American Airlines makes a move to dominate at LAX

[Glenn Quagmire]

"American Airlines is the largest carrier at Los Angeles International Airport, and it wants to put a stranglehold on that position.

The Dallas-based airline took steps to secure that post last week by moving its operations closer to its merger partner US Airways. The two carriers previously operated out of Terminals 3 and 4, which are on opposite sides of the Tom Bradley International Terminal."

"...Starting last week, the airlines began operating out of Terminals 6 and 4, which are the south side of the airport and connected by an underground tunnel, eliminating the need for travelers to leave the building to make connections. In addition, the move gives American extra gates and terminal space so it can add more flights in the future."

"...American wants to dominate at LAX not only by the size of its operations but with its depth of service, said Chuck Schubert, Americans vice president of network and schedule planning.

He points to an A321 aircraft that American flies 13 times a day between LAX and John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York."

"...The plane features the usual first-class luxuries, such as lie-flat seats and touch-screen entertainment systems. But the aircraft also has a ventilated compartment in the first-class section for pets and a built-in espresso machine in the galley.

We think we have a product that is superior to anything the competition can offer, American spokesman Fernand Fernandez said."

http://www.latimes.com/business/travel/la-fi-american-airlines-makes-a-move-20141107-story.html

It looks like AA is going with the tried and true method of treating the customer to top notch service with convenient times. It is good to see they are treating the people in the seats as humans who like to be treated well, rather than just revenue.

Good move for AA. They will continue to reel in the top corporate clients with that strategy in LAX.

Oh, and BTW, this is a thread about AA at LAX. Please keep it that way.

 

[WorldTraveler]

AA's strategy from JFK-LAX involved cutting 14% of the number of seats it offered last year.

not surprisingly, the "new" largest carrier added 14% more seats to its offering.

funny definition of domination.

further, US moved its operations from 3 to 6 so there really isn't a great increase in the number of gates, is there?

 

[FWAAA]

further, US moved its operations from 3 to 6 so there really isn't a great increase in the number of gates, is there?

Depends on one's perspective. The merger settlement required AA to give up two gates at LAX, so they relinquished preferential use of two of the three US gates at T-3, but kept using the two gates on a common-use basis.

Now, instead of having one preferential use gate and two common-use gates at T-3, AA has four preferential use gates at T-6. Nice end-run around the antitrust settlement.

 

[robbedagain]

that sounds like a smart arse move on AA part    Cant wait til they announce expanded domestic service from LAX next yr   They've add 2nd LHR on own metal so itll be interesting to see where they add domestic flights to from LAX

 

[commavia]

Unlike when AA took its eye off the ball at JFK a decade ago, AA seems serious, focus and determined at LAX - which is great to see.  [SIZE=14.3999996185303px]Between the incredible new transcon product, strong transcon (JFK, BOS, PHL, WAS, MIA, MCO, soon ATL, etc.) and longhaul (LHR, GRU, NRT, PVG) schedules, extensive domestic hub and non-hub coverage, growing regional network, (apparently) coming-soon EMB175s, the four gates at T6 plus coming-soon gates at TBIT, gate flexibility with the Eagle's Nest, etc., AA absolutely is positioned to not only solidify but actually grow its lead at LAX in a way that neither Delta nor United will be able to replicate.[/SIZE]

 

[WorldTraveler]

There is absolutely no doubt that AA is determined not to repeat what happened at NYC - it's not just JFK.

remember that AA was the carrier that was asking for slots to be removed while another carrier was adding flights which were later grandfathered in the slot restrictions that were established.

since you mentioned AA's int'l portfolio, you might be interested in knowing that AA's LAX-GRU flight generates only slightly more revenue that AA does on LAX-NRT which it is still trying to swap out for a HND flight.

and I am certain that AA will grow at LAX. The problem with your theory of those of other internet fAAns is that you base your concept of "dominance" on the notion that AA will be able to grow and get whatever it wants at LAX while no one else will have any chance of growth.

I can absolutely AAssure you that will not be what happens in reality.

 

[commavia]

While it remains humorous and enjoyable to watch some continue to indulge in their Delta fantasies, the inescapable reality is that as long as AA has control over substantially more gates than Delta (or United) - which seems likely for the foreseeable future - there is simply no way that either of those competitors will be able to keep up with AA if (when) AA decides to step on the proverbial "gas" even more at LAX.
 
AA has for the last 15 years been playing its hand at LAX masterfully - investing when and where it made sense, cultivating a very strong and (seemingly) cooperative relationship with LAWA, and parlaying its substantial footprint (not just terminals, but also hangars, offices, etc.) into a progressively better and better competitive position.  The sprawling operation split across four terminals is certainly suboptimal, but nonetheless, with control of all of T4, plus multiple gates in T6, the Eagle satellite and soon access to multiple gates at TBIT, AA has and will continue to have more operational flexibility to further expand its operation while Delta and United are both constrained by substantially less gate space.

 

[WorldTraveler]

and yet despite having facilities spread over 3 terminals, native AA had a nearly identical revenue and pax share as the supposedly number 3.

I have absolutely no problem with AA growing at LAX - and I fully expect they will.

what I object to and what I find laughable is that you and others think that AA has some speciAAl relationship with LAWA that will allow them to grow while others cannot.

that simply will not happen.

LAWA is a public facility that is obligated to meet the needs of all of its users.

AA does not and will not have a privileged position that gives them access to facilities that other carriers cannot have.

I'm not going anywhere on this board. I can absolutely assure you that we can flag this topic for evaluation on a regular basis.

Let AA grow. along with other carriers.

 

[commavia]

Oh boy ... here we go again.  Delta isn't getting what "some" think it "deserves," and therefore if Delta isn't happy, nobody is happy.
 
Not only does AA absolutely currently have a "privileged position" with control or soon-to-be controlled and/or preferential access to more gates than any other competitor, but that position appears inevitable to persist for the foreseeable future given the incredibly stringent gate limitations to which LAWA must conform.
 
I wish Delta the best of luck forcing LAWA out from under that restriction - we see how well it worked in Dallas.

 

[WorldTraveler]

you are a perfect example of the historic AA mindset that is based on being able to block competitors out of markets in order to win.

It has been shown repeatedly that the strategy doesn't work.


AA has a privileged position only in your own mind.

AA not only will not receive anything that others cannot win but you absolutely cannot say with any certainty what any other carrier will do.

and let me remind you that AA signed away its right to serve DAL; DL did not and is still flying there.

and since you mentioned DAL, it is worth noting that AA now offers just 30% of the seats between ATL and DAL/DFW while DL still has 50%. Parker and co. were dead set on the day of the DOJ announcement that legacy carriers would not be at DAL.

not only is DL still there to the great consternation of AA, its execs, and its internet fan club but DL has a majority of the seats in the market.

you might do well to consider the reality of the DAL/DFW situation when you make your statements about how well AA will succeed in locking up gates at LAX.

glad to know we have a topic set up to keep us busy here this week.

 

[Glenn Quagmire]

Please do not allow this to become a thread about DL bs.

One will try to do this, then ask to have it locked. This is about AA and the current and future dominant position they hold.

It us interesting that the LA Times is cheering on the dominant carrier.

 

[commavia]

Hahahaha Delta isn't winning at something, and thus it's time for the temper tantrum.  So predictable.
 
Back here in reality, AA didn't create the situation where competitors couldn't expand facilities at LAX - a bunch of NIMBYs and a compliant LA city council did.  AA was simply more adept at adapting to this environment and building relationships with LAWA, and has proven more effective at parlaying its bargaining leverage into a progressively better gate position relative to its rivals - particular Delta and United.  Don't hate the player, hate the game.
 
United is actively shedding gates - exiting T6 and reconfiguring T8, so they appear content with continuing to shrink at LAX.  In Delta's case, I'm happy for them that they allegedly want to keep expanding - it will be fascinating to watch them do that without more breathing space on gates.  And, as ever, it will be endlessly enjoyable to watch the comical rewriting of history, backtracking on unfounded certitude, and whining and complaining that is sure to infect threads on this topic going forward as AA continues to expand at LAX and Delta is stuck.

 

[WorldTraveler]

Please do not allow this to become a thread about DL bs.

One will try to do this, then ask to have it locked. This is about AA and the current and future dominant position they hold.

It us interesting that the LA Times is cheering on the dominant carrier.

might as well get it locked now.

commavia wanted to insert DAL into the discussion without thinking it thru and realizing that DAL has gone exactly opposite of what AA wanted on the day of the DOJ settlement announcement.


DL is not talking about trying to raise the gate count at DAL or LAX.

DL is ensuring that access to DAL is done according to federal airport access laws and in conformity with antitrust laws.

The only hope you have, commavia, is that AA can lock competitors out of assets so that AA can grow.

it hasn't worked at LHR, it hasn't worked in Latin America, and it hasn't worked at DFW/N. Texas.

the world knows the way AA operates and they won't allow AA to do the same thing at LAX.

LAX is and will be an airport for all carriers to serve.

AA will grow at LAX but AA doesn't have and won't have privileged and preferential access to facilities.

we can debate it for the next 10 years if you want but it won't happen.

I guarAAntee it.

 

[Kev3188]

Oh, and BTW, this is a thread about AA at LAX. Please keep it that way.

(sigh)

Thanks just the same for trying...

(apparently) coming-soon EMB175s

When do these come online?

 

[MAH4546]

AA still owns it's gates at Love and gets the gates back. I believe it's not until 2024, though, so not really relevant for the short term.

What AA has at LAX is double what DL has - 34 gates. And it's working on more.