I did get some insight into the ‘787 replacing the 744’ scenario. 6 787s will actually increase capacity based on the plans of how the entire 787 network will fit together. IE they’ll get more hours out of the 787s to more destinations than they will he equivalent number of 744s. It’s therefore likely they’ll actually need more crew for those 6 787s than they currently have for the similar number of 744s they’ll replace. (Not sure of exact numbers).
This is done by increasing utilisation . The only problem is 1) reliability and 2) you have departure times that are best for the companies utilisation not for the benefit of the paying punter. The best example of this was the London to Melbourne service arriving late evening , it has now gone and was never popular with the punters. Another example is operating two services out of Lax to Melb only two hours apart , instead of the 380 been close to full and making money you have a 380 and a 787 both operating I’d say at break even or under. The reason that Sfo from Melbourne is only 5 a week is that they have to get the 787s from Melb to Lax for maintenance. It’s simply brilliant. As some else posted the tide is going out and we are seeing whose naked.