Low Cost Transatlantic

[cosworth211]

A question for Airline managers out there,

Is there such a thing as a low-cost transatlantic carrier, like an easy/ryan non charter trans-atlantic jobby??

If not why would an airline not consider moving into such a market??

This is a bit of research for an ongoing uni assignment so will appreciate any answers.

[johnwalton]

This has been discussed many times in the past, for example here (http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?threadid=76494&highlight=easyatlantic), try doing a search.

[MarkD]

cosworth

aircraft utilisation being less on longhaul and more regulation of longhaul routes would be two big reasons.

a search of pprune would give you several more but that will get you started.

[Oshkosh George]

This one is supposed to start in May,but it's very quiet out there!-----

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A40193-2005Jan26.html

[Nakata77]

2 issues seem to get people really anti-long haul low cost:

* Low utilisation
* Restricted airline route options / air traffic rights

however, operating 2 sectors a day with a low cost kited-out A380 (800 pax) gives you the same pax numbers as doing 16 sectors a day with B737. Surely some cost savings can therefore be attributable to long haul low cost. Less landings, less crew costs (debatable because of overnight stops), less wear and tear on aircraft...

As for air traffic rights, there are enough options for a global low cost airline to at least make a go of the thick routes. Or ideally from regional hubs to regionals.

[malagajohn]

Air Madrid have been operating transatlantic service to various places in South America - They are supposedly low cost and cheaper than competing airlines

My personal experience is that you can almost always get a similar deal from another operator flying the route and offering full service.

AM tend to fly to each destination 2 or 3 times a week - it will be interesting to see how they get on against Iberia and Aerolineas Argentinas on the Buenos Aires route which they have just started to operate

[terrier21]

How about Zoom!!!

They seem Pretty low cost....


....and they fly from a little town across the bridge Goose or something like that!!!

:p

[MarkD]

Zoom are slowly but steadily expanding their ops (unlike say Jetsgo). Have to say their website never impressed me in the beginning but they are getting ex-KL 763s. A lot of their flights used to stop en route in places like Halifax, don't know what the situation is now. Since they target UK airports they advertise on the Premiership coverage on Sportsnet.

[Young Paul]

Most scheduled carriers are low cost to North America - that is, the economy class pax are paying less than is reasonable, because economy is being subsidised by cargo and business class. Compare the cost of a return ticket to New York (say) and ... well, anywhere in South America, or the Caribbean, or Africa, or Asia.