More SWA gates in PHL

[DAL_Scope]

Southwest Airlines Co. plans to increase the number of gates it leases at Philadelphia International Airport next year, allowing the low-cost carrier to significantly boost its daily flight schedule.

http://us.rd.yahoo.com/finance/news/rss/st...lphia.html?.v=4

 

[corl737]

From the Associated Press:
(Read the entire article here.)

Southwest to Lease More Gates in Philly

PHILADELPHIA - Southwest Airlines Co. plans to increase the number of gates it leases at Philadelphia International Airport next year, allowing the low-cost carrier to significantly boost its daily flight schedule.

By next spring, Southwest expects to lease a dozen gates at the airport, meaning it could double the schedule of 53 flights a day it has now, according to airline and airport officials.


Even with more than 100 flights a day, Dallas-based Southwest would remain behind US Airways in Philadelphia departures. Philadelphia is US Airways Group Inc.'s second-largest domestic hub and its primary international hub, with 475 daily flights to 110 destinations.

Southwest operates from six gates at the Philadelphia airport now. By early January, the airline plans to take over leases on two gates used by UAL Corp.'s United Airlines, said Steve Sisneros, Southwest's manager of properties. By spring, Southwest will get four gates now used by Delta Air Lines Inc.

[....]

 

[NewHampshire Black Bears]

Corl737,

If the increase is mainly because of DEN, then I think It's a good move.
But I've got to tell ya'.
As a Pilot , you know PHL SUCKS, in every way,shape and form, as an NE airport.

WN's move into MHT/PVD/BWI/CLE, was HERB's "finest hour", and though located primarily in the NE, suffer hardly any of the PHL headache's.

"Disclaimer" "I mean NO disrespect to the folks in PHL, or the city itself, or the FABULOUS food"

NH/BB's

 

[coolflyingfool]

I would expect that SWA will increase flights slowly in PHL. SWA was forced to grab all the gates they could to help prevent the entrance of B6 on to the scene. If B6 was able to get their hands on 4 to 6 gates, that could spell trouble for SWA in PHL. I am truly interested to see what city and routes will become the battleground between these 2 carriers. The consumers will love that battle. just my thoughts...............

 

[corl737]

I would expect that SWA will increase flights slowly in PHL. SWA was forced to grab all the gates they could to help prevent the entrance of B6 on to the scene. If B6 was able to get their hands on 4 to 6 gates, that could spell trouble for SWA in PHL. I am truly interested to see what city and routes will become the battleground between these 2 carriers. The consumers will love that battle. just my thoughts...............

I didn't see any updates on the PHL competition plan since 2004. However, if the past is an indicator, to retain preferential use status an air carrier must operate at least 4 turns per day from each gate. Additionally, another carrier may utilize that gate if it is scheduled to be idle for more than 2 consecutive hours.

Doing the math says SWA will need to boost flights at the rate of 6-8/day/gate to keep competitors off those gates.

As for jetBlue (it still gets me that they are so inconsistent with the capitalization of the "j" in their name -- sometimes they make it big, sometimes they don't!), I think they're still focused on the EMB-190 integration. PHL might be a good BOS shuttle stop.

 

[usairways85]

I don't know the PHL-BOS market is already saturated. 15 a day on US and 8 a day on FL, then add in WN's 9 a day or so to PVD and MHT.

I don't know about B6 in PHL. Looks like they've really set up shop at IAD, JFK, and BOS in the northeast. Don't know if they want another northeast station, especially PHL.

 

[phllax]

The article failed to mention that the forthcoming addition of a hammerhead to Concourse E will result in 4 of their current gates being out of service during this time.

 

[usairways85]

So they will have a net of 8 gates which is still 2 more than they have now. So while it will not be as big of an increase it will still be an increase in their operation.