I was just looking at the SEA website and their statistics information.

Firstly, I have to say, this website gives a very detailed amount of statistical information. Well done SEA.

Looking at the statistics for December 2008, it appears that BA and SK carried significantly fewer passengers compared to the same month in the prior year. Proportionately lower compared to the overall decline of 5.68% for all international passengers.

BA is down a whopping 20.68% and SK down a substantial 14.87%!

AF on the other hand was up 11.33%. LH is hard to compare as it did not fly the route in 2007.

http://www.portseattle.org/downloads...out=enplaned&bAction=GeneralReport

I believe, the only other service to Europe is on NW.

On the surface, without digging deeper, it looks like BA and SK have been hit hard with the entrance of AF and LH?

[Edited 2009-02-01 16:30:40]

I think that BA and NW are safe and established. BA varies in equipment between 777s and 747s and sometimes is double daily and sometimes is single daily. It has flexibility. SEA-LHR is big. UA hasn't competed in years, so they have the route. Similarily, NW has the AMS route to its hub with KLM and will be fine. We'll see how well BA, AF and SK compete. I think AF and SK are the ones that will really struggle, but all are fighting for traffic in a time where transatlantic traffic is down.

Quoting RoseFlyer (Reply 1): I think AF and SK are the ones that will really struggle, but all are fighting for traffic in a time where transatlantic traffic is down.

Yes it looks like SK will really struggle. I am sure LH (being Star Alliance also) must be having a huge impact on SK's abilities to fill those planes to CPH.

Time will tell I guess.....

Quoting YVR1968 (Reply 2): Yes it looks like SK will really struggle. I am sure LH (being Star Alliance also) must be having a huge impact on SK's abilities to fill those planes to CPH.

A lot of people thought SK would pull out of SEA once AF and LH came in, but they've managed to hang on. Interesting that SK cancelled DEL, and did not start SFO as planned, but SEA continues. They have a long history here - I hope they can outlast the recession.

There has been some rationalization in the SEA market with NW's pullout on SEA-LHR. I wouldn't be surprised if BA cut back to 1x daily 744 again on the SEA-LHR route. This route has always had lots of connecting traffic to India, but I'm sure AF and LH have taken some of those connections. There's also been a big dropoff in premium traffic given the state of the economy.

All that said, at least one carrier is increasing capacity in SEA. NW will upgauge to an A333 (gain of 45 seats daily) on the SEA-AMS route starting this summer.

Quoting RwSEA (Reply 3): All that said, at least one carrier is increasing capacity in SEA. NW will upgauge to an A333 (gain of 45 seats daily) on the SEA-AMS route starting this summer.

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Yeah, it's amazing how much slash and burn there has been. It's always positive to see increases in capacity (even if minor), when others around are cutting back. I am sure many airlines are in serious conundrums as to what to do with large aircraft when numbers keep free falling! The thing is, if you pull out of one market, where do you put the aircraft!? I am sure right now, the latter is posing a problem!

The BA route LHR-SEA-LHR is well known as the GeekBus. Full of Microsofties to and from Seattle. With MSFT corporate travel limits, already implimented mid-last year, expect that route to have even less traffic.

Quoting YVR1968 (Thread starter): SK down a substantial 14.87%!

SK has reduced frequency this winter compared to last year on their CPH-SEA route

[quote=DBCC,reply=5][/quote

Large number of Boeing employees also use the service (or did).

Quoting DBCC (Reply 5): The BA route LHR-SEA-LHR is well known as the GeekBus. Full of Microsofties to and from Seattle. With MSFT corporate travel limits, already implimented mid-last year, expect that route to have even less traffic.

No big surprise here, although the Washington economy has not been hit as hard as other places. Also to note, air cargo is getting killed. I heard that it expected to see a 30% drop by mid 2009.

Quoting Someone83 (Reply 6): SK has reduced frequency this winter compared to last year on their CPH-SEA route

OK, didn't realise that. SK were obviously thinking ahead. So about a 30% reduction in seats then. Makes the 15% decrease in passengers seem not so bad then after all.

Quoting B752OS (Reply 8): Also to note, air cargo is getting killed.

Yes, that is hitting most major (and minor) airports pretty hard. Hard to find any that have actually seen an increase!

Quoting YVR1968 (Reply 9): So about a 30% reduction in seats then

I would say less. Think they have been flying 4x weekly this winter, in addition to some occasional cancellations due to low demand

SK? Who are they? ( I am being sarcastic of course). AMS and LHR provide great connection if your final destination is in the east of these airports. FRA is good connection hub as well. I cannot say the same thing for CPH. Low connection possibilities, you have to 'back track' to get to some of the major cities in Europe and they are never price competitive.
i have been very happy with the AMS service by NW in 3 flights I used them last year. I avoid LHR to connect but my next 'project' is to connect in CDG.

I am curious - how much passenger bleed is heading south to Portland. PDX now has two non-stops to Europe (AMS and FRA) and I wonder how much European traffic Seattle lost because of this.

Quoting BigGSFO (Reply 12): I am curious - how much passenger bleed is heading south to Portland. PDX now has two non-stops to Europe (AMS and FRA) and I wonder how much European traffic Seattle lost because of this.

I'm sure SEA lost some when LH served PDX and not SEA, but SEA now has nonstop service to all cities that PDX does, and a few more. I doubt there's much traffic lost to PDX at all. Some might accept a connection for a lower price, but I would assume that's the majority. However, connecting through PDX is much more deisrable than connecting through anywhere east of the Mississippi.

Quoting RwSEA (Reply 13): However, connecting through PDX is much more deisrable than connecting through anywhere east of the Mississippi.

I'm sure some passengers from the SEA area (and points north like Everett, Bellingham etc.) also connect via YVR (or drive). That may be more true this year with the US$ again much stronger than the CA$. Last summer they were close to par.

Quoting Bahadir (Reply 11): i have been very happy with the AMS service by NW in 3 flights I used them last year. I avoid LHR to connect but my next 'project' is to connect in CDG

I flew NW on that route in January, and i agree with you. Very nice flight. Definitely prefer them before AF via CDG (even if AF has better looking CC   ).

I think SK will give the route to SEA the axe now that they are getting with of 2 widebodies