedom rights issues until I read this thread (and then googled the term) but it appears this situation is covered by 7th freedom rights.

According to Great Circle Mapper, ATL-GIG-JNB is 618 miles shorter than ATL-CDG-JNB.

The 763 would be able to handle GIG-JNB fine. Its actually a shorter segment then ATL-GIG.

I was toying with the thought of a pair of award seats on VS to JNB. But at 360K miles, that puts a serious crimp in even my SM's total!!
Did you get hit with double mileage for these seats or is this the standard award cost for Upper Class seats?
I haven't done any homework yet on flights to JNB.

Oh please, it's like .01% of your balance.

Etops
 

What you have here is an ETOPS problem. To fly the north Atlantic you have plenty of places to land should there be a problem. Flights over the south Atlantic on a twin-engined plane would not be possible.

Pan Am did it
 

For a while (probably in the 80's, I can't quite remember) Pan Am had a flight fro m Rio to JNB and back - I know because I worked this flight a couple of times. (It was 747 equipment).

I would say this route is highly unlikely. However, there is more demand for US-South Africa flights than what is currently offered. This is why many people still go through Europe to get to South Africa.

The only thing I could see that is fueling the fire of this rumor is that South African Airways is joining Star Alliance. Many believe that SAA will eventually drop the ATL-JNB route despite the fact that the route has been very successful for SAA (thanks to DL's tremendous feed into ATL).

If this happens, DL might be seeing a window of opportunity to enter JNB. GIG is probably the best stopping point. However, ETOPS may be problem.

I hadn't thought about the ETOPS requirements. Now that makes sense why it wouldn't work. I doubt DL would pull a 777 to do this route, so it probably won't happen.



747 has 4 engines, and is not affected by ETOPS requirements. Too bad DL doesn't have any 4 engine aircraft.