Aa Shut Out From Dca Slot Exemptions

[FA Mikey]

I read AA was the only airline not awarded a single slot exemption at DCA. All the other carriers that applied got at least one. Does anyone know what AA was asking for?

 

[TWAnr]

I read AA was the only airline not awarded a single slot exemption at DCA. All the other carriers that applied got at least one. Does anyone know what AA was asking for?

Here is the press release:

FOR RELEASE: Friday, Jan. 9, 2004
AMERICAN AIRLINES FILES APPLICATION TO SECURE NONSTOP SERVICE TO RONALD REAGAN WASHINGTON NATIONAL AIRPORT FOR LOS ANGELES

Carrier’s Extensive Route Network Also Would Open One-Stop Service for Other California Cities as well as Four Hawaiian Islands

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Los Angeles has nonstop flights to the capitals of Japan, Peru, the United Kingdom and Russia, but not the closest airport to the capital of the United States.

Today, American Airlines is working to change that by filing an application with the U.S. Department of Transportation to provide daily nonstop service between Los Angeles International Airport and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. The route would be flown using a two-class Boeing 757 aircraft.

"Los Angeles deserves this service and American’s route network also offers the best opportunity to maximize one-stop access for five smaller California communities as well as other communities throughout the Golden State and four cities in Hawaii," said Henry Joyner, American’s senior vice president-Planning. "We’re ready, willing and able to connect the nation’s second largest metropolitan area with the preferred airport serving our nation’s capital."

American’s relationship with Reagan National began when the carrier landed the very first flight at the airport, then known simply as National Airport, back in June 1941.

Today, American is asking the DOT to grant it two of 12 additional exemption slots at the airport for nonstop service to airports beyond the 1,250-mile perimeter that currently limits nonstop flights to the western half of the country. These exemptions are authorized under the Vision 100 – Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act.

Under American’s proposal, five small cities in California – Fresno, Monterey, Palm Springs, San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara – would also benefit from competitive one-stop access to Reagan National. American and American Eagle will also offer competitive one-stop service to the airport from a number of other cities in both California and Hawaii, including San Francisco, San Jose, San Diego, Honolulu, Kahului, Kona and Lihue.

Over the past five years, American has invested millions of dollars in renovating and enhancing its Los Angeles airport facilities. This includes expanding its main check-in lobby, security checkpoints and baggage claim areas; adding a new Customs and Immigration facility; installing a moving walkway linked to the Bradley International Terminal; launching a new high-speed automated laser bag-tag reader system and four new baggage-claim devices in the baggage-claim area; plus opening a brand new 25,000 square-foot Admirals Club® facility.

"We look forward to adding Reagan National to the current list of 32 nonstop destinations served by American from LAX," Joyner said. "Our customers in Los Angeles deserve to join the ranks of travelers already enjoying exempted service from smaller cities such as Denver, Las Vegas and Seattle."

American Airlines is the world’s largest carrier. American, American Eagle and the AmericanConnection regional carriers serve more than 250 cities in more than 40 countries and territories with approximately 3,900 daily flights. The combined network fleet numbers more than 1,000 aircraft. American’s award-winning Web site, AA.com, provides users with easy access to check and book fares, plus personalized news, information and travel offers. American Airlines is a founding member of the oneworld Alliance.

AMR Press Release

 

[MiAAmi]

Alaska recieved the slot for DCA-LAX which should become a code share flight for AA.

 

[orwell]

I read AA was the only airline not awarded a single slot exemption at DCA. All the other carriers that applied got at least one. Does anyone know what AA was asking for?

Just read this AP story and see the rationale behind these decisions. Anyone who thinks this industry is deregulated is sadly mistaken. Another useful instruction tool to the anti-"bailout" whiners. They wonder why it's hard to operate in this environment? Big Government continually helps out the LCCs at the expense of the evil legacy carriers - it's so much fun.


Reagan Natl Airport OK'd For Roundtrips To US West Hubs
DOW JONES NEWSWIRES
WASHINGTON (AP)--Eleven more roundtrip flights are being added at Ronald Reagan National Airport, with most for service beyond the airport's normal 1,250 mile perimeter.
U.S Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta announced on Thursday that nine airlines were awarded 22 takeoff or landing slots on the airport's operation schedule.
"These awards will provide a greater variety of fare and service options for leisure and business travelers across the country who wish to fly to the doorstep of the nation's capital," Mineta said.
Los Angeles, Denver, Phoenix and Seattle now are destinations that can be reached from the airport without changing planes.
Air Tran can add one round trip flight to Atlanta. Comair, a Delta (DAL) subsidiary, may add either one flight to Jackson, Miss., or one to Lexington, Ky. Midwest Airlines (MEH) gains a flight to Kansas City, while Spirit Airlines can now serve Detroit. Arlington-based U.S. Airways may add one roundtrip to Asheville or Wilmington, N.C., or Chattanooga, Tenn.
Alaska Air (ALK), America West (AWA), Frontier (FRNT) and United (UALAQ) also gained slots and are cleared to expand existing hubs.
Transportation officials noted Spirit and AirTran's low-fare service enables travelers going to Detroit and Atlanta to benefit from increased competition.
The service expansions were long sought by members of Congress, particularly from the middle south and western states. The Vision-100 Century of Flight Aviation Act, signed into law by President George W. Bush last year, expanded service to destinations more than 1,250 miles away and provided eight more slots within that distance. Preference was given to new carriers or new nonstop service to small hub or non-hub airports.

 

[orwell]

8 out of 11 were awarded to "discount" carriers - to their delight. Sorry about the text, but you need to register to view the article so I figured I'd paste it all.

Even though AA vigorously competes on fares (is there a choice?) and were deemed qualified by the DOT, they didn't get it - which is no surprise.












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Posted on Fri, Apr. 02, 2004



American loses bid for Reagan flights

By Trebor Banstetter
Star-Telegram Staff Writer

The federal government passed over American Airlines on Thursday when it awarded rights for 11 new flights at Reagan National Airport outside Washington, D.C.

The slate of winners was the latest evidence of the rapid rise of low-fare airlines, which have been pummelling their larger competitors in recent years. Eight of the 11 flights were awarded to discount carriers, including AirTran Airways, America West and Spirit Airlines.

"These awards will provide a greater variety of fare and service options for leisure and business travelers across the country who wish to fly to the doorstep of the nation's capitol," Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta said in a statement.

Discount carriers praised the decision, saying the government has opened the heavily restricted airport for lower fares and more competition.

Fort Worth-based American had applied to operate a flight from Washington to Los Angeles. The airline already offers service from the Washington airport to many other destinations.

"We're disappointed we did not receive an award for this route," said American spokeswoman Jacquie Young. She declined further comment.

Last December, President Bush directed the Department of Transportation to grant the rights to 11 new round-trip flights at the airport, which is owned by the federal government and is heavy restricted to reduce congestion.

Fifteen carriers applied for the new service.

The government gave preference to airlines that would increase competition at the airport and offer low fares, among other guidelines.

The expansion allowed six more round-trip flights to cities more than 1,250 miles from the airport, and five new flights to destinations within the 1,250-mile radius.

"American's application has merit," stated an order filed by the Transportation Department on Thursday, which noted that the airline could serve the airport with large-capacity jets.

But ultimately the carrier was rejected because it is not considered a discount airline and would not significantly increase competition.

Federal regulators also noted that American could not offer substantial connecting service from Los Angeles, which is not an American hub.

Also rejected were Delta Air Lines, Aloha Airgroup and Primaris Airlines. However, two major airlines did win the right to new service.

U.S. Airways will be able to operate flights to Asheville, N.C.; Chattanooga, Tenn.; and Wilmington, N.C. United Airlines was granted rights for service to Denver.

In addition, discounter AirTran won service to Atlanta; Midwest Airlines will offer service to Kansas City; Spirit will operate a flight to Detroit; America West will fly to Phoenix; and Frontier Airlines will operate a route to Denver.

Comair, a regional subsidiary of Delta, will fly to Jackson, Miss., or Lexington, Ky.; and Alaska Airlines will operate flights to Seattle and Los Angeles.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AMR Corp., www.amrcorp.com
Trebor Banstetter, (817) 390-7064 tbanstetter@star-telegram.com





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© 2004 Star Telegram and wire service sources. All Rights Reserved.
http://www.dfw.com

 

[FWAAA]

The statement by the federal regulators about AA's lack of connecting service at LAX is really funny, since Alaska's only real connections (besides SEA and PDX) at LAX are its AA codeshares. While LAX is not a true "hub" for AA, AA maintains as much connectivity as any airline at LAX (since LAX is no longer a true hub for any domestic carrier).

AA outlined for the DOT that it would allow convenient connections to all the California AE small cities (as well as SAN) plus Hawaii, plus NRT, plus Alaska's several connections as well.

Oh, well. CA takes it up the behind for its lack of favorable politicos (unlike Alaska). This should help put to rest the notion that GWB's administration is friendly toward the DFW-based AMR. 😉

 

[TWAnr]

This spin, as reported by the Washington Post:

The slot awards, the subject of aggressive lobbying by airlines, airports, politicians and local business organizations, favored low-fare carriers with little or no presence at National. American and Northwest did not receive any slots and other majors, such as US Airways, won only short-haul flights to small cities.

The Transportation Department said it awarded slots to Frontier, Alaska and America West because they offered new domestic service connections and their presence would likely increase competition to new destinations.

Alaska, which already holds the only nonstop slot to the West Coast -- a daily flight to Seattle -- said it hopes the Los Angeles flight will give East Coast travelers better access to its routes along the West Coast, which reach from Mexico to Canada and Alaska.

Washington travelers expecting more nonstop flights to California from National will probably have to wait some time, according to airline analyst Doug Abbey. Expanding capacity at National would require an act of Congress, and even then airport officials are likely to limit nonstop service to the West Coast, he said.

Alaska Airlines got "a real plum," Abbey said. "It means a great deal to Alaska. For United or American, it would be one more cog in a very large wheel."

Click here for the complete Washington Post article

 

[twasilverbullet]

This should help put to rest the notion that GWB's administration is friendly toward the DFW-based AMR. 😉

Not really, in case the truth comes out the GWB's administration will have something to fall on, no big sacrifice here considering the consequences.

 

[Fubijaakr]

Alaska recieved the slot for DCA-LAX which WILL become a code share flight for AA.

You are correct, Sir, with one minor correction I added to your post...

 

[cws818]

The statement by the federal regulators about AA's lack of connecting service at LAX is really funny, since Alaska's only real connections (besides SEA and PDX) at LAX are its AA codeshares. While LAX is not a true "hub" for AA, AA maintains as much connectivity as any airline at LAX (since LAX is no longer a true hub for any domestic carrier).

Indeed, the DOT comment about AA's feed at LAX is rather amusing - either that or somebody at the Department is pretty confused.

Sure, LAX is a pretty big station for AS, but its a bigger station for AA, all things considered. It may just be that the DOT saw AS/LAX-DCA as filling connection opportunities between the District and Reno, Canada, and Mexican beach resorts.

I'm sure the DOT had its reasons for choosing AS over AA on this one; I just don't think they've actually told us the real one(s).