low-cost carriers and trans-atlantic flights
 

I just recently found out that Sun Country Airlines will be flying to London from MSP on a 737-800 with a fuel stop in Newfoundland. Is this a method that we may see other low cost carriers such as Airtran and Frontier use to compete with legacy carriers on routes which they previously would not compete?

Doubtful.

I believe the Sun Country flights are being sold in conjunction with a tour package company and only operate once per week during the peak summer months only. Plus, the flights are going to less desirable STN airport, which is a 45 minute train ride from central London.

Bedford recently said that Republic has no plans to operate trans-oceanic flights anytime soon. Their goal is to send that business to a codeshare/alliance partner.

I also heard that they are doing these flights to obtain some sort of certification like ?ATOPs?.

Let's hope that CO doesn't take too much notice of this or there'll be a ERJ doing that same route!

Its ETOPS - Extended-range Twin-engine Operational Performance Standards

Transatlantic flights are just not worth it (yet ?) for the low cost carriers. Too many expenses involved and they can't run a single fleet of planes anymore. I am sure if it would make financial sense then Ryan Air would have done it already.

As this topic is unrelated to Midwest Miles please follow the discussion in Travel Buzz!.

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essxjay
Midwest Miles moderator