Govt Snatches Bogota Route From AA

Can you quote a source on that? I'd love to dig into it. The Columbian government historically doesn't give two hoots about competition and is begging for all the US Carrier access it can get. With AA's successful history of being the go-between for cash laundering (unknowingly of course) it would be hard to figure out why the Columbian government would do such a thing. (Provided of course, the Columbian government is in on the cash haul) :rolleyes: Especially since AA is still flying both routes.

The Colombian government doesn't give a hoot about compieition? Haha.

You mean the same Colombian government that sets minimum fare levels that airlines cannot go under? The same Colombian government that has twice in the past five years refused to enter into an Open Skies agreement with the United States? The same Colombian govenrment that refused American Airlines requests to fly to Medellin three times between 1992 and 2002, until finally agreeing on the condition they end service to Barranquilla? The same Colombian government that, following the collapse of ACES, who flew FLL-BOG, refused to allow American Airlines to use seven of their U.S.-Colombia frequencies on FLL-BOG so that Avianca could have it to themselves?

The Colombian government is extremely protective of air service, always has been, always will be.

Also, the issue of why the frequencies were taken away from American has nothing to do with dormancy. What happened was that AA had seven frequencies that were mandated to be used between Miami and Barranquilla only. They could not be used any other way. In the meantime, flights to Barranquilla became Open Skies, and it became impossible to use the frequencies between Miami and Barranquilla, so AA decided to use them elsewhere. Since these slots - which were route-specific to MIA-BAQ - could not be switched to another route, they were put back into the open pool.

Average annual load factor on AA's MIA-BOG flight in 2007 was 78.7%. So you are wrong, and I am right, as usual.
 
Well, one of you is in the wrong because AA does still fly to BRQ with a daily out of MIA. 919 MIA/BRQ.

BRQ? They don't fly to Turany, Czech Republic. They do fly to BAQ - Barranquilla, Colombia - because effective 1 January 2006, a revised US-Colombia air treaty once again allowed U.S. airlines to fly to Barranquilla, after Barranquilla was switched with Medellin in 2002. Between June 1, 2002 and December 31, 2005 BAQ was closed to all U.S. airlines. Only Colombian airlines were allowed BAQ-USA.
 
Hey guys, why not just drop your pants and slap 'em down on the table already....

AA serves BAQ, MDE, and CLO. If they yank the BOG frequencies, does AA have the ability to shift one of the other slots over to BOG? Or do they just suck it up and dominate the markets they can dominate?...
 
Hey guys, why not just drop your pants and slap 'em down on the table already....

AA serves BAQ, MDE, and CLO. If they yank the BOG frequencies, does AA have the ability to shift one of the other slots over to BOG? Or do they just suck it up and dominate the markets they can dominate?...

Yes, AA does have the ability to switch the majority of their 35 frequencies around. Seven of their frequencies are required to be used on MIA-MDE, but the other 28 may be used on any U.S.-Colombia route, as long as it is a Colombian city that is allowed U.S. service.

Flights to BAQ and CTG (the latter of which AA might start flying to this June) are Open Skies, so there are no limitations and they do not count towards the 35.
 
Hey guys, why not just drop your pants and slap 'em down on the table already....

What is it you'd like me to "slap down"? It jumps at everything I say and not just on this board.

Moderators are quite slow to prevent the petty bickering that's for sure! But quote a press release and their knickers shrink ten sizes!
 
Someones going to get a bonus for this. I predict AA won't protest too vigorously. With the drawdown of the A300 fleet, and the airlines inability to man the fleet anyway, there are a couple of problems solved right there... I'm telling you someone will be rewarded! :p
 
Reducing capacity with $108 oil with a fleet of fuel inefficient aircraft... at some point, it's cheaper to park aircraft than it is to fly them...
 
Reducing capacity with $108 oil with a fleet of fuel inefficient aircraft... at some point, it's cheaper to park aircraft than it is to fly them...

So . . . DOT may have done AA a favor.

Oil briefly hit $109+ earlier today before retreating back to about $108.

Credit Suisse downgraded AMR and NWA today, claiming that oil could hit $150 by year end:

http://www.marketwatch.com/News/Story/Stor...o&dist=yhoo
 
Reducing capacity with $108 oil with a fleet of fuel inefficient aircraft... at some point, it's cheaper to park aircraft than it is to fly them...

Well stated. Short, sweet and to the point. Now, do you think the bean counters at AMR will agree, or will they continue to waste good money by throwing it at preventing competition?

Ticket prices are so damn low as it is that AA might be wise to let competitors tear up their aircraft for a while, then once they have regrouped with new, updated or refurbed aircraft, come back with the vengeance that is classic AA!

If Horton would just hear the who!!!