This week’s featured link:
CEO Interview: Air Asia X’s Plan to Make Cheap Trans-Pacific Flights a Reality – Skift
When I wrote about Air Asia coming to the US, I mentioned that it wasn’t really Honolulu that got me interested but what could be next. Here’s a good interview with the CEO of Air Asia X where he talks about some of those plans.
Two for the road:
Norwegian focuses on mid-size US cities for new Atlantic services – ATW
I’ll talk more about Norwegian’s flight plans for Stewart and Providence next week, but for now, take a look at this article which suggest more mid-size cities are going to get service in the US. I’m sure there’s a lot of excitement about that prospect.
First look: A350, Delta’s new flagship aircraft, begins to take shape – Delta News Hub
Look at that winglet. It’s a beaut, Clark.
14 comments on “3 Links I Love: Air Asia’s Growth in the US, Norwegian Too, Delta Winglet Porn”
Sad to see Delta replace all those beautiful Boeing wide bodies with these airbus planes. Fortunately the 787 revolution is thriving without them!
I flew on the 350 for the first time a month ago and really quite liked it. Yeah, sure there are no cool dimmable windows but she was REALLY quiet. She was awesome, except for Ethiopian’s questionable setup on board.
Given that DL’s 350s (and 330s and 767s) all have wider seats in coach than AA and UA’s 787s, I suspect that DL might quickly develop the reputation as being the spacious US airline.
Given that DL’s 350s will hold more than most carriers’ 787s that can operate 16 hour flights, the economics are very likely for the 350 over the 787 as well.
Airbus designed the 350 after Boeing finalized the 787; just like so many other directly competitive A vs B planes, Airbus made the 350 larger and more capable than comparable 787 models which, on longhaul aircraft often leads to lower unit costs.
btw, AA and UA both have 350s on order as well. DL just decided it doesn’t need the 787 for now. I suspect that if AA and UA had a choice, they would not have two competing airframes of similar (not identical) size/economics.
FYI UA is thinking of changing the 350 order to 330 NEOs, or maybe just canx altogether
Of course airbus designed the 350 after the 787, that’s their M.O. Let Boeing create the market first then when it proves successful, copy it and improve it slightly.
The one time airbus tried to create the market first, they ended up with an aircraft that basically only one airline is currently willing to buy. 380 production now slowed to one per month. Yikes!
So fly on your Boeing planes with tiny seats. It’s still a somewhat free country, so I will choose what is best for me, no matter who the airframer is (the pieces are all sourced from the global market anyway).
Feel free. Of course it’s a little ridiculous to blame the airframe manufacturer for the interior buildout chosen by the airlines.
The airframer chooses the cabin width. And should hopefully have someone on staff with enough math skills to calculate what layouts that width supports.
Since Airbus has spent tens of billions on the A380 which has sold a couple hundred copies to a handful of airlines while Boeing has spent tens of billions on the 787 which has still not recouped its development costs despite selling nearly 1000 copies (yikes), I would hardly throw stones or claim a victory for either A or B for either project.
Airbus still has built a larger aircraft that has wider seats which is more significant to passengers on the types of flights that the 787 and A350 were designed to operate.
And the A350 comes with some very nice looking winglets which at least for Delta have the logo on them – which I think is why the article was posted here.
Wonder if the 747-8 will recoup its (somewhat limited) development costs.
17″ wide seats in coach isn’t a part of any revolution I want to be a part of.
Now there is a good reason to fly to Stewart Airport, because it’s near a mall.
It’s also near the intersection of two interstate highways, I-84 and I-87 (NY Thruway).
I remember when the Mall of America opened northwest offered shopping trips. An early flight into MSP transfer to the Mall and back, then a late flight home. So it’s been a draw before, though MOA is a bit bigger..