JET BLUE LANDS IN PIT-JFK-BOS-JAX

[Jimmy Neutron]

Yet just another example of how US just keeps ignoring a market that should be utilized better.

We continue to let other carriers erode our market share in PIT while concentrating too many resources in PHL, subjecting them to all of the congestion, delays, missed bags etc.,etc.

It's time for US management to put whatever hard-on they have with Allegheny County and the State behind them and re-look at PIT for the strong markets that can be served to make the company even stronger, instead of just letting all of these other carriers take more of our market share.




http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06076/671812.stm

http://biz.yahoo.com/pz/060317/95828.html

Beaten Again!

 

[flyingcat]

I don't think they want PIT to be big, it is too close to PHL. Many people assume that because PIT is a great airport that it must make the most sense to have a hub there. Unfortunately compared to run down PHL, PIT still does not make sense from an O&D sense.

 

[Jimmy Neutron]

I don't think they want PIT to be big, it is too close to PHL. Many people assume that because PIT is a great airport that it must make the most sense to have a hub there. Unfortunately compared to run down PHL, PIT still does not make sense from an O&D sense.

Neither does CLT from that point of view, they have the least O&D traffic of all big stations and PIT is no closer to PHL then LAS is to PHX.

A connecting hub is supposed to take people from all points and transfer them conviently and efficiently, PHL does neither. No one is saying to pull the hub from PHL, just give the customer better choices to connect from the northeast without using PHL, if the market is there, why keep giving it away?

Planeloads of people, litteraly fly out of PIT to JAX everyday, why not have one or 2 flights a day or even a few a week. Obviously the market is there or JETBLUE would not be adding the service.

 

[PhillyAir5]

I'm glad US is focusing so heavily on PHL. It may mean that city officials will be moving forward with renovation projects.

 

[luvthe9]

Just forget about Pittsburgh, PHL is where it's at!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[FWAAA]

Obviously the market is there or JETBLUE would not be adding the service.

Don't be so sure. Maybe the market is there and maybe not. Remember that JetBlue is now a member of the money-losing club and has hundreds of new airplanes on order; it may start acting like a legacy airline and place them wherever it thinks it will lose the least money (not where it thinks it can make money).

Southwest already serves PIT and JAX - and now B6 wants to take them on. WN could crush B6 like a bug, and it just might.

 

[usairways85]

Neither does CLT from that point of view, they have the least O&D traffic of all big stations and PIT is no closer to PHL then LAS is to PHX.

And look at the size of LAS, it isn't that big. And most flts are overnight redeyes. Also compare LAS and PIT. LAS and the surrounding area is expanding rapidly and LAS is a HUGE tourist attraction. Can't say the same about PIT.

CLT makes sense for a lot of North/South and Caribbean connections.

 

[PhillyAir5]

I really hope US doesn't lose PIT, but I can understand the geographic impact. Do you really need 3 hubs in the east?

From a tourist attraction, I can understand why LAS would be a vital hub.

 

[ClueByFour]

Southwest already serves PIT and JAX - and now B6 wants to take them on. WN could crush B6 like a bug, and it just might.

WN does not serve NYC proper from PIT. Or BOS (directly).

 

[FCYTravis]

I don't know what the author of this thread expects US to do about it. It's not like they can tell B6 where and where not to fly. The days of the LCC-proof fortress hub are just about over, anywhere. WN will come to CLT sooner or later, and most likely sooner. US will have to deal with it. Just like US deals with WN being #2 at PHX and #1 at LAS.

You can't just run away from LCC competition. That's what US did at BWI, and it worked real well. So well, in fact, that WN waltzed right into Philly too.

Then again, having hubs 67 miles apart at BWI and PHL made zero sense to begin with, so I think WN did US a favor with that one.

Perhaps US will upgauge some of their PIT-BOS/LGA flights in response.

 

[732guy]

It's time for US management to put whatever hard-on they have with Allegheny County and the State behind them and re-look at PIT for the strong markets that can be served to make the company even stronger, instead of just letting all of these other carriers take more of our market share.

Beaten Again!


US already serves PIT-BOS and PIT-LGA/EWR with multiple frequencies with both large aircraft and RJs. What more do you suggest they do????

 

[trvlr64]

US already serves PIT-BOS and PIT-LGA/EWR with multiple frequencies with both large aircraft and RJs. What more do you suggest they do????

Now it's time to stop price gouging, that's what they should do. YES, PIT - LGA was somewhat reasonable at around $600.00 but PIT - BOS was NEVER EVER reasonable at over $1060.00.

 

[LD3]

Neither does CLT from that point of view, they have the least O&D traffic of all big stations and PIT is no closer to PHL then LAS is to PHX.

A connecting hub is supposed to take people from all points and transfer them conviently and efficiently, PHL does neither. No one is saying to pull the hub from PHL, just give the customer better choices to connect from the northeast without using PHL, if the market is there, why keep giving it away?

Planeloads of people, litteraly fly out of PIT to JAX everyday, why not have one or 2 flights a day or even a few a week. Obviously the market is there or JETBLUE would not be adding the service.

If they priced CLT right, the O&D traffic would be quite higher. Everyone would rather drive to GSO and RDU to catch a flight that usually flys back through CLT anyway...

 

[SoftLanding]

Don't be so sure. Maybe the market is there and maybe not. Remember that JetBlue is now a member of the money-losing club and has hundreds of new airplanes on order; it may start acting like a legacy airline and place them wherever it thinks it will lose the least money (not where it thinks it can make money).

Southwest already serves PIT and JAX - and now B6 wants to take them on. WN could crush B6 like a bug, and it just might.

FAWWW,

just want to point out something very important re your comment on "money-losing club" and JBLU.

If fact, Needleman said JBLU would have a loss for fiscal year 2006...IF...jet-fuel prices held around $1.90. Jet-fuel is close to 10% below that right now...

IF the US does not send bombs into Iran, oil will most likely be a lot lower in 2006...

If jet-fuel held around $1.90/gallon, very few, except LUV, would be profitable in 2006. (And I know what Parker said). Even LUV would not be profitable flying passengers, but would show positive numbers because of fuel hedging.

Just thought this point was important.

 

[FWAAA]

FAWWW,

just want to point out something very important re your comment on "money-losing club" and JBLU.

If fact, Needleman said JBLU would have a loss for fiscal year 2006...IF...jet-fuel prices held around $1.90. Jet-fuel is close to 10% below that right now...

Just thought this point was important.

Hey LandingSoft (you're dyslexic, right?): 😀

Sure, Neeleman said this and Neeleman said that. IIRC, he said something last year about his airline being profitable even with sky-high oil prices, and we see now how well that worked out for him. B)

Neeleman's said a lotta things. I take nearly all of it with a grain of salt. He's as much salesman (or more so) as he is a smart CEO. He talks a good game, and still loses something like $42 million in the 4th quarter last year.

Climbing out of the profit-losing club is a lot harder than it looks. Sorta like climbing out of a tar pit. Maybe B6 can do a miraculous turnaround this year. My money says it's doubtful. Increasing maintenance expenses, high fuel costs, too many new airplanes coming on line - the deck looks stacked against Dave. But I've been wrong before.