Dallas Love Field's Traffic Greatly Increases

[WorldTraveler]

More numbers post W/A.  Virgins numbers did increase pretty well after coming from DFW. 28K to 51K. Impressive numbers monthly (45.1%) and yearly (46.2%) so far.  Still haven't received March numbers yet, and in April we are adding 10 more flights out of DAL, so April will be a nice uptick in passengers as well.  Hope these numbers stay solid thru-out the rest of 15 and beyond...
 
 
Dallas Love Field traffic climbs 45 percent in February ...
 
Dallas Love Field sees January traffic increase by nearly 50 ...

and again, VX has added more flights to more cities than it operated at DFW. its traffic should be increasing. Every carrier is adding capacity - that was fully expected with the restriction of the WA.

but every traffic report and DOT air fare report that comes in that shows how well WN is doing will validate the danger in allowing them to dominate the airport and make a mockery out of their arguments that they needed to be protected at DAL from competitors.

Since the whole AA/US asset divestiture process including WN's gain of slots at DCA and LGA cannot be rolled back, the only legal remedy is to ensure that every other carrier that wants to serve DAL is given as much access as they need to provide an adequate competitive balance to WN.

DAL and WN are not legally protected from antitrust violations to operate more than 16 gates

 

[eolesen]

Here's how busy the traffic is getting at DAL Love Field...

Traffic will be the Achilles Heel of DAL.

The grade separation will help that intersection, but to be effective, it needs to be done at Lemmon as well. Nobody wants an expressway running thru the Park Cities, but there's no reason that a set of cut & cover express lanes couldn't also be added from 183.


Looking at the January numbers vs an estimate of seats offered, VX had a ~57% LF, WN had 70%, and DL had 87%

For February, VX had a ~62% LF, WN had 72%, and DL had 77%; there were ice storms the last week of February, so if DL was canceling at DAL and rerouting via DFW (quite likely?), that might explain why they dropped while VX and WN were up.

Still, the excuse of higher yields can't offset 57-62% LF's or a 10% deficit to your direct competition.

 

[jimntx]

Considering how road projects seem to go in Dallas, it will be at least 2020 before a grade separation would be ready for use.  And, that's if they get started by noon today.  A stretch of Sylvan which has become heavily traveled due to the new bridge over the river was badly potholed for years.  About the time the new bridge opened, they came along and cut Sylvan down almost to bedrock with the grooved cut intended to facilitate re-paving.  Over a year now, no paving.
 
Of course, with an election coming up next year there are suddenly road projects all over Dallas.  The Sylvan repaving (though it transports traffic from the Medical Center area to upper income neighborhoods like Kessler Park) is in a lower income neighborhood; so, it's probably on hold until after the election.
 
Cynical?  Moi?  How could you say such a thing?

 

[swamt]

Along with traffic, I also believe that the parking situation at Love Field will also be a hinder as well.  Although they are indeed building 4000 plus more parking spots, it will take time to build.  I read somewhere that they are opening 1000 new parking spots in April, another 2K or 3K in Aug.  I was expecting some news out of Love Field concerning parking around spring break but haven't heard of anything...

 

[Dog Wonder]

http://www.dallasnews.com/business/airline-industry/20150406-southwest-airlines-adds-nine-cities-to-love-field-schedule-beginning-wednesday.ece

 

[swamt]

Thx for the article DW.  Have not seen that one yet. Good comparo on how the flights will grow at DAL by SWA from Nov to Apr.  Another 10 starting this Wed and continuing again in Aug of 2015.  Great growth for SWA as well as DAL for 2015...
 
A little off topic but DAL Love Field related here's a little history found at Love Field...
 
The death of Love Field was greatly exaggerated

 

[WorldTraveler]

the death of Love Field was not only greatly exaggerated but the expected domination of DAL by WN is happening just as some of us predicted.

It's time for the courts to rule that the DOJ grossly erred in giving WN any protection and to roll back WN's gate holdings to the 16 gates that the 5 party agreement allowed with the remainder of the gates to be given to anyone that can viably stand up to WN.

What WN has been allowed to do will never stand up in antitrust court.

 

[swamt]

Ok, today starts all the newly added flights out of DAL Love Field. Very glad to see the the Florida Beaches going to daily service.  This will also add to the April increase in passengers YOY greatly. Hoping we can keep this type of growth going forward throughout the rest of our system. Just can't seem to get aircraft quick enough.  I believe there are 10-20 more used aircraft coming into the system by this time next year...
 
Southwest's daily flights to Dallas take off on Wednesday
 
Ran across this one this morning.  Not sure if it really means anything, but thought 1/3 of the votes going to SWA's frequent-flier program was a pretty big deal.  Usually one of the big 3 legacies end up at the top with all the international connections they have...
 
Southwest frequent-flier program voted best

 

[WorldTraveler]

It's significant how the major players in Texas - including those that are growing their Texas operations - ranked.

"Southwest was followed by programs from Delta Air Lines, 17 percent, and American Airlines, 14 percent. Chicago-based United Airlines took 11 percent of votes, as did Alaska Airlines."

 

[swamt]

What a moron. It has absolutely nothing to do with major players in Texas.  It has to do with WHO was voted the best frequent-flier program-PERIOD.  Good god this is really getting old.  What a dumb-a$$...

 

[WorldTraveler]

and once again, you can't debate in a conversation without name calling.

Yes, it absolutely matters to see how much higher WN's FF program - one of the strongest elements in winning over business travel - is relative to AA's.

and it is also highly insightful that despite the comments that so many people make about DL's FF program that it is rated higher than AA or UA's.

The strength of DL and WN's FF programs is precisely why both carriers can grow their presence in the Texas market without trashing yields in the process.

 

[robbedagain]

did you forget   no matter what  everything just simply revolves around the one and only door  that door that leads to the FORMER DL MGMT clown that DL and only DL is the best regardless of what "experts say"       Congrats to all the folks at WN    I like the rapid rewards program  and have been a member for several yrs  as well at FL when they were around

 

[WorldTraveler]

no one said otherwise, robbed.

What is notable is that AA/US' FF programs fared as poorly as they did in the survey which bodes very well for WN's ability to pick up key AA business traffic.

and it is also noteworthy that the AApologists here who consistently mock the Skymiles program are the ones who clearly aren't anywhere close to in touch with what the survey says.

that disconnect is NO surprise.

 

[robbedagain]

on the other hand you did not grasp the fact rapid rewards out did  and out shined dl beloved sky miles

 

[WorldTraveler]

and DL out did and "out shined" AA and UA's programs.

Given that DL is the 4th largest carrier in Texas, having the 2nd best perceived FF program among the big 4 is indeed an advantage and allows DL to compete much more effectively not only with AA and UA but also with WN.