UA expecting 787 delivery in early/mid-2012, on what routes?
Jan 21, 2011, 9:31 am
#1
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UA expecting 787 delivery in early/mid-2012, on what routes?
http://www.ausbt.com.au/united-hopes...early-mid-2012
Have there been any reports of the other routes for the 787? Speculation is interesting and all, but wondering if there have been concrete reports of routes from UA/CO?
Despite another delay for Boeing’s 787, with delivery of the Dreamliner now pushed back as far as September, United Airlines remains hopeful of introducing its first 787-8 into commercial service in the first half of next year.
The radical next-gen airliner will debut on a new non-stop route between Auckland and Houston – United’s first service in New Zealand, and one which is well-suited to the long-haul jetliner.
The radical next-gen airliner will debut on a new non-stop route between Auckland and Houston – United’s first service in New Zealand, and one which is well-suited to the long-haul jetliner.
Jan 21, 2011, 9:38 am
#2
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I'd say likely candidates are any routes currently flown by 762s and 763s, as the 787-8 promises substantial fuel efficiency improvements over those airplanes. Oil is near $100/bbl now and has been trending higher for quite a while now.
I realize that this goes against lots of airwhiners.net fantasy that 787s will be used exclusively for new ultra-longhaul routes, but the reality (IMO) is that most 787s will replace less efficient airplanes as fuel costs climb higher and higher. Unemployment is still high here and as as our economy and the worldwide economies recover, oil will probably get more expensive, not less expensive.
I realize that this goes against lots of airwhiners.net fantasy that 787s will be used exclusively for new ultra-longhaul routes, but the reality (IMO) is that most 787s will replace less efficient airplanes as fuel costs climb higher and higher. Unemployment is still high here and as as our economy and the worldwide economies recover, oil will probably get more expensive, not less expensive.
Jan 21, 2011, 10:45 am
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Perhaps IAH-LOS/ACC?
If we aren't doing the AKL route at that point, I could see it on the above route. If not, perhaps they would test it on ORD-TLV?
If we aren't doing the AKL route at that point, I could see it on the above route. If not, perhaps they would test it on ORD-TLV?
Jan 21, 2011, 11:04 am
#4
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Was anyone else surprised to read in the release that it's just a 2-cabin aircraft?
I know there's been speculation about moving the entire fleet to a 2-cabin layout, but this would seem to confirm that indeed is the direction the 'new' United is headed.
But, maybe I'm late to the party and this is already well known by the collective here.
I know there's been speculation about moving the entire fleet to a 2-cabin layout, but this would seem to confirm that indeed is the direction the 'new' United is headed.
But, maybe I'm late to the party and this is already well known by the collective here.
Jan 21, 2011, 11:09 am
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These are the purchases continental made, not united in a later RFP, so not a surprise that they are 2 class, as they are really continental birds.
Jan 21, 2011, 11:14 am
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United’s 25 787-8 Dreamliners will sport a simple two-class configuration, with 36 flat-bed seats in the business cabin and 192 seats in economy
Only 36? Look for much harder opportunities to use SWUs.
Jan 21, 2011, 11:18 am
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Only 36? Look for much harder opportunities to use SWUs.
Jan 21, 2011, 11:21 am
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United's current 767 and 747 have a proportion of C seats to Y seats of 0.17. On the reconverted 777 it is 0.18. The proportion on the 787 will be slightly higher than either: 0.19. This will be somewhat offset by the fact that there will be no F on the 787, but basically it's the same C/Y seat proportion as in the current fleet.
Jan 21, 2011, 11:46 am
#9
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Was anyone else surprised to read in the release that it's just a 2-cabin aircraft?
I know there's been speculation about moving the entire fleet to a 2-cabin layout, but this would seem to confirm that indeed is the direction the 'new' United is headed.
But, maybe I'm late to the party and this is already well known by the collective here.
I know there's been speculation about moving the entire fleet to a 2-cabin layout, but this would seem to confirm that indeed is the direction the 'new' United is headed.
But, maybe I'm late to the party and this is already well known by the collective here.
Jan 21, 2011, 12:03 pm
#10
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United’s 25 787-8 Dreamliners will sport a simple two-class configuration, with 36 flat-bed seats in the business cabin and 192 seats in economy.
Changing a 787 from two-class to three class can probably be done in a matter of days as so much of the interior is modular and can be moved around to suit the airline's specs. AA has changed the configuration of its 767s back and forth between two class and three class over the years - UA can certainly outfit these airplanes as management sees fit, and those decisions aren't locked in by prior CO management decisions.
Jan 21, 2011, 12:36 pm
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United's current 767 and 747 have a proportion of C seats to Y seats of 0.17. On the reconverted 777 it is 0.18. The proportion on the 787 will be slightly higher than either: 0.19. This will be somewhat offset by the fact that there will be no F on the 787, but basically it's the same C/Y seat proportion as in the current fleet.
IAH-AKL is 74XX miles, and with only 36 seats, that is a big reduction, compared to the 52 C seats that the 747 offers.
Jan 21, 2011, 12:41 pm
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I would caution against relying on one unattributed sentence in an Australian business travel newsletter as the definitive last word on whether United's new airplanes will be two class or three class (or even four class) when the airline's management has yet to make such an announcement.
...
UA can certainly outfit these airplanes as management sees fit, and those decisions aren't locked in by prior CO management decisions.
...
UA can certainly outfit these airplanes as management sees fit, and those decisions aren't locked in by prior CO management decisions.
Jan 21, 2011, 3:20 pm
#13
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Since IAH is going to be the first 787 crew base, expect to see them on routes ex-IAH, though I wouldn't be surprised to see ORD, SFO, and LAX get a few, too. I'd also love to see them do DEN-NRT.
Jan 21, 2011, 3:32 pm
#14
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The real risk with the 36/192 numbers is what they mean for E+. The initial config spec has BF in the forward space and for a couple rows behind 2L/R. From there to 3L/R is 31" pitch 3/3/3 Y and then the back section is 32" pitch. The 192 number would have to drop for E+ to show up.
I believe that will happen, much more easily than pulling BF for F, but it hasn't been made official yet.
Jan 21, 2011, 5:30 pm
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this is bad
United's current 767 and 747 have a proportion of C seats to Y seats of 0.17. On the reconverted 777 it is 0.18. The proportion on the 787 will be slightly higher than either: 0.19. This will be somewhat offset by the fact that there will be no F on the 787, but basically it's the same C/Y seat proportion as in the current fleet.
Look at the percentages of F/C/E+/Y seats of 747/767/777 of current UA plane configuration.
---- F -- C -- E+ -- E-
747 3% 14% 19% 64%
767 3% 14% 39% 44%
777 3% 15% 39% 43%
Proposed 787 configuration has 36 C seats and 192 Y seats by CO
----- C --- Y
787 15.8% 84.2%
Since 787 has no E+, with less premium seats and less good Y seats, it will be a very long 15 hour flight ride in Y if 787 flies to HKG/SYD.
I am not a fan of CO's uncomfortable, 31" pitch economy class seats.
We can only hope that E+ can be added if SMI/J is listening.