autofixer
Veteran
- Aug 20, 2002
- 1,804
- 241
It seems that the Sandcastle is the same as CCY. The more things change, the more they stay the same.
More cities cut from PIT
- Thread starter smoot4208
- Start date
It seems that the Sandcastle is the same as CCY. The more things change, the more they stay the same.
$765 r/t? This is pretty darn good for SFO in July. I've been paying $900 or so DCA-SEA on many different carriers for the past year or so.
Jimmy Neutron
Veteran
- Dec 2, 2005
- 566
- 99
http://www.timesonline.com/site/news.cfm?n...78569&rfi=6
Just more lies from US Airways management before the merger about how our airline would look after the merger....
Can only imagine what other half-truths will be coming out...
Just more lies from US Airways management before the merger about how our airline would look after the merger....
Can only imagine what other half-truths will be coming out...
ClueByFour
Veteran
- Aug 20, 2002
- 3,566
- 37
That they can't make Philly work is utterly insane. Focus city to the crown jewel and even with the connecting traffic LUV is winning.
Unreal.
Unreal.
US Airways' dramatic retrenchment in Pittsburgh will continue this July as the Tempe, Ariz.-based carrier eliminates service to five cities -- including Baltimore, San Diego and Seattle -- and reduces the frequency of flights to 10 other destinations.
The summer cuts leave only San Francisco and Los Angeles as direct, non-stop West Coast options for Pittsburgh travelers. The decision also brings the total number of flights eliminated by US Airways since late 2001 to 415, a 76 percent drop-off, and leaves Pittsburgh International Airport with only 127 daily flights from its largest carrier.
"We are not happy about it," said Kent George, director of the Allegheny County Airport Authority. "What will their commitment be to us in the future? What will they do?"
Pittsburgh once was the largest hub and employment center in the US Airways system, home to almost 12,000 workers and serving as the connection point to 112 different cities. But a post-9/11 industry bloodletting hit this city harder than any other, paring 10,000 local airline jobs and 64 destinations -- the July cuts will drop the number of cities served to 48.
In 2004, US Airways downgraded Pittsburgh from a "hub" to a "focus city" as it shifted more of its flying to the East Coast and created more connections through Philadelphia and Charlotte, N.C. In late 2005, it merged with America West Airlines, and despite pledges that no "major changes" were planned in Pittsburgh, the cuts continued.
With the new reductions, scheduled to start July 7, even Pittsburgh's "focus city" designation is in question. The key US Airways markets in Charlotte, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Washington, D.C., New York and Las Vegas will all be larger, with more daily flights.
"We are asking US Airways, 'Are we a focus city or are we not going to be a focus city anymore?' " said Mr. George, the airport authority director. "There are other carriers out there. Every time US Airways pulled back, [rivals] have stepped up and filled in," he said, citing the example of low-cost pioneer Southwest Airlines, which now has 12 percent of the local traffic two years after beginning service here.
Southwest and other carriers "are doing well, so we have to take a look at that."
While he acknowledged that "US Airways has to do what US Airways wants to do," the airport authority director also made it clear that he is concerned and wants more answers.
"Does US Airways want to be part of Pittsburgh's future?" he asked.
In addition to Baltimore (a city also served by Southwest), Seattle and San Diego (both currently offered three times a week on a seasonal basis), US Airways also intends to discontinue service to Buffalo and Altoona.
US Airways spokesman Morgan Durrant said Seattle and San Diego will not return on a seasonal basis, as they have in the past, and called the cuts a "tough business decision. But economics is the driving factor."
The 10 cities seeing a reduction in service are Albany (from three to one), Erie (from three to one), Newark (from four to one), Indianapolis (from four to two), New York's LaGuardia Airport (from six to five on weekends), Chicago's O'Hare Airport (from three to one), Philadelphia (from 10 to eight), Providence, R.I., (from four to two), Syracuse (from two to one) and Toronto (from three to two).
On June 6, the frequency of flights to San Francisco and Los Angeles will increase to two per day, but they both drop back to one per day in September.
Local airline analyst Bill Lauer said the reshuffling by US Airways is an example of its need to use equipment and flight crews more efficiently elsewhere in its system. But it is also another reminder of how the loss of Pittsburgh's hub status reduces the need for US Airways to offer much beyond what the local market demands.
One positive for travelers is a US Airways pullback creates opportunities for carriers such as Southwest, JetBlue and even Delta Air Lines, which recently added a Salt Lake City flight and plans to increase the size of its aircraft flying that route this summer. Due to all that new competition, air fares in Pittsburgh are down double digits in just six years, meaning no more drives to Cleveland for cheap flights, as former Mayor Tom Murphy once bragged of doing.
But there is a trade-off to the loss of that US Airways monopoly, as Mr. Lauer explains.
"If all you wanted were lower prices, you've got them," he said. "That's not a bad thing. On the other hand, if you needed greater variety of choices, destinations and frequency, it is a bad thing."
FOR SHAME FOR SHAME
The summer cuts leave only San Francisco and Los Angeles as direct, non-stop West Coast options for Pittsburgh travelers. The decision also brings the total number of flights eliminated by US Airways since late 2001 to 415, a 76 percent drop-off, and leaves Pittsburgh International Airport with only 127 daily flights from its largest carrier.
"We are not happy about it," said Kent George, director of the Allegheny County Airport Authority. "What will their commitment be to us in the future? What will they do?"
Pittsburgh once was the largest hub and employment center in the US Airways system, home to almost 12,000 workers and serving as the connection point to 112 different cities. But a post-9/11 industry bloodletting hit this city harder than any other, paring 10,000 local airline jobs and 64 destinations -- the July cuts will drop the number of cities served to 48.
In 2004, US Airways downgraded Pittsburgh from a "hub" to a "focus city" as it shifted more of its flying to the East Coast and created more connections through Philadelphia and Charlotte, N.C. In late 2005, it merged with America West Airlines, and despite pledges that no "major changes" were planned in Pittsburgh, the cuts continued.
With the new reductions, scheduled to start July 7, even Pittsburgh's "focus city" designation is in question. The key US Airways markets in Charlotte, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Washington, D.C., New York and Las Vegas will all be larger, with more daily flights.
"We are asking US Airways, 'Are we a focus city or are we not going to be a focus city anymore?' " said Mr. George, the airport authority director. "There are other carriers out there. Every time US Airways pulled back, [rivals] have stepped up and filled in," he said, citing the example of low-cost pioneer Southwest Airlines, which now has 12 percent of the local traffic two years after beginning service here.
Southwest and other carriers "are doing well, so we have to take a look at that."
While he acknowledged that "US Airways has to do what US Airways wants to do," the airport authority director also made it clear that he is concerned and wants more answers.
"Does US Airways want to be part of Pittsburgh's future?" he asked.
In addition to Baltimore (a city also served by Southwest), Seattle and San Diego (both currently offered three times a week on a seasonal basis), US Airways also intends to discontinue service to Buffalo and Altoona.
US Airways spokesman Morgan Durrant said Seattle and San Diego will not return on a seasonal basis, as they have in the past, and called the cuts a "tough business decision. But economics is the driving factor."
The 10 cities seeing a reduction in service are Albany (from three to one), Erie (from three to one), Newark (from four to one), Indianapolis (from four to two), New York's LaGuardia Airport (from six to five on weekends), Chicago's O'Hare Airport (from three to one), Philadelphia (from 10 to eight), Providence, R.I., (from four to two), Syracuse (from two to one) and Toronto (from three to two).
On June 6, the frequency of flights to San Francisco and Los Angeles will increase to two per day, but they both drop back to one per day in September.
Local airline analyst Bill Lauer said the reshuffling by US Airways is an example of its need to use equipment and flight crews more efficiently elsewhere in its system. But it is also another reminder of how the loss of Pittsburgh's hub status reduces the need for US Airways to offer much beyond what the local market demands.
One positive for travelers is a US Airways pullback creates opportunities for carriers such as Southwest, JetBlue and even Delta Air Lines, which recently added a Salt Lake City flight and plans to increase the size of its aircraft flying that route this summer. Due to all that new competition, air fares in Pittsburgh are down double digits in just six years, meaning no more drives to Cleveland for cheap flights, as former Mayor Tom Murphy once bragged of doing.
But there is a trade-off to the loss of that US Airways monopoly, as Mr. Lauer explains.
"If all you wanted were lower prices, you've got them," he said. "That's not a bad thing. On the other hand, if you needed greater variety of choices, destinations and frequency, it is a bad thing."
FOR SHAME FOR SHAME
FutureUScapt
Veteran
- Dec 1, 2005
- 600
- 13
To be fair, the Gazette is looking at a Saturday schedule which shows more drastic reductions than the weekday schedule (eff. 7/9), but nonetheless, there will be a significant cutback, especially in express ops., which is disappointing for PIT.
wnbubbleboy
Veteran
Well to all you commuters to BWI from PIT and back I will see you soon. Just look for the fat Non-Rev guy wishing he had a beer and we'll talk shop.
Be Careful What You Wish For.
Veteran
- Dec 23, 2006
- 2,269
- 571
Be careful what you wish for.
hula-flyguy
Veteran
- Nov 9, 2005
- 910
- 47
One positive for travelers is a US Airways pullback creates opportunities for carriers such as Southwest, JetBlue and even Delta Air Lines, which recently added a Salt Lake City flight and plans to increase the size of its aircraft flying that route this summer. Due to all that new competition, air fares in Pittsburgh are down double digits in just six years, meaning no more drives to Cleveland for cheap flights, as former Mayor Tom Murphy once bragged of doing.
Create more opportunities for Southwest, Jetblue, and Delta? They'll all be tripping over eachother to fill the void to AOO I'm sure.
Ya gotta love Picksburgh. They want lower fares, we grant their wish. They want competition, we make it possbile. They want USAir to relinquish their "monopoly" at PIT, again wish granted.
Give the people what they want and they are still not happy.
My heart does go out to the crew members who are now screwed even further in their attempts to commute to PHL. I wish you well.
Create more opportunities for Southwest, Jetblue, and Delta? They'll all be tripping over eachother to fill the void to AOO I'm sure.
Ya gotta love Picksburgh. They want lower fares, we grant their wish. They want competition, we make it possbile. They want USAir to relinquish their "monopoly" at PIT, again wish granted.
Give the people what they want and they are still not happy.
My heart does go out to the crew members who are now screwed even further in their attempts to commute to PHL. I wish you well.
flyguy121
Senior
- Aug 20, 2002
- 360
- 0
I don't always agree with you hula-flyguy, but on this we are in complete agreement. While I do feel for those f/a's affected by the PIT pulldown, I do not feel for the city of PIT collectively, who always complained about high fares, lack of competition and the dominance of the old US Airways.
As another poster says (with the same moniker) - "Be careful what you wish for". To the city of PIT - It looks like your wish has been granted, don't cry about it now.
Travelpro72
Veteran
- Jan 30, 2005
- 4,964
- 455
Why does it have to be one or the other? Why couldn't Usairways stay with the same level of service but with lower fares? They can't. They wanted to gouge the customer which they certainly did. Sure it is harder to go places nonstop but I don't think it's fair to say that Pittsburgh didn't support Usairways. I DO feel it's safe to say that Usairways screwed MANY a million passenger out of money with outrageous fares for years. So instead they pull out. Hmmm who was being fair here? Usairways wanted to be written about in a good light yet did nothing to deserve it.
PIT is a great city; my ancestors were from SW PA and I've been there often.
As BoeingBoy posted recently (I'm paraphrasing):
PIT is a great hub airport in search of a major metro area and PHL is a major metro area in search of a great hub airport.
As I've posted again and again, there are far too many small and medium sized hubs operated by far too many legacy airlines for any of them to be really profitable. Closing some of those hubs won't generate perpetual profits and happiness, but it will help increase profitability. Those who refuse to pay can fly someone else.
As BoeingBoy posted recently (I'm paraphrasing):
PIT is a great hub airport in search of a major metro area and PHL is a major metro area in search of a great hub airport.
As I've posted again and again, there are far too many small and medium sized hubs operated by far too many legacy airlines for any of them to be really profitable. Closing some of those hubs won't generate perpetual profits and happiness, but it will help increase profitability. Those who refuse to pay can fly someone else.
hula-flyguy
Veteran
- Nov 9, 2005
- 910
- 47
PIT supported other parts of the system. Fares were no higher than the market was willing to pay. Business 101...
I believe USAir was in the airline business to generate profits. With employees the highest paid in the industry, how would you propose paying those salaries if not with fares? Remember, it was post deregulation, and there were no subsidies
flyguy121
Senior
- Aug 20, 2002
- 360
- 0
If memory is serving me correctly, the great debate over the de-hubbing of PIT about 4-5 years back was largely due to the fact that it cost US so much more per pax to fly through PIT. I believe it was something outrageous like $12 per pax due to high airport costs or something. It was a fraction of that in other hubs such as PHL and CLT (something like $4 and $3 respectively), hence the high fares for PIT.
Am I crazy or does anyone else remember this?
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