Delta cutting flights
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Delta cutting flights
Two weeks on, and Delta is already cutting flights
Matt O'Sullivan
July 18, 2009
DELTA AIR LINES will reduce flights between Australia and the US for three months, two weeks after launching services, amid intense competition on the route.
In an embarrassing decision, the world's largest airline has blamed the reduction of its daily service to six flights a week between September 6 and December 6 on the need to carry out maintenance on one of its long-haul Boeing 777s.
Business travellers are likely to take a dim view of the cut to flights because they like the convenience of daily services. The route has a higher percentage of corporate travellers, which had made it profitable for Qantas and United before the economic downturn.
Delta's general manager for Australasia, Steven Crowdey, said the airline had considered using another aircraft from its global network on the route but it had proved too difficult. The most suitable aircraft for the job would also have added too many seats to the route.
Mr Crowdey denied the cuts to services was due to its planned joint venture with Virgin Blue on the route or the intense competition between the four airlines. "We have looked at all the ways to save daily services but it just doesn't work. We are really upset about it," he said.
Delta would not disclose the load factors - a measure of seats occupied by paying passengers - on its aircraft during the first two weeks of flights across the Pacific.
Government figures released this week show that Virgin's long-haul carrier, V Australia, filled on average 57 per cent of the seats on each flight in April. Qantas fared much better with 82 per cent and United 78 per cent.
Virgin and Delta's plans to form a revenue-sharing agreement on the route is a tacit admission of the challenge for the two newest carriers. But Mr Crowdey said Delta did not expect a decision from regulators in the US on its proposed tie-up for up to a year.
Industry officials believe the US regulators are likely to prove the biggest hurdle to the deal.
July 18, 2009
DELTA AIR LINES will reduce flights between Australia and the US for three months, two weeks after launching services, amid intense competition on the route.
In an embarrassing decision, the world's largest airline has blamed the reduction of its daily service to six flights a week between September 6 and December 6 on the need to carry out maintenance on one of its long-haul Boeing 777s.
Business travellers are likely to take a dim view of the cut to flights because they like the convenience of daily services. The route has a higher percentage of corporate travellers, which had made it profitable for Qantas and United before the economic downturn.
Delta's general manager for Australasia, Steven Crowdey, said the airline had considered using another aircraft from its global network on the route but it had proved too difficult. The most suitable aircraft for the job would also have added too many seats to the route.
Mr Crowdey denied the cuts to services was due to its planned joint venture with Virgin Blue on the route or the intense competition between the four airlines. "We have looked at all the ways to save daily services but it just doesn't work. We are really upset about it," he said.
Delta would not disclose the load factors - a measure of seats occupied by paying passengers - on its aircraft during the first two weeks of flights across the Pacific.
Government figures released this week show that Virgin's long-haul carrier, V Australia, filled on average 57 per cent of the seats on each flight in April. Qantas fared much better with 82 per cent and United 78 per cent.
Virgin and Delta's plans to form a revenue-sharing agreement on the route is a tacit admission of the challenge for the two newest carriers. But Mr Crowdey said Delta did not expect a decision from regulators in the US on its proposed tie-up for up to a year.
Industry officials believe the US regulators are likely to prove the biggest hurdle to the deal.
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yet more confirmation that the delegation of Ministerial approval to the IASC is a flawed inarticulate process and why aviation cannot be lumped into every bilateral.
Sec 4 of the Ministerial stmt states that an approval is considered to be in the public interest and this is the panama flag that every operator relies upobn in their application........ For all the flaws of VB Holdings' Management, V OZ at the very least deserves a chance to make a go of it. It's not in the public interest for Aussie pilots and CC to be filling in Centrelink Forms.
Sadly, Delta's cuts only add to the argument by SIA that it should be given Pac route access. This pitch continues to gain momentum with existing players cutting capacity or pulling out - and pollie sidebar agreements on Asia alliances.
Sec 4 of the Ministerial stmt states that an approval is considered to be in the public interest and this is the panama flag that every operator relies upobn in their application........ For all the flaws of VB Holdings' Management, V OZ at the very least deserves a chance to make a go of it. It's not in the public interest for Aussie pilots and CC to be filling in Centrelink Forms.
Sadly, Delta's cuts only add to the argument by SIA that it should be given Pac route access. This pitch continues to gain momentum with existing players cutting capacity or pulling out - and pollie sidebar agreements on Asia alliances.
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Perhaps we could take it at face value when Delta says they are going down to 6 times weekly on LAX-SYD. A quick look at the Delta fleet list shows only 5 777-200LR in the fleet and only 8 777-200ERs. They could use some 747s which NW operate, but the 777 is the type they want to operate to SYD.
I wonder if people want to travel on the day that Delta is not operating, whether they will offer the V Australia service for that day. V Australia would probably like them to put passengers on SYD-BNE-LAX to help loads on the BNE-LAX flight, if the Delta clients do not mind changing planes at BNE.
I wonder if people want to travel on the day that Delta is not operating, whether they will offer the V Australia service for that day. V Australia would probably like them to put passengers on SYD-BNE-LAX to help loads on the BNE-LAX flight, if the Delta clients do not mind changing planes at BNE.
57% for 4 and a bit months against QF and UA who have been not only on this route for untold years but unlike VA an actual Airline in name for the same, is very good. I can only see growth for VA at the expense of the other two, be it a slow process.
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"57% for 4 and a bit months against QF and UA......"
Have you taken out the endless numbers of travel agents, journo's (Australian and US) and other assorted parasites that are part of the Virgin PR machine? I don't think a LF of 57% actually reflects paying bums in seats. And those that did pay? I am told a staff ticket attracts a premium over what the punters are paying. Delta reducing services - 2 weeks into the operation. Yep, the new kids are giving QF a right flogging.
Have you taken out the endless numbers of travel agents, journo's (Australian and US) and other assorted parasites that are part of the Virgin PR machine? I don't think a LF of 57% actually reflects paying bums in seats. And those that did pay? I am told a staff ticket attracts a premium over what the punters are paying. Delta reducing services - 2 weeks into the operation. Yep, the new kids are giving QF a right flogging.
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The Pacific By the Dusters
Qantas has had the Pacific by the dusters for years.
Ever since QF flew the 1st SP from SYD to LAX it was game over.
Qantas gets its highest number of customer accolades from this route.
Plus you can fly home to MEL BNE SYD or come thru' AKL.
Bit hard to beat the infrastructure and network
Ever since QF flew the 1st SP from SYD to LAX it was game over.
Qantas gets its highest number of customer accolades from this route.
Plus you can fly home to MEL BNE SYD or come thru' AKL.
Bit hard to beat the infrastructure and network
