Best Long Haul Airport in North America

[rntair]

Thinking of starting a long-haul focused airline after BW1 ends. What are the best airports to base out of? YYZ is great for European demand but Asian demand is less. I've also looked at IAD- how does it compare to JFK and LAX?

[Zobelle]

Thinking of starting a long-haul focused airline after BW1 ends. What are the best airports to base out of? YYZ is great for European demand but Asian demand is less. I've also looked at IAD- how does it compare to JFK and LAX?

It’s good, but not great. (Doable if you’re willing to adopt a medium type to keep the lights on to survive the poor LF’s on LH for months on end before the routes become profitable)

As a beginner you want an airport that’s balanced in its domestic and LH demand and IAD is not this. Perhaps consider EWR if a multi-alliance standoff hasn’t yet dug in.

[spiff23]

IAD makes a good second or third hub.   To really focus on longhaul, you should stick with the big airports like ORD, ATL, EWR, JFK or later opening like DFW or iAH.   the bigest issue with ORD and JFK is slots will get really expensive and there's always a blood bath at these airports until things sort themselves out.  On the smaller side, you can do well with MSP...but if it's crowded it will be a challenge.   

[Zobelle]

Precisely.

If it wasn’t for cargo IAD would seriously be marginal as an LH airport even as a base, meaning that even moderate competition makes it hard to really excel here.

[DanDan]

mia is alright i think

[Zobelle]

mia is alright i think

IAD x 1.5 minus the cargo.

Early ages though MIA kinda sucks because early 707/DC8 cannot make the trip across the pond without tech stop, also has poor domestic demand outside other major airports.

[gazzz0x2z]

(.../...)the bigest issue with ORD and JFK is slots will get really expensive and there's always a blood bath at these airports until things sort themselves out.(.../...)

JFK is such a bloodbath that I saw more than once it empty of local companies. in a GW3, I jumped there 10 years in the game as a base while I was just a small fish in Detroit, Kansas City & Memphis. The last local just had died with 500+ airplanes. I didn't look at ORD, but considering its potential, I see it attracting a lot of good players.

[groundbum2]

why no mention of LAX? loadsa Asian flights as well as Europe.. Heathrow is 10k/day with 22% C or so... 2015

Simon