Will the company move the focus from PHL?

[8008]

Will the company greatly reduce the flight schedule in PHL? Is this even a viable discussion? Some here in Tempe say that it will happen.

It is common knowledge that PHL is a big problem for the new company. Some say there is a gang mentality in certain PHL work groups. Others will say that the PHL frontline employees have not been given the tools necessary for success. Add the above items to the fact that the skies in the Northeast are crowded with traffic, and the airport facilities are old and failing, and you have a mammoth predicament for the new US Airways. What to do with PHL?

The word in Tempe is that starting sometime in ‘06, PHL will become a focus-city rather then a hub. The focus in PHL will be on international destinations and coast-to-coast flights. The thought behind this action is two fold, to divert traffic from the crowded Northeast to a more central U.S. location that has a more favorable traffic flow, and to break the backs of a certain collective barging group that the company views as problematic.

Time will tell the tale of PHL. I do not pretend to have a clear understanding of the companies’ master plan for PHL. I only report what I have heard from those who claim to be “in the knowâ€￾.

 

[heyray]

Granted PHL has it's problems, but it is also the largest originating city in the system. Would it make sense to de-hub, to supposedly bring a union to it's knees? Seems to me that it would make more sense to put a management team together to correct the problems in PHL, rather than to run away and give the market to SWA, much like we did with the west coast and BWI.

 

[PHLfa88]

Will the company greatly reduce the flight schedule in PHL? Is this even a viable discussion? Some here in Tempe say that it will happen.

It is common knowledge that PHL is a big problem for the new company. Some say there is a gang mentality in certain PHL work groups. Others will say that the PHL frontline employees have not been given the tools necessary for success. Add the above items to the fact that the skies in the Northeast are crowded with traffic, and the airport facilities are old and failing, and you have a mammoth predicament for the new US Airways. What to do with PHL?

The word in Tempe is that starting sometime in ‘06, PHL will become a focus-city rather then a hub. The focus in PHL will be on international destinations and coast-to-coast flights. The thought behind this action is two fold, to divert traffic from the crowded Northeast to a more central U.S. location that has a more favorable traffic flow, and to break the backs of a certain collective barging group that the company views as problematic.

Time will tell the tale of PHL. I do not pretend to have a clear understanding of the companies’ master plan for PHL. I only report what I have heard from those who claim to be “in the knowâ€￾.


What are You Smoking?

 

[Flying Titan]

While there is no doubt that PHL has a whole host of problems...there is no chance that it will be de-hubbed. It is the company's biggest revenue generator. I could see some capacity being moved back to PIT to ease some of the pressure at PHL, but not much. It will be up to management and the labor groups to figure out how to work together to make PHL operate as well as it can - though that may never be as good as most other markets.

 

[Dog Wonder]

Some say there is a gang mentality in certain PHL work groups.

I only report what I have heard from those who claim to be “in the knowâ€￾.

You are reporting any rumor you have heard that will get you attention. The only 'colors' worn in PHL are uniform colors.

 

[Phantom Fixer]

According to Doug Parker at the Town Hall "Winter Session" yesterday in CLT. PHL "Will be fixed"...as USAirways survival depends on PHL operating at 100%

Doug also said tons of new ground equipment is arriving in PHL as he speaks...and it will all be in place no later than 15 December 05.

Any talk of PHL being de-hubbed...is pure BUNK !!

DP also stated that it was his goal to have PHL operating at levels between that of PHX and CLT in the very near future.

 

[NCFL]

The only real way to "fix PHL" is to knock the whole thing down and start over. The airport can never succeed with runways that are too close together, taxiways that are, in essence, one-lane, one-way streets, terminal concourses that are so close together as to prevent simultaneous taxi in/taxi out, baggage systems that are mazes of twisted, jam-prone conveyors, ATC that plays second fiddle to NYC and WAS, and on and on. Couple that with an operation spread over 2 miles and you've got a mess. Most of the employees at PHL are top notch, but I wonder if the most Cracker Jack team and all the new equipment in the world will really "fix" the problem. Pelc. Fahnestock. Arkan. Stryker. Rhoderick. Those are some powerful names in US East's history, and none has been able to do it.

It makes perfect economic sense to hub in PHL. If only they could pick up the facility in PIT and plop it next to the Delaware River.

 

[RowUnderDCA]

I think that PHL will look less like a hub this time next year than it does now.

 

[BuffaloJoe]

I think that PHL will look less like a hub this time next year than it does now.

PHL will still be important for the structure of US. They have a huge O/D market there that they can not afford to lose, even if its matching the low fares of WN. They retreated out west back in the early '90's and BWI, they will stay and fight here. If PHL goes, then US goes.

 

[SpinDoc]

I think that PHL will look less like a hub this time next year than it does now.

DCA:

Don't count on it. There is some
sweetheart kickback deal going on
with PHL that is entrenched (most
likely a Crellin deal) that is
keeping US from seeing the true
operational costs, and they will
probably keep PHL the crown jewel
until Uncle Al's contract is up.

There simply is no economic reason
for US to keep their eggs in the
PHL basket. Any, and I repeat,
ANY O&D revenue advantage that exists
in PHL is erased on a daily basis
due to the operational problems and
baggage loss/delivery costs that
eminate from PHL like a flu
pandemic.

It is time to hire a consultant
to assess the TRUE cost of doing
business (revenue AND cost)
in PIT versus PHL. I think the
results would be eye opening,
and the "Krellin Kickbacks"
will be removed in short order.

 

[longing4piedmont]

Would it make sense to de-hub, to supposedly bring a union to it's knees?

Appears to have worked in PIT. To this day I believe that is one of the reason PIT was raped.

 

[AstroLounge]

I think that PHL will look less like a hub this time next year than it does now.

"So Virginia there IS a Santa Claus!" Now THAT is music to MY EARS.....goooooooooooood riddance! HoHoHo 😀

 

[Walmartgreeter]

[ They have a huge O/D market there that they can not afford to lose, even if its matching the low fares of WN.

O/D is fine. But don't try to CONNECT the poor pax from the rest of the northeast through PHL. They will only missconnect and lose their bags. Bad airport setup...will never work with the current runway alignment. Never. Greeter.

 

[AstroLounge]

[ They have a huge O/D market there that they can not afford to lose, even if its matching the low fares of WN.

O/D is fine. But don't try to CONNECT the poor pax from the rest of the northeast through PHL. They will only missconnect and lose their bags. Bad airport setup...will never work with the current runway alignment. Never. Greeter.

Very true.....why subject ALL connecting traffic to what exists in PHL. Mgmnt needs to rationalize/ right size the fleet and number of flights to the market but MOVE the additional connecting traffic to a facility that can HANDLE the traffic, make money and meet the demands of the travelling public. PHL fails miserably when it comes down to MEETING expectations, let alone EXCEEDING them.

 

[muircross]

As bad as the perceived performance of PHL is, the airline as a whole is not completely off the charts when compared with the others. As long as the company can spread out the costs and stats among all the stations we'll be fine. The fact is the other stations have been carrying PHL for years. Fix PHL and watch the stats take a dramatic turn for the better.