Conti764 wrote:For the time being, I agree, but isn't SN supposed to streamline their ops with the Star Alliance partners so flying less flights on their own metal with probably more pax per flight?
I am confused now.
Why would SN want to offer less frequencies with more capacity on its destinations?
That's a business model for a low-fare airline, not for a network carrier offering connections and alternatives.
I'd image the focus is on offering more frequencies on existing routes, albeit with reduced capacity (e.g. BRS and NCL) or identical capacity, if load factors can be maintained (e.g. CPH, TXL).
Conti764 wrote:
You probably know better than me, but aren't there at least a few routes that can have a bigger plane year round, maybe even with a dedicated C-class?
Well TLV might do with a bigger plane, but other than that, I don't know if there's any route which is currently being underserved really. There are destinations which have good loads from time to time, but if you take A320s over A319s, you need to be damn sure you'll be filling those extra seats at least half the time (or more), otherwise you better don't bother.
Pesonally, I am not convinced that's the case right now, but who knows, maybe in a couple of years, SN might operate 2 or 3 A320s amid a 10 to 15 planes strong airbus narrowbody fleet? Right now however, I think the capacity jump is too big to go straight for an A320...
As to dedicated C class on narrowbodies: who does that within the LH group of airlines on medium haul flights in Europe? I know OS has some narrowbodied Airbussses configured for C class, but they use them on flights to the middle east, so those are not European destinations they serve with them. But other than that, I don't know of any airline doing that, so I fail to see why SN would do it? A free middle seat seems to be the industry standard in Europe for business class cabins these days, like it or not.
