MCO2BRS From United Kingdom, joined Jan 2007, 520 posts, RR: 0 Posted (1 year 9 months 1 week 5 days 14 hours ago) and read 8751 times:
Hi All,
I was just looking at EK's future destinations and according to Wiki (yes, I know, I know) it looks like they only have BGW, EZE, GIG and LED starting in November and January. Given the amount of aircraft they have on order, it stands to reason that we will see a lot of new routes being opened (whether they are viable or not, is debatable) over the next few years. Does anyone have any insight as to where they may go next?
I was also checking out their route map, and there really does appear to be a 'hole' in the west/southwest of the UK. Given their track record, are we likely to see them start up CWL? This is the only airport capable of handling an EK aircraft in the vicinity of West and South Wales, and the southwest of the UK. The next nearest is BHX which is a 2hr drive away from most places in the region.
Other European routes I'd expect to see would be BCN, OSL, ARN. I don't know about the rest of the world though, any thoughts?
EICVD From Ireland, joined Mar 2008, 2068 posts, RR: 5 Reply 1, posted (1 year 9 months 1 week 5 days 13 hours ago) and read 8724 times:
Quoting MCO2BRS (Thread starter): Other European routes I'd expect to see would be BCN, OSL, ARN. I don't know about the rest of the world though, any thoughts?
DUB has to be on the EK radar aswell.
Dublin, where Sam Maguire will be coming home to in mid September
jonathanxxxx From United States of America, joined Feb 2011, 638 posts, RR: 1 Reply 2, posted (1 year 9 months 1 week 5 days 13 hours ago) and read 8705 times:
In North America their top priorities were BOS, MIA, SEA and either ORD or IAD for 2012. There was also a thread on this not too long ago and now I can't find it..
MCO2BRS From United Kingdom, joined Jan 2007, 520 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (1 year 9 months 1 week 5 days 13 hours ago) and read 8660 times:
Quoting EICVD (Reply 1): DUB has to be on the EK radar aswell.
I wasn't sure about DUB, since EI pulled the route, I wasn't sure if there was still a market for the route or not.
Quoting jonathanxxxx (Reply 2): n North America their top priorities were BOS, MIA, SEA and either ORD or IAD for 2012. There was also a thread on this not too long ago and now I can't find it..
I'd have said ORD and maybe MIA out of those. I thought there was a recent thread too, but couldn't find it anywhere, so figured I'd imagined it lol
Anyone know if there is an online source to see pax numbers for specific airports and their final destinations (whether its connecting or O&D) ??
EICVD From Ireland, joined Mar 2008, 2068 posts, RR: 5 Reply 5, posted (1 year 9 months 1 week 5 days ago) and read 8007 times:
Quoting MCO2BRS (Reply 3): I wasn't sure about DUB, since EI pulled the route, I wasn't sure if there was still a market for the route or not.
The EI flight never really offered any good connections, EY are cleaning up on DUB-AUH. Im sure there is a room for EK, albeit at the expense of some of the EY flights (currently 10x weekly)
Dublin, where Sam Maguire will be coming home to in mid September
miaintl From United States of America, joined Jun 2010, 825 posts, RR: 0 Reply 9, posted (1 year 9 months 1 week 4 days 20 hours ago) and read 7534 times:
I also wonder when EK will start expanding in the US again. I look forward to see them coming to MIA in the not so distant future.
airbazar From United States of America, joined Sep 2003, 6886 posts, RR: 7 Reply 10, posted (1 year 9 months 1 week 4 days 20 hours ago) and read 7455 times:
I don't expect any US expansing any time soon. MIA in 2013 maybe.
Why? EK's US traffic is predominantly connecting traffic to Central/South Asia and that traffic is stagnant right now due to the state of our economy. And depending on what happens following the next election that traffic could shrink even more if the US government decides to crack down on labor off-shoring (I know it's a long shot, but desperate times call for desperate measures and we've seen worse).
Quokka From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 11, posted (1 year 9 months 1 week 4 days 19 hours ago) and read 7362 times:
Quoting LondonCity (Reply 8): What about EDI ? The Scottish capital is a natural UK destination for EK.
EK already offer GLA which is not all that far from EDI, unless you come from EDI
Is it still within the mileage allowance for complimentary chauffeur drive for passengers in J and F, though?
While I agree that where EK will fly next is a guessing game, I think that unless the PM of Canada meets Saul, who became Paul, YVR is highly unlikely. Recent signings with countries in South America lend hope (though no guarantees) in that region, given that it is a rapidly expanding region compared to Europe and the US.
Quoting miaintl (Reply 9): I also wonder when EK will start expanding in the US again.
So far the location of the US combined with popular destinations has inhibited growth. Too many parts of the world where travellers wish to go have been served by other airlines, not necessarily cheaper, with direct flights. EK has tried to overcome this with generous offers of stopovers including five star hotel, but with limited success. Travel to the US still attracts people from some destinations. For example, I came across a women in the oil industry in PER who was going to IAH. That's a bloody long way when she could have gone with QF and connected via SYD!
miaintl From United States of America, joined Jun 2010, 825 posts, RR: 0 Reply 13, posted (1 year 9 months 1 week 4 days 19 hours ago) and read 7208 times:
jonathanxxxx From United States of America, joined Feb 2011, 638 posts, RR: 1 Reply 14, posted (1 year 9 months 1 week 4 days 18 hours ago) and read 7159 times:
But it most surely wont be anywhere in the US, right? I have got my fingers crossed anyways though.
Well if they want it to start by Q1 2012 now seems good. Although I rhink it would be better to start MIA in the Winter around December to have a good traffic flow. Although KL started in March so EK would most likely probably aim to start there too. Either way EK's entrance into MIA is planned for one point in 2012. Just like TK. Although with both of them acting like somewhat Middle-Eastern Carriers I wonder if it's too much?
About EDI, as much as I would love to see EK at my local, GLA is about an hour's drive from EDI and NCL about an hour 45 or so and both those routes (particularly GLA) do very well. There is a lot of publicity for EK around Edinburgh first of all pushing their GLA route there and recently trying to fill up the 777s at NCL with EDI traffic (if they have swapped from the Airbuses yet). Only way I see EDI working financially is if they sacrifice GLA for it and that would be a very stupid move indeed.
Just looking at the route network for EK and they seem to have most major destinations around the world covered, if I were playing the armchair CEO game I would definitely send my planes to OSL, HEL and ARN however I don't know if there are good reasons EK are not there.
kl911 From Ireland, joined Jul 2003, 4977 posts, RR: 14 Reply 17, posted (1 year 9 months 1 week 4 days 17 hours ago) and read 6327 times:
Well, BUD comes to mind. QR just upgraded its route previously flown via OTP to a nonstop BUD-DOH. The last few years quite a few large intl companies have moved to BUD.
" The European consumer would crawl naked over broken glass to get low fares." Michael O'Leary
NDiesel From United States of America, joined Mar 2011, 44 posts, RR: 0 Reply 18, posted (1 year 9 months 1 week 4 days 17 hours ago) and read 5965 times:
With DY's 3x weekly route to DXB and QR's new 5x weekly to DOH, I wonder if EK would make any profit with a route from OSL as the region should be pretty much covered?
[Edited 2011-08-16 13:02:12]
Delta MD-11 JFK-CDG - Upon sunrise I fell in love with Aviation
EGPH From United Kingdom, joined Feb 2006, 205 posts, RR: 0 Reply 19, posted (1 year 9 months 1 week 4 days 16 hours ago) and read 5813 times:
Add BRU to the list of gaps, it is certainly an imortant city in the European context but I don't know if it is so important to travellers to Europe from the Middle East.
If I may ask an EK related question, I see that EK fly to both LHR and LGW. Is this just because of the very different connection opportunities offered at both airports? I always thought LHR/LGW as an either or thing not both.
miaintl From United States of America, joined Jun 2010, 825 posts, RR: 0 Reply 20, posted (1 year 9 months 1 week 4 days 16 hours ago) and read 5814 times:
mainMAN From United Kingdom, joined Jul 2005, 2064 posts, RR: 6 Reply 21, posted (1 year 9 months 1 week 4 days 16 hours ago) and read 5460 times:
Quoting EGPH (Reply 19): Is this just because of the very different connection opportunities offered at both airports? I always thought LHR/LGW as an either or thing not both.
No, it's because EK is so huge for connections from most major UK airports (well, 6 of them) to the East. With the exception of Vietnam Airlines and Air Asia X, LGW only has EK to link it to Asia/Australia whereas it once had a variety of different carriers (including majors like CX).
I wonder whether EK might one day introduce STN too.
directorguy From Egypt, joined Jul 2008, 1569 posts, RR: 12 Reply 23, posted (1 year 9 months 1 week 4 days 16 hours ago) and read 5240 times:
Flydubai seems to be doing well. They've added all sorts of destinations, routes that are low-yielding, low frequency but nevertheless help fuel the wider EK network.
I feel that EK really needs to start focusing on certain regions, particularly China. When QR or EY open up a destination with an A320 that EK doesn't fly to, I usually say 'oh well, too small for an A332 anyway'. Well QR especially has been adding new cities with the A330 and are reaping the benefits. I'd say at least 2-3 Chinese new cities by the end of 2013 (if not sooner) in addition to consolidating existing Chinese markets.
In addition, many cities in Europe to expand to.LIS, BCN, BRU, ARN, DUB to name a few.I'd say a new round of UK secondary markets would also be in order. The UK has large ties with Dubai and Australia/India and there seems to be a lot of goodwill when it comes to allowing EK in to secondary ports in the UK.
Also, EK should always keep focusing on the Indian market. EK has a huge presence there obviously, but it can always become bigger. Possibly relying on an Indian carrier to feed DXB with a fleet of flexible 737s or A320s would be a good idea.
Regarding an increased US presence-I think it's a matter of time. QR thankfully hasn't ventured out to the West Coast-yet, which means EK should focus on a 2nd daily to SFO and maybe opening up DXB-SEA. ORD & MIA are strong candidates.
LondonCity From United Kingdom, joined Nov 2008, 1202 posts, RR: 0 Reply 24, posted (1 year 9 months 1 week 4 days 15 hours ago) and read 4963 times:
Quoting EGPH (Reply 19): Add BRU to the list of gaps, it is certainly an imortant city in the European context but I don't know if it is so important to travellers to Europe from the Middle East.
AMS was a much-needed gap in EK's schedule. EK only commenced flights there in May last year. Travellers based in and around the Brussels/Antwerp area can easily access AMS by high-speed train running directly into Schiphol.
Quoting mainMAN (Reply 21): I wonder whether EK might one day introduce STN too.
EK has no immediate plane to serve STN ... but who knows ? See this news link dated July 2010:
25 vinniewinnie: Yes but that is a hassle! Way worse then the 45 min drive between EDI and GLA. Etihad and Qatar seem to be doing rather well from BRU. Thai will star
26 777way: I think Almaty is a possibility, they already fly freighters there, as is Kunming.[Edited 2011-08-16 14:54:48]
27 jfk777: Emirates needs to fly to Miami, that is the only way for them to serve all North Latin America. Don't see Emirates flying to BOG, Caracas or Panama.
28 miaintl: It is also the only way that MIA can be linked to the Asian continent considering that JL and KE are not interested in coming here anytime soon.
29 gkirk: July load figures for the NCL flights was 90.5% and GLA flights around 95%, so both those flights doing really well in terms of loads anyway. Dont kno
30 directorguy: The only way MIA would work as a gateway for LatAm destinations would be if EK decided to interline with various airlines that fly to MIA from CCS/BO
31 g2scandinavia: Hi NDiesel The Arabic airlines has a potential of over 1 million annual pax to the destinations they serve (Etihad, Gulf, Oman and Emirates destinati
32 RWA380: Why wouldn't a tag route to the USA work? Seems less carriers are doing this. DXB-SEA-PDX? Just an example, but the extra 30 min hop to PDX and back m
33 airbazar: There's a minor problem with this: Given that the vast majority of passengers are not traveling to/from DXB, it would mean that any potential PDX pas
34 LipeGIG: I expect a new flight to North America and two new services to Europe. Also, at least three frequencies could be increased. I see the same chances for
35 bonusonus: But didn't a 747-100 hold fewer people than a 777-300ER, or even a 777-200? Especially with 1970s era configurations? In regards to the topic at hand
36 sq_ek_freak: Yeah both flights are always chocka, especially GLA. The routes are not particularly premium heavy though. Funny side story - I once worked a GLA whe
38 shamrock604: Folks, According to a number of sources, including hints from staff at the airline, Emirates will announce a Dublin route shortly to commence during t
39 Pe@rson: I've heard that from a reliable source.
41 airbazar: The 741 operated it a time when it was considered a huge plane and much fewer people traveled by air. So yes, it was too large of plane for some of t
42 shamrock104: I think they must be looking at Baku (GYD) sometime soon. Huge potential. Qatar recently launched it.
43 jonathanxxxx: http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/th...ish-eyes-more-us-destinations.html Along with MIA they mentioned DTW and IAH.
44 777way: Done in the 90's now served by Flydubai.
45 hal9213: Isnt it because of slots at LHR they are evading to LGW ? Besides, since there are some people who prefer LGW (I certainly do not!!!) I dont think it
46 thenoflyzone: Same reason why airlines like AI, AZ, AF, LH, LO, LY, and BA fly to both EWR and JFK. The demand is there. Thenoflyzone
47 jfk777: 741 held more seats then todays 77W's. Even with 9 abreast economy seating and lounges in the upper deck the early 741 had just two classes, First an
48 B747forever: I wonder how that will affect EY. Will EK start aggressively and offer daily service from the beginning in an attempt to break EY's monopoly?
49 airbazar: EK is pretty much maxed out in the number of seats allowed by the UAE bilateral with India. Some would say their presence in India is very limited as
50 Quokka: Possibly but EK will have an advantage over EY at present. They have more connections both in terms of destinations and frequency. Just to use Austra
51 bonusonus: Did you mean the L-1011? By the time the MD-11 came along, airlines were already ordering 772s to replace it.
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