A388 From Netherlands Antilles, joined May 2001, 9079 posts, RR: 13 Posted (4 years 11 months 3 weeks 2 days 23 hours ago) and read 2592 times:
Hi,
I read that KL might send the A332 to CUR to replace the MD11. Is this true? I personally expected the 772 to replace the MD11 and even the 77W down the line. When is KL planning on replacing the MD11 on the CUR route? 2014?
I read that KL might send the A332 to CUR to replace the MD11. Is this true? I personally expected the 772 to replace the MD11 and even the 77W down the line. When is KL planning on replacing the MD11 on the CUR route? 2014?
Nothing loaded yet. However, I wouldn´t be suprised if KLM would downgrade CUR to an A330. Although there is some business trafic on AMS-CUR, the route still is primarly a leisure route. KLM once indicated that it intended to focus on business traffic and let "other partners" (or in this specific case MP) handle the leisure traffic. With the upcoming intergration of MP into the AF/KL organisation this could leasd to some changes.
A388 From Netherlands Antilles, joined May 2001, 9079 posts, RR: 13 Reply 2, posted (4 years 11 months 3 weeks 2 days 11 hours ago) and read 2379 times:
Quoting LJ (Reply 1): Nothing loaded yet. However, I wouldn´t be suprised if KLM would downgrade CUR to an A330. Although there is some business trafic on AMS-CUR, the route still is primarly a leisure route. KLM once indicated that it intended to focus on business traffic and let "other partners" (or in this specific case MP) handle the leisure traffic. With the upcoming intergration of MP into the AF/KL organisation this could leasd to some changes.
That makes sense. I wouldn't mind seeing the KL A332 here. MP will eventually also use the A332 to CUR once there 767s are being replaced. Rumors have it that MP will go for the A332s
I wonder whether KL will change to CUR to a A332 destination this summer already or in a few years from now when the MD11 will be withdrawn from the fleet. Can KL use the M11 on other routes at the moment resulting in a change to the A332 to CUR?
HB-IWC From Greece, joined Sep 2000, 4414 posts, RR: 76 Reply 3, posted (4 years 11 months 3 weeks 2 days 10 hours ago) and read 2354 times:
The MD11's configuration, with its mere 24 WBC seats, is more leisure oriented than the A332 at KLM. The MD11 is very much KLM's holiday aircraft. I haven't heard anything about an impending withdrawal of the MD11 from any destination in the KLM Caribbean network and it is certainly not in the pipeline for this or next season. Unless market conditions change dramatically, I would expect the MD11 to remain deployed as it is.
A388 From Netherlands Antilles, joined May 2001, 9079 posts, RR: 13 Reply 4, posted (4 years 11 months 3 weeks 2 days 10 hours ago) and read 2317 times:
Quoting HB-IWC (Reply 3): Unless market conditions change dramatically, I would expect the MD11 to remain deployed as it is.
Market conditions are changing as of this winter season we will have 3 daily flights to CUR. All Dutch airlines flying to CUR will than have a daily flight. KL went from the 744 to the M11 partly due to increased competition and now they will face more competition again so I can imagine the M11 might also be too big when we will have three flights from AMS each day of the week. If the main reason for KL to fly to CUR is business travel than I can imagine they will keep using the larger M11.
LJ From Netherlands, joined Nov 1999, 4149 posts, RR: 1 Reply 5, posted (4 years 11 months 3 weeks 2 days 9 hours ago) and read 2265 times:
Quoting HB-IWC (Reply 3): Unless market conditions change dramatically, I would expect the MD11 to remain deployed as it is.
The only change I see is that AMS-CUR won´t be daily between March 29th 2009 and April 5th 2009. The frequencies on thr, fri and sat are not listed in their timetable. However still a MD11. Therefore, we´ll probably see no change before the Summer 2009 schedule
UPPERDECKFAN From Spain, joined Jun 2007, 992 posts, RR: 1 Reply 7, posted (4 years 11 months 3 weeks 2 days 4 hours ago) and read 2091 times:
Quoting A388 (Reply 4): Market conditions are changing as of this winter season we will have 3 daily flights to CUR
Hopefully it means lower fares,
Have a colleague from NA that do Paris-Curacao once or twice a year and have never been able to do CDG-AMS-CUR as connecting through CCS is always much less expensive even on two separate tickets (CDG-CSS and CCS-CUR)
A388 From Netherlands Antilles, joined May 2001, 9079 posts, RR: 13 Reply 8, posted (4 years 11 months 3 weeks 2 days ago) and read 2013 times:
Quoting LJ (Reply 5): The only change I see is that AMS-CUR won´t be daily between March 29th 2009 and April 5th 2009. The frequencies on thr, fri and sat are not listed in their timetable.
That comes as a surprise to me but it's also only one week. As we are talking about the 2009 schedule I assume it all can still change, depending on market conditions by that time.
HB-IWC From Greece, joined Sep 2000, 4414 posts, RR: 76 Reply 9, posted (4 years 11 months 3 weeks 1 day 21 hours ago) and read 1961 times:
Quoting A388 (Reply 4): KL went from the 744 to the M11 partly due to increased competition and now they will face more competition again so I can imagine the M11 might also be too big when we will have three flights from AMS each day of the week. If the main reason for KL to fly to CUR is business travel than I can imagine they will keep using the larger M11.
KLM indeed scaled down capacity to the Caribbean last year, but let's not forget that the B744 at CUR was often shared with one other destination (AUA, SXM) and that KL has instead put in place dedicated daily terminator flights to CUR. Again, there are no plans whatsoever to replace the MD11 on the Caribbean network. The next significant change in the Caribbean network will probably occur if and when KLM opts for nonstop flights into Ecuador, at which time alternative options will have to be explored for the BON service.
As for PBM, KLM maintains a thrice weekly B744 service to Surinam, although alternative options are being looked into for this route ranging from MD11 service with reinforced frequency to the deployment of the B77W in 2009.
SCL767 From Chile, joined Feb 2006, 8272 posts, RR: 5 Reply 10, posted (4 years 11 months 3 weeks 1 day 21 hours ago) and read 1958 times:
Quoting HB-IWC (Reply 9): As for PBM, KLM maintains a thrice weekly B744 service to Surinam, although alternative options are being looked into for this route ranging from MD11 service with reinforced frequency to the deployment of the B77W in 2009.
A KL B777W service to PBM would be a wonderful development for PBM.
A388 From Netherlands Antilles, joined May 2001, 9079 posts, RR: 13 Reply 11, posted (4 years 11 months 3 weeks 1 day 20 hours ago) and read 1927 times:
Quoting HB-IWC (Reply 9): to the deployment of the B77W in 2009.
Can't KL use these brandnew 77W's on other routes? I don't really understand why they would use such a premium aircraft on a route with practically zero competition (PBM). Why not use the 77W to AUA and/or CUR where competition is more intense. Within the coming year or two Arkefly will use the 787 to CUR and MP will most likely start A332 flights to CUR by early next year. Wouldn't it be better to use the 77W to CUR to better compete with these airlines in order not to lose market share? Arkefly has become very agressive on the CUR route and so will MP, even though MP is part of KL. I don't think KL will allow too much market share going to MP either.
HB-IWC From Greece, joined Sep 2000, 4414 posts, RR: 76 Reply 13, posted (4 years 11 months 3 weeks 1 day 12 hours ago) and read 1712 times:
Quoting A388 (Reply 11): Can't KL use these brandnew 77W's on other routes? I don't really understand why they would use such a premium aircraft on a route with practically zero competition (PBM). Why not use the 77W to AUA and/or CUR where competition is more intense. Within the coming year or two Arkefly will use the 787 to CUR and MP will most likely start A332 flights to CUR by early next year. Wouldn't it be better to use the 77W to CUR to better compete with these airlines in order not to lose market share? Arkefly has become very agressive on the CUR route and so will MP, even though MP is part of KL. I don't think KL will allow too much market share going to MP either.
The configuration of the B77W is less premium than the configuration of the B744 that is currently on the PBM route. 35 vs 42 WBC seats yet 390 vs 386 Y seats. The B77W is not a done deal for PBM. It is entirely possible that the B744 stays on the route. Also, a scenario with MD11 service and increased frequencies is being looked at.
The B77W is definitely too large for CUR at this moment. The MD11 is just the right aircraft for this route at the moment and there is really no reason to change. The MD11 reconfiguration, including the reduction from 31 to 24 WBC seats, was specifically done to be able to the deploy the aircraft in KLM's holiday network in the Caribbean and East Africa. CUR will be the last destination to lose the MD11 as things are today.
Quoting LarSPL (Reply 12): i thought the runway at PBM was not strong enough for the wheel classification number of the 777
I've never heard about this, but KLM has previously deployed the 777, albeit the -200ER, to PBM as a substitute for the B744.
A388 From Netherlands Antilles, joined May 2001, 9079 posts, RR: 13 Reply 14, posted (4 years 11 months 3 weeks 22 hours ago) and read 1543 times:
Quoting HB-IWC (Reply 13): The B77W is definitely too large for CUR at this moment. The MD11 is just the right aircraft for this route at the moment and there is really no reason to change. The MD11 reconfiguration, including the reduction from 31 to 24 WBC seats, was specifically done to be able to the deploy the aircraft in KLM's holiday network in the Caribbean and East Africa. CUR will be the last destination to lose the MD11 as things are today.
A388 From Netherlands Antilles, joined May 2001, 9079 posts, RR: 13 Reply 15, posted (4 years 11 months 3 weeks 7 hours ago) and read 1350 times:
HB-IWC,
As you are the person best able to answer this question, can you provide us with the KL winter schedule for 2008/2009 regarding the Netherlands Antilles and AUA? Maybe also for the Summer 2009 schedule? One member here mentioned that KL will be reducing the number of flights to CUR next year between March 29th 2009 and April 5th 2009? I find that difficult to believe so I am hoping you can provide us all with more information or explanations on the Netherlands Antilles scheduling at KL.
SCL767 From Chile, joined Feb 2006, 8272 posts, RR: 5 Reply 16, posted (4 years 11 months 3 weeks 4 hours ago) and read 1283 times:
Quoting A388 (Reply 15): As you are the person best able to answer this question, can you provide us with the KL winter schedule for 2008/2009 regarding the Netherlands Antilles and AUA?
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