UA To Launch DEN-NRT

mogandoCI · Tue May 22, 2012 6:09 pm

Quoting BACCALA (Reply 49):
UA will operate the route on Dreamliners featuring 42 BusinessFirst seats and 183 in coach.

Any info regarding Y and Y+ split of the 183 ? Will Y+ be 2-4-2 or 3-3-3 ?

KBJCpilot · Tue May 22, 2012 6:12 pm

A story in the Denver Post this morning mentioned that Tokyo is the number one Asian destination for overseas travelers from Denver. If that is the case this new route makes perfect sense to utilize the 787 and keep those travelers in Denver rather than transferring them in ORD, SFO, or LAX. And this flight opens up all kinds of connecting opportunities for Asian travelers who are looking for destinations throughout the inter-mountain west as well as the midwest.

$130 million in economic benefits to Colorado as a result of this new flight according to a live report on 9News right now. If it wasn't for the 787 this flight wouldn't have happened.

It's a great day for DIA and NRT.

http://business-news.thestreet.com/d...begin-direct-denver-tokyo-flight/1

[Edited 2012-05-22 11:15:35]

Rdh3e · Tue May 22, 2012 6:30 pm

Quoting KBJCpilot (Reply 51):
and keep those travelers in Denver rather than transferring them in ORD, SFO, or LAX.

I would think this hurts the SEA flight the most as it has the smallest catchment. But perhaps there is also enough local demand there as well.

Quoting mogandoCI (Reply 50):
Any info regarding Y and Y+ split of the 183 ?

I see he edited his post so you may have missed it.

Quoting BACCALA (Reply 49):
United will operate the service with Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft with 219 seats%u201436 in BusinessFirst and 183 in United Economy, including 63 Economy Plus seats with extra legroom.

redzeppelin · Tue May 22, 2012 6:56 pm

It will be interesting to see how UA uses the 787 during the 23 hour stopover in DEN. While Delta was running SLC-NRT, they used the A330s to make a SLC-ATL turn, which I hoped to get on but never made it. (I only realized they were doing that when I was in SLC one day and saw 2 A330s on the ground at once -- I was shocked.) Some have speculated an LHR turn, but others have pointed out the problems there. Could we see them on a domestic run? Maybe to IAD, EWR, or even HNL?

mogandoCI · Tue May 22, 2012 7:18 pm

Quoting RDH3E (Reply 52):
Quoting mogandoCI (Reply 50):
Any info regarding Y and Y+ split of the 183 ?

I see he edited his post so you may have missed it.

Ahh yes. I've posted before his edit. Thanks.

mogandoCI · Tue May 22, 2012 7:21 pm

Quoting redzeppelin (Reply 53):
It will be interesting to see how UA uses the 787 during the 23 hour stopover in DEN. While Delta was running SLC-NRT, they used the A330s to make a SLC-ATL turn, which I hoped to get on but never made it. (I only realized they were doing that when I was in SLC one day and saw 2 A330s on the ground at once -- I was shocked.) Some have speculated an LHR turn, but others have pointed out the problems there. Could we see them on a domestic run? Maybe to IAD, EWR, or even HNL?

Would something like NRT-DEN-IAH-AKL work out schedule wise ?

planespotting · Tue May 22, 2012 7:30 pm

Quoting MAH4546 (Reply 10):
MCO is the largest market without Tokyo service, then Vegas, Miami and Philly.

Not sure if you're referring to something more specific (like O&D pax?), but Denver (#21) is a larger market (per MSA population) than both Orlando (#26) and Las Vegas (#30). Miami and Philly are both in the top ten (#6 and #8, respectively).

OH-LGA · Tue May 22, 2012 7:56 pm

Quoting United1 (Reply 28):

The flight is loaded in SHARES.....UA 123 with 788 service...Departs DEN at 1155 and arrives NRT 1500

Starts 03/31/2013

NRT-DEN starts 04/01/2013 UA122 1640-1230

Congrats to UA, DEN and NRT! Very cool news...

Just noticed the flight numbers - I guess we know now what they're doing with the flight numbers vacated by the termination of EWR-CPH...

LAXintl · Tue May 22, 2012 8:14 pm

Quoting laca773 (Reply 45):
Wasn't NH in talks with DIA to start DIA-NRT with the 787? Did the talks stall, come to an end?

Quoting matt777 (Reply 47):
Why is not ANA operating the route?

Does not really matter now that NH-UA have begun their comprehensive metal neutral Pacific JV.

Both cost and revenues are shared between the airlines. Ultimately flights are operated by the party that it works best for. (eg upcoming NRT-SJC on NH)

LAXintl · Tue May 22, 2012 8:22 pm

Here is the formal press release:

DENVER SAY "KONNICHIWA" TO TOKYO
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/united...er-konnichiwa-tokyo-173000458.html

Effective March 31st

Flights available for booking in GDS.

ScottB · Tue May 22, 2012 8:26 pm

Quoting KBJCpilot (Reply 51):
A story in the Denver Post this morning mentioned that Tokyo is the number one Asian destination for overseas travelers from Denver. If that is the case this new route makes perfect sense to utilize the 787 and keep those travelers in Denver

That statistic says very little since Tokyo is the top Asian destination from practically every U.S. city, with the possible exception of NYC (TLV) and SFO (HKG IIRC).

Quoting commavia (Reply 20):
it appears the deal United cut yesterday with DIA shrewdly included "growth" commitments based on ASMs. Well there you go! This one route - with a plane likely seating 200+ people, flying nearly 5,800 miles - alone will generate a sizable portion (maybe even 1/4-1/3) of United's entire ASM growth commitment.

Doing a very rough calculation, with 400 daily departures on UA/UA*, an average of 100 seats/departure, and an average stage length of 1000 miles, that single flight would increase ASM's at DEN by over 3% vs. the target of 4.5%. A seasonal DEN-LHR would cover the rest.

Western727 · Tue May 22, 2012 8:27 pm

Quoting HOONS90 (Reply 22):
Great to see DEN getting Asia service again, after 13 years!

That means about 1999...what was that last service, out of curiosity, and on what month did it end? Thanks in advance.

The777Man · Tue May 22, 2012 8:27 pm

Quoting mogandoCI (Reply 55):
Would something like NRT-DEN-IAH-AKL work out schedule wise ?

That's the most likely routing of the aircraft, in my opinion. Makes total sense.

The777Man

calpsafltskeds · Tue May 22, 2012 8:32 pm

Quoting redzeppelin (Reply 53):
It will be interesting to see how UA uses the 787 during the 23 hour stopover in DEN. While Delta was running SLC-NRT, they used the A330s to make a SLC-ATL turn, which I hoped to get on but never made it. (I only realized they were doing that when I was in SLC one day and saw 2 A330s on the ground at once -- I was shocked.) Some have speculated an LHR turn, but others have pointed out the problems there. Could we see them on a domestic run? Maybe to IAD, EWR, or even HNL?

The fact that the announcement didn't include 1-stop service means the aircraft will come from a hub, probably IAH. While LHR is possible, it would be tight and probably require another turn in LHR for maintenance or reduction from daily in NRT or LHR markets.

As far as 1 stops - the best possibilities might be CLE (hub) or MCO, maintenance base and stated in Reply #10 as the largest NRT market without Non-stop service.

How about a two aircraft package: MCO 0845 DEN 1045-1155 NRT 1500-1640 DEN 1230(+1)-1430 MCO 1900?

dia77 · Tue May 22, 2012 8:37 pm

I think he's referring to Korean Air's one stop service between Denver and Seoul which terminated in early 2001 or late 2000.

Quoting western727 (Reply 61):
Quoting HOONS90 (Reply 22):
Great to see DEN getting Asia service again, after 13 years!

That means about 1999...what was that last service, out of curiosity, and on what month did it end? Thanks in advance.

drerx7 · Tue May 22, 2012 9:35 pm

Quoting CALPSAFltSkeds (Reply 63):
The fact that the announcement didn't include 1-stop service means the aircraft will come from a hub, probably IAH.

Yep, as of now that's the only 787 pilot base. My guess is it will run NRT-DEN-IAH-AKL or NRT-DEN-IAH-LOS. At least it'll run that way until enough are on property to establish a second pilot base and stage more aircraft.

ORDJOE · Tue May 22, 2012 9:54 pm

The 787 seems perfect for this, I can see it doing we'll. DEN has a good economy, good amount of tech firms. Way to go united.

klkla · Tue May 22, 2012 11:11 pm

I would think this is related to ANA's new SEA-NRT route. I would be willing to bet that United stops their SEA-NRT flight and moves the metal to DEN-NRT. This makes much more sense for the JV as ANA has better connections in Tokyo to serve Seattle and United had better connections in Denver. It's a much better use of resources.

drerx7 · Tue May 22, 2012 11:18 pm

Quoting klkla (Reply 67):
moves the metal to DEN-NRT

Well, moves the resources not the metal. The carbon fiber will be out of DEN. They would move that 777 elsewhere IF it moved, they have not announced that they would be cancelling it though.

hoons90 · Tue May 22, 2012 11:20 pm

Quoting dia77 (Reply 64):
I think he's referring to Korean Air's one stop service between Denver and Seoul which terminated in early 2001 or late 2000.

Quoting western727 (Reply 61):
Quoting HOONS90 (Reply 22):
Great to see DEN getting Asia service again, after 13 years!

That means about 1999...what was that last service, out of curiosity, and on what month did it end? Thanks in advance.

Correct, it was via SFO and ended in late 1999.

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tpaewr · Wed May 23, 2012 1:02 am

It is ironic that while "widebody rich" UA could only launch this with a plane ordered by CO.

gigneil · Wed May 23, 2012 1:06 am

It really is not, no, since launching a route with a plane that doesn't make sense.... well, doesn't make sense.

NS

tpaewr · Wed May 23, 2012 1:27 am

Quoting gigneil (Reply 71):
It really is not, no, since launching a route with a plane that doesn't make sense.... well, doesn't make sense

I am not sure I follow. I agree UA couldn't have made it work with a 777 or 747. So they needed the right plane, correct?

gigneil · Wed May 23, 2012 1:29 am

They did need the right plane!

NS

codc10 · Wed May 23, 2012 1:36 am

Quoting tpaewr (Reply 70):
It is ironic that while "widebody rich" UA could only launch this with a plane ordered by CO.

It has everything to do with the fact that the 787 is the right airplane for the route. With the 777, it's probably a non-starter.

MarcoPoloWorld · Wed May 23, 2012 3:22 am

Quoting MAH4546 (Reply 10):
MCO is the largest market without Tokyo service, then Vegas, Miami and Philly.

Denver is a smaller market to Asia than any of the above (and Phoenix even smaller), which is why I find this addition questionable, specially given United's shaky history in DENLON, a market around 6x larger.

That's kind of what I thought also.

When I visited Denver a few years ago, I had expected a modern, albeit isolated, city. Instead I found it to be a backwater-type place surrounded by nothingness (scenic nothingness but still). And the only public transit line to the center city was a bus once an hour. So now, how is there a viable market connection between Denver and Tokyo and who would want to or have the means to travel between the two?

Hard to understand this move; maybe just a desperate roll of the dice I suppose.

[Edited 2012-05-22 21:02:05]

KBJCpilot · Wed May 23, 2012 3:43 am

Quoting MarcoPoloWorld (Reply 75):
When I visited Denver a few years ago, I had expected a modern, albeit isolated, city. Instead I found it to be a redneck-type place surrounded by nothingness (scenic nothingness but still). And the only public transit line to the center city was a bus once an hour.

That will soon be a thing of the past. The Regional Transportation District (RTD) is in the process of building a light-rail line to DEN that will connect the downtown business core to the airport while passing through the Aurora and University of Colorado Medical Center. From Union Station, the terminus of the RTD line, riders can utilize the light rail throughout the south and west Denver metro area and can take shutle busses to the north metro areas including Boulder and the Broomfield/Westminster Interlocken area. By 2017 DEN will be a different airport, especially if the Gaylord Hotel complex is built just off-site from DEN.

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingne...-tourism-tax-incentives?source=pkg

gigneil · Wed May 23, 2012 3:45 am

Quoting MarcoPoloWorld (Reply 75):
When I visited Denver a few years ago, I had expected a modern, albeit isolated, city. Instead I found it to be a redneck-type place surrounded by nothingness (scenic nothingness but still).

You clearly didn't actually go into Denver then.

Quoting KBJCpilot (Reply 76):
That will soon be a thing of the past. The Regional Transportation District (RTD) is in the process of building a light-rail line to DEN that will connect the downtown business core to the airport while passing through the Aurora and University of Colorado Medical Center.

The spur to the airport is electrified heavy commuter rail, but the spirit of your comment is quite on point.

Heavy rail was selected for several RTD metro corridors for railway re-use and the distance, speed, and ridership expected. The longer lines will be "clean" diesel, with the shorter lines like this one being electrified.

NS

[Edited 2012-05-22 21:01:17]

ftrguy · Wed May 23, 2012 3:48 am

United has wanted to do this route for years now, but they have never had an aircraft with the performance to do it. Even with the new 16000ft RWY, a 777 couldn't do it with any decent load. A 767, forget it. DEN's long range international growth has been primarily limited by aircraft performance, not by the market. Sounds like the 787 is the first aircraft to be able to pull it off with some sort of a decent payload.

gigneil · Wed May 23, 2012 4:02 am

I'm very hopeful that a year-round LHR is possible with this aircraft. I'm nearly certain it would be.

NS

ytib · Wed May 23, 2012 4:02 am

Quoting gigneil (Reply 77):
The spur to the airport is, if I am not mistaken, heavy commuter rail.

Correct.

Quoting KBJCpilot (Reply 76):
That will soon be a thing of the past. The Regional Transportation District (RTD) is in the process of building a light-rail line to DEN that will connect the downtown business core to the airport while passing through the Aurora and University of Colorado Medical Center.

Not quite, the stop at the Fitzsimmons campus where the Medical Center is located will require a change from heavy rail to light rail at the Peoria Station.

http://www.rtd-fastracks.com/ec_1

MarcoPoloWorld · Wed May 23, 2012 4:09 am

Quoting KBJCpilot (Reply 76):
That will soon be a thing of the past. The Regional Transportation District (RTD) is in the process of building a light-rail line to DEN that will connect the downtown business core to the airport while passing through the Aurora and University of Colorado Medical Center. From Union Station, the terminus of the RTD line, riders can utilize the light rail throughout the south and west Denver metro area and can take shutle busses to the north metro areas including Boulder and the Broomfield/Westminster Interlocken area. By 2017 DEN will be a different airport, especially if the Gaylord Hotel complex is built just off-site from DEN.

Great to hear that, and thanks for the update!

Quoting gigneil (Reply 77):
You clearly didn't actually go into Denver then.

I didn't? Anyways, I wish the best for Denver, and I hope to find a re-vitalized city on a next visit. Keep up the good work of promoting it.

peanuts · Wed May 23, 2012 4:27 am

Quoting MarcoPoloWorld (Reply 75):

If UA wants to fly a bunch of rednecks to NRT from DEN and it puts money in the bank, what's your issue really? Rednecks? Denver? I'm at a complete loss for words here...but oh well.

You are entitled to your judgment whether or not it makes you look good or bad but I think you owe Denver an apology. Big grin

[Edited 2012-05-22 21:54:04]

gigneil · Wed May 23, 2012 5:51 am

Quoting MarcoPoloWorld (Reply 81):
I didn't? Anyways, I wish the best for Denver, and I hope to find a re-vitalized city on a next visit. Keep up the good work of promoting it.

I'm uncertain what part you visited.

Since I was in high school, Denver has become an entirely new city almost. The downtown area has been fully revitalized, the tech center expanded, and vast new sections of town developed.

There are still large sections of the Denver area that maintain a rural feel; Denver does cover many hundreds of square miles. But the central core and close in suburbs are bustling and vibrant.

NS

MAH4546 · Wed May 23, 2012 6:38 am

Quoting ScottB (Reply 60):
That statistic says very little since Tokyo is the top Asian destination from practically every U.S. city, with the possible exception of NYC (TLV) and SFO (HKG IIRC).

Not at all. DFW's busiest before NRT is ICN, same with ATL. MIA has two busier, MNL and HKG. Plenty of others. I'm sure. From many cities, Manila and Seoul are busiest.

Though, you are right, it means nothing, especially given Denver-Asia isn't big to any city.

dia77 · Wed May 23, 2012 7:01 am

Quoting MAH4546 (Reply 84):
Not at all. DFW's busiest before NRT is ICN, same with ATL. MIA has two busier, MNL and HKG. Plenty of others. I'm sure. From many cities, Manila and Seoul are busiest.

Though, you are right, it means nothing, especially given Denver-Asia isn't big to any city.

Can you share your numbers?

BN747DFWHNL · Wed May 23, 2012 7:38 am

Can't wait for March 31 and a UA 787 at DEN.

Considering that many seem surprised by yesterday's
UA announcment, this article from the Associated Press,
also from yesterday, seems to shed some new light on
the subject:

http://www.canadianbusiness.com/arti...lights-what-about-houston-auckland

Without taking anything away from the City of
Denver, which clearly lobbied for this route, it
seems as though UA's decision has the
added motive of snubbing the City of Houston
for being receptive to SWA service from Hobby
to Mexico.

FlyASAGuy2005 · Wed May 23, 2012 8:10 am

Quoting ftrguy (Reply 78):
a 777 couldn't do it with any decent load

Quoting BN747DFWHNL (Reply 86):
Without taking anything away from the City of Denver, which clearly lobbied for this route, it seems as though UA's decision has theadded motive of snubbing the City of Houstonfor being receptive to SWA service from Hobbyto Mexico.

If UA is worried about Soutwest flying a bunch of 737s to LatAm/Caribbean then we have bigger things to worry about.

Beechtobus · Wed May 23, 2012 8:40 am

Quoting BN747DFWHNL (Reply 86):

Interesting take, I don't know if DEN to NRT necessarily to snub Houston though. If there was more announcements about routes leaving IAH or skipping over it then that would make sense, plus I'm sure that this announcement has been in the works for a while, several weeks at least, where the city of Houston just came out in favor of SWA.

I think DEN on its own plus the connections to the mountan and plains states that UA in DEN provide will see that this route is successful. Like many have said, the 787 is the right plane for this route. The 747 was too much plane and 777 and 767 would have been too weight restricted muh of the year.

Quoting MarcoPoloWorld (Reply 75):

I too am kind of at a loss of what Marco Polo is referring to. If your metric of how modern a city is is by its public transit link from its airport to its city center (which agreed, Denver's is currently less than adequate for a few more years anyhow), then maybe Denver is backwoods. If however you look at other metrics, vibrancy, nightlife, cultural/sporting attractions, shopping, resturants, downtown employment numbers, other booming parts of the metro area and their attractions, workforce, and over economic health of the area, then Denver is far ahead of the curve for a metro area of 3 million.

klwright69 · Wed May 23, 2012 10:33 am

I am so so excited about this route.. Having grown up in DEN, this is really big news. I remember a lot of history regarding international service to DEN.

I remember I was flying out of Stapleton the day CO launched nonstops to LGW. It was in June 1987. That was an exciting time also. I was at Stapleton to see the pax checking in for the last flight out of old Stapleton airport, which interestingly enough was CO flight 34 to LGW. Of course the return flight landed at the new Denver Airport.

I thought Korean Air's one stop flight to DEN was not going to last, and it was the case. A 747 flying to the west coast and then to Korea? Inefficient use of resources.

This flight to NRT on UA is big big news. As I said, this flight along with FI to KEF, shows that DEN is finally getting some love, and it's about time!

Quoting BeechToBus (Reply 88):
Quoting MarcoPoloWorld (Reply 75):

I too am kind of at a loss of what Marco Polo is referring to. If your metric of how modern a city is is by its public transit link from its airport to its city center (which agreed, Denver's is currently less than adequate for a few more years anyhow), then maybe Denver is backwoods. If however you look at other metrics, vibrancy, nightlife, cultural/sporting attractions, shopping, resturants, downtown employment numbers, other booming parts of the metro area and their attractions, workforce, and over economic health of the area, then Denver is far ahead of the curve for a metro area of 3 million.

Let's not allow this thread to be hijacked over a strange remark, starting an argument over what the city of Denver is, and isn't. It's not worth it.

STT757 · Wed May 23, 2012 10:48 am

Quoting BeechToBus (Reply 88):
Interesting take, I don't know if DEN to NRT necessarily to snub Houston though

While Tokyo is huge for Denver, and hopefully LHR will soon follow, it's not like there are many other international opportunies waiting to be realized. I love Denver, go there for work from time to time, but it's not an international city like Houston.

airbazar · Wed May 23, 2012 12:35 pm

Quoting redzeppelin (Reply 53):
It will be interesting to see how UA uses the 787 during the 23 hour stopover in DEN.

Indeed. How about FRA or MUC since UA and LH have a TATL JV? May be too tight but if there's an airport in Europe that can turn around a 787 quickly it should be MUC.

Quoting CALPSAFltSkeds (Reply 63):
The fact that the announcement didn't include 1-stop service means the aircraft will come from a hub

I don't follow. Aren't DEN and NRT both UA hubs?

Quoting drerx7 (Reply 65):
Yep, as of now that's the only 787 pilot base

That was before the merger. Looks to me like UA's 787 pilots will be commuting to work in DEN. Has IAH-AKL been loaded, even?

Quoting peanuts (Reply 82):
If UA wants to fly a bunch of rednecks to NRT from DEN and it puts money in the bank, what's your issue really? Rednecks? Denver? I'm at a complete loss for words here...but oh well.

That all depends on what his point of reference is. If he's comparing it with San Francisco, Chicago, NYC, London, Paris or Tokyo, then yes, Denver is kinda of a sleepy "backwater" city. I had a similar opinion when I visited but for a lot of people that is part of its appeal. Not everyone enjoys living is a large metropolis, myself included. What a lot of outside visitors don't realize is how spread out the city is if you include neighboring cities and towns.

drerx7 · Wed May 23, 2012 1:21 pm

Quoting peanuts (Reply 82):
Rednecks? Denver? I'm at a complete loss for words here...but oh well.

I am too...Cowboys maybe, rednecks...?

Quoting BN747DFWHNL (Reply 86):
added motive of snubbing the City of Houston
for being receptive to SWA service from Hobby
to Mexico.

Doubt it as the bird will probably originate at IAH anyway...

Quoting FlyASAGuy2005 (Reply 87):
UA is worried about Soutwest flying a bunch of 737s to LatAm/Caribbean then we have bigger things to worry about.

Exactly, from 5 gates. Get real UA.

Quoting airbazar (Reply 91):
That was before the merger. Looks to me like UA's 787 pilots will be commuting to work in DEN. Has IAH-AKL been loaded, even?

Probably, but where is the plane coming from...The bird will probably rotate on a DEN-IAH run to link with AKL (which has not been loaded yet which could be a non-starter) or LOS which I'm sure will go 787.

mogandoCI · Wed May 23, 2012 1:28 pm

Quoting airbazar (Reply 91):
I don't follow. Aren't DEN and NRT both UA hubs?

Officially, it's still a hub. Functionally, it's more a large focus city. In recent years, the rapid expansion of US mainland (via SFO, LAX, ORD, IAD, EWR) to non-NRT Asia nonstops allowed NRT's role to shrink considerably. I think the current count is somewhere between 15 and 20 (would've been more if SFO-NGO/TPE were not dropped)

UA's NRT is a pale comparison to DL's NRT, but UA's total Far East connectivity is definitely at least as good as DL's.

strfyr51 · Wed May 23, 2012 4:02 pm

Surprisingly they already announced on the Company Newsline the airplane would be a 787 proably the first one out of the gate. The Japanese are HUGE ski enthusiasts and Saporro is a MECCA for Japanese Ski Bums every year. So,, the Denver skiing would be right in line with that theme.
I don't know if this is a redirection of efforts with Houston's decis ion BUT We're moving into our New Digs in the downtown Chicago Offices and it's rumored there will be the CEO, Mayor Emanuel, the Mayor of San Francisco and the Mayor of Denver touring the place the first week of June, right following the Continental Ops guys moving in to work along side of us because there are a DAMN lot of us in that room on that Floor. . And I mean RIGHT along side of us... so Obviously Something is Up What?? Heck I don't know!! Maybe they're going to get off their Duffs and start REally negotiating with the Pilots like they're doing with the IAM..Especially since all 3 towns are BIG IAM represented Cities and Hubs, I can and Do sure Hope so because I DON'T wish to see another summer of 2000 being Repeated. That Sucked Lemons!! And Nobody made any Lemonade either!!

tommy767 · Wed May 23, 2012 4:13 pm

Quoting drerx7 (Reply 65):

How is IAH-LOS even doing? I thought UA wasn't all that pleased with the results thus far.

peanuts · Wed May 23, 2012 4:13 pm

Quoting BN747DFWHNL (Reply 86):
Without taking anything away from the City of
Denver, which clearly lobbied for this route, it
seems as though UA's decision has the
added motive of snubbing the City of Houston
for being receptive to SWA service from Hobby
to Mexico.

On Tuesday, United spokesman Christen David said the airline had planned Houston-Auckland flights "on the assumption that (Bush Intercontinental) would be the sole international airport, maximizing connecting traffic. If that isn't the case, the flight won't work."

This makes absolutely no sense for a carrier like UA.
If there is even a grain of truth to this nonsense, it would shed a light possibly how messed up UA really is.
I'm still very sceptical about the truth level of this article though. UA wouldn't shoot themselves in the foot now, would they? Why start DEN-NRT out of spite? Unless they got favorable deals out of it and UA had promised DEN an increase in ASM's ....

See:

Quoting commavia (Reply 20):
Smart move by United. This is a big hub-hub market that was not filled in their network, and perhaps more importantly, it appears the deal United cut yesterday with DIA shrewdly included "growth" commitments based on ASMs. Well there you go! This one route - with a plane likely seating 200+ people, flying nearly 5,800 miles - alone will generate a sizable portion (maybe even 1/4-1/3) of United's entire ASM growth commitment. Again - smart move by United.

I know, I know, every carrier gets sucked into its share of politics, it's part of business. I think UA would be wise to let the IAH/HOU drama die down a bit though.

United787 · Wed May 23, 2012 4:21 pm

Quoting BeechToBus (Reply 88):

I too am kind of at a loss of what Marco Polo is referring to. If your metric of how modern a city is is by its public transit link from its airport to its city center (which agreed, Denver's is currently less than adequate for a few more years anyhow),

Agreed, if the public transit links to the airport defined a city then NYC and LAX would be "red neck towns" also. Yes, I know JFK and EWR have connections but they don't go directly to the airport, you have to connect to the airport train and LGA has no access...

codc10 · Wed May 23, 2012 4:46 pm

Quoting tommy767 (Reply 95):
How is IAH-LOS even doing? I thought UA wasn't all that pleased with the results thus far.

Loads are improving but the 777 is probably too much airplane for the route. Yields are strong. It will be an early 787 route without question.

strfyr51 · Wed May 23, 2012 4:48 pm

what is a redneck town when talking about Flying?? is this some hidden meaning?? and Why is Houston Not considered as red neck as Denver?? I know a LOT of guys that would sell their Sisters to live and work in Denver. So Obviously Something is there since guys will wait 15 YEARS for an open slot to Move there with their Family. And I ONLY know 2 guys that would Vuluntarily LEAVE Denver (for a 28% raise, the mercenaries!)

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