Originally Posted by
3pointlanding
The whole purpose of the 777 and ETOPS was to eliminate stops and save fuel. .
Its not ETOPS and fuel cost so much as the overall Freight volume is down, way down.
We use to have an MD-11 flying (sometimes 2*) to the US out of 6 major Asian cities. KIX*, NRT*, HKG*, SZX, TPE, PVG, ICN thru NRT (most all with an intermediate stop in ANC) We also had a KIX-MEM and a KIX-OAK.
We use to have an MD-11 (sometimes 2) flying down to MEM, OAK, SEA, IND, EWR, ORD and AFW.
The 777 took over some of this, but not all. Look at our Domestic system, We have reduced flying there as well. The MEM AOC Tues-Thursday night use to be crowded. Now not so much. The IND day sort is way smaller it once was. EWR and AFW are almost Ghost towns.
The Euro Economy is in the Tank. The US economy is stagnant, just barely growing a 1-2%. Despite the Hype, unemployment is staying where it was at close to 9%. With the uncertainly in Sequester BS and Obama Care, no one wants to hire Full time workers.
China's economy has slowed because people aren't buying as much
and more importantly (negatively) for FedEx and UPS, people that are buying are willing to accept it taking 2-3 more days in order to pay less for shipping. Simply put we are not carrying near as much out of the Pacific rim as we use to.
The Key will be for the US economy to really grow, hopefully getting the US Consumer Market (buy, buy, buy) cooking again, except that now our Leaders want to tax Internet sales....yeah that should help get things moving again
