Eye On The Competition

SKY HIGH

Veteran
May 22, 2004
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New York-Boston flights for just $100 on JetBlue?

JetBlue CEO David Neeleman is again talking about a New York-Boston route that would compete against Amtrak and both the Delta and US Airways shuttles. Appearing at a tourism conference in Brazil on Tuesday, The Boston Globe says Neeleman reiterated his plans to start JetBlue flights between New York JFK (the airline's top hub) and Boston, which was recently a "focus city" by the airline. But since JetBlue wouldn't start the service until it takes delivery of its new 100-seat Embraer 190 regional jets, the service appears to be at least a year away. "We have a good presence in Boston and New York," Neeleman is quoted as saying by Bloomberg News/The Atlanta Journal Constitution. "We're probably going to be there with the Embraer 190. It's a route we think we're going to do with a charge of about $100 round-trip." That fare would be up 50% less than the current rates charged by Delta, US Airways and Amtrak for their New York-Boston service. But JetBlue spokesman Gareth Edmondson-Jones tells Newsday of Long Island that the $100 fare is just "a discussion point," noting that such a fare would be comparable to the airline's lowest fares between JFK and its other New England destination of Burlington, Vt.


Charlotte may be primed for discount hub:

Regional flight operator Mesa Air Group might tie up "with an existing low-cost carrier and create a low-cost hub operation," CEO Jonathan Ornstein tells Aviation Today. "Charlotte might make the most sense," he said. While he wouldn't name prospective partners, sources with Mesa's pilot union suggest AirTran, Southwest and possibly JetBlue are likely candidates. "I have long been known to say hub operations work, with the caveat they have to be low-cost operations," Ornstein said. One thing that's been shelved for now, though, is Mesa's plan to buy 737s and feed them at a hub (Charlotte or elsewhere) with its own fleet of regional jets. He cited Mesa's inability to negotiate pay in advance for the pilots who would fly the 737s. "It is preposterous to put a plane on line and not know what the costs will be," Ornstein said. Mesa currently operates feeder flights for US Airways, United and America
 
There are not enough gates available for anyone to start a hub in CLT.
 
AirTran hubbing CLT with ATL so close? Plus they already tried the LCC feed with RJs idea. Maybe B6 would be suckered in by the idea of feed to their 190s, but I don't see WN doing this.
 
700UW said:
There are not enough gates available for anyone to start a hub in CLT.
[post="253806"][/post]​

unfortunately USAirways has a habit of tucking its tail when competition arrives and surprize surprize gates become available
 
Johnathan Ornstein is posturing and using the news media to try and influence US Airways "Fee for Service" contracts. US Airways has not yet affirmed its Mesa contract and is threatening to replace the Arizona-based airline with other operators if Ornstein does not provide a concession from cost + 8%.

Expect more news on this developing story in the near-term.

In addition, 700UW is correct in that there are no gates available in Charlotte.

Regards,

USA320Pilot
 
USA320Pilot said:
Johnathan Ornstein is posturing and using the news media to try and influence US Airways "Fee for Service" contracts.
[post="253833"][/post]​
That may well be true, but it's not a credible threat on his part...doesn't show much cleverness.
 
USA320Pilot said:
In addition, 700UW is correct in that there are no gates available in Charlotte.

[post="253833"][/post]​

How many gates did USAirways have in BWI when LUV moved in? How many do each have now?

How many gates did USAirways have in term 1 when LUV grabbed their first? How many do each have now?

Should I go on? I'll save PIT and PHL for later.
 
As for the "shuttle", i think there is much to be concerned about when Jetblue comes in. They said it won't be for 18 months or something like that so lets see how we "usairways" handles this one.
 
700UW said:
US had all ready downsized BWI when WN came in.
[post="253931"][/post]​

Southwest showed up at Baltimore/Washington International Airport in 1993 when US Airways had a 40.4% market share, according to spokesman Jonathan Dean. The airport then had 9 million passengers annually.

Southwest surpassed US Airways before the decade ended, and contributed to a more than doubling of traffic by 2003 to nearly 20 million passengers, Dean said.

"Southwest is not only the largest airline serving this airport, but they do have a significant employee presence, from the pilot and crew base to marketing professionals, maintenance and passenger service employees," he said.

Southwest said it now employs about 2,900 people at BWI.

Source

Good article about what may (will) happen in PA and PIT
 
700UW said:
There are not enough gates available for anyone to start a hub in CLT.
[post="253806"][/post]​

Think about that statement for a Min.

CLT Airport Authority, US Airways or Southwest and JetBlue, you pick..

Do you know what the answer would be?