Fri Jun 15, 2018 3:30 am
In increasing capacity, what I have noticed that Icelandair sometimes has 2 flights arriving within minutes of each other. At JFK, an example would be FI615 and FI617 (and FI623 arrives in EWR only a little before), or FI645 and FI649 into IAD or (select days), FI681 and FI683 into SEA (where both planes are then on the ground for an extended period), and FI853 and FI855 into ORD. I would now have to wonder: was it a mistake for Icelandair to cancel its 787 orders, when they could be fitting people on a single 787-8 or 787-9 rather than running 2 flights at the same time, which could free up planes for more destinations as well as deeper destinations, especially now that WW is planning to fly deeper than FI ever has, as well as to destinations FI never has, such as TLV and DEL? (For JFK, a B789 would be a net decrease in landing weight, and for IAD, it would be a negligible increase.) 5-6 would seem to make sense for FI, and it would also save on gates needed at KEF. Boeing should also be going hard after FI for a potential B789 order as used B763s are slim pickings these days with freight forwarders willing to pay more for conversions.