While AA doesn't currently serve Russia, S7 in the oneworld alliance has a hub at DME.
SU in the SkyTeam alliance is currently the only airline serving Russia nonstop from the U.S. with SU serving SVO nonstop from JFK and IAD.
There would be connecting opportunities onto S7 flights out of DME to some other destinations in Russia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan if AA adds service to DME.
Some of the AA FF's in the U.S. would also prefer to connect on European oneworld airlines such as BA, IB, AY, or S7 whenever possible.
Serving DME nonstop from the U.S. would likely require widebody aircraft as DME might be outside of the range of A321XLR. There are a few Russian airports closer to the U.S. such as LED and KGD that are likely within the range of A321XLR aircraft from JFK, but S7 has a much bigger operation at DME than at LED or KGD (along with DME being a hub for S7).
S7 also currently doesn't have any widebody aircraft, whereas AA has 787's that could be used to serve DME nonstop from the U.S.
Some of the S7 destinations in Russia, the Caucasus, and Central Asia don't have service on BA, IB, or AY, and getting to some of these destinations from the U.S. can require 3 or 4 connections. AA adding service to DME would provide easier access to Russia, the Caucasus, and Central Asia from the U.S.
Moscow is also one of the largest metropolitan areas in the world that isn't served by AA (on its own metal).
Is AA likely to add service to DME, especially with the beyond-DME connecting opportunities that would be there on S7 along with the connecting feed that AA would have on the U.S. side?
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- davidjohnson6
- Posts: 3930
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Re: Any possibility of AA adding service to DME?
In case you hadn't noticed, political relations between Biden and Putin are not in a good state right now. When countries have bad relations, tourism tends to be low, and businesses get wary of trade with the other country.
When political relations improve, there is a better chance of airlines opening new routes
When political relations improve, there is a better chance of airlines opening new routes
Re: Any possibility of AA adding service to DME?
AA served DME previously and the route was terminated around 2009.
Even Delta with large Skyteam partner Aeroflot dropped its Moscow route finally in 2017 after having operated only seasonally for several years.
Even Delta with large Skyteam partner Aeroflot dropped its Moscow route finally in 2017 after having operated only seasonally for several years.
Re: Any possibility of AA adding service to DME?
A simple answer is "never". Aeroflot has the US market cornered for non-stops, which is perfectly fine. Aeroflot service, food, seating, etc, is absolutely amazing. Having taken JFK-SVO in both economy and business, it is far superior to the LCC treatment/service you find on AA or any other US airline.
Most Russians that I know either fly SU to Russia or Turkish via IST.
Most Russians that I know either fly SU to Russia or Turkish via IST.
Re: Any possibility of AA adding service to DME?
TK does very well connecting the former USSR to the US. And LH is no slouch but still nowhere near as much service as TK. And then of course SU has the Russia-US nonstop market on lock.
As far as any city in Russia not called Moscow getting service from the US, the only one that comes anywhere near remotely plausible is LED. I'm not counting the 1x weekly seasonal Yakutia flight to ANC, either. And Moscow in good times only really sees SU on nonstop to the US.
As far as any city in Russia not called Moscow getting service from the US, the only one that comes anywhere near remotely plausible is LED. I'm not counting the 1x weekly seasonal Yakutia flight to ANC, either. And Moscow in good times only really sees SU on nonstop to the US.
Re: Any possibility of AA adding service to DME?
Not. worth. it. Same as UA and DL, AA tried and failed.
DL has an even bigger partner in Russia, no dice.
Why would we go to Russia unless we have family ties? And Russia-based FFs (much like FFs stateside with the US3) are far more likely to be SU captives or TK fans or perhaps even LH group customers if they do VFR elsewhere in Europe, which a lot of the FFs do now. Russian tourists come to the US for shopping in NYC (much like Western Europeans), tanning in MIA or the lure of LA and perhaps Hollywood. Russian business in the US may involve capital flight, e.g. buying real estate or businesses as a plan B.
But what tourist attractions would draw us there? Eremitage / Petergof during white nights in LED or chasing a girl, fair enough. But shopping in Moscow or a tour of the Kremlin? And fat chance of us hitting a beach near Sochi or attending a language school. Even most Europeans don't do that, let alone us. Overwhelmingly Russia is not Croatia, Poland or the Baltics, with a young, pro-western, English speaking population. They still sell Stalin paraphernalia to locals with moderate success. They can drink and they are *very* hospitable if you're their guest, but there are clear limits when the morning (or your return flight) comes.
There's also a language barrier unless someone is picking you up at the airport, and also a cultural barrier, even *if* they roll out the red carpet for you. And they have a small upper middle class compared to here. So the front of the plane would be pretty empty in terms of paid seats, especially now with sanctions and mutual animosity. So based on all that, for AA (or DL or UA) to add service to Russia, I'd say chances are slim to none in the foreseeable future.
DL has an even bigger partner in Russia, no dice.
Why would we go to Russia unless we have family ties? And Russia-based FFs (much like FFs stateside with the US3) are far more likely to be SU captives or TK fans or perhaps even LH group customers if they do VFR elsewhere in Europe, which a lot of the FFs do now. Russian tourists come to the US for shopping in NYC (much like Western Europeans), tanning in MIA or the lure of LA and perhaps Hollywood. Russian business in the US may involve capital flight, e.g. buying real estate or businesses as a plan B.
But what tourist attractions would draw us there? Eremitage / Petergof during white nights in LED or chasing a girl, fair enough. But shopping in Moscow or a tour of the Kremlin? And fat chance of us hitting a beach near Sochi or attending a language school. Even most Europeans don't do that, let alone us. Overwhelmingly Russia is not Croatia, Poland or the Baltics, with a young, pro-western, English speaking population. They still sell Stalin paraphernalia to locals with moderate success. They can drink and they are *very* hospitable if you're their guest, but there are clear limits when the morning (or your return flight) comes.
There's also a language barrier unless someone is picking you up at the airport, and also a cultural barrier, even *if* they roll out the red carpet for you. And they have a small upper middle class compared to here. So the front of the plane would be pretty empty in terms of paid seats, especially now with sanctions and mutual animosity. So based on all that, for AA (or DL or UA) to add service to Russia, I'd say chances are slim to none in the foreseeable future.
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- PatrickZ80
- Posts: 5801
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Re: Any possibility of AA adding service to DME?
Indeed it's a very small market which is not worth serving. Also note that the European airlines are capturing a lot of demand between the USA and Russia, they funnel these passengers through their European hubs.
As for American and S7, indeed they're both in OneWorld but keep in mind, so is British Airways. They even got a joint venture with American so in a way you can say American is serving DME from Heathrow by means of British Airways. BA/AA can pick up passengers anywhere in the US and, with a stop in Heathrow, drop them off in Moscow from where S7 is taking them to their final destination.
Still, don't expect too much of it. Finnair is in OneWorld as well yet Helsinki - Moscow Domodedovo is unserved, apparently neither airline is bothered with it. Finnair does serve Sheremetyevo, just the airport which isn't a hub for their partner S7. Apparently this flight is about local Moscow demand only, not about the rest of Russia.
By the way, if you ask Delta for a flight from New York to Moscow they don't book you on Aeroflot even though they operate a direct flight and both airlines are in SkyTeam. Instead you're being funneled through either Amsterdam or Paris Charles de Gaulle with KLM or Air France taking you the last bit of the trip to Moscow. Delta and Aeroflot might be in the same alliance but that doesn't mean they're close.
As for American and S7, indeed they're both in OneWorld but keep in mind, so is British Airways. They even got a joint venture with American so in a way you can say American is serving DME from Heathrow by means of British Airways. BA/AA can pick up passengers anywhere in the US and, with a stop in Heathrow, drop them off in Moscow from where S7 is taking them to their final destination.
Still, don't expect too much of it. Finnair is in OneWorld as well yet Helsinki - Moscow Domodedovo is unserved, apparently neither airline is bothered with it. Finnair does serve Sheremetyevo, just the airport which isn't a hub for their partner S7. Apparently this flight is about local Moscow demand only, not about the rest of Russia.
By the way, if you ask Delta for a flight from New York to Moscow they don't book you on Aeroflot even though they operate a direct flight and both airlines are in SkyTeam. Instead you're being funneled through either Amsterdam or Paris Charles de Gaulle with KLM or Air France taking you the last bit of the trip to Moscow. Delta and Aeroflot might be in the same alliance but that doesn't mean they're close.
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- DaCubbyBearBar
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Re: Any possibility of AA adding service to DME?
I think all of the US3 have said, we will let the Russian airlines have Moscow. There is so many other opportunities out there to worry about this one. Although tried, it seems resigned to foreign carriers…
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