Why doesn't Continental Airlines fly into Thailand?

Question

Continental Airlines does not fly into Thailand. I want to know if the reason they don't fly into Thailand is based on a) agreements with NW b) restrictions from Thailand (ie: can't get air/landing rights) c) restrictions from US DOT or d) some other reason. Thank you.

Answer 1

likely has to do w/NWA -- and it just isn't profitable for them?

Answer 2

Continental is part of the airline conglomerate Sky Team.  They do not fly to Thailand, because Delta (another member airline) operates a flight from Chicago to S. Korea to Bangkok.

If continental flew, they would be creating unneccessary competition within the Sky Team alliance.

In the Star Alliance, both US Airways and United fly to Bangkok, but they are sharing resources and revenues on the intercontinental flights, so there isn't the conflict of interest that would occur between Continental and Delta if Continental flew to BKK.

It is more complex than that, but that is the gist of it.  Also, each airline has to pay for landing rights and so on. so more than one carrier in a single alliance serving a particular location is becoming increasinly cost prohibitive.

There are no agreements with NW or and Thai restrictions that would interfere with Continental travelling here.

Answer 3

Northwest use to be known as Northwest Orient, they have a long history of flying into Asia.  Continental's expansion took them in a North South direction flying into the Caribbean.  Lately there expansion has bee from the east coast into Europe.  Running Airline routes is tricky and expensive (ask Thai Airways who have given up on there New York to Bangkok  route).  Anyway an agreement between the companies  to share codes also allows them to focus on separate areas of the globe for developing destinations.

Answer 4

If you want to know, why don't you call Continental Airlines and ask them yourself? I doubt Continental has shared that info with any one on Yahoo Answers.