NYC from regionals
Skipness is right about the problem with getting market penetration. At MAN we know all about this - the figures say there is a market for HKG, BKK, SYD and more, but we still don't have these routes because there are so many good alternatives available via a myriad of connections. Add to that the complexities of frequent flyer clubs etc which draw away business to hubs, and you need a market which is perhaps 3 or 4 times the capacity offered on a direct route before it could work commercially. A direct route to NYC remains a rite of passage for regionals seeking intercontinental status, but the sad fact is that very few could support it. MAN does just about, but even then it has seasonal capacity shifts and relies on B757 economics.