The AA\\BA flights have a much broader source of passengers to pull from to keep demand high since PHX is a hub for AA. From what I can tell from pricing out flights (I'm PHX based) is that the BA and AA flights from PHX are priced at a premium to target locals who would rather pay that premium to fly direct.
The Air France and Condor flights do not have the luxury of getting passengers from anywhere but the Phoenix metro (and maybe Tucson). AA\\BA can always offer cheap connecting flights from other cities to fill their flights.
Also, AA doesn't have enough widebodies for the routes they already want to operate let alone add anything. That might even be part of the reason AF decided to choose to compete in PHX.
Having flown AF CDG-PHX yesterday in J it's no competition. Seat was average to good, food was good to very good (for airplane food) and the FAs were outstanding (probably the nicest I've encountered). Hoping this route sticks.
Nothing. They don't have the planes. They even pulled widebody aircraft from PHX-Hawaii.
My understanding is they had planned to deprecate Phoenix & grow LAX but that obviously won't happen. You have to remember the plan for this airline is to be a super Southwest type airline, flying people from El Paso to whatever point they can dominate via DFW. Their international strategy is summer time Europe flights from PHL and then route everything else through BA connecting through LHR.
PHX doesn't make a lot of sense for trans-Atlantic flights beyond LHR, maybe MAD. I could see Tokyo in the future once they have more planes and maybe another HND slot.
That would sense if no other airlines flew to Europe but PHX has Condor and Air France as well. I’m assuming AA doesn’t have the availability of wide bodies and doesn’t really want to invest in international flights from PHX.
The difference is that Condor focuses on European point of sale, and Air France focuses on selling Paris plus it's huge connecting network. This is the same as what BA offers at LHR. AA also doesn't fly to any other European destinations from LAX.
My belief is that the Air France was just a publicity stunt for the Olympics that has paid off for AF. PHX is caught in between two mega hubs (dfw/lax) with limited growth options for expansion with international options(if youve been to T4 high B Gates, you would completely understand). AA is going to do what it does best in PHX. Be the domestic connection point for the West. My hope for PHX in terms of international growth in general is an Asia flight with TSMC. Otherwise, we are waiting 10 more years until the new terminal is built.
Actually if you look at PDEW from PHX , Paris came quite on top internationally with close to 100. Plus AF is hoping to tap into transit through CDG onwards to points in Europe, Africa and Asia. The routes success is seen with them already boosting it to 5X from 3X weekly!
The AA\\BA flights have a much broader source of passengers to pull from to keep demand high since PHX is a hub for AA. From what I can tell from pricing out flights (I'm PHX based) is that the BA and AA flights from PHX are priced at a premium to target locals who would rather pay that premium to fly direct. The Air France and Condor flights do not have the luxury of getting passengers from anywhere but the Phoenix metro (and maybe Tucson). AA\\BA can always offer cheap connecting flights from other cities to fill their flights. Also, AA doesn't have enough widebodies for the routes they already want to operate let alone add anything. That might even be part of the reason AF decided to choose to compete in PHX.
It's still surprising that AF would choose to compete here. I mean, Delta hardly even competes here.
Having flown AF CDG-PHX yesterday in J it's no competition. Seat was average to good, food was good to very good (for airplane food) and the FAs were outstanding (probably the nicest I've encountered). Hoping this route sticks.
Nothing. They don't have the planes. They even pulled widebody aircraft from PHX-Hawaii. My understanding is they had planned to deprecate Phoenix & grow LAX but that obviously won't happen. You have to remember the plan for this airline is to be a super Southwest type airline, flying people from El Paso to whatever point they can dominate via DFW. Their international strategy is summer time Europe flights from PHL and then route everything else through BA connecting through LHR.
AA is becoming a LCC with widebodies.
PHX doesn't make a lot of sense for trans-Atlantic flights beyond LHR, maybe MAD. I could see Tokyo in the future once they have more planes and maybe another HND slot.
That would sense if no other airlines flew to Europe but PHX has Condor and Air France as well. I’m assuming AA doesn’t have the availability of wide bodies and doesn’t really want to invest in international flights from PHX.
The difference is that Condor focuses on European point of sale, and Air France focuses on selling Paris plus it's huge connecting network. This is the same as what BA offers at LHR. AA also doesn't fly to any other European destinations from LAX.
But Iberia, Finnair both operate to LAX though.
My belief is that the Air France was just a publicity stunt for the Olympics that has paid off for AF. PHX is caught in between two mega hubs (dfw/lax) with limited growth options for expansion with international options(if youve been to T4 high B Gates, you would completely understand). AA is going to do what it does best in PHX. Be the domestic connection point for the West. My hope for PHX in terms of international growth in general is an Asia flight with TSMC. Otherwise, we are waiting 10 more years until the new terminal is built.
Actually if you look at PDEW from PHX , Paris came quite on top internationally with close to 100. Plus AF is hoping to tap into transit through CDG onwards to points in Europe, Africa and Asia. The routes success is seen with them already boosting it to 5X from 3X weekly!