A MR to Baghdad?
May 30, 2003 | 9:34 pm
#1
Original Poster
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Siesta Key
Programs: AA EXP-1.6MM, Hilton Diamond, ManU & Chicago Bears #1 Fan
Posts: 9,697
A MR to Baghdad?
Any time now...
WASHINGTON — The Transportation Department (search) cleared U.S. passenger and cargo airlines on Friday to resume service to Iraq after sanctions prohibited those operations for nearly 13 years.
WASHINGTON — The Transportation Department (search) cleared U.S. passenger and cargo airlines on Friday to resume service to Iraq after sanctions prohibited those operations for nearly 13 years.
May 31, 2003 | 8:07 am
#2
Join Date: Jul 2002
Programs: UA 1MM, SPG Lifetime Platinum, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum
Posts: 2,796
A lot has changed in 13 years. With the demise of PanAm and TWA as well as the advent of global alliances, I really can't imagine a US carrier adding Baghdad to their schedule. AFAIK, UA airlines don't even fly to CAI or IST with their own metal.
May 31, 2003 | 9:05 am
#4
Join Date: Jul 2002
Programs: UA 1MM, SPG Lifetime Platinum, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum
Posts: 2,796
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by chalf:
At least several months ago, DL flew JFK-IST non-stop.</font>
At least several months ago, DL flew JFK-IST non-stop.</font>
May 31, 2003 | 10:37 am
#5
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Helsinki, Finland
Programs: BA/VS Gold, Marriott Plat, HH Diamond
Posts: 628
At least BA and Virgin see the Baghdad route as a likely cash cow, at least for the duration of the western-led rebuilding effort. One would think that the same logic would apply even more for nonstop US flights to Baghdad.
Then again, perhaps all the Halliburton execs get to travel on Air Force One...
Then again, perhaps all the Halliburton execs get to travel on Air Force One...
May 31, 2003 | 10:44 am
#6
Join Date: Jul 2002
Programs: UA 1MM, SPG Lifetime Platinum, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum
Posts: 2,796
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Markonen:
At least BA and Virgin see the Baghdad route as a likely cash cow, at least for the duration of the western-led rebuilding effort. One would think that the same logic would apply even more for nonstop US flights to Baghdad.</font>
At least BA and Virgin see the Baghdad route as a likely cash cow, at least for the duration of the western-led rebuilding effort. One would think that the same logic would apply even more for nonstop US flights to Baghdad.</font>
May 31, 2003 | 11:09 am
#7
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: PHX
Programs: AS MVP Gold, HH Diamond
Posts: 1,509
As discussed in this thread, NW & KL applied to the U.S. DOT for permission to fly DTW-AMS-BGW.
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Northwest files application to fly to Iraq
Thursday, May 8, 2003
BY KARREN MILLS
ASSOCIATED PRESS
EAGAN, Minn. -- Northwest Airlines has asked the U.S. Department of Transportation for permission to begin flying from Detroit to Iraq, with a stop in Amsterdam.
Northwest spokesman Bill Mellon said Thursday that, if approved, the frequency of the flights would depend on demand. Northwest would serve the route with DC-10 aircraft, he said.
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Northwest's alliance partner, also has applied for permission to fly into Baghdad, Mellon said. If both carriers are granted permission, he said Northwest and KLM would discuss how to best serve the market.</font>
Thursday, May 8, 2003
BY KARREN MILLS
ASSOCIATED PRESS
EAGAN, Minn. -- Northwest Airlines has asked the U.S. Department of Transportation for permission to begin flying from Detroit to Iraq, with a stop in Amsterdam.
Northwest spokesman Bill Mellon said Thursday that, if approved, the frequency of the flights would depend on demand. Northwest would serve the route with DC-10 aircraft, he said.
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Northwest's alliance partner, also has applied for permission to fly into Baghdad, Mellon said. If both carriers are granted permission, he said Northwest and KLM would discuss how to best serve the market.</font>
May 31, 2003 | 11:40 am
#8
Join Date: Jul 2002
Programs: UA 1MM, SPG Lifetime Platinum, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum
Posts: 2,796
AMS-BGW makes sense. Feeding AMS-BGW from DTW also makes sense. NW operated DTW-AMS-BGW makes sense especially if the AMS-BGW segment also carries the KL code. However, a KL operated AMS-BGW segment carrying the NW code would make even more sense and this is what I expect if both carriers receive permission to operate the route.
A hypothetical DTW-BGW nonstop would, IMO, make no sense.
[Edited for clarity.]
[This message has been edited by zvezda (edited 05-31-2003).]
A hypothetical DTW-BGW nonstop would, IMO, make no sense.
[Edited for clarity.]
[This message has been edited by zvezda (edited 05-31-2003).]
May 31, 2003 | 7:41 pm
#9
Join Date: Nov 2002
Posts: 8,227
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by zvezda:
AMS-BGW makes sense. Feeding AMS-BGW from DTW also makes sense. NW operated DTW-AMS-BGW makes sense especially if the AMS-BGW segment also carries the KL code. However, a KL operated AMS-BGW segment carrying the NW code would make even more sense and this is what I expect if both carriers receive permission to operate the route.
A hypothetical DTW-BGW nonstop would, IMO, make no sense.
[Edited for clarity.]
[This message has been edited by zvezda (edited 05-31-2003).]</font>
AMS-BGW makes sense. Feeding AMS-BGW from DTW also makes sense. NW operated DTW-AMS-BGW makes sense especially if the AMS-BGW segment also carries the KL code. However, a KL operated AMS-BGW segment carrying the NW code would make even more sense and this is what I expect if both carriers receive permission to operate the route.
A hypothetical DTW-BGW nonstop would, IMO, make no sense.
[Edited for clarity.]
[This message has been edited by zvezda (edited 05-31-2003).]</font>
Jun 1, 2003 | 5:58 pm
#10
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Louisville, KY, US
Programs: QF Plat - OW EMD | DL Gold / Starwood Gold
Posts: 6,106
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by zvezda:
A hypothetical DTW-BGW nonstop would, IMO, make no sense.
[Edited for clarity.]
[This message has been edited by zvezda (edited 05-31-2003).]</font>
A hypothetical DTW-BGW nonstop would, IMO, make no sense.
[Edited for clarity.]
[This message has been edited by zvezda (edited 05-31-2003).]</font>
However, with the NW/KL hub in Amsterdam, it would only make sense for the flights to stop there to pick up additional passengers which may of originated at other NW/KL gateway cities (BOS, SEA, MEM, MSP, EWR, LAX, SFO, MEX, YYZ, etc) so that pax could connect onto BGW.
Lastly, I'm not sure if the DC10-30 would have the range to do DTW-BGW with a full load of pax and cargo. In addition to pax, I suspect there will be a heavy demand for cargo services into BGW as the country re-builds.
Best,
SDF_Traveler
------------------
"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." -- Ben Franklin
Jun 1, 2003 | 7:40 pm
#11
Join Date: Nov 2002
Posts: 8,227
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by SDF_Traveler:
The Detroit area actually has the largest Iraqi exile population in the United States.
However, with the NW/KL hub in Amsterdam, it would only make sense for the flights to stop there to pick up additional passengers which may of originated at other NW/KL gateway cities (BOS, SEA, MEM, MSP, EWR, LAX, SFO, MEX, YYZ, etc) so that pax could connect onto BGW.
Lastly, I'm not sure if the DC10-30 would have the range to do DTW-BGW with a full load of pax and cargo. In addition to pax, I suspect there will be a heavy demand for cargo services into BGW as the country re-builds.
Best,
SDF_Traveler
</font>
The Detroit area actually has the largest Iraqi exile population in the United States.
However, with the NW/KL hub in Amsterdam, it would only make sense for the flights to stop there to pick up additional passengers which may of originated at other NW/KL gateway cities (BOS, SEA, MEM, MSP, EWR, LAX, SFO, MEX, YYZ, etc) so that pax could connect onto BGW.
Lastly, I'm not sure if the DC10-30 would have the range to do DTW-BGW with a full load of pax and cargo. In addition to pax, I suspect there will be a heavy demand for cargo services into BGW as the country re-builds.
Best,
SDF_Traveler
</font>
Jun 2, 2003 | 12:43 am
#12
Join Date: Jul 2002
Programs: UA 1MM, SPG Lifetime Platinum, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum
Posts: 2,796
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by SDF_Traveler:
However, with the NW/KL hub in Amsterdam, it would only make sense for the flights to stop there to pick up additional passengers which may of originated at other NW/KL gateway cities (BOS, SEA, MEM, MSP, EWR, LAX, SFO, MEX, YYZ, etc) so that pax could connect onto BGW.
</font>
However, with the NW/KL hub in Amsterdam, it would only make sense for the flights to stop there to pick up additional passengers which may of originated at other NW/KL gateway cities (BOS, SEA, MEM, MSP, EWR, LAX, SFO, MEX, YYZ, etc) so that pax could connect onto BGW.
</font>