Competition is certainly heating up on the JFK to LAX route. Starting next year American will be taking delivery of their Airbus 321 aircraft, which will operate their Flagship Service routes between New York and Los Angeles/San Francisco. These planes will feature fully flat beds in business and first class, and it looks like an all around phenomenal product.
American’s Flagship Service first class on the Airbus 321
Meanwhile United will be reconfiguring their Premium Service planes starting next year, which operate the New York to Los Angeles/San Francisco route as well. Currently they’re in a three class configuration, though they’re being reconfigured to have just coach and business class. The good news is that business class will be fully flat, meaning business class will be a better “hard” product than first class currently is.
That leaves Delta, which has 757s with 16 BusinessElite recliner seats. While they’re decent enough seats, they just won’t be able to compete with what American and United is offering on the route as of next year.
I suspect that’s why starting next March they’ll have 767s with fully flat beds in business class operating some of their New York to Los Angeles frequencies. Starting March 30, 2013, the following flight will be operated by a 767:
Delta 16 Los Angeles to New York departing at 8:30AM and arriving at 5:05PM
Delta 17 New York to Los Angeles departing at 6:15PM and arriving at 9:35PM
Then starting June 2, 2013, there will be four 767s operating the route, in addition to three daily 757s. The 767s will operate the following schedules:
Delta 206 Los Angeles to New York departing at 6:30AM and arriving at 3:05PM
Delta 16 Los Angeles to New York departing at 8:30AM and arriving at 5:10PM
Delta 862 Los Angeles to New York departing at 11:15AM and arriving at 7:55PM
Delta 1162 Los Angeles to New York departing at 9:30PM and arriving at 6:00AM (+1 day)
Delta 763 New York to Los Angeles departing at 7:00AM and arriving at 10:10AM
Delta 127 New York to Los Angeles departing at 3:30Pm and arriving at 6:55PM
Delta 17 New York to Los Angeles departing at 6:15PM and arriving at 9:35PM
Delta 2363 New York to Los Angeles departing at 9:00PM and arriving at 12:25AM (+1 day)
The 757s had 16 BusinessElite seats and 11 Economy Comfort seats while the 767 will have 26 BusinessElite seats and 29 Economy Comfort seats, so that’s a nice capacity boost of premium seats.
I’m curious whether long term Delta plans on continuing to operate the 757s on the New York to Los Angeles route, and if so, if they plan on upgrading the BusinessElite product to match the competition.
Anyway, this represents a nice improvement for Delta’s transcon service, in addition to their Seattle expansion next year.
American Flagship Service (current) first class
United Premium Service (current) first class
(Tip of the hat to Point Me to the Plane)
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