6 replies to this topic

[whowey]

United flight changes shift focus to Asian routes, cargo

By Dave Carpenter
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

CHICAGO — Shifting its focus increasingly toward more lucrative routes across the Pacific, United Airlines announced Friday that it will add 40 weekly flights to Asia over the next nine months and no longer will fly from New York to London and Tokyo.

United also plans to add more cargo capacity as it seeks to strengthen its bottom line in the face of record fuel prices that have slowed its recovery after a three-year bankruptcy restructuring.

The nation’s second-largest carrier agreed to sell its New York-London route authority to No. 3 Delta Air Lines Inc. for $21 million, dropping a hotly contested but unprofitable route to focus more on trans-Pacific flights where its broad international network gives it an advantage.

It said it will move its Tokyo service from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport to Washington Dulles International Airport.

The schedule changes make sense for United because of strong business travel demand on routes to Asia and because of the premium prices that can be charged for long international flights, said John Pincavage, an independent airline consultant.

Shares in the company rose 53 cents to close at $27.52 on the Nasdaq Stock Market.

[piercey]

What's the tempeture in hell?

[TorqueWrench]

What's the tempeture in hell?

Still quite hot... not as cold as you might be trying to suggest...

Nice move by UAL, they drop a profitless route and make $21 Million out of the deal... :saint:

[sawilson1971]

Does this now give Delta slots at Heathrow? I thought only 2 UK and 2 US based carriers coould fly the Atlantic from Heathrow.

What chance that Delta will drop this route and use the slots to fly into Heathrow from Atlanta.

With low cost carriers (Zoom and Globespan to name but two) now starting to make their weight felt on transatlantic routes will the established long-haul carriers all have to re-assess their business models?

Regards

Steve

[miller22 (inactive)]

Nope. Delta will be running JFK-LGW. The UK is still rediculously restrictive on which US Airlines can get into Heathrow. Still only United and American are allowed.

[StephenM]

In Ireland its different, easy for US Carriers and hard on Aer Lingus, we are only allowed to fly to 5 destinations!

[BrianReidy]

Looks like UA has dropped JFK-LHR and is seeking approval for IAD-NRT, probably to compete with ANA. They've gotten the go-ahead for IAD-KWI as well which is great. Lots of cargo $ to be made there.

Regards
BR