Here’s a proposal that certainly counters the general trend we see in Europe when it comes to how regulators view the airline industry…
Continue reading: Milan Linate Airport May Get Long Haul Flights, But Only For Rich People
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
La Compagnie is excellent, and they already fly EWR-MXP/NCE/ORY. I wish we had more reasonably-priced all-lie-flat airlines/aircraft. Sure, it’s not ‘cheap,’ but they do often undercut the legacy carriers on TATL.
With the sheer volume of biz class seats going between US northeast and MXP, a small “boutique” carrier like La Compagnie isn’t going to be able to charge J fares high enough to be available to only “rich people” and going into LIN vs mxp isn’t going to be that much of a value add. It’s actually way worse for those headed to the lakes.
They should throw in a few first class seats along with those business class chairs.
Some airline should sell 6 across 31" pitch Euro business class, 2 across lie flat super business class, if this is allowed.
I wonder if an all premium economy + business configuration would be sufficiently premium.
Just a thought, but perhaps it is actually in line with EU "go green" thinking... Since most private flights go into Linate, they could be looking to reduce the number of private jets in hopes those people book a business class seat instead if there is direct service and it's so much nicer than Malpensa in terms of logistics.
Airport passenger capacity (security, waiting areas etc) could be a factor also
Quick! To the green-wash-mobile! How ‘sustainable’ and ‘bespoke’ of them. ‘Curated’ even! *buzz buzz buzzword*
So, if this option becomes a reality it is for people like Ben and Ford who can easily afford it ^^
Makes sense, the only time I'm flown into Linate was on a Citation X from Luton.
It's so much more convenient but it's a very small airport.
Living in LA, I choose Linate as there are no Milan-LAX nonstops so I use an intra-Europe flight to connect to a European gateway that has LAX nonstops. This development seems to only benefit those who's ex-Linate flight arrives at their final destination (which won't be LAX).
No problem, all the XLR will have middle seats blocked and will be sold as business class with the flat bed seats sold as first class.
the biggest factor is that LIN's runway is only 8000 feet long which is too short for even the highest performance TATL capable aircraft - the most generously powered 767-300ERs.
The 321NEO with less than 100 seats can probably do a 4000 mile flight.
Congrats on your ‘elevated’ OMAAT “Gold” status, sir! (What benefits do you get?)
@Ben The commercial airports serving Milan are three, not two: Linate LIN, Malpensa MXP and Orio BGY (which is part of the Milan' Airport system despite being close to the city of Bergamo, and it's Ryanair biggest base in continental Europe)
What are the exceptions to the 1500km perimeter rule? Because best I can tell, you can fly as far south as Tenerife (≈3000km) and as far north as Stockholm (≈1700km) from Linate... And that easyJet flight down to TFS is anything but premium lol.
actually, United now has a larger 767-300ER fleet than DL and they are about the same age.
DL has more 764s and thus more total 767s but both DL and UA remain large 767 operators with more than 50 copies.
the 763 perhaps in UA's high J configuration could perhaps operate from LIN to EWR. They are some of UA's newest 763s (still 26 years old) and have the "big" engines.
Just because United also does it, doesn't make it good (or bad), but in tis case, at least United upgraded their interiors to the new-is Polaris... Took one in last six months EWR-RAK. Not bad.
We have had this discussion before but for a refresher...
UA made the decion years ago to "dumb down" Polaris to be a leading product on the 767 at the expense of a suite product which DL has had on the 339 and 359s for almost a decade.
DL, like most global airlines, does not prioritize commonality at the expense of class leading.
UA is just now getting around to putting a suite product with doors on its 787s while most other global carriers including DL have had it for years on some of their aircraft.
and DL serves RAK w/ the 764 which is not the same product as the 763.
the point of this discussion is that the 763 could potentially takeoff from LIN to the US and the UA high J configuration including premium economy and extra legroom economy puts it over 100 seats if UA can convince Italy to include all except regular economy seats
but then their XLR could be considered in the same way - just not sell standard economy seats
One thing to remember is that European J is just "blocked middle seat", so I'd be curious as to the definition here...
One thing to remember is that European J is just "blocked middle seat", so I'd be curious as to the definition here...
That 8,000ft is good to take the B777, A380 and B747 for 8-9hrs flights, which is TATL capable (NYC, BOS).
You should know that most of this 8hrs flight will barely be at 60% of MTOW therefore requiring shorter runways.
LaGuardia has 7,000ft runways and I am very sure B767, L1011 and possibly DC10 took of from there for the 6hrs+ flight to LAX and SFO.
the terminal facilities probably do not support large widebodies even if the aircraft itself could get off the runway.
LIN's terminals might not be able to support ANY widebodies or they might choose to not allow them.
Buenos Aires domestic airport is similar and they are allowing 332s to the US.
DL has the 332 and could do the same thing if AA and UA and maybe even B6 manage to succeed with the 321NEO by calling some economy seats as Euro business
If you lived in London you’d know that Luton airport very much is accessible (30min train) from central London, more convenient from many locations than Heathrow is.
The source says they're wanting 'velivoli in configurazione business da compagnie legacy', which would rule out both premium economy and the likes of La Compagnie/Beond .
It should be noted that the 1500 km restriction only applies to flights to third countries. Domestic EU flights are not affected so if there was enough demand, destinations like RUN, PTP, FDF or CAY would be perfectly legal as things are 🙂
Agree....you do have to be ready to deal with delays and/or cancellations and the dreaded refuel stop in Paris, but overall I really like them when you get a good deal.
MXP has gotten so overcrowded...moving any flights out of there would benefit everyone and certainly would make La Compagnie's Milan service even better.
Right, but what I'm saying is even if that's what happens, they're still not going to be able to charge substantially higher fares for the value-add of flying into LIN when there are so many J seats already flying between the US northeast and MXP. You've already got Delta, Emirates, AA, UA, B6, and Neos dumping capacity into the area on these routes.
Flying into LIN will be a product differentiator vs the others, for sure, and may help ensure they fill their a321, but I doubt they'll be able to command much, if any, of a fare premium vs the competition flying to MXP.
I hope they never do that. I'm from Milan and yes, Linate is much closer to my house but I really prefer Malpensa for international flights. Linate is the main cause of Malpensa's failure as a hub and should be closed.
I hope they never do that. I'm from Milan and yes, Linate is much closer to my house but I really prefer Malpensa for international flights. Linate is the main cause of Malpensa's failure as a hub and should be closed. Rome Fiumicino sucks too!