Jet to launch non-stop flight to the US
 

:D

Smells like the beginings of a skyteam entry too - "talks with Delta":mad:

^ on the nonstop flight
:td: on the idea of joining skyteam

where is the plane going to come from? didnt they just renew the leases on their 6 77w's? are they going to convert DEL-LHR or one of the BOM-LHR's to 330s? hope not..

Sounds like it could be that AI's non-stop flights connecting India with the US are taking an increasingly larger proportion of 9W's more profitable customers.

AI's non-stop service between the two countries is getting pretty good reviews, even from those who would avoid AI like the plague even a handful of years ago.

And 9W's economy class product is no more comfortable than what AI provides on these ultra-long-haul flights, with many finding 9W to be less comfortable than AI seats on the ultra-long-haul. And the 9W transits at BRU can involve rather long lines to re-clear security, so yet another reason not to connect in Europe.

More competition is a good thing, so the additional service is welcome news if it occurs as planned. About the SkyTeam enrollment, 9W's involvement there is a sign of the times and also of how 9W is increasingly a good fit for the leftover alliance that is SkyTeam.. :D

+1

Last few times for AI on ord del their loads have been 90% in y and 70% in j. In f its been 1/4. So seems like folks like it.

TK is giving their leased planes back in Sept

I would rather they add more destinations and build their hub at BRU (I can always dream of DFW, but thats probably never going to happen)

I agree - would be much better if they stuck to plan...

MAA-BRU, BOM-BRU, DEL-BRU HYD-BRU, BLR-BRU etc
BRU-JFK, BRU-EWRU, BRU-YYZ, BRU-LAX, BRU-ORD ETC.

Anyway SN doesn't fly transatlantic - so they wouldn't even have any home competition from there and could straddle multiple markets and give their customers more choice...

I don't think the non-stops will make financial sense (US based customers are willing to pay more for a non-stop, but there is also feeder domestic traffic (for eg the ORD-DEL flight has many domestic connections from west coast, texas etc flying into ORD to connect... 9W is not going to get much domestic connection traffic... I would much prefer a MAA-BRU-NYC to a MAA-DEL-NYC flight).

Unfortunate, but ST was the only alliance leftover.

^^:D

I wouldn't worry about the Delta alliance. It seems thats the only airline they have left out from their partner network so far. They all ready have tie ups with One world (AA) and US (*A)

Firstly, it's not an announcement of joining an alliance.
Skyteam members can get an award ticket on IT and 9W. Neither is not only in the Skyteam, while IT has even decided to join Oneworld.
Secondly, any alliance is better than no alliance for the airline as well as jetophiles. That, it can fly people between points not flown by the airline, should be pretty obvious. I don't see how that's bad. You can still fly W9. If you were buying separate tickets for an itinerary, you can still do that.
Thirdly, an alliance will bring 9W's to people who have never flown and would not fly it otherwise.
Fourthly, it's not a thread about alliance.
It's funny to watch some people hyperventilating as soon as any appellations of Skyteam/Delta and Jet Airways are juxtaposed.
If Jet Airways does join Skyteam,, we can expect a boost in shrinks' business and a rise in the sale of emotional support animals, teddy bears and petrocks!.
:D

A hub in Europe is not all that useful as you think. It cannot pickup passengers (O&D) between Brussels or any other European city and the U.S just because it has a hub.
Do you think 9W can simply add North/South American or other destinations without feeding traffic into Brussels?
Having people connect in DEL, now that Delhi has T3 or in any other Indian airport capable of handling transfers, with a nonstop to the final destination is better than stopping in Brussels. Even if we don't Very few overseas hubs are successful, even. What an airline needs is some non-stops between a decent Indian airport and carefully chosen north American destinations.
DO you think PIT-EWR-BRU-BOM/DEL-AMD model will attract more passengers thanr PIT-DEL/BOM-AMD or PIT-AMD?

+1

I have not flown on Jet but if they end up finally joining an alliance, even the so called leftover one, I will fly them the first chance I get even if they dont join my preferred alliance.