Pit Airport Looks Beyond Us Airways For A Lift

[USA320Pilot]

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In my opinion, if the ACAA is going to promote competition against US Airways and not seek ways to lower the airports debt, than I believe US Airways should cut off negotiations and seek alternatives other than Pittsburgh International Airport.

Not only does Pittsburgh International have huge debt, the ACAA is trying to move traffic away from US Airways, which is biased.

Regardless of whether or not this is posturing, the government once again is showing a bias against US Airways that will definitely get Dave Siegel's attention.

Even though I live in Pittsburgh, I believe the company must do what's necessary to survive and thus should leave Pittsburgh. Then maybe the company's operations will be appreciated, when Western Pennsylvania feels the pain of a huge economic loss, since they want to promote the competition and create an unfair government lead advertising campaign.

Regards,

Chip

 

[delldude]

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In my opinion, if the ACAA is going to promote competition against US Airways and not seek ways to lower the airports debt, than I believe US Airways should cut off negotiations and seek alternatives other than Pittsburgh International Airport.

Not only does Pittsburgh International have huge debt, the ACAA is trying to move traffic away from US Airways, which is biased.

Regardless of whether or not this is posturing, the government once again is showing a bias against US Airways that will definitely get Dave Siegel's attention.

Even though I live in Pittsburgh, I believe the company must do what's necessary to survive and thus should leave Pittsburgh. Then maybe the company's operations will be appreciated, when Western Pennsylvania feels the pain of a huge economic loss, since they want to promote the competition and create an unfair government lead advertising campaign.

Regards,

Chip

CHIP:heve you forgotten the federal,state ,county and local politicians who have bent over backwards to help this company since the early ninties?
do you remember how quickly dave and company spit in their faces?
what kind of alliegence do you think acaa should show here this late in the game?
what about all the stall tactics,media gamesmanship and all?
i think acaa is covering their butts as its quite evident they do not trust the company anymore.

 

[funguy2]

ACAA's responsibility is to the residents of Allegheny County. As such, they should have a mandate to maximize the use of its resources, whether its US Airways or someone else.

Last time I was at PIT, I remember seeing lots of empty gates on C and D concourses... Maybe if ACAA had those gates under lease, and a few more take-offs and landings, they could afford to reduce their debt payments and/or reduce costs for all airlines at the airport, based on increased revenue.

Ultimately, I am not sure where US Airways can redeploy its PIT assets in a timely and profitable manner. In my opinion, US Airways does not have the time, financial resources, or the vision to do anything dramatically positive at this time (i.e. new hub/focus city). There no financially feasible hubsites available baring a Chapter 7 filing of another carrier (and even then, there would be fierce competition for those hubsites).

Lastly, a large part of the Embraer/MDA situation is specifically designed to bolster the PIT hub. Seems odd to me that US Airways went out and ordered aircraft, and began to create MDA before the fate of PIT was decided.

 

[Chinook]

It sure seems like dirty pool, this ACAA emailing people with what amounts to free advertising to fly certain air carriers. I could see generalized announcements, but touting certain carriers seems like poor government policy. I have no problem with ad campaigns designed to get the consumer to check out flying out of this particular airport, but they are not an ad agency for certain airlines. "Fly Legacy Air-The Official Airline of the Allegeny County Water Board"

 

[whatkindoffreshhell]

Public government officials NEVER should promote a particular private business at the expense of another private company. That is not government's role and this campaign by the Pittsburgh airport is silly and transparent.

US may leave PIT but to blame the move on an advertising campaign is also childish.

Sounds like both side have already made their decision and are just posturing.

 

[shaka]

Chip, what would you expect the county to do after being taken for a crazy ride for the last year???

Do you expect the county to rollover and play dead for Dave??? You must keep in mind that Dave has played mind games with not only the county but the employees and the state of PA. The county can no longer trust Dave and have to assume he is moving out.

Now if you don't recall the state tried to play fair with US and came to the table with approximately 254 million in improvements for US, and let's keep in mind that was an opening offer. So what does Dave do, he says that ain't enough and I will get back to you when I am good and ready. Give me a break, Chip this was a huge first step on behalf of the state and Dave has delayed meetings and put the good folks of PA waiting in the dark.

Rendell has made it perfectly clear that if Pitt is dismantled as a hub than US don't get "jack" in terms of financial assistance. So if your Dave do you say forget the incentives, let me pay big dollars (which I don't have), move my operation to Indy and get a rent free deal there and build my infastructure from scratch. Or should I get back to the negotiating table and get a deal done that makes sense for both sides. The county can not wait for Dave forever, they have to do whatever they can to bring other revenue into Pitt.

Lastly, I do not think Dave wants to piss Rendell off any further. If you are going to negotiate do it in good faith, if Dave needs to walk than so be it. But do not play games with the Governor whose airport your crown jewel resides. That is like playing a game of russian roulette.

 

[ClueByFour]

So, let me understand this:

1. US Airways says give us a $2 Billion terminal, or we leave (late 1980s). County does it.

2. US Airways then rejects the lease with 20 minutes left in Chapter 11, after telling the ACAA they were not going to do it several times.

3. US Airways asks the county and state to raise taxes to in essence bail them out of the mess that they have made.

4. US Airways has the cajones to suggest that the debt problem is somehow of the ACAAs making.

5. US Airways comes right out and says that "if we don't get what we want, we will pull the hub."

And our local US Airways shill actually has the stones to be critical of the county for promoting the other airlines, who presumably will be carrying much more traffic if Little Dave takes his ball and goes elsewhere.

Now, one of the things that has finally dawned on Little Dave is that there is nowhere else to run to. There is no other city with PIT's O&D level that does not already have either a major airline hub, a significant LCC presence, or both. By leaving PIT, US will lose their monopoly pricing power and incur a huge capital expense that the company basically can not afford. No other community is going to cut US a sweetheart deal like the one at PIT, since they have been the tactics that US is willing to use and their are precious few communities with the cash available to do so, anyway.

In short, don't let the door hit you in the rear on the way out of PIT. Enjoy the commute down to the new hub at BHM. I'm sure the O&D there will support at least 10 EMBs dedicated to the hub.

I'm still waiting to here why exactly the county and state should let US piss all over them collectively and not respond.

 

[AM49AAA]

The travelling the public feel "entitled" to cheap airfares. It is supported by local goverments and media. If Pitt can induce and entice people to pay the same fares as the late eighties in the same volume I'm sure UAIR will quit griping about the coust of operating there.

 

[burghlaw1]

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In my opinion, if the ACAA is going to promote competition against US Airways and not seek ways to lower the airports debt, than I believe US Airways should cut off negotiations and seek alternatives other than Pittsburgh International Airport.

Not only does Pittsburgh International have huge debt, the ACAA is trying to move traffic away from US Airways, which is biased.

Regardless of whether or not this is posturing, the government once again is showing a bias against US Airways that will definitely get Dave Siegel's attention.

Even though I live in Pittsburgh, I believe the company must do what's necessary to survive and thus should leave Pittsburgh. Then maybe the company's operations will be appreciated, when Western Pennsylvania feels the pain of a huge economic loss, since they want to promote the competition and create an unfair government lead advertising campaign.

Regards,

Chip

<_< This is an awfully spiteful post, Chip. You often appear to get emotional when it comes to the PIT hub negotiations.

However, I think you misunderstood the article. Nowhere did I read that the ACAA would be promoting competition at the expense of U. I read that ACAA would be promoting all of the deals from PIT, including those of major and small carriers.

The spin, "Airport looks beyond US Airways for a lift" appears to be the newspaper's. You appear to attributing this spin to the ACAA.


I reiterate, If U has alternatives to PIT, then why don't they avail themselves of them?

I think ClueByFour is correct--there are no other alternatives.

 

[TheLarkAscending]

Clue & Burghlaw - I couldn't have said it better -- except that I'd like to add a bit of friendly advice to the select few at US that believes that ACAA owes them anything: Go Pound Sand and Fry Ice! :angry:

 

[chele5]

There are times when you simply want to say "just go, please".

Personally, I highly doubt that Rendell will do anything if U pulls out of PIT.
As our highest elected state official, he will not want to part with the tax revenue,
even if it is from the "crown-jewel" hub only. Think about it, will Rendell really give that up?

I don't think so.

 

[ClueByFour]

There are times when you simply want to say "just go, please".

Personally, I highly doubt that Rendell will do anything if U pulls out of PIT.
As our highest elected state official, he will not want to part with the tax revenue,
even if it is from the "crown-jewel" hub only. Think about it, will Rendell really give that up?

I don't think so.

If the alternative is parting with $500 million to prop up a business who has not made money in eons, I think Rendell will do the right thing.

People are jacked up about having their income taxes raised in PA just to cover the existing budget--what makes you think that the entire population of PA wants to bail out US again? Besides which, it's not as if Rendell is in any danger of losing the union vote to whomever the republican party nominates to run against him when his current term is up.

Rendell can also put the screws to US at PHL if US screws PIT--and it's not as if airlines won't serve PHL (or PIT, for that matter) in US' absence.

Or, to put it in a different light, there are many businesses out there who will gladly move thousands of workers into PA for a $254 million handout.

 

[AKA_trvlr64]

The travelling the public feel "entitled" to cheap airfares. It is supported by local goverments and media. If Pitt can induce and entice people to pay the same fares as the late eighties in the same volume I'm sure UAIR will quit griping about the coust of operating there.

"entitled" ?? Excuse me but customers "shop" for airfares that aren't raping their pocket books. There is nothing "entitled" about that.

The LCC's are simply charging a decent airfare that helps to fill their planes and people pay it. And the LCC's seem to be making money?! What's up with that?

The days of loyality to an airline or any business is gone. I'm going to spend my money wisely, and if that means paying for travel on another airline that doesn't overcharge to get me from point A to point B, then that airline gets my money.

There is nothing "entitled" about saving a buck.

 

[shaka]

I think Rendell realizes that US Air management can not be trusted for "jack" and if you do not negotiate with the Governor in "good faith" there will be consequences of that.

Simply put, Rendell isn't going to play dead if Dave continues to "buffalo" him everytime they come to the table. Let's not forget Dave is not leaving Philly and it would be in his best interest to deal with the Governor in good faith.

 

[AP Tech]

Maybe Pit is finally seeing the real "Dave" and putting a secondary plan in place if U does decide to vacate!!! They don't see him as the "second comming "like some on this board, but only as one whose word cannot be trusted!!!! Look at one of the recent news releases on U "U to provide unlimited free 1st Class upgrades to all preferred members" while all the while they have started a new program to recongfigure many of the A/C to remove some of the 1st class seats!!!! For some reason that was not released to the public. Time for some to open their eyes and see who is running this company!!!
By the way "Dave"...I am still waiting for that Christmas Present!!!!!!