New focus city in SAT?
- Thread starter whlinder
- Start date
San Antonio has grown to become the 8th largest city by population in the USA, one place ahead of Dallas. By metro area, it is the 28th largest, not too far behind Denver (22d largest).
IIRC, AA recently added nonstop service at SAT to LAX.
IIRC, AA recently added nonstop service at SAT to LAX.
United Airlines with United Express® partner Trans States Airlines today announced new service between San Antonio, Texas, and seven cities, enhancing travel for customers throughout the United States.
http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/searc...u043.html?.v=33
http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/searc...u043.html?.v=33
United Airlines will launch new nonstop service between San Antonio International Airport and seven new markets early next year, the company said Tuesday.
http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/searc...html?from_rss=1
http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/searc...html?from_rss=1
Strange set of destinations -- except they are all within UAX RJ range. Any idea why this set of cities were picked? Do they all lack non-stop service at the moment? Just overpriced by AA and CO through their hubs?
some of it makes sense. for example, there is a pretty big mil travel market between SAT and COS, and possible Omaha and SAT. I'd be interested to see what SWA flies from SAT. If that's the response, it's like taking a knife to a gunfight.
. Hopefully, if they are going to make a play in one of the "big holes" in the network, they will put some "Big Iron" (737-500's) on some more routes out of there. Maybe that's some of the things in store for us post BK.jimntx
Veteran
May be a mixed blessing. Several Trans State pilots stay in the same crash pad I do in STL. When I commented to one that I might move back in to my house in Houston now that they were starting non-stop service from HOU to STL, his response was "Jim, don't depend on us to commute to work. We cancel a LOT of flights."
WorldTraveler
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Is there an attempt for UA to get a piece of Texas in response to WN's incursion into DEN and further growth at MDW? Several of these are pretty thin markets so someone could justify putting RJs in there... the question is whether UA has enough of a presence in these markets to make it work. United isn't the first word that comes out of Texan's mouths when it comes to air travel.
NewHampshire Black Bears
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And in the meantime, AA, like a male lion, will rest under a tree, surveying the whole situation !!!
WT,
You've raised a VERY interesting scenario !!!!!!!!!!
NH/BB's
WT,
You've raised a VERY interesting scenario !!!!!!!!!!
NH/BB's
coolflyingfool
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I think that this is definitely a shot at SWA. UA did not go into one of SWA's hubs, but definitely a money-making city. I think that SWA may respond with more flights to DEN. SWA could probably add another 10 by April. I hope for the consumer that this turns into a my-mom-can-beat-up-your-mom fight and prices go through the floor. just my thoughts......
A few random thoughts
- Is this a United decision or a Transtates decision? I have to believe that Transtates will fly these routes at risk.
- This plan is very similar to plans that the now defunct Great Plains Airlines had drawn up but never flew.
- Southwest does not provide nonstop service in any of the markets listed. MCI is the only market served nonstop from SAT and that is flown by Midwest Airlines.
- American must be a little tweaked. Transtates flys for them at STL and now will be pulling some their traffic away that flows thru DFW.
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- Is this a United decision or a Transtates decision? I have to believe that Transtates will fly these routes at risk.
- This plan is very similar to plans that the now defunct Great Plains Airlines had drawn up but never flew.
- Southwest does not provide nonstop service in any of the markets listed. MCI is the only market served nonstop from SAT and that is flown by Midwest Airlines.
- American must be a little tweaked. Transtates flys for them at STL and now will be pulling some their traffic away that flows thru DFW.
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jimntx
Veteran
A year ago I would have agreed with you on this, but since the Skylink opened, changing terminals at DFW is not the trial it used to be. I wonder how many people would be willing to go from a mainline a/c to an RJ just to avoid the plane change at DFW?
... and to shorten their jouney time by 60-90 minutes probably (connect time plus block time)
UAL should have taken over the old DL gates at DFW and started a hub. It was proven the first name in Texas air travel is Delta right?
A few UAX flights out of SAT is not a big deal. In the future possibly but not right now. Better to test the waters with this versus a full on money losing hub at DFW right?
