Airport reviews

Quote: kenarman

I am the only one that is concerned about the idea that a huge solar flare or action by enemies could take out many/most of the satellites leaving everyone blind. They can also be hacked.

If the Yellowstone Caldera blew, chances are civilization would collapse in North America, Central America, and part of South America.

Europe, Africa and Asia would get hurt, too.

Quote: kenarman

I am the only one that is concerned about the idea that a huge solar flare or action by enemies could take out many/most of the satellites leaving everyone blind.

Just because you don't know where the planes are located doesn't mean they will all crash. You can still fly them manually, and they can be landed even if not with the same kind of interval spacing.

Hacking is more of an issue because if you are trying to land planes 15 seconds apart. I believe that Atlanta at peak periods lands over 60 planes in a 15 minute time period. Hacked data would no doubt highly increase the probability of a crash.

I have to blow the YVR (Vancouver) horn this morning. They have been named the top airport in the world the CAPA Centre for Aviation. The first North American airport to receive the honor.

If you have to spend time at an airport it is a pleasant place.

Here's an interesting table that I have never seen before. Jet types by the number of airports they are servicing in a busy week of summer 2016, and for the number #1 airport, the number of flights during the week .
The A380 flies to 55 airports around the world, and obviously the most number of flights is at Dubai

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner has almost reached the same number of airports as the B777, but in much smaller numbers.

The 747 is down to 100 airports

Total airports	Aircraft	type	#1 airport	code	flights per week
361	Airbus	A330	Hong Kong	(HKG)	1,076
149	Airbus	A340	Madrid	(MAD)	117
36	Airbus	A350	Singapore	(SIN)	62
55	Airbus	A380	Dubai	(DXB)	501
100	Boeing	747	Frankfurt	(FRA)	210
318	Boeing	767	Tokyo Haneda	(HND)	792
259	Boeing	777	Dubai	(DXB)	1,337
219	Boeing	787	Tokyo Haneda	(HND)	389
77	Airbus	A318	Paris	(CDG)	337
944	Airbus	A319	London Gatwick	(LGW)	938
1,323	Airbus	A320	Delhi	(DEL)	1,698
626	Airbus	A321	Istanbul Ataturk	(IST)	1,261
646	Boeing	737-700	Chicago Midway	(MDW)	1,367
1,224	Boeing	737-800	Beijing	(PEK)	1,820
329	Boeing	737-900	Seattle-Tacoma	(SEA)	809
283	Boeing	757	Atlanta	(ATL)	586
713	ATR	72	Kuala Lumpur	(SZB)	357
539	Bombardier	CRJ 100/200	Chicago O'Hare	(ORD)	1,383
251	Bombardier	CRJ 700	Chicago O'Hare	(ORD)	924
420	Bombardier	CRJ 900	Charlotte Douglas	(CLT)	1,126
454	Bombardier	Q400	Seattle-Tacoma	(SEA)	875
421	Embraer	ERJ 135/140/145	Chicago O'Hare	(ORD)	2,307
422	Embraer	E170/E175	Chicago O'Hare	(ORD)	900
723	Embraer	E190/E195	Amsterdam	(AMS)	726
101	Sukhoi	Superjet	Moscow Sheremetyevo	(SVO)	318

Quote: Pacomartin

Here's an interesting table that I have never seen before.

Very interesting!

Quote:

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner has almost reached the same number of airports as the B777, but in much smaller numbers.

Newer airplane, fewer ones than 777s in operation, etc.

Who knew there were so many 767s still out there? And it looks like Southwest is heavily invested in Chicago's Midway.

Quote:

The 747 is down to 100 airports

Alas, the Queen is dead. Long live the Queen.

Quote: Nareed

Very interesting!



Newer airplane, fewer ones than 777s in operation, etc.

Who knew there were so many 767s still out there? And it looks like Southwest is heavily invested in Chicago's Midway.



Alas, the Queen is dead. Long live the Queen.

The 737-700 is the bulk of Southwest's fleet. The 737-800's are probably stationed near the extremes of the country and not in the middle. Southwest never purchased the B737-900 instead skipping directly to the B737-8 Max.
At Chicago (Midway) Southwest has 233 daily departures via 34 gates to 64 destinations

Planes, trains, airports, ATC .... Always the same mistakes, always the same decision-makers.

NYC's awful infrastructure ... The Port Authority that let it happen will receive architectural ideas for grandiose schemes.

Trains to and from airports? How about that train in South Bay Los Angeles. It was to carry all those engineers to jobs in the aerospace industry but by the time it got built the aerospace industry and its jobs had departed and the expensive train now serves a miniature golf course. Want to build a train to an airport? Use the same urban planners.

Airports: SPEED you darned idiots. SPEED. Long walks ways, inadequate seating, choke points for ticketing, choke points for security, choke points for rest rooms, choke points for concessions, choke points for everything. Sure there is a horizontal escalator but it moves too slowly and some idiot with six bags and four kids is blocking my way on it.

ATC: Computers that use vacuum tubes? Suppliers that sell to only the FAA or museums. Lengthy (and time consuming) zig zag patterns that are forty years old? Heck the skies are NOT crowded except around airports. Adopt Free Flight and let pilots fly directly. Cars separate themselves from the vehicles ahead, so too can airplanes, its only the exit and entrance lanes that need any alertness.

Runways: Yipes, if they are going to build bigger and faster planes you will always need longer, drier and more frangible runways.

Quote: Pacomartin

The 737-700 is the bulk of Southwest's fleet.

That's how come you can ID them on Midway from that list, and the fact that Midway is Chicago's cheaper airport.

US airlines and others are introducing Premium Economy class. It's a bit like old-time business class back in the 80s and 90s. A slightly wider seat (in most cases), more legroom, foot/leg-rests, better meals (or any meals at all), priority boarding (after first and business), etc. It's what I've been saying was lacking, a class between business and steerage, and one that won't break your bank.

At the same time, we're seeing the introduction of basic Economy. This is a cheap, rock-bottom fare with plenty of restrictions like no seat assignment, no changes to the ticket, last to board, and in United no overhead bin space at all, not even for a fee (but you can check your carry-on). These fares are meant to compete with ULCCs like Spirit.

IMO, they should do well, if they're not much higher than ULCC rates. The legacy carriers have a better on-time performance, fly to the main airports (mostly), and will give you complimentary snacks and whatever complimentary onboard entertainment is available. They also offer more frequencies and routes.

But the overhead bin restriction will drive away business travelers. They depend on a carry-on they can keep at all times during travel, so they can avoid wasting time at baggage claim. We'll see how United does.

Quote: Nareed

But the overhead bin restriction will drive away business travelers. They depend on a carry-on they can keep at all times during travel, so they can avoid wasting time at baggage claim. We'll see how United does.

I think United will waive this fee for their frequent flyers. It might attract more business flyers since they know that the most frugal traveler will not bring as much into the cabin and boarding and disembarking will only go faster.

United is now the only USA airline whose International ASM exceeds domestic. Their domestic schedule is almost completely designed to make an easy plane change to an International flight.

UNITED AVAILABLE SEAT MILES 2015
Domestic 108.14 billion
International 111.85 billion