Discount airline eyes daily route from Pittsburgh to Las Vegas
PITTSBURGH (Tribune-Review) - Calling its first two months at Pittsburgh International Airport a success, America West Airlines is en route to adding daily service to Las Vegas.
Seats have sold well on the discount carrier''s two daily flights to its Phoenix hub and headquarters, piquing the carrier''s interest in expanding at Pittsburgh International, which long has been dominated by hub airline US Airways.
Pittsburgh is booking better than other cities, said Janice Monahan, an America West spokeswoman. The first thing is to get the Phoenix service established. At that point, we''ll look at adding service to other hubs. Las Vegas is usually the next step for us.
Monahan would not detail ticket sales since Pittsburgh-Phoenix service began on Oct. 27. She also would not say whether a Pittsburgh expansion is definite. Airline officials not only are pleased with ticket sales, but with the fact that most passengers use the Phoenix hub as a springboard to West Coast destinations, including Los Angeles.
We''ve seen increases in bookings with lots of connecting passengers, Monahan said. Approximately 75 percent of the passengers coming from Pittsburgh to Phoenix are connecting on to other destinations in the West.
The airline''s success also has pleased officials at the Allegheny County Airport Authority, which runs Pittsburgh International. Not only is America West adding flights to cities that were under-served, competition has brought down airfares.
During a recent authority board meeting, Executive Director Kent George said round-trip ticket prices to Phoenix have fallen dramatically since America West''s arrival. A US Airways round-trip ticket bought 14 days in advance of a flight cost $1,908 before America West arrived. Now, the same ticket costs about $378. America West is charging $375.
That''s what competition does, George said.
I know they''ve been looking at expansion, whether it''s another flight to Phoenix or a flight to Las Vegas, George said Friday. It''s promising, and what it looks like is they have to get into January and see what happens after the first of the year.
If America West decides to add service to a popular destination such as Las Vegas, George anticipates those flights will be just as successful. US Airways, which is in Chapter 11 reorganization, offers two daily flights to Las Vegas after cutting one daily flight last year. The round-trip fare is $383.
It''s another destination we don''t have good service to, George said. We only have a couple of flights a day, and they''re always full.
America West has been adding service to its Las Vegas hub. It will start service in January from Washington, D.C., and Toronto. The airline began service to the gambling and entertainment destination from seven cities this year.
PITTSBURGH (Tribune-Review) - Calling its first two months at Pittsburgh International Airport a success, America West Airlines is en route to adding daily service to Las Vegas.
Seats have sold well on the discount carrier''s two daily flights to its Phoenix hub and headquarters, piquing the carrier''s interest in expanding at Pittsburgh International, which long has been dominated by hub airline US Airways.
Pittsburgh is booking better than other cities, said Janice Monahan, an America West spokeswoman. The first thing is to get the Phoenix service established. At that point, we''ll look at adding service to other hubs. Las Vegas is usually the next step for us.
Monahan would not detail ticket sales since Pittsburgh-Phoenix service began on Oct. 27. She also would not say whether a Pittsburgh expansion is definite. Airline officials not only are pleased with ticket sales, but with the fact that most passengers use the Phoenix hub as a springboard to West Coast destinations, including Los Angeles.
We''ve seen increases in bookings with lots of connecting passengers, Monahan said. Approximately 75 percent of the passengers coming from Pittsburgh to Phoenix are connecting on to other destinations in the West.
The airline''s success also has pleased officials at the Allegheny County Airport Authority, which runs Pittsburgh International. Not only is America West adding flights to cities that were under-served, competition has brought down airfares.
During a recent authority board meeting, Executive Director Kent George said round-trip ticket prices to Phoenix have fallen dramatically since America West''s arrival. A US Airways round-trip ticket bought 14 days in advance of a flight cost $1,908 before America West arrived. Now, the same ticket costs about $378. America West is charging $375.
That''s what competition does, George said.
I know they''ve been looking at expansion, whether it''s another flight to Phoenix or a flight to Las Vegas, George said Friday. It''s promising, and what it looks like is they have to get into January and see what happens after the first of the year.
If America West decides to add service to a popular destination such as Las Vegas, George anticipates those flights will be just as successful. US Airways, which is in Chapter 11 reorganization, offers two daily flights to Las Vegas after cutting one daily flight last year. The round-trip fare is $383.
It''s another destination we don''t have good service to, George said. We only have a couple of flights a day, and they''re always full.
America West has been adding service to its Las Vegas hub. It will start service in January from Washington, D.C., and Toronto. The airline began service to the gambling and entertainment destination from seven cities this year.
