AUS Losing More Service
- Thread starter ual777fan
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$120/bbl fuel, gas guzzling S80s that operated these routes, and significant increase in capacity at AUS this year that might not be easily absorbed.
CubsFanJohn
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Mark,
Have you heard anything about Chicago-Rome getting the chopping block?
Have you heard anything about Chicago-Rome getting the chopping block?
Chicago-Rome gets the axe in September. It might or might not return next summer, that depends on a combination of fuel and whether or not Miami-Milan is approved (with AZ having moved ORD and MIA service to FCO; it actually makes sense to transfer Italy capacity from low-yielding ORD-FCO which now has competition to high-yielding MIA-MXP which now has no competition; though AA is worried about whether it can be successful stealing business traffic from AZ/LX on the route, since the traffic is so skewed to coming from Milan. It was a big problem with MIA-FRA. The money to be made on the route was Germany-originating traffic, and they all took LH).
Sure is. In fact it after being put on hold for a while (was supposed to launch 13DEC07 alongside Phoenix), this week it was once again given a tentative launch date. Problem with MIA-AUS is aircraft allocation: ERJ can't make it, 757 is too big, S80s don't fly to MIA. It absolutely needs to be a 738, and the 738 fleet is very tight right now. Thankfully, more are coming soon. MIA is actually still scheduled to see growth come December while DFW/ORD/STL will see cuts. AA is reallocating capacity to international flying, and while domestic MIA routes aren't "international flying" per se, they are carrying significant amounts of international connects.
JFK-AUS is off, though. Also gone are LAX-FLL/SAT and mainline service on SAT-STL; RDU-STL/LGA. Also, all service to Oakland is being cut in the fall.
Sure is. In fact it after being put on hold for a while (was supposed to launch 13DEC07 alongside Phoenix), this week it was once again given a tentative launch date. Problem with MIA-AUS is aircraft allocation: ERJ can't make it, 757 is too big, S80s don't fly to MIA. It absolutely needs to be a 738, and the 738 fleet is very tight right now. Thankfully, more are coming soon. MIA is actually still scheduled to see growth come December while DFW/ORD/STL will see cuts. AA is reallocating capacity to international flying, and while domestic MIA routes aren't "international flying" per se, they are carrying significant amounts of international connects.
JFK-AUS is off, though. Also gone are LAX-FLL/SAT and mainline service on SAT-STL; RDU-STL/LGA. Also, all service to Oakland is being cut in the fall.
I hope that oil prices start to retreat from the stratosphere hopefully to save these routes and some jobs. Are all of these cancellations because of skyrocketing oil costs and accelerated S80 retirement?
The routes aren't going to be "saved." With the exception of maybe FLL-LAX, they are all goners regardless.
S80s are being retired, but they will be replaced 1:1 with 738s.
However, 738s will not all replace S80s 1:1 on routes. They will be flying new routes that S80s can't fly, like Caribbean routes.
Of course, with about three dozen 738s coming 2009, the majority will replace S80s.
Um . . . Because those routes are not profitable enough?
If they keep holding that MIA flight back, I might just begin to believe that Centerport hates AUS <_<
Seriously though, AUS is supposedly one of the most profitable stations in the AA system (how many other spokes have Admirals Clubs?) so if they are cutting here... well they are also closing Oakland. I hope all the fine people who work there will be able to move to SJC or SFO. They have some great people at OAK.
What do you mean "supposedly"?
The fact that AA is cutting flights would appear to indicate the AUS routes are not all that profitable compared to other routes, so perhaps you have bad information.
Well it has one of the largest elite Frequent Flyer populations of any nonhub city for starters. We had been constantly rumored for expanded service because of the good yields on most flights out of the airport; etc. etc... I'm just sad to see these routes go. It was really nice not to have to connect through DFW to go anywhere but to ORD, LAX or SJC.
I read that WN is also expanding in AUS. This may have led to AA's reductions as well, due to declining yields with WN's somewhat lower fares.
Atlanta, Bogotá, Denver, Kansas City, Nashville, Newark, and Santo Domingo are spokes that have Admiral's Clubs, just to name a few.
