While the details aren’t set in stone yet, China Southern has announced that they intend to launch service to New York JFK sometime in 2014, once they take delivery of their first 777-300ER aircraft.
Via Australian Business Traveller:
“Currently we don’t have any presence on the (North American) east coast, so next year we plan to launch a new Guangzhou-New York service” said China Southern CEO Tan Wangeng during a press briefing in Guangzhou to mark the debut of the airline’s Airbus A380 service to Sydney and Boeing 787 flights to Auckland.
However, Tan said the New York route hinges on the delivery of the airline’s first Boeing 777-300ER, due in the middle of 2014.
“We are waiting for the appropriate aircraft type for this service which can fly the long range” Tan said. “Next July we will take delivery of a brand new Boeing 777-300ER which will make this route possible.”
This would certainly be an exciting development. China Southern is part of SkyTeam and their A380 service between Los Angeles and Guangzhou is a great option for redeeming Delta SkyMiles. While China Southern doesn’t release nearly as much award space on their A380 service to Los Angeles as they did when the route launched, they still release a fair amount of space if booking in advance, and I hope the same will be true for the new route to New York.
Since this is a new delivery 777-300ER I expect they’ll have a solid business class product as well, since China Southern really seems to be putting an effort into competing for premium passengers.
I’ll post again once the route becomes official. Definitely a very exciting development for those with Delta SkyMiles living on the east coast.
I suspect it will be like the excellent 1-2-1 F configuration/seating on the 787. On the London route this is absolutely fantastic and one can check in online and there are no secondary airport visa checks.Easier/better/cheaper than other options
Damn, was hoping for the rumored BOS-CAN routings :( Though I guess I can't be too greedy with IST and DXB coming in may.
Well China Southern actually installs first class on even some of the Airbus A330s, so I really expect first class be installed on 77Ws. I am just curious if they will stick with the A380 business class suites - mini suites, or going back just the regular 2-2-2 lie flat seats, or are they going to up the game to the real "suites" like CX or JL? You never know...
I also am curious...
Well China Southern actually installs first class on even some of the Airbus A330s, so I really expect first class be installed on 77Ws. I am just curious if they will stick with the A380 business class suites - mini suites, or going back just the regular 2-2-2 lie flat seats, or are they going to up the game to the real "suites" like CX or JL? You never know...
I also am curious if CZ will try out Premium economy on the 77Ws. They try them out on the A330s, but don't really advertise them.
Most importantly, are they going ten abreast or nine abreast in Y? Since JFK to CAN is a pretty long flight, I wonder if this will give them a reason to go with 9 abreast Y like Garuda, which has to consider weight as they fly really ultra long haul flights? Or does CZ going to sacrifice cargo load for more passengers even on this ultra long haul route? Air China has gone ten abreast in 77W Y so it will be interesting to see how CZ will go!
@ Brandon -- Because the fuel surcharges are fairly mild, they have a really solid business class product, and it's otherwise not especially easy to find business class award space to Asia.
Why do you say CZ's LAX to CAN service is a good use of Skymiles, seeing that it has fuel surcharges?
@ Mike S. -- Yep, you sure can!
@ anon -- Hmm, that would surprise me. China Southern is the first airline to put first class on the 787, so I can't imagine why they wouldn't also put it on the 777-300ER.
Maybe for you?
United – $257: Seattle – Tampa (and vice versa). Roundtrip, including all Taxes
Read more: http://www.theflightdeal.com/2013/10/26/united-257-seattle-tampa-vice-versa-roundtrip-including-taxes/#ixzz2iqvSVZBW
http://www.theflightdeal.com/2013/10/26/united-257-seattle-tampa-vice-versa-roundtrip-including-taxes/
Can you route LAX-CAN-SYD using Delta skypesos?
Comments in the article indicate no first class (as on the A380)?