Here we grow again! -merged topics

[boxer]

Do any of you SWAers have an opinion as to whether the airline will return to SFO? They've been gone for a few years citing wx problems etc.

Jet Blue is starting service in May. If Virgin America can get its act together they would be an additional LCC along with Frontier and Spirit.

 

[Flying Titan]

It would shock the heck out of me. High costs, congestion, delays, etc. are all still issues at SFO.

 

[swflyer]

Saying "never" can get a person surprised at SWA (DEN, anyone??)

SFO is a pretty safe bet to remain closed. Cargo was good, but SWA's investment is at OAK, where the airport is finally expanding gates, underbuilt (IMHO) by USAir in the early 80's.

Personally, I don't see it, but Schedule Planning doesn't have me on their speed dial.

 

[mga707]

Cargo was good, but SWA's investment is at OAK, where the airport is finally expanding gates, underbuilt (IMHO) by USAir in the early 80's.

You mean PSA.
No US at OAK prior to their 1988 takeover of the former.

 

[swflyer]

You mean PSA.
No US at OAK prior to their 1988 takeover of the former.

:blink: Well, that's what I get for posting w/o knowing the year. :blink:

You're MUCH better at dates, and I am MORE than willing to be wrong, but I remember hearing it was USAir that built Term 2 at OAK.... :unsure:

...well, now I know that Terminal 2 was dedicated in 1985, with seven gates for PSA and AirCal (Wikipedia and another site that I can't get linked here)

P.S. The gates, regardless of who build them, were too small for any airline operating 737's and larger, IMHO. <_<

 

[WNrforlife]

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/070209/daf007a.html?.v=1

 

[boxer]

Southwest will resume SFO service in the fall
Destinations of discount airline's planned 14 daily departures are not yet determined, CEO says

David Armstrong, Chronicle Staff Writer

Friday, February 9, 2007
Two Southwest Airlines jets are seen in front of a taxiin... Southwest jets, like this one refueling at Warwick, R.I.,...

Southwest Airlines, the nation's largest discount carrier, plans to resume service at San Francisco International Airport this fall, more than six years after pulling out of SFO because of what the airline said were unacceptable flight delays, high costs and curbs on growth.

Finally, those issues have been resolved, Southwest Chief Executive Officer Gary Kelly said Thursday, prompting the airline to return to SFO with a still-unannounced roster of destinations and a promise of cheap, as yet unspecified introductory fares.

When Southwest returns this fall, it will begin with at least 14 daily departures and a mix of short, medium and long flights, he said.

Southwest will continue to serve Mineta San Jose International Airport, where it operates 76 daily departures, and Oakland International Airport, where it has built a strong following and has 142 daily departures. Indeed, Southwest will continue to expand in those airports, "especially Oakland,'' Kelly said, "where we will be getting four more gates this year.''

Of the return to SFO, Kelly said, "I'm very excited. We are the largest intra-California carrier. San Francisco is by far the largest airport we don't serve. It is a very attractive destination for our customers.''

SFO's director, John Martin, praised the return of Southwest, easily the nation's most profitable airline, with 122 consecutive profitable quarters. The Dallas carrier pulled out of SFO in March 2001, when it operated 14 daily departures and has since, in Kelly's accounting, doubled in size nationally.

"We're very pleased to have Southwest back at SFO,'' Martin said. "It's good for the customer, especially in San Francisco and San Mateo counties. It will create a more competitive fare environment.''

Last month, low-cost carrier JetBlue Airways said it will start service from SFO May 3 with flights to New York's John F. Kennedy airport.

"Southwest, JetBlue and Virgin America (still awaiting government approval to fly) are all seeing that there are opportunities at SFO. Fares to some destinations have been so high, there is untapped potential,'' Martin said.

SFO has been pursuing low-cost carriers since the dot-com meltdown and terrorist attacks of 2001 drove away nearly a third of its business, but has had spotty success. AirTran Airways, Frontier Airlines and Midwest Airlines fly from San Francisco, but ATA went bankrupt and Independence Air folded its wings.

Martin said he has been wooing Southwest for the last year and a half. SFO's landing fees and other airport charges have been slashed 30 percent over the past five years, Martin said, and that helped persuade Southwest to return.

"John Martin has done a very fine job in getting the costs down,'' said Kelly, adding SFO now has more gates available than in its busiest years, when Southwest felt hemmed-in. Kelly also noted that SFO has installed improved technology, helping aircraft to safely operate in bad weather.

"I fully expect that the 'Southwest effect' will work very well (to lower fares of other airlines), once we return to SFO,'' Kelly said.

Southwest will operate out of Terminal 1, while JetBlue and Virgin America (should it get permission to begin flying) will use gates in the International Terminal.

With business gradually recovering, Martin said, SFO is dusting off plans to renovate Terminal 2 (the old international terminal), which has been closed since December 2001, when the new International Terminal opened.

 

[formeraa]

Southwest has a lot of 737s coming on-line this year and not enough places to fly them. Therefore, WN is re-entering cities that didn't make sense with a more constrained fleet. With a much, much larger fleet, these cities once again make economic sense.

Now, the key will be to isolate the planes flying in and out of SFO so that other flights will not be delayed!

 

[N421LV]

Looks like you called it, Boxer! I wonder what has changed at SFO to warrant a return....

 

[SharoninSAT]

Here we grow again!!!

 

[BuffaloJoe]

Looks like you called it, Boxer! I wonder what has changed at SFO to warrant a return....

Pelosi wanted a plane that can make Washington to San Francisco NONSTOP! GW said either fly that puddle jumper or we'll get you WN to go there. lol

 

[BuffaloJoe]

Here we grow again!!!

Wasn't that a Whitesnake song? lol

 

[swflyer]

Wasn't that a Whitesnake song? lol

GREAT!!! Now I have a mental picture of Herb writhing on the hood of a car.

 

[swflyer]

Saying "never" can get a person surprised at SWA (DEN, anyone??)

Thank goodness I hedged that bet

Now that somewhere has officially frozen over :blink: anyone care to speculate on the "short, medium, and long haul routes"??

I'll guess SAN, PHX, and MDW.

 

[swflyer]

Here's a posting, from the SWA Blogsite, about the new SFO announcement.

(I swear they don't have me on speed dial!!! )

blogsouthwest.com