Originally Posted by
GA2Jets
Ok because if that were the case, they wouldn't have flown any 50 seaters when they only had 4% traffic in April. And they wouldn't have leaned in at all in the following months.
Another reason: when you are trying to increase the number of banks at a hub, a good way to start a new bank is by starting with low capacity aircraft then upgauging. Not just adding a new 6am flight on a 737 just because.
Another reason: if you're competing with another carrier with better frequency, you'd rather smaller planes so they fill up and you can have more frequency yourself to compete.
Another reason: small markets not served by ULCC carriers are stupid profitable. Giving those up completely indefinitely doesn't make sense. And serving them with a 550? Maybe but it's not as efficient.
Look I'm not saying ZW will for sure live, and I'm not saying there won't be lots of cuts and broken hearts. But there is absolutely plenty of reason to think that 50 seat a/c make sense going forward.
There is going to still be 50 seat aircraft. Difference is they are going to be 50 seat aircraft that United can sell a first class seat on and pocket a couple thousand more dollars on each flight, the 550. In terms of operating costs there really isn’t that much of a difference between the 200 and the 550, and when you turn that metric to profit margins, espically with the first class tickets, it swings in the 550’s favor.