UK airlines less vulnerable to seasonality on routes to US; Delta serves 34 European airports in summer

Michael McGhee, partner of Global Infrastructure Partners (the new owners of London Gatwick), is introduced to Brian Council (manager international route planning, US Airways) at Airport Exchange this week by anna.aero’s Ralph Anker. US Airways recently cut back five services, including the route from Gatwick to Philadelphia. McGhee hopes the fightback starts here.

The US – EU market continues to evolve, most recently thanks to the increased liberalisation between the UK and the US (London Heathrow now being available to all airlines if they can acquire slots) and the development of niche operations such as the short-lived operations by eos, L’avion, MaxJet and Silverjet, as well as the still operating British Airways subsidiary OpenSkies. The most recent development has been the introduction of services from London City airport to New York JFK operated by British Airways using an A318 in an all Business Class configuration.

Analysis of weekly frequencies this winter, and how they compare with this summer’s peak summer period, reveals significant differences in the seasonality of the routes performed by the largest airlines.

Source: OAG Max Online for w/c 18 January 2010 and w/c 6 July 2009

Delta was the busiest carrier on US – EU routes during the summer with over 350 weekly departures serving 34 airports across Europe, mostly from its hubs in Atlanta and New York JFK. Lagging some way behind were Continental, British Airways, American, Lufthansa and United who each operated between 200 and 300 weekly departures in the market.

However, in winter British Airways is the leading carrier with 250 weekly departures as Delta’s frequencies fall by 40% and the number of airports served in Europe falls to 24. British Airways reduces its weekly flights by just 7% in winter followed by Virgin and United who cut just 15% of flights. The only carrier that reduces its network by even more than Delta’s 40% is US Airways which sees a 60% reduction in flights. This summer the airline served 22 European destinations from Philadelphia (and three from Charlotte) while this winter only nine European airports are served from Philadelphia and two from Charlotte.

Eight destinations are operated during the summer only and will resume next spring (with Brussels and Zurich reverting back to year-round service thereafter) but the airline has indicated that Philadelphia services to Birmingham, London Gatwick, Milan Malpensa, Shannon and Stockholm will not be returning.