Parker labels DCA a "hub", not "focus city"

[Dont call me Shirley]

http://www.thestreet.com/story/11874226/1/us-airways-declares-national-airport-a-hub-at-senate-hearing.html?puc=yahoo&cm_ven=YAHOO

Not sure if it really makes a difference (assuming it's official), other than a big raise for station management.


CHARLOTTE (TheStreet) -- Facing a Senate subcommittee that posed questions about whetherUS Airways (LCC) might divest slots at Washington Reagan National Airport, CEO Doug Parker revealed for the first time that the carrier now views its National operation as a hub.

 

[FlyUs]

It's definitely a hub.. an EXPRESS hub. There's actually more mainline flying out of BOS than DCA

 

[Dont call me Shirley]

It's definitely a hub.. an EXPRESS hub. There's actually more mainline flying out of BOS than DCA

Doesn't every US hub have more Express than Mainline...

 

[strangiatotheme]

Doesn't every US hub have more Express than Mainline...

PHX does not. Mainline outnumbers Express by about 2:1.

 

[robbedagain]

think clt n phl also each out do express

 

[FWAAA]

PHX does not. Mainline outnumbers Express by about 2:1.

PHX is the only US hub/focus city where mainline outnumbers express.

think clt n phl also each out do express

Wrong. Systemwide, express outnumbers mainline by about 50%. Since PHX is the only city where mainline is greater, that means that PHL, CLT and DCA are express-heavy hubs:

http://www.usairways.com/en-US/aboutus/pressroom/factsheets.html

 

[robbedagain]

i did not know that clt n phl were heavily expressed and phx more mainline.. thanks for the info wonder how all of that will change after the merger

 

[FWAAA]

I think the number of seats on Express will increase, an likewise Express ASMs, but I don't think that mainline flights will increase substantially.

Some US employees have openly wondered what happens to the very small cities if/when the Dash8s are retired, and apparently that fleet has been shrinking. Unless those planes are replaced, that will decrease the number of Express departures over time. On the flip side, as AA takes delivery of perhaps 200 to 300 76-seaters over several years, some of those planes may end up on routes currently flown by MD-80s (as well as routes flown by 50-seat ERJs and CRJs), so that would help to increase the number of Express departures. The good news is that there are some overlapping routes where AA and US each fly several 50-76 seaters and perhaps those can be replaced by several A319s or 738s.

 

[robbedagain]

what about the ATR 42 and 72 aircraft are they as old as the DASH or younger and how far north can they go since the 94 crash of AA 4194

 

[FWAAA]

Eagle got rid of its ATR-42s long ago and just recently shed the last of its ATR-72s, so Eagle has no more turboprops. ATR is selling plenty of new-generation Super ATR-72s, but not to anyone in the USA. ATR remedied the wing icing issues after the Roselawn crash in 1994, so they're cleared to fly in the north. So new AA express carriers could order some (I think ATR is making only the large model now) or the Q400 from Bombardier. I liked the SAABs but Eagle grounded them for good several years back.

 

[cynic]

Eagle got rid of its ATR-42s long ago and just recently shed the last of its ATR-72s, so Eagle has no more turboprops. ATR is selling plenty of new-generation Super ATR-72s, but not to anyone in the USA. ATR remedied the wing icing issues after the Roselawn crash in 1994, so they're cleared to fly in the north. So new AA express carriers could order some (I think ATR is making only the large model now) or the Q400 from Bombardier. I liked the SAABs but Eagle grounded them for good several years back.

ATR still offers the 42-600 and 72-600 for sale, but there will be no new turboprops on the property for wholly owned carriers.

 

[SOA2]

I flew on an ATR 42 (maybe a 42-300) last year in Israel. It was a better passenger experience than flying on US's Canadair RJs.

 

[jimntx]

I guess that since the conversation wandered off into the RJ-vs-ATR weeds, no one cares any more than the passengers whether DCA is a hub or a focus city.

 

[Onestep2flt]

I guess that since the conversation wandered off into the RJ-vs-ATR weeds, no one cares any more than the passengers whether DCA is a hub or a focus city.

No, I think it is a most important discussion to have. Someone brought up that "Express" makes us a little more than 50% of the operations now. Several things that are interesting to me is the fact that the definition of what "Express" is has never really been defined clearly at US Airways. I think it was always traditionally to smaller communities that do not have demand for mainline to feed the hubs or to closeby cities to do the same feed. Think Williamsport, PA to Philly. This is where those Dash-8's were perfect! Now, the so called "Express" carriers have large jets capable of going much greater distances and with a lot more people. Think DCA to PBI which is according to flight tracker 857 miles. So, what exactly is a "Regional Airline"? Here, we have a community that most definitely has demand for mainline service and is not closeby by any means. I am pretty sure a few years back I was sitting on an MD-80 or 737 between these cities. I doubt the service demand dropped that much. I think US just funnels most people through Charlotte or Philly now if you want to get there.

This is where I think the pilots might have done themselves wrong with their scope. Instead of defining number of seats a jet could have they should have defined what "express" or "regional jet" service looked like. What happened to them was that airlines like Republic now do 50% of their flying with 88 seat jets instead of a wholly owned like Piedmont doing Williamsport to Philly in a 72 Seat Q-400, ATR or whatever big turboprop would be good for that service. Now, even worse is that the new scope indicates that 75% of domestic flying can be done on "Regional jets" as long as they do not exceed 76 seats. Of course there are the grandfathered 88 seat planes as well. I am not trying to point fingers at the pilots but just pointing out the complexity that has been brought into the game. Potentially, US Airways/New American will be nothing more than a name on the side of an "RJ" for domestic flying with the exception of say Philly to Los Angeles or Chigago to San Francisco.

I think if US/American's new business plan is to be an International powerhouse they will need to do some serious upgrading to customer service, airport facilities, aircraft, onboard ammenities and a host of other things. I think the LCC mentality is doomed for failure in places like Asia. Some of the folks from America West could tell you it was not just Using gas guzzling airplanes that doomed their exsistance in Japan.

So, I for one care for whether DCA is a hub or focus city. If it is a hub for "RJ's" everyone should take notice. Look at Philly and Charlotte. What are they both currently doing? Expanding the "Express" terminals do better serve the customer! Might not be too long before every hub looks like DCA..

 

[Hope777]

Air Whiskey runs DCA-MCI which is 947sm and they go from PHL-DCA on the same CRJ200 which is 1047sm