I was looking on www.unitedrhapsody.com, and I was wondering about UA's claim in one of their print ads that they are the US's largest international carrier.

I thought that the largest international carrier claim-to-fame was reserved for CO. On what basis is UA making that statement?

CO serves more destinations, but UA carriers more passengers and more RPM's (and ASM's), especially with multiple 747's and 777's going across the Pacific. A bunch of 50-seat RJ's going to Mexico don't help you in the passenger department.



R

[Edited 2004-06-12 23:45:26]

Although I DO NOT have any stats to back it up, I always thought that NW was Americas largest international carrier. However, UA would make sense, and so would CO.

I wonder where I could find stats like that on airlines?

Regards,
Mike

I agree that it makes sense that based on seats United wins out, probably handidly. Everything going international is pretty much a 744, 777, or 763....except for their token services to the caribbean and even then they're more likely to use a 757. Now Continental, with the Guam hub and the service to obscure European destinations does have many cities served, but lots of flights across the Atlantic are on 757s and 762s, and the services within Asia from the Guam hub are prodominately on the 738. Not to mention that while they do have service to everywhere in Mexico with a paved runway practically, they are on 37 or 50 seat RJs.

I wouldn't be surprised if Northwest does lead Internationally in one certain category though: Percent of revenue derived from International operations. I believe that 25-30% of NW's revenue is from flights in and out of Asia. Throw in NW's share of the KL/NW US-Europe traffic and then NW's numerous services to Canada (#1 US airline in the US-Canada market) and the token services to the Carribean and Mexico I wouldn't be surprised if almost half of NW's revenue was on some type of Int'l flight...

By international RPMs, the official measurement of airline size, the breakdown is as follows for the year so far:

UNITED
Pacific
9,178,684
Atlantic
5,942,526
Latin America
1,535,356
TOTAL: 16,656,566

AMERICAN
Atlantic
6,634,644
Latin America
7,739,235
Pacific
1,633,562
TOTAL: 16,007,440

DELTA
Atlantic
6,846,324
Latin America
1,811,764
Pacific
463,901

TOTAL: 9,121,989

NORTHWEST
Atlantic
3,901,904
Pacific
7,835,220

TOTAL: 11,737,124

CONTINENTAL
Atlantic
4,626,324
Latin America
3,546,536
Pacific
2,339,997

TOTAL: 10,512,857

So, in order, the largest airlines by international flying is:

1. United
2. American
3. Northwest
4. Continental
5. Delta

Hope that helps!

Jeremy

Well the chart above shows thta AA is strong in Latin America but weak in the Pacific, and UA is strong in the Pacific and weak down South. So I don't know if it is a fair assesment to compare them.

Venezuela747, how else IS there to compare? Honestly--if you are comparing all of international, you must combine, well...ALL of the international flying...

F L Y 7 7 7 U A L

Is UA weak flying down the south?????

United Airlines:

I meant they are a weak airline down in South America compared to AA or CO.

Venezuela747:

As far as I know, CO doesn't serve EZE or SCL. AA seems to be the lead in South America, followed by UA and DL. By the way, does anyone know why NW doesn't serve South America?

XV

Probably because CO and DL pretty much take care of it for them.

For me, it's good to see that DL has surpassed UA in Latin America and has reclaimed the spot of largest airline to Europe from AA. Increased ATL-MUC, and JFK-ATH this month will build those numbers.

Jeremy

Bankruptcy and continued storage of large planes will also increase DLs numbers. Canceling 777 orders will also help increase the DL figures...........

DL is on the way down for a little time in chap 11. Have fun DL I am glad UA is on the way up rather than down.

P.S. Get a a third class of service DL.

Not to mention that UA's lead is sure to increase with the recent addition of RPM-rich flts like IAD-ZRH, ORD-KIX and SFO-PEK (although the last one is replacing NRT-PEK, it will still generate more RPMs).

"Bankruptcy and continued storage of large planes will also increase DLs numbers. Canceling 777 orders will also help increase the DL figures..........."

What's that supposed to mean? DL is taking planes OUT of storage, not the other way around. Even if bankruptcy did occur, I don't see DL downsizing all that much. I see Song going back to mainline, maybe DFW will be cut as a hub. SLC has been getting flights back, SLC-SEA is back to 5 daily mainlinr flights, one being a 767. CVG performs VERY well, high yields, and high volumes of connecting traffic. I see CVG eventually getting more long-range routes. Recently DL has increased or started flights from CVG-HNL, CVG-CUN, CVG-FCO, and CVG-AMS. DL will be in fine shape after bankruptcy. If UA is, why wouldn't DL be?

Jeremy

"...SLC has been getting flights back..."

In the article below it mentions that SLC may see a cutback in Delta flights:

http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000082&sid=a5yT0RQb4nls&refer=canada

and has reclaimed the spot of largest airline to Europe from AA

...when was AA larger in Europe than DL?




P.S. Get a a third class of service DL

They're considering it.

Though, not what you're thinking of. DL has very little justification for a intercontinental First cabin.

ConcordeBoy,

The statistics over the last six months or so showed that AA had slightly higher RPMs than Delta in the Atlantic.

ConcordeBoy,

I know we have discussed this before but the mind forgets.

What measurement do you want to use to determine whose largest to Europe? Not RPM's or RPK's whick are generally used?