August is out.....first stop Asia.
Yep it's a new month and the T-100's are out again, so i stop work on JFK and go back to the beginning and start another round of updates.
So it's off to Asia, and a solid set of updates from all 3 carriers and their 4 routes.
All the backup information can be found by clicking the link below
http://awhitelocks.wixsite.com/newenglandaero/t100international
CX (Cathay)
We definitely know why Cathay are so interested in going daily in 2017, another month and another excellent result. Year over Year CX added another 2,750 seats on the route, and filled over 2,500 of them, a very slight dip in overall load factor, but they have to be happy with the results. Year to date they are still getting nearly 90% loads on average and have shipped an extra 42,000 pax. On a rolling basis they have almost caught up with JL with 108,000 passengers on the route. In 14 months that's quite the uplift, especially when you consider they also run 3 daily non-stops into JFK along with the HKG-YVR-JFK option. If there was ever proof of a market needing direct service, i firmly believe BOS-HKG is it. (oh and more of it too!)
JL (Jal)
BOS-NRT was the first route to Asia in 2012. so this can be considered to be a mature route model now. JAL have increased capacity slightly moving from the 788 to 789 running 195 seats each way a day, but there is limited scope beyond that. However pax numbers have largely leveled out in fact are slightly down by nearly 2,000 YTD. JL are still holding firm above 80% loads on a rolling basis, but this is one to probably keep an eye on, I don't think it's at risk yet. Interestingly now i am creating the JFK stats, you can see the comparatives. JFK has roughly double the numbers, but is running at 75% loads. So I suspect BOS will be fine until things drop to that kind of level, here's hoping they don't
HU (Hainan)
When they arrived at BOS, i'd never really heard of this outfit, but you know what, they've come in and done an excellent job, they are now hauling 220K passengers per annum on average over their 2 routes (PVG and PEK). I'm really rather impressed, I don't think their rolling 12 month has really caught up yet to how well they are really doing.
PEK - YTD increased flights (by 10), increased capacity (789) and 8,444 extra seats, but pax increased by 9,211 and they are at nearly 89% loads. rolling 12 month they are still at 85%, so for right now, i think they are ok where they are with this route, but if they go much higher, i wonder if they could find room for additional frequencies?
PVG - when you decide to go all in on a route, it will really make or break it, in this case, it's been a winner, now for August unfortunately 28 less passengers made the trip, however overall you have to put this into perspective. 12 month rolling they have put 53K seats extra into the route and carried nearly 44K extra, loads have slipped overall by 4%, but to put that much capacity through and do that. Round of applause HU, very impressed. Not quite CX spectacular, but impressive none the less.
So we await with interest what happens in the winter and when we come out the other side. CX will be waiting with their uplift to daily.... all I can say is, come on ICN and KE, get your act together and get on board...