Why are Boeing 747, Boeing 767, Airbus A330 and Boeing 777 planes disappearing for transcontinental service?

Question

Since 9/11 I'm starting to notice flights from LAX to Bos, JFK, HNL and ORD are on Airbus 320s, Boeing 737s or if your lucky a boeing 757. For many year you never saw a Airbus 320 or a Boeing 737 unless you went from LAX to LAS or LAX to SFO. Aren't widebodies safer for longer flights? Why are airlines using smaller and smaller planes? Does anybody think that this will change when the new Boeing 787 comes out?

Answer 1

The airlines have looked at route profitability much more closely. The phenomenon you are associating with 9/11 was actually well underway ahead of that.

"Widebody" aircraft can be more efficiently and profitably used on trans-Atlantic and international flights. Thus, the larger jets can fly the 3600 mile BOS-LGW flight with an average fare of $800, versus BOS-LAX with an average fare of $400. Similarly, by reducing the available seats by using smaller aircraft on the trans-continental runs, the availability of seats goes down (becomes scarce) and the marginal fare that can be charged for the last few seats goes up quickly.

The Dreamliner (787) production rate and distribution pattern across the world will really not affect this to any great extent. More likely, the newer 737-800 series will increase available seats. You are most likely to encounter a widebody on an airline flying hub-to-hub as they move equipment around, such as United flying from their Chicago hub to Denver or SFO, or American flying LAX-DFW-ORD.

Answer 2

All the airplanes are safe, a wide body is not any safer than a 737-800 A320 etc.. There are still wide bodies on some domestic flights, but the airlines really need them for their international flights, international flights make money with the first class tickets and cargo. And the bigger planes have more first class seats and more cargo room. The reason you never saw a 737 cross the country for many years is because they did not have the range until the 737-700/800 came out. A320s have been used for cross country flights since they came out. But yes you are right about there being less wide bodies on cross country flights but that is because the airlines fly the planes that will make them money.
Anyway I know American Airlines still uses wide bodies on some domestic flights.
MIA-JFK is on A300.
MIA-ORD has a 777 on the route
MIA-DFW has a 777
MIA-LAX has a 777
MIA-SFO has a767
JFK-LAX 767
JFK-SFO 767
UA has a few 747-400 domestic flights and a few 777 domestic flights. And US Airways flys the A330 to San Juan. But you for sure wont be seeing any 747s or A330 go cross country the 747s days are long gone after Pan Am left, and the A330 is made for Long Haul International Flights.

Answer 3

Regarding safety, ETOPS (which stands for Extended-range Twin-engine Operational Performance Standards). All United States registered twinjets can fly virtually anywhere in the world, except for small pactches in the south pacific and over Antarctica. Being a twinjet does not make the plane any less safe than a 747 or Airbus A340. If by "best" you mean economics, the 777, if by "best" you mean comfort, it is dependent on airline, but the A340 is quietest. The best of all these criteria is likely the Airbus A330-200 or the next generation of jetliners, like the Boeing 787 and Airbus A350XWB.

Answer 4

I don't know what to say about this

Answer 5

Maybe it's bad

Answer 6

Wow! Thankss! I was wondering the same question today