More Competition

[700UW]

Southwest Airlines Requests Gates at Dulles International; Southwest Attracted to One of the Fastest-Growing Regions in the Country
Tuesday April 4, 11:00 am ET

DALLAS, April 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV - News) today announced it has requested two gates at Washington Dulles International Airport for service the carrier intends to start in the fall of 2006.

Article

And Now Airtran:

AirTran Airways Resumes Nonstop Service To/From Myrtle Beach
Tuesday April 4, 11:00 am ET
Flights Between Myrtle Beach and Atlanta to Begin April 4; AirTran Airways to Extend Nonstop Service Until Nov. 6

ORLANDO, Fla., April 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- AirTran Airways, a subsidiary of AirTran Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: AAI - News), today resumed daily nonstop service to/from Myrtle Beach International Airport to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and announced the service would be extended to the fall. Beginning today, the airline will offer two flights per day between Atlanta and Myrtle Beach. Two additional flights will be added on May 9, 2006.

Article

 

[BoeingBoy]

DH proved there's a market for low fare service to IAD - they just tried to provide it with high cost RJ's.

PWM, BNA, PBI, & CHS all generated over 500 passengers a day to Washington in 3Q05.

RSW & PIT generated over 400/day.

That's just markets where DH had the largest market share. Broadening out to all markets (in decreasing order of passenger numbers).....

NYC, Chicago, ATL, BOS, LA, DEN, DTW, Dallas, SFO, & FLL all generated over 1500/day.

Jim

 

[whlinder]

Wow, I didn't think I would see WN @ IAD for a long time. Guess they are pre-empting any future B6 expansion here.

 

[john john]

Bring back the 737200(again X 3) let get a task force going

 

[whlinder]

DH proved there's a market for low fare service to IAD - they just tried to provide it with high cost RJ's.

Not only that, but they also proved that passengers can be stolen from WN, as WN saw lots of folks switch to the low fares at IAD and case making the trek to BWI from No. VA.

With IAD's future growth (both the airport adding runways and the economic growth in the area) WN sees an opportunity to keep their own pax and gain some new ones.

 

[700UW]

I wonder if WN's entering the IAD market will pull from their "hub" at BWI?

 

[whlinder]

I would expect it to, I can't imagine anyone in No. VA driving to BWI for a WN flight they can get at IAD. I guess WN figures they can attract enough new customers that it will offset any reduced passengers at BWI. I doubt BWI will see much growth in the near future from WN.

Perhaps they feel their entrance into IAD will allow them to reach a critical mass of flights (BWI hub, DCA TZ codeshare, IAD station) to steal more pax loyalty throughout the metro area.

 

[US AIRWAYS FAN]

This is not a shocker to me. We have all seen WN in the most recent years become more aggressive. I bet ATL will be on the map soon too.

 

[robbedagain]

I wonder how long it will be before they or JB enter the CLT market. I thought that would have happened by now.

 

[US AIRWAYS FAN]

What gates are open in CLT for them to start there??

 

[FWAAA]

I wonder if WN's entering the IAD market will pull from their "hub" at BWI?

I don't think so, but I've been wrong before.

WN is taking delivery of at least 61 new 737s this year and next (33 in 2006 and 28 in 2007). Those airplanes have the potential to fly (and will likely fly) a total of about 400 new WN flights each day. WN is expanding, not just shifting flights away from profitable stations like BWI.

 

[ClueByFour]

What gates are open in CLT for them to start there??

There are common use gates at CLT. And Senior Orr will find them. He's shrewd enough to know what will happen if he fails to do it.

 

[mga707]

This is not a shocker to me. We have all seen WN in the most recent years become more aggressive. I bet ATL will be on the map soon too.

I don't think so, mainly because of AirTran. WN would rather go where there isn't already a strong LCC.
MSP, though, maybe...
...or CLT.

 

[wnbubbleboy]

I doubt BWI will see much growth in the near future from WN.

When we get done with the construction here on "B" side of the terminal we are expected to see around 220 flights a day (currently we have around 160 or so). Who knows where those 60 flights will go right now. That's a little more growth though.

We will be considered IAD's REALLY big sister station to the north.

 

[FM2436]

Michael Boyd's perspective

http://www.airportsusa.com/snapshottemplate.htm