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iah87 Member
Joined: 17 Apr 2007 Posts: 2566
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Posted: Thu Dec 13, 2018 3:53 am Post subject: United announces seasonal SFO-DEL nonstop daily service |
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https://hub.united.com/2018-12-12-united-airlines-announces-largest-international-route-expansion-in-san-francisco-2623210816.html
SFO - Delhi daily seasonal service using 787-9 starting Dec 5, 2019, long lead time prior to the flight startup.
UA noticed that AI was successful on this route and also noticed AI increased frequency. AI is having good yields and loads on this route now there is competition. Fortunately for AI it is only seasonal. However if the route for UA exceeds expectations, they may make it year round.
UA does not expect much connection traffic beyond DEL due to the late arrival times. |
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Caliguy Member
Joined: 14 Nov 2007 Posts: 723 Location: Los Angeles
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Posted: Thu Dec 13, 2018 8:07 pm Post subject: |
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I bet UA saw their FF flyers going on AI through milage accrual. Probably the worst feeling when your core SF based FF fly another airline and you see the miles accruing to your program (and no JV). I wonder what seasonal means. I've always felt that the IATA Winter is too short and doesn't include peak Diwali periods. But I guess the summer in DEL is not great and the plane can probably make much more flying to EU. |
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The_Goat Member
Joined: 03 Mar 2007 Posts: 3260 Location: South of France
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Posted: Fri Dec 14, 2018 3:56 pm Post subject: |
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AI better pull up their socks and get those damned PTV screens working. _________________ I don't know which is the more pampered bunch : AI's widebodies (the aunties) or Jet's widebodies (the planes).
-Jasepl |
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Jaysit Member
Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 4346
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Posted: Fri Dec 14, 2018 5:01 pm Post subject: |
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The_Goat wrote: | AI better pull up their socks and get those damned PTV screens working. |
AI doesn't care. Low fares and government largesse keep it flapping along. |
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ryder1650 Member
Joined: 17 Jul 2007 Posts: 554
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Posted: Sun Dec 16, 2018 9:58 am Post subject: |
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Jaysit wrote: |
AI doesn't care. Low fares and government largesse keep it flapping along. |
Interestingly, AI seems to command a fare premium on SFO-DEL versus the one-stop options. |
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sumantra Member
Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 4685 Location: New Delhi
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Posted: Mon Dec 17, 2018 10:46 pm Post subject: |
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ryder1650 wrote: | Jaysit wrote: | AI doesn't care. Low fares and government largesse keep it flapping along. | Interestingly, AI seems to command a fare premium on SFO-DEL versus the one-stop options. | Quite true. The yields are great. The loads have been excellent, and the ticket prices, often through the roof. Interestingly enough, AI seems to have had wind of the impending UA (albeit seasonal) service. There were noises in official quarters about revamping the interior hard product, including a statement by the minister of state. I really hope AI do this. They are doing very well on the North American routes.
Cheers, Sumantra. |
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Jaysit Member
Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 4346
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Posted: Tue Dec 18, 2018 6:20 pm Post subject: |
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Why is this a seasonal service? Doesn't India-California merit at least a 4-5w service during nonpeak months? |
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Caliguy Member
Joined: 14 Nov 2007 Posts: 723 Location: Los Angeles
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Posted: Tue Dec 18, 2018 7:37 pm Post subject: |
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Jaysit wrote: | Why is this a seasonal service? Doesn't India-California merit at least a 4-5w service during nonpeak months? |
I think they want to see how things go. So no egg on their face. I am pretty sure they think they can get J pax (probably stollen from LH rather than AI). The question they need to test is can they get Y pax to pay a premium for a nonstop or Y+. My guess is that they can. NYC and SF have probably the richest Indian / Indian American populations.
The bigger question is should AI continue with 9 days a week SFO-DEL. Do they move 3 flights to LAX? Keep SFO-DEL daily and maybe add two/three nonstops per week SFO-BLR? |
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sumantra Member
Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 4685 Location: New Delhi
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Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2018 6:48 pm Post subject: |
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Caliguy wrote: | The bigger question is should AI continue with 9 days a week SFO-DEL. Do they move 3 flights to LAX? Keep SFO-DEL daily and maybe add two/three nonstops per week SFO-BLR? | I do not think that LAX is a viable option right now. I think the present scheme with DEL-SFO-DEL with an International connector to BLR both ways should do fine. The route perhaps has the numbers for more than one operator. AI did the route in a textbook fashion: from a non-daily, to a daily, then to more than that. Now, if only they manage to get the hard product better: in time. They may pull it off this time, who knows.
Cheers, Sumantra. |
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Caliguy Member
Joined: 14 Nov 2007 Posts: 723 Location: Los Angeles
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Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2018 8:35 pm Post subject: |
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sumantra wrote: | ryder1650 wrote: | Jaysit wrote: | AI doesn't care. Low fares and government largesse keep it flapping along. | Interestingly, AI seems to command a fare premium on SFO-DEL versus the one-stop options. | Quite true. The yields are great. The loads have been excellent, and the ticket prices, often through the roof. Interestingly enough, AI seems to have had wind of the impending UA (albeit seasonal) service. There were noises in official quarters about revamping the interior hard product, including a statement by the minister of state. I really hope AI do this. They are doing very well on the North American routes.
Cheers, Sumantra. |
The fare premium was inevitable. As incomes of Indian Americans continue to rise (including more recent immigrants that travel back more plus the group that came in the 70's that is retiring quite well off), people want nonstop flights and flight times that are convenient. While I get some people don't care about nonstops nor flight times, why some people think all Indians just love the current connect in EU/ME/Far East situation is beyond me. Even medium size cities in China want nonstop connectivity.
Btw I pull up UA's seat map on expert flyer every now and then for EWR-BOM, how they can fill that huge J cabin to BOM is amazing. They charge $11k as the plane fills up. Good for them. |
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sumantra Member
Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 4685 Location: New Delhi
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Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2018 9:19 pm Post subject: |
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Caliguy wrote: | Btw I pull up UA's seat map on expert flyer every now and then for EWR-BOM, how they can fill that huge J cabin to BOM is amazing. They charge $11k as the plane fills up. Good for them. | As you mention, BOM has good premium demand, and the overall demand in terms of numbers and yields for two carriers, AI and UA. While AI has traditionally done well on this route, UA hasn't been spectacular, but is going along.
Cheers, Sumantra. |
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Jaysit Member
Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 4346
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Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2018 9:23 pm Post subject: |
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sumantra wrote: | Caliguy wrote: | Btw I pull up UA's seat map on expert flyer every now and then for EWR-BOM, how they can fill that huge J cabin to BOM is amazing. They charge $11k as the plane fills up. Good for them. | As you mention, BOM has good premium demand, and the overall demand in terms of numbers and yields for two carriers, AI and UA. While AI has traditionally done well on this route, UA hasn't been spectacular, but is going along.
Cheers, Sumantra. |
If you're flying from the NYC area, then the nonstops are convenient.
Anywhere else, and it's a tossup. Personally, I think QR is the best thing in the air, followed by EY, and then TK. Between these carriers, you're essentially one stop away to India from most major metro areas in the US. |
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