European vs. U.S. Carriers on Int. Routes

[shon7]

How and why are the European and even Asian carriers able to get better load factors on International Routes as compared to the U.S. Carriers? Is it only the service issue or is there some other aspect to this?

With the growth of LCC's one keeps hearing that a significant portion of the profits for DAL, AMR etc. will come from the International Ops. But DAL, AMR, UAL are losing out to the "non-American" carriers on the Int. Routes (code shares notwithstanding).

 

[General Lee]

Shon7,


Where are you getting this info? Atleast at Delta--we are packed due to the lower dollar vs the Euro. It sounds like it would have the opposite affect, but there are more Europeans flying on us because we are cheaper than their own national airlines in Europe due to the dollar affect. Our South American flights are packed, and our sole Asian flight from ATL to NRT is usually full. We received a memo form management stating that we should not allow our friends to use buddy passes this Summer to Europe because they could get stuck there for awhile. Also, with the Olympics this year in Athens--expect full loads---and currently Delta is the only US airline flying to Athens--with two daily 767ERs from JFK. Now, if fuel prices continue to fall--that will help all over--and maybe we can keep some of that precious revenue from INTL flights that is now going to pay off total fuel bills.....

Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[MedFlyer]

I don't know if the loadfactors of the European carriers are all that much greater than US carriers. The European carriers do have greater penetration into the US markets than the US carriers have into Europe. This is largely because long-haul international flying is key to survival for the Euro carriers. Unlike US carriers, most Euro carriers have a very small domestic system and short haul travel is heavily done my train not plane. For US carriers, international flying is only a piece of the flying because the domestic market is quite large (though brutally competitive in many markets).

The better service provided by the Euro carriers certainly doesn't hurt either.

 

[habubuaza]

Not to mention foreign carriers like MAS or Singapore's first and business class kicks a$$.

 

[dash8driver]

Foreign carrier's international service is typically better than the equivalent class on a US carrier.

Additional bonus for foreign carriers: their FA's are young and hot. (can anyone say singapore airlines?)

 

[General Lee]

Our Delta stews WERE hot.(38 years ago)


Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[UpNDownGuy]

Can you say...cheaper tickets?

Tickets bought abroad for any city pairing are typically much cheaper than if you buy in the US. It sometimes approaches 50% of the cost of the same ticket if purchased in the US. A good portion of my fellow crewmembers will buy round trip tickets from places they normally position to while overseas, and stick the return portion in their bag for the next time they have to go back. Fewer restictions, as well.

That being said, cheap tickets lead to more travelers on airplanes. When the people originate overseas, they tend to book with carriers from their country, just as US travelers book US carriers. Voila! Higher load factors.

The real issue is WHY tickets are so much cheaper to buy elsewhere. Apparently, foreign carriers don't have the US Congress rooting around in their pockets looking for a balanced budget.