US airlines deploy widebody aircraft on long haul services, reclaiming their global roles

The big three US airlines - American, Delta and United - are redefining their role as global operators. Since the glory days of PanAm Clippers circling the world, for US airlines "global" has recently meant meant occasional forays beyond Europe to the east, Japan to the west, and Latin America to the south. This is changing. United Airlines will open nonstop San Francisco-Singapore service, which will become the world's third longest flight. American Airlines will add a second ultra-long haul flight to Hong Kong while Delta - which currently operates the longest flight of a US airline (Atlanta-Johannesburg) - has the strategy of leveraging a global portfolio of airlines it has invested in.

With more of a global reach, US airlines are flying their long haul aircraft further. Delta's average sector length for its A330 fleet has increased 19% since 2006, while American's 777-300ER sector length is growing 9% over just one year. United's 787s will fly to three secondary Chinese cities. Strategic reasons for the longer flying can be as important as, or more important than financial. Some routes had been aspired to for years, but pre-bankruptcy costs and labour contracts precluded sustainability.