In Phl, Southwest

[USA320Pilot]

In Philadelphia, Southwest Is Trying the Front Door

NEW YORK (Times) - Throughout Southwest Airlines' three decades in the air, its trademark has been sneaking up on big-city markets, starting service at lesser-used airports and luring passengers with tantalizingly low fares.

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Respectfully,

USA320Pilot

 

[D M G]

Unless a new runway and taxiways are built for exclusive use by swa then they're going to run into some big problems in phl.

 

[Ramp Rat]

Unless a new runway and taxiways are built for exclusive use by swa then they're going to run into some big problems in phl.

What makes you think that ? The 737-700 will be able to depart on 17-35
when 9-27 is all bogged down.

 

[Traveler]

What makes you think that ? The 737-700 will be able to depart on 17-35
when 9-27 is all bogged down.

Exactly. If the job can get done quicker, legally and more efficiently they'll do it. "Just 'cause it's always been done that way" is no barrier to looking at different solutions. It's their nature.

I've seen them coordinate with Ground Control to take an intersection departure with less runway available, just to cut the line of waiting departures. I've seen them complain about wake turbulence to take off ahead of a comparable sized Airbus. Their slick.

If the parking lot is full at Walmart, they'll use the curb for loading and unloading. If the can get away with legally parking in the handicap zone, they'll entice the mall police or simply get a permit stating operational necessity. Their slick... Or did I already say that.

 

[etops1]

What makes you think that ? The 737-700 will be able to depart on 17-35
when 9-27 is all bogged down.

Exactly. If the job can get done quicker, legally and more efficiently they'll do it. "Just 'cause it's always been done that way" is no barrier to looking at different solutions. It's their nature.

I've seen them coordinate with Ground Control to take an intersection departure with less runway available, just to cut the line of waiting departures. I've seen them complain about wake turbulance to take off ahead of a comparable sized Airbus. Their slick.

If the parking lot is full at Walmart, they'll use the curb for loading and unloading. If the can get away with legally parking in the handicap zone, they'll entice the mall police or simply get a permit stating operational necessity. Their slick... Or did I already say that.

well, us won't let that happen in phl. i heard part of the plan in phl is to use all runways in phl for takeoff and landing. 27L/9R 27R/9L FOR mainly for heavy jets and 17/35 for airbus and 737's and rj's and the new runway 26/8 for smaller props or rj's. i don't know if 17/35 could handle a 319-321 its only 5,459ft long but i think it could handle the 737's. so wn will not get speacial treatment in phl. not if us can help it.

 

[crushed]

I believe the Usairways and Usairways Express towers control the ground movement to and from the gates. I'm sure we will be very accomodating.

 

[Traveler]

well, us won't let that happen in phl. i heard part of the plan in phl is to use all runways in phl for takeoff and landing. 27L/9R 27R/9L FOR mainly for heavy jets and 17/35 for airbus and 737's and rj's and the new runway 26/8 for smaller props or rj's. i don't know if 17/35 could handle a 319-321 its only 5,459ft long but i think it could handle the 737's. so wn will not get speacial treatment in phl. not if us can help it.

You could be right, of course. However, USAir is in a Billiards tournament, punching the cues straight on with no chalk. Southwest on the other hand, is chalking, banking and putting just the right English on the ball to keep it in the optimum position of play.

Do you think the ops guys at SWA don’t already know the first names of the tower guys? Are those, who direct the flow of air and ground traffic, sports fans? Who’s got the “officialâ€￾ designation to nearly all the professional home teams. Does SWA have the kind of Corporate Culture which promotes special events with parties, barbeques and get-togethers. Is there an open invitation to all their Airport Authority friends as well as those in the local Ground and Air Traffic Control sectors.

More than likely, what you’ll see... Is a line up, as usual, of UAIR on the north side of 27L. Southwest will circuitously, take the river road to the south side of the runway. Now... He who brings the most donuts and coffee – wins. English on the ball.

It's what they do. And it's not necessarily Phony or manipulative because it’s their natural culture.

 

[OldGuyinPA]

USAir...ways lost the game way back in the early 90's when they walked away from the West Coast. Quickly SWA jumped on that opportunity and grew huge overnight. There was an article last week in USA Today telling about how much travel $$$ Californian's spent per year. I believe it was $60 billion, twice as much as the next state. PSA dominated, USAir ran. I think between SFO,LAX,SAN....USAir might have had about 40 flights a day. They used to have over 400 per day.............


Game, Set, and Match..................

 

[USHenry]

USAir...ways lost the game way back in the early 90's when they walked away from the West Coast. Quickly SWA jumped on that opportunity and grew huge overnight. There was an article last week in USA Today telling about how much travel $$$ Californian's spent per year. I believe it was $60 billion, twice as much as the next state. PSA dominated, USAir ran. I think between SFO,LAX,SAN....USAir might have had about 40 flights a day. They used to have over 400 per day.............


Game, Set, and Match..................

You know, Old Guy, there are some things in life that just make you hold your head in your hands and go "what in the world???"

 

[D M G]

What makes you think that ? The 737-700 will be able to depart on 17-35
when 9-27 is all bogged down.

If it was that easy why didn't U use that runway all these years when 9/27 was backed up? Just getting off the gate can be an adventure sometimes, and as someone else mentioned above it's Usairway's tower that controls pushbacks, and I think this includes E terminal. If U controls their pushbacks I don't think they'll be in any hurry to get them off the gate because SWA's success here could cost them their job if U goes out of business.

I just don't see SWA getting in and out as quick as they're used to at other airports.

 

[Traveler]

What makes you think that ? The 737-700 will be able to depart on 17-35
when 9-27 is all bogged down.

If it was that easy why didn't U use that runway all these years when 9/27 was backed up? Just getting off the gate can be an adventure sometimes, and as someone else mentioned above it's Usairway's tower that controls pushbacks, and I think this includes E terminal. If U controls their pushbacks I don't think they'll be in any hurry to get them off the gate because SWA's success here could cost them their job if U goes out of business.

I just don't see SWA getting in and out as quick as they're used to at other airports.

You would make an excellent Management selectee with SWA.

You appropriately anticipate potential disadvantages and formulate strategies to confront them. You never leave your organization vulnerable to the Competition. You’re innovative and adaptive.

You’ve wined and dined the Airport authority. The city is eager to see you thrive. All want you to get off to a good start.

You’ve staked out gates at the fringe of USAirways Ramp control. There’s a convenient “back doorâ€￾ taxi flow via taxiway routes from the south side of active runways for either east or west departures (or north south departures). From your remote location you coordinate with PHL to allow coded taxi clearances directly from ground control. Your special circumstances is logically reasoned and accepted by the Port Authority.

Again SWA Senior Management rewards innovative thinking and aggressive initiative. You’re given a raise and a bonus and are promoted.

 

[Frontier69]

I believe that the Express Tower will grant ramp access and push control for WN on E Terminal. This should prove to be interesting, to say the least. Now the question is will WN be able to deice on their gates or be subject to U's deicing at the end of the field? If anyone has any answer to this, please respond. I think WN may have some operational regrets of going into U's backyard-PHL.

 

[TomBascom]

... they're going to run into some big problems in phl.

This kind of thinking will have exactly one outcome.

If US Airways wants to survive they better start assuming the SWA is going to succeed beyond their wildest dreams at PHL and start planning how to leverage that success in a positive way.

Fighting them is foolhardy. Instead figure out how to take advantage of the their arrival. SWA stimulates traffic -- it is possible for all boats to rise with the tide.

But don't think for a moment that the same old, same old will result in a positive outcome for US Airways.

My suggestion -- rationalize fares at a slight premium over SWA but largely following their pricing model. Repair the devaluation of the business product and emphasize things that are positive differentiators -- laptop power, the clubs, F cabins. Don't fly any RJs into SWA cities. Especially don't fly Dash 8s into SWA cities. Increase point to point flying between the NE and FL. Grow in the West. Make it really, really easy for SWA customers to connect to flights to Europe & the Caribbean and then market to them.

 

[phillyguy]

I agree with Tom - do not underestimate SWA and joke about the problems they may face in PHL. They may indeed face the 'traffic and runway problems' but I'm sure they thought about this in advance.

Instead focus on what people do not like about SWA and leverage what U can do that SWA can not.

In a commodity market (which is what airlines are quickly becoming), exploit what you can do differently.

 

[PHL]

What makes you think that ? The 737-700 will be able to depart on 17-35
when 9-27 is all bogged down.

17-35 intersects 27R/9L. While using it may help the departures getting off of 27L/9R, I don't see how it will aid in the traffic flow of arrivals. It it's such a great idea, why have I never seen, or been on, a 737 using that runway?

8-26 was a colossal waste of money. They should turn it into a skateboard park.