AA adding MEM-LGA flights, taking on DL.

[700UW]

http://www.bizjournals.com/memphis/news/2015/07/02/american-to-add-two-nonstop-flights-to-new-york.html
 

 
With the announcement Thursday, Delta Air Lines is no longer the sole carrier flying from Memphis to the Big Apple.
 
“This is a huge positive development for the Memphis International Airport,” said Pace Cooper, chairman of the MSCAA Board of Commissioners. “Adding two more flights to the New York market provides our passengers with more choices and greater connectivity. For American to choose the Memphis route for their precious slots at LaGuardia speaks to the success of our efforts to sell Memphis as a desired destination.”
 
The new route from American, provides competition for Delta, which was the only carrier running two flights per day to LaGuardia before the announcement.
 

 
Look at this tidbit:

 

The addition of two daily flights makes American the largest carrier in Memphis in terms of flights, with 26 flights a day scheduled in August, followed by Delta, which has 23 flights scheduled ,and United with 19 scheduled flights.
 
Since June 2013 when Delta made its de-hubbing announcement, other carriers have added 25 flights from Memphis International.
 
 

 

 

[WorldTraveler]

I doubt very seriously that AA will succeed but let them give it a try; it will tie up a couple slots they could use elsewhere.

The reason why DL has cut MEM as badly as it has been cut while CVG has retained far more flying is because CVG has a large enough business market that can support service to the top business markets even while MEM could not.

DL also has the advantage of having far more destinations north of LGA that could support connections than AA so it isn't solely about MEM-LGA but MEM to the NE.

If that business existed, DL would be serving MEM-NYC. The chances are very high than UA's MEM-EWR service is enough to meet the market demand and UA can justify the additional flights because EWR is a mixed domestic int'l hub.

it is also noteworthy that WN entered MEM but it still remains a fairly small station for them despite being a former legacy carrier hub.

MEM is just not a big business market and cannot support a great deal of service.

but if AA wants to tie up a couple slots trying, go for it.

What did AA cancel at LGA in order to fund the MEM flights?

 

[700UW]

I doubt very seriously that AA will succeed but let them give it a try; it will tie up a couple slots they could use elsewhere.

The reason why DL has cut MEM as badly as it has been cut while CVG has retained far more flying is because CVG has a large enough business market that can support service to the top business markets even while MEM could not.

DL also has the advantage of having far more destinations north of LGA that could support connections than AA so it isn't solely about MEM-LGA but MEM to the NE.

If that business existed, DL would be serving MEM-NYC. The chances are very high than UA's MEM-EWR service is enough to meet the market demand and UA can justify the additional flights because EWR is a mixed domestic int'l hub.

it is also noteworthy that WN entered MEM but it still remains a fairly small station for them despite being a former legacy carrier hub.

MEM is just not a big business market and cannot support a great deal of service.

but if AA wants to tie up a couple slots trying, go for it.

What did AA cancel at LGA in order to fund the MEM flights?

This is about AA adding flights from MEM-LGA, nothing to do with CVG, nothing to do with WN.

Stay on topic for a change.

 

[commavia]

Alright ... let's play everybody's favorite game ... "Who Said It?"
 
July 8, 2009:
 
"MEM is a $750M local market [...] MEM is not a "poor" market; no company in their right mind would walk away from any of that local revenue in [...] MEM. Again, the fact that other airlines can't figure out how to keep the local market while downsizing the hub doesn't mean DL is not capable of doing it."
 
July 2, 2015:
 
"MEM is just not a big business market and cannot support a great deal of service."
 
Any guesses who made both statements, almost exactly six years apart?  Anybody?

 

[robbedagain]

Ill take WT Made Those Comments for $1000.....     Alex

 

[WorldTraveler]

Alright ... let's play everybody's favorite game ... "Who Said It?"
 
July 8, 2009:
 
"MEM is a $750M local market [...] MEM is not a "poor" market; no company in their right mind would walk away from any of that local revenue in [...] MEM. Again, the fact that other airlines can't figure out how to keep the local market while downsizing the hub doesn't mean DL is not capable of doing it."
 
July 2, 2015:
 
"MEM is just not a big business market and cannot support a great deal of service."
 
Any guesses who made both statements, almost exactly six years apart?  Anybody?

and you know what the difference is? DL made the decision to dehub MEM step by step and all of the flow traffic that existed isn't there to support the remaining flights any more.

and yes, what has happeend in CVG as a former DL hub is absolutely relevant, just as what US has been able to hold onto at PIT and AA at STL.

btw, it appears that AA's MEM slots are coming from LGA-SDF which is cut. LGA-MEM is slightly larger than LGA-SDF at similar fare levels so again the notion that AA is going to do anything with MEM that it couldn't do at SDF against the same competitor in a similar fare environment is hopeful at best.

 

[FrugalFlyerv2.0]

DL also has the advantage of having far more destinations north of LGA that could support connections than AA so it isn't solely about MEM-LGA but MEM to the NE.

 
Pssst.  Didn't you lecture us all of how important the local OD market is?  So who cares if DL chases the cheap fares so that it can connect MEM passengers to points north of LGA.  According to your theory, DL is a loser and AA is a winner in this situation, right?
 
 

Alright ... let's play everybody's favorite game ... "Who Said It?"
 
July 8, 2009:
 
"MEM is a $750M local market [...] MEM is not a "poor" market; no company in their right mind would walk away from any of that local revenue in [...] MEM. Again, the fact that other airlines can't figure out how to keep the local market while downsizing the hub doesn't mean DL is not capable of doing it."
 
July 2, 2015:
 
"MEM is just not a big business market and cannot support a great deal of service."
 
Any guesses who made both statements, almost exactly six years apart?  Anybody?

 
 
You know what they say about double standards ... ... ...
 

Ill take WT Made Those Comments for $1000.....     Alex

 
And I'll take WTs Fabricated Facts for $1000 Alex please.

 

[FrugalFlyerv2.0]

and you know what the difference is? DL made the decision to dehub MEM step by step and all of the flow traffic that existed isn't there to support the remaining flights any more.
 

 
Who else finds it pathetic that mighty DL can't make NY-MEM work without connecting traffic, afterall the grandeur of DL in NY is legendary.
Unless ofcourse it was all made up to support a certain narrative .........
Opps, there's the Whole Truth!

 

[AirLUVer]

Why connect via LGA to the northeast, when you can connect via PHL. And keep LGA for O and D, and the fare premium that you get.