DL expansion in BOS

[Kev3188]

Some new, some adds, some seasonal extensions...

Cities involved: JAX, RIC, PLS, NAS, CUN, LAX

http://news.delta.com/index.php?s=43&item=2174

 

[WorldTraveler]

good to see that BOS is getting DL's attention again.... it was a given eventually as DL's growth phase in NYC winds down and as NYC now fuels substantial profits for DL.

these markets are joined by double daily LAX service and there will be more key BOS markets added.

 

[737823]

Will DL take back the the club on the terminal side gates once UA consolidates to B? Would be nice to access before Shuttle flights and other flights leaving from the close in gates.

Josh

 

[FWAAA]

Quite a retaliatory move by Delta in response to jetBlue announcing  BOS-DTW:
 
http://investor.jetblue.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=131045&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1864345&highlight=
 
We keep hearing (over and over and over again) how low the costs are at Delta, but I believe they're even lower at B6.    In the second quarter, DL had more than 69% of that market at an average fare of $337.   No wonder it attracted jetBlue's attention.   

 

[WorldTraveler]

well, duh, of course DL gets high fares in DTW-BOS and isn't interested in seeing a low fare competitor show up.

You do realize that DL's revenue premium to the US domestic industry is 12%, don't you?

You do realize that DL has been able to successfully defend its hubs and focus cities from low fare competitors far better than any other legacy/network carrier?

You do realize that ATL is one of the very few cities that B6 started and has withdrawn from?

You also realize that BOS is a long-term backbone of DL's route system, just like MEM?

You do realize that B6's revenue in short-haul markets from JFK is falling because DL is pulling traffic away from JFK to LGA? The reason why Mint and other long-haul initiatives that B6 is doing from NYC are necessary is because DL has the strategic advantage of a hub at LGA, the preferred short-haul airport for NYC, which is putting pressure on both UA at EWR and B6 at JFK. You can check out the stats since you seem to have them handy there, FWA.

I say good for DL giving B6 the b789l slap for thinking they could walk into a core DL market and add flights.

Yes, B6 has lower costs but they also don't have anywhere near the revenue that DL does. DL has been outperforming B6 for a number of quarters.

We're not talking about AA or US that roll over and play dead when low fare carriers come to down. We're talking about DL, the airline that has given low fare carriers no ground and has managed to push several including B6 out of its hubs.

I say that BOS needs more network carrier choices and DL should be the one to bring them to the city just like DL has decided that the west coast and SEA specifically needs more choices than the AS monopoly.

Now that the DOJ has decided that low fare carriers are part of the chosen race, it is all the more necessary to prove that the true competitive spirit still lives and can't be trumped by anything.

Josh,
not sure how long it will take to reopen another Skyclub at BOS but you can count on seeing more and more DL service.

What are the favorite cities on your city shopping list for DL?

 

[737823]

MIA would be a nice addition. What is the likelihood DL adds 1x 738 on DL metal to SEA to feed international flying? Overall I think they have the market well covered, but I know many in the area want to see the FLL/PBI/RSW/TPA/SRQ flying return. Any indication if the LAX service will be year round or seasonal? Hopefully DL will be able to regain control of the entire Terminal A.

Josh

 

[Kev3188]

 

Any indication if the LAX service will be year round or seasonal?

Good question...

I didn't see any indication that it *wasn't* going to be year 'round going forward in the press release I linked to?

BOSSEA seems as reasonable as any. Might depend on how the fight with AS plays out...

 

[WorldTraveler]

BOSSEA doesn't make much strategic sense. the reason for adding SEA domestic flights - of which yet another set are coming - is to feed the transpac flights. BOS connects very well to DTW's int'l bank which includes all of the flights SEA will have to Asia except HKG and HND.
BOS-LAX is a major strategic market that DL needs to be in since DL's network from BOS has almost always been north-south focused and the hubs except for a few attempts at BOS-LAX and BOS-ORD service going back 20 years or more (it isn't out of the question DL could do that again).

DL can pump large RJs thru a gate in SEA faster than they can turn mainline aircraft... and the focus is on siphoning off the most important passengers in the local SEA market and for the int'l connections and that can be done most effectively with high frequency, smaller aircraft than with larger mainline aircraft on flights that will have high levels of seasonality.

 

[Kev3188]

 

BOSSEA doesn't make much strategic sense. the reason for adding SEA domestic flights - of which yet another set are coming - is to feed the transpac flights. BOS connects very well to DTW's int'l bank which includes all of the flights SEA will have to Asia except HKG and HND.

...or MSP, and even JFK for NRT traffic...

I mentioned the battle with AS. If it is (or will be) a factor, somehow I don't think "strategic," or even "reasonable" will come into play...

We'll see...

 

DL can pump large RJs thru a gate in SEA faster than they can turn mainline aircraft...

If that's a manpower issue you're thinking of, I have to disagree with that as a blanket statement. Depends on what type of mainline plane we're talking about.

 

[WorldTraveler]

If that's a manpower issue you're thinking of, I have to disagree with that as a blanket statement. Depends on what type of mainline plane we're talking about.

DL and other airlines as well have staffing formulae based on normal turn times. They could easily throw more personnel into any city to accelerate turn times if reduced turn times allow them to maximize asset use.