LHR - MCO Rumour
Aug 4, 2022, 2:39 pm
#16
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: NYC
Programs: UA-1K MM, AA-Gold, DL-Silver, AS-MVP
Posts: 2,509
What plane would UA even fly on MCO-LHR? Not to say they can't rotate planes from other hubs, but MCO-LHR is very leisure market.
BA and VS both fly low-J configurations, with 48J on 772 and 16J on A350, respectively.
Currently, the least J-dense plane UA flies to LHR is 757, but that won't make it on MCO-LHR. So the next least J-dense plane that UA flies to LHR would be 789 (or 772, depending on how you measure density). That would be a lot of lift for a leisure market. Only other option is to fly a low-J 763, which would mean sacrificing J seats on another route.
BA and VS both fly low-J configurations, with 48J on 772 and 16J on A350, respectively.
Currently, the least J-dense plane UA flies to LHR is 757, but that won't make it on MCO-LHR. So the next least J-dense plane that UA flies to LHR would be 789 (or 772, depending on how you measure density). That would be a lot of lift for a leisure market. Only other option is to fly a low-J 763, which would mean sacrificing J seats on another route.
Aug 4, 2022, 3:17 pm
#18
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2000
Location: TPA for now. Hopefully LIS for retirement
Posts: 13,705
No way UA would be interested in leisure-heavy LHR-MCO. And BA and VS already have multiple daily flights on that route to bring all the Brits to the Mouse.
Also, F/As find out about new routes at about the same time FTers do - and often later.
Also, F/As find out about new routes at about the same time FTers do - and often later.
Aug 4, 2022, 6:51 pm
#20
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 1,620
For that matter, TPA used to and still might have a UA hanger. Though I want to say that they got rid of the TPA hanger.
Aug 5, 2022, 6:54 am
#21
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 402
UA has two hangers at MCO from the Continental days. Iirc they are mostly if not only 737 maintenance and maybe I want to say AVOD/IFE maintenance as well.
For that matter, TPA used to and still might have a UA hanger. Though I want to say that they got rid of the TPA hanger.
For that matter, TPA used to and still might have a UA hanger. Though I want to say that they got rid of the TPA hanger.
https://news.tampaairport.com/united...cility-at-tpa/
Aug 5, 2022, 9:47 am
#22
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Morris County, NJ
Programs: UA 1K/*G, Avis Pres, Marriott Plat
Posts: 2,305
UA has two hangers at MCO from the Continental days. Iirc they are mostly if not only 737 maintenance and maybe I want to say AVOD/IFE maintenance as well.
For that matter, TPA used to and still might have a UA hanger. Though I want to say that they got rid of the TPA hanger.
For that matter, TPA used to and still might have a UA hanger. Though I want to say that they got rid of the TPA hanger.
That said, there’s a lot of commonality with the 767, so it probably isn’t too far of a stretch to add an occasional 767 there for maintenance as well.
That’s 100% speculation from an armchair nobody — there are plenty of FT’ers that are much closer to the industry who would have a much better idea if it’s feasible or not.
Aug 5, 2022, 10:55 am
#23
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Bellingham/Gainesville
Programs: UA-G MM, Priority Club Platinum, Avis First, Hertz 5*, Red Lion
Posts: 2,808
757 work as well. That’s why we see many 757’s on the late evening EWR-MCO and early morning MCO-EWR. They rotate in for overnight maintenance.
That said, there’s a lot of commonality with the 767, so it probably isn’t too far of a stretch to add an occasional 767 there for maintenance as well.
That’s 100% speculation from an armchair nobody — there are plenty of FT’ers that are much closer to the industry who would have a much better idea if it’s feasible or not.
That said, there’s a lot of commonality with the 767, so it probably isn’t too far of a stretch to add an occasional 767 there for maintenance as well.
That’s 100% speculation from an armchair nobody — there are plenty of FT’ers that are much closer to the industry who would have a much better idea if it’s feasible or not.
Aug 5, 2022, 11:04 am
#24
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 1,620
I know that airside 3 can handle widebody aircraft as I have flown AA763s and 330s from airside three, generally from gate 30-39 (the mainly Spirit gates).
Still MCO-UK has lots of competition already and if DL which has a much larger presence at MCO (once had a hub there) could not make it work, I really do not see UA making a go of it.
Last edited by kmersh; Aug 5, 2022 at 11:11 am
Aug 5, 2022, 11:51 am
#25
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: EWR
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 255
MCO can handle widebodies without issue. They were getting 777-300, 777-200, and 763s this last winter from IAD, DEN, EWR, and ORD. Now there is a semi regular 764 from EWR.
Gates are not the issue. Facts would be though.
Gates are not the issue. Facts would be though.
Aug 6, 2022, 2:35 pm
#26
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Morris County, NJ
Programs: UA 1K/*G, Avis Pres, Marriott Plat
Posts: 2,305
Of course this is all rumor and conjecture, and an unlikely one at that. If I had a nickel for every flight base rumor ...
Last edited by dmurphynj; Aug 7, 2022 at 10:32 am
Aug 6, 2022, 2:44 pm
#27
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Over the Bay Bridge, CA
Programs: Jumbo mas
Posts: 38,638
Aug 6, 2022, 3:02 pm
#28
Join Date: Sep 2021
Programs: Delta Platinum, Hilton HHonors Silver, Hertz Gold Status.
Posts: 80
No question MCO has been a legacy CO huge maintenance hub in the past. One time in the late-1990s we did EWR-MCO on a DC-10. UA also had a solid presence as well flying widebodies in and out of MCO pretty consistently to some of the hubs. Nothing compared to what they had as a Focus City at MIA though.
The question is whether UA is even suitable for a market like MCO-LHR. Maybe a few times weekly at best? If anything, DL probably has the best shot of handling a route like this.
The question is whether UA is even suitable for a market like MCO-LHR. Maybe a few times weekly at best? If anything, DL probably has the best shot of handling a route like this.
Aug 6, 2022, 3:25 pm
#29
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: New York, NY
Programs: UA, AA, DL, Hertz, Avis, National, Hyatt, Hilton, SPG, Marriott
Posts: 9,452
On one hand, MCO-London is an enormous market, but it’s largely oriented to the British point of sale, and primarily leisure. That’s why you see the UK-based tail of the BA/AA and DL/VS JVs on the route, with their highest-density configurations.
I could see an argument that it might make sense for a Star presence in the market, but I’m not holding my breath on this rumor.
In terms of the capability of the MCO station, UA has excellent resources and facilities there, second only to hubs, so that would be no constraint… if there were a business case for UA to operate MCO-LHR.
Completed and in use.
I could see an argument that it might make sense for a Star presence in the market, but I’m not holding my breath on this rumor.
In terms of the capability of the MCO station, UA has excellent resources and facilities there, second only to hubs, so that would be no constraint… if there were a business case for UA to operate MCO-LHR.
They recently announced a brand new facility in TPA. I have no idea if it was ever completed.
https://news.tampaairport.com/united...cility-at-tpa/
https://news.tampaairport.com/united...cility-at-tpa/
