EddieDude From Mexico, joined Nov 2003, 7174 posts, RR: 45 Reply 2, posted (7 years 2 months 3 weeks 4 days 3 hours ago) and read 2581 times:
Thanks for the link UAL777UK! A month or two ago there was a thread discussing the break up of AA and TA and there were a few posts in the same that mentioned that TA would have a new U.S. partner soon. I guess it was quite clear that UA was the one, but I was waiting for the confirmation.
I, too, wonder if TA will soon apply for Star Alliance membership. After MX left the alliance, Star lost ground in Latin America, and RG's problems are not helping.
Laxintl From United States of America, joined May 2000, 22029 posts, RR: 51 Reply 3, posted (7 years 2 months 3 weeks 4 days 3 hours ago) and read 2550 times:
Indeed this has been in works quietly behind the scenes for quite some time.
Good move that will benefit both TACA and United.
From the desert to the sea, to all of Southern California
Emirates Skies From Australia, joined Nov 2001, 171 posts, RR: 4 Reply 5, posted (7 years 2 months 3 weeks 3 days 23 hours ago) and read 2416 times:
I have a question:
Through which UA hub can TA feed pax to USA destinations it does not serve with its own metal?
My understanding is that, Miami is no longer a UA hub unfortunately, ORD is a bit too north, LAX a bit too west, IAD way too east, and DEN may be a bit out of the way for certain destinations.
What do you guyz think? Thx.
Take nothing but photos, leave nothing but footprints
N1120A From United States of America, joined Dec 2003, 25852 posts, RR: 79 Reply 6, posted (7 years 2 months 3 weeks 3 days 23 hours ago) and read 2404 times:
Quoting Emirates Skies (Reply 5): Through which UA hub can TA feed pax to USA destinations it does not serve with its own metal?
My understanding is that, Miami is no longer a UA hub unfortunately, ORD is a bit too north, LAX a bit too west, IAD way too east, and DEN may be a bit out of the way for certain destinations.
DEN isn't particularly out of the way at all for the East and TA can use LAX as a big West Coast transfer hub
Mangeons les French fries, mais surtout pratiquons avec fierte le French kiss
Aifos From United States of America, joined Jan 2004, 61 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (7 years 2 months 3 weeks 3 days 22 hours ago) and read 2344 times:
I personally enjoy TACA; the brand new Airbuses, the crews, the service. Very professional! They would be a great partner in the Star Alliance. Flew them 3 times between LAX and SJO. Every time I have been impressed.
Tango-Bravo From United States of America, joined Jun 2001, 3725 posts, RR: 31 Reply 8, posted (7 years 2 months 3 weeks 3 days 19 hours ago) and read 2277 times:
Quoting Emirates Skies (Reply 5): My understanding is that, Miami is no longer a UA hub unfortunately, ORD is a bit too north, LAX a bit too west, IAD way too east, and DEN may be a bit out of the way for certain destinations.
What do you guyz think? Thx.
Bottom line of what I think is that none of the UA hubs offer anything near the same as DFW in terms of opportune location to cover more of the U.S. from one hub without "backtrack" or excessive "dogleg" routings. As for the UA hubs:
MIA - my understanding too, therefore little if any value to TA beyond O&D traffic
ORD - probably the "least best" of the UA hubs for connecting feed for TA; a few points in the north central U.S. perhaps
LAX and SFO - very good coverage of U.S. west, plus strong O&D traffic for TA at LAX, plus NRT and beyond from SFO
IAD - excellent coverage of northeastern and mid-Atlantic U.S.
DEN - more possibilities for connections to/from U.S. west and western Canada.
Mexicana757 From United States of America, joined Apr 2001, 2958 posts, RR: 30 Reply 9, posted (7 years 2 months 3 weeks 3 days 19 hours ago) and read 2255 times:
Quoting Tango-Bravo (Reply 8): ORD - probably the "least best" of the UA hubs for connecting feed for TA; a few points in the north central U.S. perh
Well one of the bad things go for it is that the only TA flight arrives at ORD around 1AM and departs about an hour later. Makes it impossible to connect to other flights unless people are willing to wait five to 6 hours to get on the flight. I'm sure TA will accomodate this flight to better serve the UA connections.
N659AA From United States of America, joined Aug 2000, 132 posts, RR: 0 Reply 10, posted (7 years 2 months 3 weeks 3 days 10 hours ago) and read 2166 times:
Quoting Tango-Bravo (Reply 8): Bottom line of what I think is that none of the UA hubs offer anything near the same as DFW in terms of opportune location to cover more of the U.S. from one hub without "backtrack" or excessive "dogleg" routings. As for the UA hubs:
MIA - my understanding too, therefore little if any value to TA beyond O&D traffic
ORD - probably the "least best" of the UA hubs for connecting feed for TA; a few points in the north central U.S. perhaps
LAX and SFO - very good coverage of U.S. west, plus strong O&D traffic for TA at LAX, plus NRT and beyond from SFO
IAD - excellent coverage of northeastern and mid-Atlantic U.S.
DEN - more possibilities for connections to/from U.S. west and western Canada.
Quoting Mexicana757 (Reply 9): Well one of the bad things go for it is that the only TA flight arrives at ORD around 1AM and departs about an hour later. Makes it impossible to connect to other flights unless people are willing to wait five to 6 hours to get on the flight. I'm sure TA will accomodate this flight to better serve the UA connections.
All good points listed, but here is my take.
DFW is the best point for feed into the interior US for TACA, but the AA/TA relationship was simply not working for TACA. AA did not have very much incentive to play nice with TACA given its own aspirariations and presence in Latin America........so what is the next best choice? It is UA given the complemetary nature of the two networks
ORD will provide better value if/when TACA starts a SAL-ORD "daytime" nonstop. This is something they have seriously considered, but are simply not ready to pull the trigger. Even though it is far north, UA's domestic network would provide amazing feed to a route with a small local O&D market.
LAX/SFO theoretically are great gateways, but the timing of TA's flights (partial connections north from these gateways and NO connections south) does not connect well with UA's network. Asia connections to/from SFO does not work due to current timings of TA's flights and UA's Asian network. Re-timing SAL-SFO for TACA to fit with UA-Asia does not fit the Hub in SAL.
MIA for obvious reasons brings no value and is not a part of the equation
IAD has limited value as TACA has a daytime turn in IAD with good domestic connections to UA, but less than optimal connections from Europe (especially from Europe west/south to Latin America given TA's early-ish departure from IAD).
Commavia From United States of America, joined Apr 2005, 10189 posts, RR: 62 Reply 11, posted (7 years 2 months 3 weeks 3 days 10 hours ago) and read 2162 times:
Quoting Emirates Skies (Reply 5): My understanding is that, Miami is no longer a UA hub unfortunately, ORD is a bit too north, LAX a bit too west, IAD way too east, and DEN may be a bit out of the way for certain destinations.
It is just like the UA-Mexicana situation all over again. UA's hubs are just simply not well placed to handle traffic from Latin America. LAX will do well, as TACA can load passengers onto UA flights up and down the west coast through there, plus the key traffic to Asia can transit there. IAD will help get some passengers throughout the northeast, but as you said, yes -- ORD and DEN are pretty much wasted as transfer points.
Mt99 From United States of America, joined May 1999, 6354 posts, RR: 7 Reply 12, posted (7 years 2 months 3 weeks 3 days 10 hours ago) and read 2139 times:
I am certain that re-timing or increase flights between SAL (SJO too?) and the US will be be necessary.
Now, if TACA does join STAR, what other hubs will be available to them? CLT? FLL? thru USAIRWAYS.
AA1818 From Trinidad and Tobago, joined Feb 2006, 3346 posts, RR: 4 Reply 13, posted (7 years 2 months 3 weeks 3 days 10 hours ago) and read 2126 times:
Could this mean more extensive AA involvement with MX and closer co-operation with LAN? Would be great to see MX join, OneWorld would dominate this hemisphere I think. Good luck TACA and UA!!! Glad to see UA making strides into the region again- they are really absent in the Caribbean. AA has done a great job in swaying Caribbean travellers to transit via the US for flights to Europe, South/ Central America and the entire US!!! Time for competition...
N659AA From United States of America, joined Aug 2000, 132 posts, RR: 0 Reply 14, posted (7 years 2 months 3 weeks 3 days 9 hours ago) and read 2119 times:
Quoting Mt99 (Reply 12): Now, if TACA does join STAR, what other hubs will be available to them? CLT? FLL? thru USAIRWAYS.
Not out of the question, but SAL is a hole in the growing Latin America network for US(HP). If I were in the long range planning department at US/HP, I would be doing some forecasting of PHX-SAL and CLT-SAL nonstops on 319 equipment....but that's just me
Rookinla From United States of America, joined Aug 2005, 305 posts, RR: 2 Reply 15, posted (7 years 2 months 3 weeks 3 days 7 hours ago) and read 2058 times:
I think that TACA still has route authority for MCO as well. They served MCO-GUA seasonally two years ago I think...not sure about the loads though. MCO is not a hub for sure but UA does have decent traffic out of there and could easily increase their presence. Does anybody know what the US-HP merger means as far as US staying in Star Alliance?
MGA From Nicaragua, joined Mar 2005, 726 posts, RR: 4 Reply 16, posted (7 years 2 months 3 weeks 3 days 6 hours ago) and read 2050 times:
I´m pretty sure the main point of this codeshare is LAX. TA has a lot of service there and UA has a hub. The Asia-Central America market will greatly benefit from this. Also, UA needs more conections to South and Central America from the West Coast as they got rid o their MIA mini hub. Will be interesting to see if we see more ORD and SFO flights as TA will benefit from Canada, Asia and Northa U.S.
All in all, I think its an excelent move. Been waiting for this for a looong while. I hope this means we might se a TA A321 painted in Star colours soon!
Quoting Mexicana757 (Reply 9): Well one of the bad things go for it is that the only TA flight arrives at ORD around 1AM and departs about an hour later. Makes it impossible to connect to other flights unless people are willing to wait five to 6 hours to get on the flight. I'm sure TA will accomodate this flight to better serve the UA connections.
Exactly. Add to it that the flight is not daily... TA would have to increase frequencies to make better use of the ORD hub. A daily SAL-ORD, perhaps?
Quoting MGA (Reply 16): I hope this means we might se a TA A321 painted in Star colours soon!
AA767400 From United States of America, joined Jan 2001, 2271 posts, RR: 25 Reply 18, posted (7 years 2 months 3 weeks 3 days 6 hours ago) and read 2023 times:
Quoting TACAA320 (Reply 1): And I am very happy about this "new choice".
I beg to differ. As they say in Spanish, "De Guatemala a Guatapeor!"
Both AA and UA have the same bare bones service. UA's feed is less than AA. And the points of connections are way off. But hey, if it means going to Star, then I guess this would be the ticket.
Lindy From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 20, posted (7 years 2 months 3 weeks 3 days 6 hours ago) and read 2001 times:
I'm happy to see that
About TACA at IAD:
-TACA has 3-4 daily flights to IAD. One morning, one around 1pm, and 2 flights after dark.
- Morning flight is now always A321
- TACA started flying to IAD long time ago with one flight every other day. Now they have 4 flights which means that they have 'healthy' demand.
- Before X-mass time (2 and 3rd week of December) - TACA used A321 on most flights in and out IAD, with TAMPA Colombia B767-200F to pick up a laguage for TACA customers
Now I have to wait for TACA aircraft in SA colors (maybe one day...)
Yellowtail From United States of America, joined Jun 2005, 5159 posts, RR: 2 Reply 21, posted (7 years 2 months 3 weeks 3 days 6 hours ago) and read 1980 times:
Taca seems to be fighting an uphill battle in trying to get a decent US partner.....AA was (from a hub point of view) the best fit but AA has no interest in a stronger TACA.
TACA is being squeezed hard by the CO/COPA alliance so needs to find someone to hold their hand and for now that is UA. In the end US/HP is probably a much better fit, but they got their plates full with merger stuff now.
TACA's problem stem from a lack of vision from its leaders. Strategic Decisions like this had to be made many years ago, but were not. They had places such as GUA and BZE sewn up for many years only to run and hide when it came time to compete with the big boys from the north.
I give TACA another 8 years before they are absorbed by COPA, LAN or someone else.....
When in doubt, hold on to your altitude. No-one has ever collided with the sky.
MGA From Nicaragua, joined Mar 2005, 726 posts, RR: 4 Reply 22, posted (7 years 2 months 3 weeks 3 days 5 hours ago) and read 1948 times:
Quoting AA767400 (Reply 18): I beg to differ. As they say in Spanish, "De Guatemala a Guatapeor!"
Both AA and UA have the same bare bones service. UA's feed is less than AA. And the points of connections are way off. But hey, if it means going to Star, then I guess this would be the ticket.
AA battles to much with TA's interest. They compete directly on many routes targeting the same markets. UA, meanwhile, will allow them to serve markets never served through more comvinient hubs (Excpet DFW, which wasnt as much as it could have been) that are not repeats of their own service nor compete with their routes.
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