Originally Posted by
89Pistons
The extra jets don't make a difference. New routes and added block hours do. LAX-SIN and the seasonal SFO-AKL coming back will help but not enough unless the company just plans to eat the large overstaffing on the 787 West Coast.
As far as DCA 777 is concerned, even though the 787 is taking over four of their routes I think the 787 showing up on the East Coast is more about eventually replacing some of the East Coast 757 and 767 flying. The frames that were utilized on those four routes will be redistributed somewhere. Maybe out of DCA but B Models will be needed for SFO-PVG, winter SFO-HND, and SFO-LHR #2. But somewhere in all this some 756 flying will have to be replaced with other equipment or discontinued. They're pulling the frames from some domicile's flying to cover DEN 756. 756 block hours will have to decrease in one or two domiciles to accommodate.
Of the four planned 787 routes for DCA (CDG/LHR/PEK/GRU) only 2 come directly from the 777 (PEK and CDG). The other 2 come from the 767 (LHR#3 and GRU). The 787 has already been flying from IAD to CDG and LHR#3 this summer with LAX and SFO crews.