Last edit by: Kat007
First Class elimination:
FRA-DXB as of 01JUN14
FRA-SEA as of 01JUL14
FRA-NRT as of Summer 2014
FRA-KIX
FRA-MCO
Cancelled destinations:
2014
Nizhny Novgorod/GOJ
Ekaterinburg
Khartoum
Ho Chi Minh
Busan
2013
Kazan
Perm
Libreville
Pointe Noire
2012
Rostov
Kolkata
Guangzhou
Calgary
2011
Hyderabad
FRA-DXB as of 01JUN14
FRA-SEA as of 01JUL14
FRA-NRT as of Summer 2014
FRA-KIX
FRA-MCO
Cancelled destinations:
2014
Nizhny Novgorod/GOJ
Ekaterinburg
Khartoum
Ho Chi Minh
Busan
2013
Kazan
Perm
Libreville
Pointe Noire
2012
Rostov
Kolkata
Guangzhou
Calgary
2011
Hyderabad
Lufthansa New/Cancelled Routes and Changes
#76
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: BSL/FRA or PHL
Programs: LH Miles and More, DL SkyMiles, Bonvoy, Hilton
Posts: 2,335
Another great example of brilliant Aviation Management; making a profitable flight even more profitable by employing a cheaper aircraft and working with capacity benefitting the change even more.
And for the poor souls (with a certain affection for airline food) there is TK (and since a few months now, apparently also...Air Serbia)
The network management in recent months is simply spectacular and I am happy to see that there are no (well, okay..., hardly any) sacred cows anymore.
Hence, the prof. biz traveler prefers Lufty and a good Turkish or Serbian restaurant at home on the weekend.
Reminds me a bit of the good old Fairy Ultra commercial.
While the biz pro is already at home enjoying Turkish food in a good restaurant, the lame duck is still consuming Turkish food at a TK lounge in IST. The really poor soul has to overnight in Belgrade.
And for the poor souls (with a certain affection for airline food) there is TK (and since a few months now, apparently also...Air Serbia)
The network management in recent months is simply spectacular and I am happy to see that there are no (well, okay..., hardly any) sacred cows anymore.
Hence, the prof. biz traveler prefers Lufty and a good Turkish or Serbian restaurant at home on the weekend.
Reminds me a bit of the good old Fairy Ultra commercial.
While the biz pro is already at home enjoying Turkish food in a good restaurant, the lame duck is still consuming Turkish food at a TK lounge in IST. The really poor soul has to overnight in Belgrade.
OTOH, if the C cabin if full of people who don't really care about the price, and there isn't a decent direct alternative, LH will sell the space (and I suspect that is the case on this route). In theory that opens the opportunity for a competitor to compete with better product, but some routes are too thin to even fight over...@:-)
#77
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: GVA,OPO
Programs: BD the last decent FFP
Posts: 1,856
If you go for an adjective like brilliant for something this you'll run out of praises once LH goes beyond short term cost reduction.
How do you know it is currently profitable? Where is your evidence?
Here is my take:
Another great example of desperate Aviation Management; making an unprofitable flight profitable on the short term by employing a cheaper aircraft that will dent yield in the long run.
Here is my take:
Another great example of desperate Aviation Management; making an unprofitable flight profitable on the short term by employing a cheaper aircraft that will dent yield in the long run.
#78
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2008
Programs: Everything is refundable
Posts: 3,727
OTOH, if the C cabin if full of people who don't really care about the price, and there isn't a decent direct alternative, LH will sell the space (and I suspect that is the case on this route). In theory that opens the opportunity for a competitor to compete with better product, but some routes are too thin to even fight over...@:-)
If LH cannot make it work ex Germany, hardly anyone can make it work, even with a strong partner less ruthless than Lufty.
Not surprisingly, hardly any route is picked up by the competition after LH pulled out. If you exclude routes that are being operated due to political reasons, in Europe many routes to/from BRU are among those, it is even worse.
#79
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: CDG
Programs: SK Gold, AF Gold, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 3,730
Otherwise, what would there be to stop LH from NEKing the long-haul fleet as well? After all, it would save the traveller the hassle of connecting somewhere else.
Key Asian markets send their regards, by the way.
Last edited by gojko88; Mar 29, 2014 at 7:52 am
#80
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2008
Programs: Everything is refundable
Posts: 3,727
Oh boy, now the naysayers are focussing on prime markets and pretend that even oil markets and key destinations in Asia operated in a duopoly (at best) are not profitable.
#81
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: GVA,OPO
Programs: BD the last decent FFP
Posts: 1,856
So you have no evidence. I understand.
Pointe Noire or Ho Chi Minh fit that description. Indian destinations (see wiki post) were operated in duopoly as well to Germany. They were all cut. So LH did cut profitable routes in your opinion?
Still my take:
LH is cutting capacity by ~15%. Not selling F. (Signs of trouble)
Miserable seat for the distance, no IFE in C/Y. Repeat customers for that experience are either highly price sensitive or masochists. The yield will go down long term. Let's see when the reductions/cuts will arrive.
Still my take:
LH is cutting capacity by ~15%. Not selling F. (Signs of trouble)
Miserable seat for the distance, no IFE in C/Y. Repeat customers for that experience are either highly price sensitive or masochists. The yield will go down long term. Let's see when the reductions/cuts will arrive.
#82
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,196
PNR was cut because the contract with Privatair was reduced. The yield was fine. SGN is part of the greater S.E.Asia disaster.
#83
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Osaka
Programs: Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Gold, UA
Posts: 3,158
Frankfurt – Osaka Kansai – Tokyo Narita Planned service consolidation for Osaka and Tokyo Narita service will operates until 19JUL14 (from FRA) only. From 20JUL14, both airports receive dedicated nonstop service once again
30MAR14 – 19JUL14
LH740 FRA1320 – 0710+1KIX0810+1 – 0925+1NRT 744 D
LH741 NRT1055 – 1215KIX1315 – 1800FRA 744 D
eff 20JUL14
Frankfurt – Osaka Kansai
LH740 FRA1320 – 0710+1KIX 744 D
LH741 KIX1005 – 1450FRA 744 D
Frankfurt – Tokyo Narita
LH710 FRA1355 – 0750+1NRT 744 D
LH711 NRT0945 – 1425FRA 744 D
3 daily flights between FRA and Japan, all on 747s
30MAR14 – 19JUL14
LH740 FRA1320 – 0710+1KIX0810+1 – 0925+1NRT 744 D
LH741 NRT1055 – 1215KIX1315 – 1800FRA 744 D
eff 20JUL14
Frankfurt – Osaka Kansai
LH740 FRA1320 – 0710+1KIX 744 D
LH741 KIX1005 – 1450FRA 744 D
Frankfurt – Tokyo Narita
LH710 FRA1355 – 0750+1NRT 744 D
LH711 NRT0945 – 1425FRA 744 D
3 daily flights between FRA and Japan, all on 747s
#85
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Osaka
Programs: Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Gold, UA
Posts: 3,158
Yes, HND will be the prize route, especially after they switch to the 748, which is just pending gov approval. I imagine 90% of people buying airfare only tickets would rather use HND than NRT. And that the majority of those on package tours where the airport is not guaranteed will be routed out of NRT.
The big surprise is returning NRT to a direct flight. Both ANA and JAL recently announced that they would be switching their LHR flights from NRT to HND with the opening of the new slots at HND.
I would think that a 747 each for KIX and NRT would be a lot of excess capacity. Loading a bunch of package tour passengers at NRT with a stopover at KIX seemed to make more sense.
The big surprise is returning NRT to a direct flight. Both ANA and JAL recently announced that they would be switching their LHR flights from NRT to HND with the opening of the new slots at HND.
I would think that a 747 each for KIX and NRT would be a lot of excess capacity. Loading a bunch of package tour passengers at NRT with a stopover at KIX seemed to make more sense.
#86
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: AMS/RTM
Posts: 2,827
Oh yeah. The Narita Express is a nice train, but I really feel that extra hour kills me when I arrive in Japan. It'd be much nicer to get straight on the shinkansen from Shinagawa.
#87
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2008
Programs: Everything is refundable
Posts: 3,727
None of your business, my friend, if there is evidence or not. Please refer to my second paragraph for a more detailed answer.
I understand that your position relative to the industry reduces the complexity to a certain level. It becomes evident by asking questions like the one above. Therefore, I am truly sorry, but answering such a question would also put me in the fan corner.
Thank you for your take. Repeat customers on routes like that do not care too much whether they paid 5,10,15 or even 50% more for flying nonstop on LH in comparison to some tertiary players, if they can save hours.
In my book, these people are called pros, not surprisingly you find a lot of pros on Lufty whereas you find a lot of leisure travelers, sun seekers, bargain hunters, airline food aficionados on other airlines.
Still my take:
LH is cutting capacity by ~15%. Not selling F. (Signs of trouble)
Miserable seat for the distance, no IFE in C/Y. Repeat customers for that experience are either highly price sensitive or masochists. The yield will go down long term. Let's see when the reductions/cuts will arrive.
LH is cutting capacity by ~15%. Not selling F. (Signs of trouble)
Miserable seat for the distance, no IFE in C/Y. Repeat customers for that experience are either highly price sensitive or masochists. The yield will go down long term. Let's see when the reductions/cuts will arrive.
In my book, these people are called pros, not surprisingly you find a lot of pros on Lufty whereas you find a lot of leisure travelers, sun seekers, bargain hunters, airline food aficionados on other airlines.
Last edited by FD1971; Mar 30, 2014 at 3:15 am
#88
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: BSL/FRA or PHL
Programs: LH Miles and More, DL SkyMiles, Bonvoy, Hilton
Posts: 2,335
This certainly seems to be true with one of my and TRAVELSIG's personal pet peeves, the lack of a nonstop service ex-EU to CAN...
#89
Senior Moderator, Moderator: Community Buzz and Ambassador: Miles & More (Lufthansa, Austrian, Swiss, and other partners)
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: 150km from MAN
Programs: LH SEN** HH Diamond
Posts: 29,517
Don't forget FRA-NGO on 344 which may permanently become two-class in due course.
I'll be on LH716 to HND in a couple of weeks in F. I didn't see the advantage of the seat-and-bed arrangement for FRA-NRT which is effectively a long day flight arriving in NRT around midnight European time. LH716 leaves FRA early evening and arrives in HND around mid-day which is better for sleeping.
One disadvantage of a later arrival is a later departure from HND for those like myself with a connecting European flight from FRA.
Remember that FRA-NRT was served by the A380 with 526 seats for a few years. 2x747 will be between 660 and 704 passengers depending on the configuration. 748 + 747 will be between 660 and 738 passengers but still fewer than 380 + 747.
Since all 747s will be converted to two-class aircraft within the next year or so, they will have to find an alternative unless they plan to turn some (FRA-NRT? FRA-KIX?) into two-class services.
I'll be on LH716 to HND in a couple of weeks in F. I didn't see the advantage of the seat-and-bed arrangement for FRA-NRT which is effectively a long day flight arriving in NRT around midnight European time. LH716 leaves FRA early evening and arrives in HND around mid-day which is better for sleeping.
One disadvantage of a later arrival is a later departure from HND for those like myself with a connecting European flight from FRA.
Yes, HND will be the prize route, especially after they switch to the 748, which is just pending gov approval. I imagine 90% of people buying airfare only tickets would rather use HND than NRT. And that the majority of those on package tours where the airport is not guaranteed will be routed out of NRT.
The big surprise is returning NRT to a direct flight. Both ANA and JAL recently announced that they would be switching their LHR flights from NRT to HND
I would think that a 747 each for KIX and NRT would be a lot of excess capacity. Loading a bunch of package tour passengers at NRT with a stopover at KIX seemed to make more sense.
The big surprise is returning NRT to a direct flight. Both ANA and JAL recently announced that they would be switching their LHR flights from NRT to HND
I would think that a 747 each for KIX and NRT would be a lot of excess capacity. Loading a bunch of package tour passengers at NRT with a stopover at KIX seemed to make more sense.
Since all 747s will be converted to two-class aircraft within the next year or so, they will have to find an alternative unless they plan to turn some (FRA-NRT? FRA-KIX?) into two-class services.
#90
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Osaka
Programs: Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Gold, UA
Posts: 3,158
Don't forget FRA-NGO on 344 which may permanently become two-class in due course.
Remember that FRA-NRT was served by the A380 with 526 seats for a few years. 2x747 will be between 660 and 704 passengers depending on the configuration. 748 + 747 will be between 660 and 738 passengers but still fewer than 380 + 747.
Since all 747s will be converted to two-class aircraft within the next year or so, they will have to find an alternative unless they plan to turn some (FRA-NRT? FRA-KIX?) into two-class services.
Remember that FRA-NRT was served by the A380 with 526 seats for a few years. 2x747 will be between 660 and 704 passengers depending on the configuration. 748 + 747 will be between 660 and 738 passengers but still fewer than 380 + 747.
Since all 747s will be converted to two-class aircraft within the next year or so, they will have to find an alternative unless they plan to turn some (FRA-NRT? FRA-KIX?) into two-class services.
I had assumed they had discontinued the 380 because they couldn't fill it, but now they'll have 150 to 200 more seats in/out of Tokyo than when the were using the 380.
And they had already increased capacity from KIX from the 340 they were once using to the 747.
They must be looking for a lot more passengers ex Europe, since they are definitely not going to find them in Japan. I imagine ANA and JAL depend a lot more on Japanese customers, which is probably why they've dumped all their 747s and are using smaller planes. Their might be a short-term increase in Japanese pax with all the baby boomers retiring, but the rapidly shrinking population is going to have a long-term effect.
At least for pax ex Japan, they could easily do away with F from KIX, and maybe even from NRT, since they'll have 1st class out of HND on the 748.
Last edited by OsakaWino; Mar 30, 2014 at 5:34 am