The battle for air passengers on the busy Australia-US route has grown hotter with US airline giant Delta launching its inaugural Los Angeles to Sydney flight.
The flight is scheduled to leave LA international airport at 10.35pm LA time on Wednesday (3.35pm Thursday AEST).
Delta plans to steal market share from the dominant airlines on the route, Qantas and United Airlines and another newcomer, Richard Branson’s recently-launched V Australia.
The increased competition has slashed fares.
With Delta beginning flights from the US to Australia it becomes the only US carrier to offer service to six continents.
To celebrate the occasion, Delta partnered with Tourism Australia to stage a ‘pre-boarding party’ at the airport for the 278 passengers booked on the flight.
Qantas is famous for its flying kangaroo insignia but Delta had its own marsupial for the party.
A real kangaroo attended the party.
AAP
By: KabirT - 9th July 2009 at 20:23
ah yes, pardon my wording. 🙂
Ship741… I have passed on the message.
By: Arabella-Cox - 9th July 2009 at 19:59
How long before this route gets completely saturated with over-demand?
Surely you mean over-supply? Over demand would be win-win for all parties involved! If only it were so rosy… :rolleyes: :diablo:
By: Ship 741 - 8th July 2009 at 21:32
I have asked The Australian’s Steve Creedy for some data Steve…should have some stuff soon for all of us.
See if he can get cargo data also please.
By: KabirT - 7th July 2009 at 06:42
I haven’t seen any figures as such Kabir…but i do remember the CEO Brett Godfrey predicting they expect it to be around 18 months or so before they start seeing any break even load factors
I have asked The Australian’s Steve Creedy for some data Steve…should have some stuff soon for all of us.
By: Ship 741 - 6th July 2009 at 18:40
It’s wrong to focus only on loads, fares play as big or bigger role. It’s not the loads that count, but the yield. With the large number of additional seats being added to the market, average fare levels can be expected to fall. The lower prices might stimulate more business, but the yield per seat will be significantly less.
By: steve rowell - 6th July 2009 at 10:35
How are V Australia’s load factors coming Steve? any idea?
I haven’t seen any figures as such Kabir…but i do remember the CEO Brett Godfrey predicting they expect it to be around 18 months or so before they start seeing any break even load factors
By: KabirT - 4th July 2009 at 06:22
How are V Australia’s load factors coming Steve? any idea?
By: steve rowell - 4th July 2009 at 04:39
It’s bound to turn nasty Kabir…but i think the incumbents in Qantas and United will come up smelling of Roses in the long run
By: KabirT - 4th July 2009 at 04:33
How long before this route gets completely saturated with over-demand?
By: steve rowell - 3rd July 2009 at 23:51
They are indeed using their 777’s on this route…and yes they do have long range 744’s with the acquisition of the Northwest fleet
By: edi_right_round - 3rd July 2009 at 23:37
I can’t believe Delta actually started the service, I thought they would be too scared to compete against those QANTAS A380’s!!!
What are they using in that route?can they use the 777 LR over water , Etops issues etc?It seems that they dont have long range 4 engined aircraft in their fleet.
By: Ship 741 - 3rd July 2009 at 21:02
The battle for air passengers on the busy Australia-US route has grown hotter with US airline giant Delta launching its inaugural Los Angeles to Sydney flight….
I can’t believe Delta actually started the service, I thought they would be too scared to compete against those QANTAS A380’s!!!
By: steve rowell - 3rd July 2009 at 10:08
Then I’d wanna fly Delta if I wanted to go to the States.
Would you?
Same horse different jockey!!! the Hoi Polloi will fly with whoever is the cheapest i should imagine
By: talltower - 3rd July 2009 at 07:20
Then I’d wanna fly Delta if I wanted to go to the States.
Would you?
Sign In
July 3, 2009 at 6:34 am