A330's Replacing the 742 on Japan Beach Markets This Summer
Mar 19, 2007, 1:59 pm
#1
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A330's Replacing the 742 on Japan Beach Markets This Summer
Well its official now, the end of passenger 747-200 service is in sight. Right now it appears to be on/around September 1.
Today NW announced that they will begin flying the A330-300 on the remaining 742 routes NRT-GUM, NRT-SPN, and one of the NRT-HNL routes. NRT-HNL will gain an additional flight, and HNL-KIX will switch from a 744 to an A330-300.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/070319/20070319005886.html?.v=1
While there will be somewhat of a reduction of seats in certain markets, there will be an increase on the NRT-HNL route. With 2 744's & an A333 departing all within an hour of each other. Thus, NW is shuffling the 744's off of NRT-KIX to make up for capacity in the NRT-HNL market. Traditionally, NRT-KIX had been a DC-10 route until mid-2006 when it switched to a 744. So NRT-KIX is going back to its normal capacity.
A330's will be bridged in through HNL for intra-Asia flying with the MSP-HNL flight.
NRT-GUM: 742, 757 -> 744, 757 (mid-Aug through 09/27/07 -> A333, 757 09/28/07
NRT-SPN: 742, 757 -> A333, 757 09/02/07
NRT-HNL: 744,742 (2 daily) -> 07/01/07 744, 744, A333
KIX-HNL: 744 -> A333 07/01/07
Thus, last passenger 747-200 flight, based on my research: (please check on this before booking your last 742 flights, lol)
September 1, 2007
NW 75 SPN-NRT Dep: 4:55pm Arr: 7:30pm
Today NW announced that they will begin flying the A330-300 on the remaining 742 routes NRT-GUM, NRT-SPN, and one of the NRT-HNL routes. NRT-HNL will gain an additional flight, and HNL-KIX will switch from a 744 to an A330-300.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/070319/20070319005886.html?.v=1
While there will be somewhat of a reduction of seats in certain markets, there will be an increase on the NRT-HNL route. With 2 744's & an A333 departing all within an hour of each other. Thus, NW is shuffling the 744's off of NRT-KIX to make up for capacity in the NRT-HNL market. Traditionally, NRT-KIX had been a DC-10 route until mid-2006 when it switched to a 744. So NRT-KIX is going back to its normal capacity.
A330's will be bridged in through HNL for intra-Asia flying with the MSP-HNL flight.
NRT-GUM: 742, 757 -> 744, 757 (mid-Aug through 09/27/07 -> A333, 757 09/28/07
NRT-SPN: 742, 757 -> A333, 757 09/02/07
NRT-HNL: 744,742 (2 daily) -> 07/01/07 744, 744, A333
KIX-HNL: 744 -> A333 07/01/07
Thus, last passenger 747-200 flight, based on my research: (please check on this before booking your last 742 flights, lol)
September 1, 2007
NW 75 SPN-NRT Dep: 4:55pm Arr: 7:30pm
Mar 19, 2007, 2:04 pm
#2
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If this is turns out to be the case, what do you all say we do a 742 Retirement DO in SPN? 
Mar 19, 2007, 2:06 pm
#3
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what are the prospects for any of these shells being converted to freighters?
Mar 19, 2007, 2:09 pm
#4
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Mar 19, 2007, 2:55 pm
#5
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unless of course the birds would be coming back to MSP then maybe we could convince someone at NWA to route them back through SEA or LAX so everyone could enjoy a "last ride" on the 742....
Mar 19, 2007, 3:24 pm
#6
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Mar 19, 2007, 4:34 pm
#7
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Wow... that is a big difference in lift. A beach market 747-200 has 30 business and 400 coach seats, while an A330 has 264 coach seats and 34 business. That is a net loss of 132 coach seats on a 1500 mile flight. I can only assume those 747-200s are drinking fuel like it is going out of style for those numbers to work.
Mar 19, 2007, 4:52 pm
#8
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Nooooooooo!
I love being on that 742 with only 80 people on the plane. You mean I am actually going to have to sit next to someone, now?
I love being on that 742 with only 80 people on the plane. You mean I am actually going to have to sit next to someone, now?
Mar 19, 2007, 5:01 pm
#9
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Finally!
I started a 747-200 Retirement DO thread the day after the DC-10 retirement, and have been waiting for word on this. The 747 ops manager never got back to me, but I guess a press release should suffice!
(Maybe the threads can be merged?)
(Maybe the threads can be merged?)
Mar 20, 2007, 4:31 am
#10
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Posts: 3,395
Well, if they are not completely ready to retire them they could always bring them back to the states and use them on similar domestic low yield high volume domestic routes. Its not completely crazy as years ago NW used to operate a 741 to MCO. A 742 DTW-MCO flight would free up two 757's for either conversion or better utilization.
Mar 20, 2007, 7:29 am
#11
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It wouldn;t make sense fuel-wise..
Mar 20, 2007, 12:02 pm
#12
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Wow... that is a big difference in lift. A beach market 747-200 has 30 business and 400 coach seats, while an A330 has 264 coach seats and 34 business. That is a net loss of 132 coach seats on a 1500 mile flight. I can only assume those 747-200s are drinking fuel like it is going out of style for those numbers to work.
Mar 20, 2007, 12:31 pm
#13
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From NWA Email Extras:
NWA Introduces Airbus A330 between Hawaii and Japan
Service added as part of expansion
(March 19, 2007) - Northwest Airlines today announced that it will introduce its Airbus A330 wide-body aircraft between Tokyo and Honolulu, Saipan, and Guam, and between Honolulu and Osaka starting this summer.
"The introduction of A330s between Hawaii and Japan markets brings a new level of passenger comfort and in-flight service to these routes," said Phil Haan, executive vice president of international, alliances and information technology and chairman of NWA Cargo. "From seat comfort to in-flight entertainment, our A330s provide customers with the foremost travel experience."
Northwest began taking delivery of new Airbus A330 aircraft in August 2003 and currently has 26 aircraft in trans-Atlantic, trans-Pacific, and intra-Asia service. Its A330 fleet includes fourteen 298-seat A330-300s, and 12 longer-range, 243-seat A330-200s.
With an average fleet age of two years, Northwest's A330s are one of the youngest international fleets in the airline industry. Northwest has an additional six A330 aircraft scheduled for delivery between now and the end of 2007.
Additional Service From Honolulu To Tokyo
During Peak SeasonWith the addition of a new afternoon departure between Honolulu and Tokyo, Northwest will increase its daily nonstop schedule to three flights, beginning July 1 through August 31.
A330 Provides Travelers with Better Seats, In-Flight Entertainment System
Northwest's A330s are equipped with the airline's World Business Class lie-flat seats, new seats in economy class, and an in-flight entertainment (IFE) system in both cabins.
The fully interactive IFE system offers travelers a choice of 40 movies, four short-subject video programs, 56 different audio selections, six games and in-flight information, all available "on demand," giving customers the freedom and flexibility to start, pause or stop their selection at any time. Northwest offers numerous selections in Japanese including family friendly programming. The gateway to all of these features is a convenient retractable controller, making it easy to access from any sitting positions.
In World Business Class, Northwest customers are able to view any of these features on a 10.4-inch/26.4-centimeter video screen, 50 percent larger in size than the screens found in business class seats on a number of international airlines. Northwest customers traveling in economy class are able to view these features on a personal video screen located in the back of the seat in front of them.
World Business Class travelers also enjoy an array of features including a seat that reclines 176 degrees, a leather-wrapped privacy canopy, 60 inches of space between seats, 110-volt personal laptop computer power, cycling lumbar support, a six-way adjustable headrest that slides along a track so it can be adjusted to a traveler's height, and four seat-back storage pockets.
Northwest's A330s also feature a completely new economy class seat, offered in a two-seat, aisle, four-seat, aisle, two-seat configuration throughout much of the aircraft. As a result, no seat is more than one seat away from an aisle. The new economy seat, which offers more personal space than any other seat in the airline's fleet, features a "winged" headrest, with bendable sides, allowing the customer to rest their head or sleep toward the side of the seat.
Northwest Offers Most Trans-Pacific Flights From Japan
Northwest is celebrating its 60th anniversary of service to Asia and has one of the industry’s largest Pacific route networks. Today, Northwest offers 220 weekly flights from Japan to 19 nonstop destinations including:
From Tokyo (seven flights weekly except as noted)
* Bangkok
* Beijing
* Busan
* Detroit (14 weekly flights)
* Guam (A330 effective Sept 28)
* Guangzhou
* Hong Kong
* Honolulu (21 weekly flights, A330 effective July 1)
* Los Angeles
* Manila
* Minneapolis/St. Paul (eight weekly flights)
* Nagoya (international online connections)
* Portland
* San Francisco
* Saipan (A330 effective Sept.2)
* Seattle (nine weekly flights effective April 6)
* Seoul
* Shanghai
* Singapore
From Nagoya
* Detroit
* Guam
* Manila
* Saipan
* Tokyo (international online connections)
From Osaka
* Detroit
* Taipei
* Honolulu (A330 effective July 1)
* Guam
NWA Introduces Airbus A330 between Hawaii and Japan
Service added as part of expansion
(March 19, 2007) - Northwest Airlines today announced that it will introduce its Airbus A330 wide-body aircraft between Tokyo and Honolulu, Saipan, and Guam, and between Honolulu and Osaka starting this summer.
"The introduction of A330s between Hawaii and Japan markets brings a new level of passenger comfort and in-flight service to these routes," said Phil Haan, executive vice president of international, alliances and information technology and chairman of NWA Cargo. "From seat comfort to in-flight entertainment, our A330s provide customers with the foremost travel experience."
Northwest began taking delivery of new Airbus A330 aircraft in August 2003 and currently has 26 aircraft in trans-Atlantic, trans-Pacific, and intra-Asia service. Its A330 fleet includes fourteen 298-seat A330-300s, and 12 longer-range, 243-seat A330-200s.
With an average fleet age of two years, Northwest's A330s are one of the youngest international fleets in the airline industry. Northwest has an additional six A330 aircraft scheduled for delivery between now and the end of 2007.
Additional Service From Honolulu To Tokyo
During Peak SeasonWith the addition of a new afternoon departure between Honolulu and Tokyo, Northwest will increase its daily nonstop schedule to three flights, beginning July 1 through August 31.
A330 Provides Travelers with Better Seats, In-Flight Entertainment System
Northwest's A330s are equipped with the airline's World Business Class lie-flat seats, new seats in economy class, and an in-flight entertainment (IFE) system in both cabins.
The fully interactive IFE system offers travelers a choice of 40 movies, four short-subject video programs, 56 different audio selections, six games and in-flight information, all available "on demand," giving customers the freedom and flexibility to start, pause or stop their selection at any time. Northwest offers numerous selections in Japanese including family friendly programming. The gateway to all of these features is a convenient retractable controller, making it easy to access from any sitting positions.
In World Business Class, Northwest customers are able to view any of these features on a 10.4-inch/26.4-centimeter video screen, 50 percent larger in size than the screens found in business class seats on a number of international airlines. Northwest customers traveling in economy class are able to view these features on a personal video screen located in the back of the seat in front of them.
World Business Class travelers also enjoy an array of features including a seat that reclines 176 degrees, a leather-wrapped privacy canopy, 60 inches of space between seats, 110-volt personal laptop computer power, cycling lumbar support, a six-way adjustable headrest that slides along a track so it can be adjusted to a traveler's height, and four seat-back storage pockets.
Northwest's A330s also feature a completely new economy class seat, offered in a two-seat, aisle, four-seat, aisle, two-seat configuration throughout much of the aircraft. As a result, no seat is more than one seat away from an aisle. The new economy seat, which offers more personal space than any other seat in the airline's fleet, features a "winged" headrest, with bendable sides, allowing the customer to rest their head or sleep toward the side of the seat.
Northwest Offers Most Trans-Pacific Flights From Japan
Northwest is celebrating its 60th anniversary of service to Asia and has one of the industry’s largest Pacific route networks. Today, Northwest offers 220 weekly flights from Japan to 19 nonstop destinations including:
From Tokyo (seven flights weekly except as noted)
* Bangkok
* Beijing
* Busan
* Detroit (14 weekly flights)
* Guam (A330 effective Sept 28)
* Guangzhou
* Hong Kong
* Honolulu (21 weekly flights, A330 effective July 1)
* Los Angeles
* Manila
* Minneapolis/St. Paul (eight weekly flights)
* Nagoya (international online connections)
* Portland
* San Francisco
* Saipan (A330 effective Sept.2)
* Seattle (nine weekly flights effective April 6)
* Seoul
* Shanghai
* Singapore
From Nagoya
* Detroit
* Guam
* Manila
* Saipan
* Tokyo (international online connections)
From Osaka
* Detroit
* Taipei
* Honolulu (A330 effective July 1)
* Guam
Mar 20, 2007, 6:45 pm
#14
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Posts: 5,423
Plus, there's the extra cost of the flight engineer and the complexities of scheduling a cockpit crew of 3 vs 2.
Mar 21, 2007, 6:58 pm
#15
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B742 retirement?
NWA announced to Guam and CNMI media that in a few months GUM/SPN services (from NGO/KIX/NRT) will be A332/A333. So where else do they still use B742?