Originally Posted by
willy wombat
How popular are day flights USA - Europe? ... it was never full so you always got on.
I think you have given your own answer.
There are a range of factors that make the eastbound daylight a poor return on capital. Has to stand in JFK overnight because there's no inbound that early, and then has to stand in LHR overnight as well on arrival, because there's no long haul outbound that late. Not being overnight reduces the high end sleeper seat demand. There is zero opportunity at either end for meaningful connections. BA departure staff have to come on duty early at JFK for this one flight, then nothing for them to do until late afternoon.
But when I have taken it, it involves getting up in New York very early, and by the time I get home, within London, it's very late, and I'm distinctly knackered to set off for the office at normal time next morning.