----------------
On 8/26/2002 1:24:27 PM
I don't see PEX/JB as completely apples and oranges. Are there differences? Yes. Significant differences. Yes, very much so. However, if I described an over-hyped NYC based airline that after 2 years had 1 fleet type, a visionary leader, has started to over-fly its hub, offers $19 fares, and has visions of grandeur, you couldn't tell me whether I was talking about JBU or PEX.
----------------
PE had two fleet types within its first two years of operation (three if you count the 737-100's and 737-200's separately). Some of them were already pretty old (e.g. the original LH 737-100's that still said "Ausgang" instead of "Exit"). Soon after came the 747.
The only time I remember PE overflying its own hub was shortly after its start-up, during the PATCO strike, when traffic was limited in the NYC area. What's so critical about sticking to one hub, anyway, especially if a good opportunity arises outside of that hub? WN has done just fine going point-to-point and having a series of focus cities, and AA is going through the exercise of de-peaking. I suspect we'll see more hub overflying in the near future by the majors.
In terms of hype, B6 can put its money where its mouth is, so to speak. There is a lot of hype, but they deliver on it. PE was pretty shaky in its reliablity. Sometimes my experience was good on PE, and sometimes it was horrendous.
As for the rock-bottom fares, I think the bulk of the $19 fares were offered in the last days of PE's existence as they were scrambling for cash.
Burr definitely had visions of grandeur: buying Frontier, Britt, and PBA, and trying to make them work as one network, flying 747s across the pond, undertaking the building of terminal C in EWR. Compared those hyjinx, B6 opening LGB as a focus city seems almost innocuous.
Your point that HP had troubles during the Gulf War period after launching 747s PHX-HNL actually supports the theory that B6 is doing things right (at this point, anyway). I think we're in a worse downturn than the '91 Gulf War period, and B6 seems to be humming along quite nicely with their brand new fleet of one aircraft type. I don't think any airline is recession proof, but B6 -- pre-union and pre-heavy maintenance, of course -- is doing more than okay for itself.