AUSTIN | ABIA Updates

[GoldenBoot]

Originally Posted by Speculator

Outside of more Mexico, Canada, Hawaii, Caribbean, if it happens, it will be ICN or NRT, with an outside chance at PVG. It will also likely be a carrier flying 787 assuming the 787-8 has the range.

Yes, the Dreamliner has the range to make it to ICN, NRT and/or PVG.

In fact, based on a 8,000nm range, a B788 or B789 could make it to: SYD, MEL, JNB, DEL, all of South America, etc. from AUS. Pretty much the entire world except for the locations in and around the Indian Ocean basin (including most of Indonesia and western Australia).

Furthermore, the forthcoming A350 (and its variants) will have comparable ranges...



Carriers with equipment delivered or on order (pertinent to this conversation - Asian & European routes):
B788 - All Nippon, American, British, China Southern, Delta, Hainan, Japan, Qatar, & United
B789 - Air China, Air France, All Nippon, American, British, Etihad, Japan, Korean, United, & Virgin Atlantic
B787-10 - British, Etihad, Singapore, & United
A358 - Asiana & Hawaiian
A359 - Aer Lingus, Air Asia X, Air China, Air France, Asiana, Cathay Pacific, China Airlines, Delta, Etihad, Japan, Lufthansa, Qatar, Singapore, & US Airways
A350-10 - Asiana, British, Cathay Pacific, Etihad, Japan, Qatar, & United

*NOTE: To reiterate, these are not the only airlines which possess or have these equipment variants on order. Also, any Central or South American carrier was ignored at this time.

[Speculator]

Originally Posted by GoldenBoot

Yes, the Dreamliner has the range to make it to ICN, NRT and/or PVG.

In fact, based on a 8,000nm range, a B788 or B789 could make it to: SYD, MEL, JNB, DEL, all of South America, etc. from AUS. Pretty much the entire world except for the locations in and around the Indian Ocean basin (including most of Indonesia and western Australia).

Furthermore, the forthcoming A350 (and its variants) will have comparable ranges...



Carriers with equipment delivered or on order (pertinent to this conversation - Asian & European routes):
B788 - All Nippon, American, British, China Southern, Delta, Hainan, Japan, Qatar, & United
B789 - Air China, Air France, All Nippon, American, British, Etihad, Japan, Korean, United, & Virgin Atlantic
B787-10 - British, Etihad, Singapore, & United
A358 - Asiana & Hawaiian
A359 - Aer Lingus, Air Asia X, Air China, Air France, Asiana, Cathay Pacific, China Airlines, Delta, Etihad, Japan, Lufthansa, Qatar, Singapore, & US Airways
A350-10 - Asiana, British, Cathay Pacific, Etihad, Japan, Qatar, & United

*NOTE: To reiterate, these are not the only airlines which possess or have these equipment variants on order. Also, any Central or South American carrier was ignored at this time.

It will be a long time before a 350 or 787-10 comes into Austin. Both are too large anyway, the 787-9 may be too. I realize BA may upgauge but that's logistics more than anything, not related to capacity. The flight will likely be a 787-8 which indeed can make Narita. Australasia is iffy. The QR 380 out of DFW often stops to fuel when heading west due to high winds.

[lzppjb]

With the US opening up diplomatic talks with Cuba again, maybe we can get a direct connect to Havana.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/...0JV1H520141217

[sammyk]

Originally Posted by lzppjb

With the US opening up diplomatic talks with Cuba again, maybe we can get a direct connect to Havana.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/...0JV1H520141217

Not that it would happen, but it would be cool to see an Il-96 at AUS.

[LoneStarMike]

Southwest adds nonstops to Orange County, St. Louis
Claudia Grisales
Austin American-Statesman
December 17, 2014

In a move that says the airline signals its continued investment in Austin, Southwest Airlines said Wednesday it will launch new, daily nonstop service to Orange County and St. Louis in June 2015.

The Dallas-based airline also said it will bring back its seasonal nonstop service to Portland and Cabo San Lucas also in June.

I like the statement from the senior director of network planning and performance for Southwest.

When we think about what’s next, we have more opportunity for more to come.”

Edited to add: it looks like Austin-Denver will see an additional daily flight for a total of 5

Southwest to Operate More Daily Flights Than Any Other Airline!
By: Bill Owen

[GoldenBoot]

Originally Posted by Speculator

...Both are too large anyway, the 787-9 may be too. I realize BA may upgauge but that's logistics more than anything, not related to capacity. The flight will likely be a 787-8 which indeed can make Narita. Australasia is iffy. The QR 380 out of DFW often stops to fuel when heading west due to high winds.

It's not about size...but, stamina.


Incorrect Assumption #1: Both the A350-10 and B787-10 are within the size parameters which would allow for operations at ABIA (especially when the new international gates are configured).

These largest variants of their respective family of aircraft and are about the same wing span and length of a B744 (~60/64m by ~70/74m).

Incorrect Assumption #2: QANTAS used to have to refuel in Brisbane when utilizing their B744ER westbound from DFW. The A388 can make it the entire way to Sydney without the need for refueling (under normal circumstances).

[LoneStarMike]

Originally Posted by GoldenBoot

Incorrect Assumption #1: Both the A350-10 and B787-10 are within the size parameters which would allow for operations at ABIA (especially when the new international gates are configured).

Maybe I misinterpreted what Speculator was trying to say, but I took it to mean both aircraft have too many seats. A350-10 seats 369 in a normal 2-class configuration (155 more seats than what the British Airways flight is configured for now), and the B787-10 seats 323 (109 more seats than BA's flight to LHR.)

[Speculator]

Originally Posted by LoneStarMike

Maybe I misinterpreted what Speculator was trying to say, but I took it to mean both aircraft have too many seats. A350-10 seats 369 in a normal 2-class configuration (155 more seats than what the British Airways flight is configured for now), and the B787-10 seats 323 (109 more seats than BA's flight to LHR.)

LoneStar, that's it. Too many seats for Austin to be viable for 350 or 787-10.

[Speculator]

Originally Posted by GoldenBoot

It's not about size...but, stamina.


Incorrect Assumption #1: Both the A350-10 and B787-10 are within the size parameters which would allow for operations at ABIA (especially when the new international gates are configured).

These largest variants of their respective family of aircraft and are about the same wing span and length of a B744 (~60/64m by ~70/74m).

Incorrect Assumption #2: QANTAS used to have to refuel in Brisbane when utilizing their B744ER westbound from DFW. The A388 can make it the entire way to Sydney without the need for refueling (under normal circumstances).

I guess I am just incorrect in my area of expertise...but, for what it's worth, the Qantas 380 does have to stop to refuel when winds are too strong.

EDIT: You are correct though, it is and will be very rare for the 380 to have to do that. The 744 stopped in fiji a couple of times I think?

[GoldenBoot]

Originally Posted by Speculator

LoneStar, that's it. Too many seats for Austin to be viable for 350 or 787-10.

I am in complete agreement that these two aircraft variants are "too big" when pertaining to passenger load availability. I apologize for misunderstanding Speculator's original comment.

However, as already mentioned, larger equipment may be used on the LHR route due to logistical (i.e., cargo) demands rather than passenger growth. We will begin to see if there is any passenger growth on this route later this spring when the first Y-O-Y numbers become available.

[airwx]

Looks like Gensler is going to be designing the east terminal expansion

Designer named for ABIA expansion

Gensler has been hired by city officials to design the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport east terminal gate expansion, the architectural firm announced Wednesday.

The new terminal will increase the space inside the airport by 23 percent, or 70,000 square feet.

http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/ne...expansion.html

[KevinFromTexas]

Yay! It'll be 400 feet tall then.

[airwx]

The Vancouver Harbor Flight Center does have a control tower 465' above the ground. It sits on a 30 story building.

There's a picture of it and more information in this article: Inside The World’s Highest ATC Tower: Vancouver YHC

[KevinFromTexas]

My comment was more of an observation of Gensler's penchant for 400 footers lately, but touché.

And yeah, that is a unique one. That must be an interesting space up there.

[GoldenBoot]

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

Yay! It'll be 400 feet tall then.

...And boxy!

[airwx]

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

My comment was more of an observation of Gensler's penchant for 400 footers lately, but touché.

And yeah, that is a unique one. That must be an interesting space up there.

Yeah, I knew what you meant. I had been reading about ATC towers recently and thought of that one when I saw your comment. Like you said it's unique. Not many places where you can get away with combining a highrise with an airport facility

[The ATX]

A new site plan filing for the ABIA Pet Hotel:

https://www.austintexas.gov/devrevie...erRSN=11267425

[KevinFromTexas]

Originally Posted by airwx

Yeah, I knew what you meant. I had been reading about ATC towers recently and thought of that one when I saw your comment. Like you said it's unique. Not many places where you can get away with combining a highrise with an airport facility

That's cool. I've long been a geek for control towers.

[Digatisdi]

The Branson route is gonna restart

In Southwest news:

• The PDX and Cabo routes are increasing to daily flights but are still seasonal
• STL's gonna be year-round, and SNA is going to commence in June

I'm flying in to ABIA from Heathrow on 3 January, I'll let y'all know how the customs facility turned out.

[Jdawgboy]

Now that 2015 has started, I wanted to ask everyone's opinions on how many new direct route announcements ABIA will be adding this year? Not including the ones that have already been announced.

Recently an airport spokesperson mentioned that several announcements will be forthcoming now that new customs has opened indicating that we can expect more direct international routes. We have discussed some possibilities already so I'm looking more to numbers rather than specific cities.