PHL flight cuts

[Airline Employee]

Does anyone know if PHL is making a lot of money for US or are they just undercutting the competition? I see that Southwest Airlines is ending service from PHL-CMH & PHL-SAT on November 1. Is USAirways a tough competitor in PHL? Is Southwest finally retreating in PHL? They already quit PHL-OAK, PHL-BDL & PHL-LAX.

 

[Hello Newman]

For years now, we've been told that PHL is the #1 money making city on the system, we really must be a tough competitor in the PHL market

 

[FutureUScapt]

For years now, we've been told that PHL is the #1 money making city on the system, we really must be a tough competitor in the PHL market

Yep, PHL is one place where we are refusing to back down for a change.

-WN will be down 20% YOY in daily departures from 4Q08 to 4Q09 and has discontinued service from PHL to 6 cities
-DL has discontinued PHL-BOS (for the 3rd time??)
-AA is ending PHL-STL
-DL/AF will downgrade its CDG flight from a A330 to a B757

 

[N924PS]

Yep, PHL is one place where we are refusing to back down for a change.

-WN will be down 20% YOY in daily departures from 4Q08 to 4Q09 and has discontinued service from PHL to 6 cities
-DL has discontinued PHL-BOS (for the 3rd time??)
-AA is ending PHL-STL
-DL/AF will downgrade its CDG flight from a A330 to a B757

They probably all feel they can generate more revenue with those aircraft by actually flying them in other markets. WN is not used to lengthy taxi delays common on a good day in Philly and horrific when there is any significant weather or even an East flow in use.

 

[WhatBag?]

They probably all feel they can generate more revenue with those aircraft by actually flying them in other markets. WN is not used to lengthy taxi delays common on a good day in Philly and horrific when there is any significant weather or even an East flow in use.

Well wait until they've REALLY experienced LGA! There is no alternate runway they can buy their way into the hearts of the ATC to give them favors there.

 

[FutureUScapt]

They probably all feel they can generate more revenue with those aircraft by actually flying them in other markets.

Of course they do, but when you choose to start new markets/redeploy current aircraft, you don't just pull them off of any route. You pick the worst performing ones.

WN is not used to lengthy taxi delays common on a good day in Philly and horrific when there is any significant weather or even an East flow in use.

They knew what they were getting into when they announced PHL and they wouldn't have expanded to 60+ flights if they thought it would have been an insurmountable issue.

 

[zethya]

Yep, PHL is one place where we are refusing to back down for a change.

-WN will be down 20% YOY in daily departures from 4Q08 to 4Q09 and has discontinued service from PHL to 6 cities
-DL has discontinued PHL-BOS (for the 3rd time??)
-AA is ending PHL-STL
-DL/AF will downgrade its CDG flight from a A330 to a B757

AA is generally continuing to downsize STL.

Although I haven't checked very recently, as of 2 months ago, construction was started at the end of Terminal E, paid for by Southwest Airlines, on a fan-shaped extension with seven new WN gates for aircraft, along with a 350-foot curved glass wall. WN has been complaining about lack of gates/fragmented gate access and it's affect on it's flights at PHL for a long time. Although the economy and US may have played some part in the flight reductions, it's more likely primarily because of gates.

 

[LGA777]

Well wait until they've REALLY experienced LGA! There is no alternate runway they can buy their way into the hearts of the ATC to give them favors there.

Trust me WN has already gotten a good taste of LGA and they having only one gate is giving them occasional headaches. I know someone who was on a WN flight that landed at LGA several hours late to be told we are number 3 for a gate which sucks with 1 gate, I think that flight only waited about 90 mins.

LGA777

 

[Hello Newman]

They knew what they were getting into when they announced PHL and they wouldn't have expanded to 60+ flights if they thought it would have been an insurmountable issue.

Back in 2004 when WN opened PHL, they were counting on LCC not being around by the end of the year.

 

[BuffaloJoe]

Isn't part of the cutback due to gates, with the Terminal E construction. I am surprised that US didn't fly PHL-AUS to compete.

 

[jimntx]

AA eliminating STL-PHL is indicative of exactly nothing. First off, that route is flown by AX. (Are you familiar with Chatauqua and Trans-States?) They also eliminated all of our non-stops to Florida destinations other than MIA and a seasonal this winter to RSW. As of 09NOV we will be down to only 83 flights/day at STL on AA, AX, and AE combined.

Instead of crowing about the airlines you are "running out" of one of the most congestion-prone airports in the U.S., perhaps you should (as my airline should) concentrate on making a real money-in-the-bank profit, not a GAAP-generated funny money profit. Besides, the congestion and the delays were there long before WN started service there. With all of us "running scared" from PHL, have the congestion and the delays gone away?

Making a real profit would be an excellent area for all of us to follow WN's example. Only 3 losing quarters in 18 years. WOW!

Southwest posts $54 million profit

 

[code RED]

Kudo's (and a few suggestions for the much maligned LCC)(maligned because of their crummy managment from the "other company") !!

BRAVO for Squashing Any and All competition in PHL
You ARE PHL. (not PHX, not LAS, not LGA, and to a certain extent CLT, or DCA)..You ARE PHILADELPHIA !

Excellent move to downsize LGA, and Upsize DCA

NRT MUST be flown from Philly ONLY, and Mr. Parker NEEDS act somewhat like a CEO, and start making plans NOW, with Airbi to acquire the A/C for the NRT run, (be they loaners until the A-350 is ready), and start advertizing NOW (like on that thing called a "TV" Mr. Parker) !!

 

[curious1]

Of course they do, but when you choose to start new markets/redeploy current aircraft, you don't just pull them off of any route. You pick the worst performing ones.



They knew what they were getting into when they announced PHL and they wouldn't have expanded to 60+ flights if they thought it would have been an insurmountable issue.

WN went to PHL to kill US. They did not expect them to be around at all. In fact, WN will tell you that PHL was there biggest money making operation of all new stations. They were making so much money that they had to eliminate US. Then the AWA/US merger was announced and their CEO was pissed. If WN was making money on those routes then they would keep them, regardless of any gate issues. They have 8 gates so that's plenty. Now WN is facing strong competitors and learning that it's hard to beat them in a superhub. I think it's wonderful that WN is dropping flights in PHL.

 

[USstew23]

Isn't part of the cutback due to gates, with the Terminal E construction. I am surprised that US didn't fly PHL-AUS to compete.

Yes, the WN cutbacks in PHL are mostly because of the gate issue, some people are just not with reality and would LOVE to think that WN is running from US in PHL.

 

[US Oringinal]

I think it's safe to say that if WN was making big money on these flights they wouldn't be dropping them. More likely IMHO is that they are redeploying aircraft to new service out of DEN and to LGA and BOS. Am not sure US has "chased" them out, but given the operational challenges at PHL, WN probably figures it is MORE profitable to use some aircraft somewhere else.
BTW..does anyone know for sure if WN is reducing PIT-PHL-PIT in the coming months?