Lcc Tightening The Noose On U

[funguy2]

I'm somewhat surprised that it hasn't been mentioned here yet, since it will impact U.

ATA filed for Chapter 11 today and Airtran has agreed to purchase some assets including slots in DCA and LGA.

Article

Jim

[post="195217"][/post]​

This should actually be a net positive for US Airways. While it would be preferred that ATA just "vanish", the AirTran deal will reduce seats flown in these markets... Air Tran will be limited in the number of flights by the slots, but AirTran appears to not be taking any ATA airplanes... ATA's smallest aircraft currently seat 175 pax. AirTran's largest aircraft currently seats 137 aircraft... That means over time, as AirTran takes over the flights, a seat reduction of at least 38 seats/flight will occur. Not the best news for US Airways, but not bad either.

Furthermore, I presume that AirTran will operate all the ATA DCA slots on flights to MDW and probably most ATA LGA slots on flights to MDW. In other words, they will likely not switch the slots to compete head-to-head with US Airways. Lastly, US Airways code-share with UAL should continue to give U some strength in pax preferences in all three locales.

 

[Fubijaakr]

Like a tour of the Everglades, or the occasional smoke/fire.

[post="195491"][/post]​

Man. I'm not averse to an occasional cheap shot, but that one takes the cake.

 

[Dizel8]

Fubi, I cringe to say it, but I am proud of you!

 

[diogenes]

With ultra-low labor costs, what could account for ATA's woes?

I'm SURE it's the employees' fault, somehow. :angry:

 

[BoeingBoy]

The latest on the ATA/AirTran/AWA/whoever sage....

"AirTran also may face competition for the slots from US Airways, which holds the most DCA slots, operating 178 daily departures from the airport. "US Airways is always looking for opportunities to add to its position at Washington National," an airline spokesman said, adding that US Air continues to monitor the situation."

Aviation Daily Story

Jim