SCL767 From Chile, joined Feb 2006, 8268 posts, RR: 5 Posted (1 year 7 months 3 weeks 4 days 17 hours ago) and read 3815 times:
IB may drop its thrice weekly non-stop service between Madrid and Córdoba, Argentina in January. IB cites a number of reasons why the service might be dropped, including that the lack of premium demand and cargo on the route, as well as other factors.
SCL767 From Chile, joined Feb 2006, 8268 posts, RR: 5 Reply 2, posted (1 year 7 months 3 weeks 4 days 15 hours ago) and read 3651 times:
Quoting LipeGIG (Reply 1): It seems they tried all they could but it is a surprise this route do not perform well enough.
Considering the length of the flight and the fuel and crew costs associated with the route, it's not surprising that the route may be suspended. Connections to/from COR are available via both SCL and LIM. LA will soon increase frequency and capacity on the SCL-COR route to 12x weekly (A-320). Next year, LP will increase frequency on the LIM-COR route to 9x weekly (A-319).
LipeGIG From Brazil, joined May 2005, 11201 posts, RR: 61 Reply 3, posted (1 year 7 months 3 weeks 3 days 7 hours ago) and read 2802 times:
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Quoting SCL767 (Reply 2): Considering the length of the flight and the fuel and crew costs associated with the route, it's not surprising that the route may be suspended
No doubt costs play a role and it seems IB is in desperate need of twin jets (A332 for example) for this type of mission. It could be the right plane for markets such as COR, FOR and REC. The A343 is just too expensive for the return given.
But Cordoba is not a small city, it is an industrial one with sizeable market, and considering the historic and language ties with Spain, i would expect more from MAD-COR.
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LatinPlane From United States of America, joined Dec 1999, 2629 posts, RR: 15 Reply 4, posted (1 year 7 months 3 weeks 3 days 6 hours ago) and read 2726 times:
I find it interesting that IB is studying the possibility of keeping the route open by tagging COR to ASU in a triangular pattern. The only way that would work is that ASU brought in much desired premium-business-fare paying passengers, but despites Paraguay's phenomenal economic growth in recent times I don't think the demand is there yet and nor is for cargo. Times are tough for IB as the airline expects to post a loss this year and the airline seems to be focused on minimizing risk and cutting capacity accross its network including its most popular and profitable routes.
SCL767 From Chile, joined Feb 2006, 8268 posts, RR: 5 Reply 6, posted (1 year 7 months 1 week 5 days 10 hours ago) and read 1923 times:
It now appears that IBERIA will drop its thrice weekly non-stop service between Madrid and Córdoba on January 15th. Connections between COR and MAD are available with LAN via both SCL and LIM, AND also via EZE with AR.
LipeGIG From Brazil, joined May 2005, 11201 posts, RR: 61 Reply 8, posted (1 year 7 months 1 week 4 days 21 hours ago) and read 1397 times:
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Quoting FlyingHollander (Reply 5): Would't a B787 be an even better fit for IB, a relatively small aircraft and also fuel efficient, made for long thin routes?
Could be, but the A330 makes more sense because of cost saving. Many of IB routes could be covered by the A333 for example.
New York + Rio de Janeiro = One of the best combinations !
r2rho From Germany, joined Feb 2007, 2249 posts, RR: 1 Reply 9, posted (1 year 7 months 1 week 4 days 10 hours ago) and read 1221 times:
It doesn't have to be that IB is losing money, it can simply be it is not making enough and can make more elsewhere.
IB is really in lack of long-haul aircraft - to open any new route, they first have to close an existing one. Furthermore, their route network has reached a stage where they want/need to start expanding into thinner markets, but lack the adequate aircraft (an A343 is not the best route opener). IB should have ordered A330's much much earlier, and is now suffering the consequences of their conservative fleet planning.
Quoting LipeGIG (Reply 3): No doubt costs play a role and it seems IB is in desperate need of twin jets (A332 for example) for this type of mission. It could be the right plane for markets such as COR, FOR and REC. The A343 is just too expensive for the return given.
SCL767 From Chile, joined Feb 2006, 8268 posts, RR: 5 Reply 10, posted (1 year 7 months 1 week 3 days 7 hours ago) and read 946 times:
Quoting LIPZ (Reply 7): Last MAD-COR flight on Jan 20, 2012
The last two flights into COR will operate via MVD. Meanwhile, IB has decided to increase frequency on the MAD-SCL route from daily to 9x weekly starting next January.
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