Another round of cuts!
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Kev3188
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the current fuel environment means that alot of routes won't work, especially the seasonal summer routes that have been used to supplement DL's TATL operation.
There are a few markets like TXL that will be permanently given up to competitors but most cuts are simply refocusing capacity so that it can be sustainable on a year round basis.
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What hasn't been shown here is the number of former Air France flights that DL is taking over... because DL is a lower cost operator than Air France and because DL's 763s are efficient at serving lmarkets such as ORD and SEA. Whereas DL once allowed AF to fly most of the US-Paris flights with DL serving alot more destinations throughout Europe, DL is transitioning to a model w/ much less seasonal flying and flying more of the US-CDG in the same way that NW did with KLM.
BTW, the 763s that have come out of the new interior mod have been well received.. they are slightly smaller versions of the 764 which has successfully helped DL penetrate key business markets like LHR. Word is the winglets on the 763s are also exceeding fuel burn reduction targets.
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DL still has significant capacity in its fleet plan and we haven't seen plans for new routes... you might want to set the calculator aside until the new routes are announced.
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BTW, apparently DL is also cancelling the ATL-PVG route which operated just 2 days per week... but they have also been using the 744 on DTW-PVG.
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It's all about the bottom line, not putting dots or lines on a map. If it doesn't work, don't try to bluff by talking about how critical the route is... cut it and move on.
There are still significant opportunities left....
There are a few markets like TXL that will be permanently given up to competitors but most cuts are simply refocusing capacity so that it can be sustainable on a year round basis.
.
What hasn't been shown here is the number of former Air France flights that DL is taking over... because DL is a lower cost operator than Air France and because DL's 763s are efficient at serving lmarkets such as ORD and SEA. Whereas DL once allowed AF to fly most of the US-Paris flights with DL serving alot more destinations throughout Europe, DL is transitioning to a model w/ much less seasonal flying and flying more of the US-CDG in the same way that NW did with KLM.
BTW, the 763s that have come out of the new interior mod have been well received.. they are slightly smaller versions of the 764 which has successfully helped DL penetrate key business markets like LHR. Word is the winglets on the 763s are also exceeding fuel burn reduction targets.
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DL still has significant capacity in its fleet plan and we haven't seen plans for new routes... you might want to set the calculator aside until the new routes are announced.
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BTW, apparently DL is also cancelling the ATL-PVG route which operated just 2 days per week... but they have also been using the 744 on DTW-PVG.
.
It's all about the bottom line, not putting dots or lines on a map. If it doesn't work, don't try to bluff by talking about how critical the route is... cut it and move on.
There are still significant opportunities left....
yoyodyne
Veteran
Wow!!!
Such a ground breaking story 😛
YAWN!!
Maybe US can pick up the TLV route, and fly it with DH8's, and not the 400's
Such a ground breaking story 😛
YAWN!!
Maybe US can pick up the TLV route, and fly it with DH8's, and not the 400's
Kev3188
Veteran
You want minutiae? Cruise over to the AA forum, where they're discussing stanchions.
Like it or not, a lot of people find network developments interesting. Not for nothing, CNN ran this story all morning.
TLV was the biggest surprise on the list for me...
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yes, Kev, we all have our areas of interest in the industry.
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A short history lesson shows that DL's intro to the TLV market came w/ the PA asset acquisition and TLV was served via Europe on a onestop basis. DL started nonstops from JFK to CAI w/ one stop to DXB and TLV using the M11. That all ended on 9/11. DL restarted the middle east from ATL followed later by the CAI/AMM/TLV additions from JFK. ATLDXB is probably one of DL's most profitable flights.
The Arab Spring movement put yet another dent in DL's middle east/north Africa plans.
Obviously, the middle east esp. TLV market is much larger from NYC than from the southern tier. Like alot of markets, TLV has an ethnic as well as business and tourism component. The ethnic market is much more concentrated in the NE US.
The freight market to/from TLV is strong which is part of why DL has used the 777 even though ATLTLV is one of the shortest DL 777 routes.
and, yes, JFKTLV remains and is using the 744.
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Not only is it apparent from the whole list of network cuts that DL is pulling out of markets which have summer seasonal peaks but which may not be profitable for much of the rest of the year but the reality of $3/gal jet fuel means alot of routes can't be profitable even in the summer.
Throw in the European financial problems and this might be a good time to shift capacity away from Europe.
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The IATA slot conference was held last week... it is very possible that in the next couple weeks, DL will announce several new routes. Skyteam added several new partners in Asia during the past year and there have been rumors that DL would add more service to Australia.
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Recently DL apparently decided to not return two of the 744s to the leasing companies that it previously had said it would return... thus, there appear to be plans to use all of DL's fleet.
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Good network management involves knowing where to fly and when to get in and out. DL can be accused of doing alot of things poorly but building a profitable network cannot be one of them.
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DL is adding a RT each between JFK and LAX and SFO and each round-trip pretty much uses an entire airplane.
We still haven't heard what might be added in terms of new routes.
