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United announces seasonal SFO-DEL nonstop daily service

 
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iah87
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PostPosted: Thu Dec 13, 2018 3:53 am    Post subject: United announces seasonal SFO-DEL nonstop daily service Reply with quote

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
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PostPosted: Thu Dec 13, 2018 8:07 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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
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PostPosted: Fri Dec 14, 2018 3:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

AI better pull up their socks and get those damned PTV screens working.
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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
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PostPosted: Fri Dec 14, 2018 5:01 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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
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PostPosted: Sun Dec 16, 2018 9:58 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

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
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PostPosted: Mon Dec 17, 2018 10:46 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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
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PostPosted: Tue Dec 18, 2018 6:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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
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PostPosted: Tue Dec 18, 2018 7:37 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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
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PostPosted: Wed Dec 19, 2018 6:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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
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PostPosted: Wed Dec 19, 2018 8:35 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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
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PostPosted: Wed Dec 19, 2018 9:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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
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PostPosted: Wed Dec 19, 2018 9:23 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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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