United’s Boeing 777 in Brussels

Boeing767copilot · Post by **Boeing767copilot** » 31 Aug 2007, 16:40

From October 2 to October 27, United Airlines will operate its daily nonstop flight between Brussels and Washington Dulles airport with a Boeing 777, adding 65 seats a day to the route.

David747 · Post by **David747** » 31 Aug 2007, 16:42

Is this part of United expansion plans?

Outsync · Post by **Outsync** » 31 Aug 2007, 17:21

David747 wrote:Is this part of United expansion plans?

No, maintenance of other planes, grts!

Post by **Bruspotter** » 31 Aug 2007, 19:19

Hello

outsync: . I would really find that the most strange thing what concerns aviation I've ever heard. How could it that a big airline like United airlines with a big fleet of 767's have too short on 767's to operate the normal route to BRU? That seems impossible to me since if they have a decent maintenance planning they would do it so that they don't create situations like this, right? So concrete this would mean that UA has not a single 767 free to operate the BRU route? Looks weird. Could you maybe explain how this is possible? Like to know more about it.

Best regards: Yannick

spotter1102 · Post by **spotter1102** » 31 Aug 2007, 19:31

They will also put new seats and changing the cabin configuration on the 767s.

Atlantis · Post by **Atlantis** » 31 Aug 2007, 20:45

Bruspotter wrote:Hello

outsync: . I would really find that the most strange thing what concerns aviation I've ever heard. How could it that a big airline like United airlines with a big fleet of 767's have too short on 767's to operate the normal route to BRU? That seems impossible to me since if they have a decent maintenance planning they would do it so that they don't create situations like this, right? So concrete this would mean that UA has not a single 767 free to operate the BRU route? Looks weird. Could you maybe explain how this is possible? Like to know more about it.

Best regards: Yannick

Its correct, I also have heard that it is about maintenance. But it's only for a month that we will see a UA 777.

rut-her · Post by **rut-her** » 31 Aug 2007, 23:57

Yes indeed. Maintenance for the B767 as thus a daily 777 on the UA950. Note that CO will switch to B764 again.

Greetz,
Rutger

Cash · Post by **Cash** » 01 Sep 2007, 10:39

rut-her wrote:Note that CO will switch to B764 again.

Greetz,
Rutger

Will that be permanently or also temporarly?

Outsync · Post by **Outsync** » 01 Sep 2007, 15:36

Cash wrote:
rut-her wrote:Note that CO will switch to B764 again.

Greetz,
Rutger
Will that be permanently or also temporarly?

Continental has no news yet if they will bring back the triple 7 next year. the 764 will come back on the 27th of october. I think it all depends if the market wants it...

Remember theres a competitor now, and not the least, 9W !

Outsync · Post by **Outsync** » 01 Sep 2007, 15:37

Bruspotter wrote:Hello

outsync: . I would really find that the most strange thing what concerns aviation I've ever heard. How could it that a big airline like United airlines with a big fleet of 767's have too short on 767's to operate the normal route to BRU? That seems impossible to me since if they have a decent maintenance planning they would do it so that they don't create situations like this, right? So concrete this would mean that UA has not a single 767 free to operate the BRU route? Looks weird. Could you maybe explain how this is possible? Like to know more about it.

Best regards: Yannick

I'm not pulling this out of my sleeve though :p

Post by **Bruspotter** » 01 Sep 2007, 16:10

Hi

outsync : Oh of course not...I certainly believe you, sorry if I made it look like that. I only find it strange

.

Too bad that we only see it for one month

. And the other bad news really isn't cool too

.

Best regards: Yannick

Post by **Kapitein** » 01 Sep 2007, 16:28

Bruspotter wrote: How could it that a big airline like United airlines with a big fleet of 767's have too short on 767's to operate the normal route to BRU?

UA has indeed alot of 763's but not all are ER-versions. If my info is still correct they have only around 23 767-300ER's left (reg between N641UA - N663UA). They down rated 14 of their ER's to regular 763. (reg between N664UA - N677UA) Don't ask me how, but they did.

If you look at the routes they fly with the 763ER they need at least 15-18 aircrafts a day. Counting also a few spares + a few in mx, than you have almost reached the max of the operating ER's.

All in all, they will come pretty short on ER's while refurbishing their fleet.

Ducatibiker · Post by **Ducatibiker** » 01 Sep 2007, 18:31

spotter1102 wrote:They will also put new seats and changing the cabin configuration on the 767s.

Yes, the 767 will have the new flat beds in both F and C cabins which will look spectacular. The 777 has 6 flat beds in F class but no flat beds in C.
They will use the 777 while the 767 is refurbished. Once the 767 is ready, they will use it. I just hope it is every day and that they don't rotate the plane with another airplane with an older cabin version. They will also upgrade their service in F and C with premium wine which will certainly help me to forget the 25 gr of cold pasta with 3 peas I received today in b.flex. on B. Airlines

http://www.unitedairlines.be/core/engli ... _0723.html

134flyer · Post by **134flyer** » 01 Sep 2007, 23:10

Ducatibiker wrote:They will use the 777 while the 767 is refurbished. Once the 767 is ready, they will use it. I just hope it is every day and that they don't rotate the plane with another airplane with an older cabin version.

UA will first refurbish one 767, and that one will first fly alternate between IAD-FRA & IAD-ZRH starting 29OCT07. After the refurbished 767, a 747 will be refurbished (will start flying midDEC07), and after that a 777 will be refurbished (will start flying earlyFEB08). Immediately after this trial period, the rest of the fleet will be refurbished with about one aircraft a week rejoining the fleet from then on. So it will take some time to see a refurbished 767 in BRU...

Ducatibiker · Post by **Ducatibiker** » 02 Sep 2007, 09:22

BRU-IAD is one of their most profitable route - espcially in C and this is why there is a strong chance to see the new version as early as December but not every day. Don't forget they now have competition with 9W and since final destination is not East Coast, I could transfer in JFK or IAD although more convenient to stay on UA.

To answer a question which was PM to me. I would not use the codeshare with American Airlines because, even if I am B. Airlines Platinum, AA would not recognise Brussels Airlines/Privilege elite status. AA will upgrade their own AAdvantage members first. And you cannot redeem miles for an upgrade into F either. On Star Alliance, you can be upgraded either via technical upgrade or miles upgrade in F.

134flyer · Post by **134flyer** » 02 Sep 2007, 12:15

Ducatibiker wrote:BRU-IAD is one of their most profitable route - espcially in C and this is why there is a strong chance to see the new version as early as December but not every day. Don't forget they now have competition with 9W and since final destination is not East Coast, I could transfer in JFK or IAD although more convenient to stay on UA.

Well, it is certainly possible to see the refurbirshed 767 in BRU before FEB08, but I think the chances are quite slim. UA announced that the single refurbished 767 will fly to FRA & ZRH, so to put it occasionally on e.g. the BRU route won't make C & F pax happy in the FRA & ZRH markets! Furthermore, I guess the IAD-FRA & IAD-ZRH routes are also quite profitable (and FRA & ZRH are both Star Alliance hubs). Anyway, I think it is good that UA will keep this single 767 on two specific routes, and not rotate it all over their network. However, I do think that BRU will be one of the first destinations to see refurbished 767's once they have more aircraft available, exactly for the reasons you mentioned (profitable route & 9W competition).

Btw, here is the UA press-release:

http://ir.united.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=83 ... highlight=