What I also don’t understand is why Delta is operating its daily JFK-TLV flight with a 767

Just look ahead and you’ll see that starting next June, the flight will operate with a 747!

What I also don’t understand is why Delta is operating its daily JFK-TLV flight with a 767 (ATL-TLV was, and still is with reduced frequency, a 777). In addition to Delta, the market sustains 2x daily 777 by Continental (from EWR, obviously), plus 15x weekly by El-Al (7×744 plus 2×777 to JFK and 6×777 to EWR). All with fairly high fares, which suggests that there is room for competition.

I don’t see why Delta isn’t fighting for more of the New York–Tel Aviv market, especially now that it’s the only Sky Team carrier on the route. They should be able to sustain a daily 777, especially if they cut off what’s left of Atlanta and move the connections to JFK. I wonder if it’s operational issues — starting next week, the only 777 they fly out of JFK is a daily flight to NRT, plus a repositioning flight from ATL (also, no 747s or 330s from JFK).

I also wonder if US Airways’ entry into the Tel Aviv market this past summer with a daily 332 from PHL is what’s hurting the Atlanta route. ATL and PHL are probably both more for connections than origin/destination, and perhaps they’re just making each other bleed. Maybe when the dust settles we’ll see once again that the market for flights to Tel Aviv is in New York.

Also DFW has recently opened a new observation area at the NW corner of the field. A bit monotonous with all the AA metal but they do pipe in tower signals so you can get play by play action on the west side of the airport.

Finally, MIA has some good spots and particularly between 2PM and 6PM when the Europeans take leave, breaking up the AA parade for a little while.

The A345 was purpose built for ultra-long flights like SIN-EWR yet even there the plane has restrictions. Their cabin mix allows the lightest possible payload on board that will allow the flight to operate nonstop and still generate some kind of profit for the operating carrier.

Considering SIN and EWR serve two of the largest financial markets in the world JNB simply doesn’t have that kind of clout. I also do not know if north pole headwinds are as much a factor as equatorial headwinds, one reason northbound nonstops are extremely difficult to pull off.

SYD-JNB is a walk in the park for Qantas. That run is shorter than Australia to California.

And yet on the SIN-EWR route we’ve got SQ operating an A345 with an all-biz configuration.

Zach – If there’s a lot of government traffic on these routes, then they’re required to fly American carriers, so that could be a big advantage for them. But still, I’d much rather fly Delta with a stop than put my hands in some unknown African carrier. (Now, if a reputable African carrier flies it, that’s a different story.)

Also, about the 747, Delta has said that a 747 will be the first plane to be repainted into the new colors, and it should be relatively soon. I don’t see why they’d bother if they didn’t think they had a place for them.

Optimist – Yeah, it’s not really a hub since the flights all operate on different days. But I think the biggest benefit of the Sal operation is crew scheduling. Just think how long crews would have to sit in Sal if it was just for a Liberia flight. Now they can layover in Sal and fly out relatively soon afterwards since a flight goes through there most days of the week.

Also, in the long run I think you’re right. The A330 will go away as 787s and 777s continue to roll in. But that won’t happen anytime soon, and they clearly have flights they want to be operating. Delta doesn’t have very many 777s, and the 767 can’t operate a flight like Salt Lake to Tokyo. So they’ll fill a niche until they start getting the next generation deliveries, I’d bet.

Zack Rules – I can’t see them trying something like Phoenix. Not only does it require a relatively scarce widebody, but it requires more than one to operate the schedule on such a long haul. I just don’t see it. Indy, maybe, but only if they can get a 757 to do it. And Orlando is tough, because it’s mostly traffic from Europe. Those people are less likely to fly on a US carrier.

Nicholas – Yes, Northwest has a subfleet of 757s that are based in Tokyo.

Wonko – I think you’re definitely right about those 737-700s. They’re already pushing into Central America, and are they doing a Manaus flight?

PF – I actually bet that’ll be a big piece of their business. Mormons travel a LOT.

Albert – The problem with US to Jo’burg is that not many planes can make it. South African used to fly it with a 747, but it couldn’t make the westbound flight nonstop. I believe they tried to do it with the A340-600, but I don’t know how often that made it. It’s just a really long way to go.