Pit Service Cancellations

[Rob]

DOT yesterday approved the discontinuation of all service by Shuttle America from Pittsburgh to Hagerstown and Lynchburg.

In Hagerstown's case, this was the ONLY service the town had.

 

[tadjr]

Piedmont is scheduled to take over the HGR route according to press releases and US.com. Will be using Dash8s now instead of the Saabs. Should be a nicer ride for them.

 

[PropPiedmont]

Remember a few weeks ago when United announced that Shuttle America was going to the next UA Express carrier. The article said they were to fly 10 Saab 340s. How could they continue to fly out of PIT if all their aicraft are either in Chicago or Dulles painted a different blue and grey?

 

[ITRADE]

Remember a few weeks ago when United announced that Shuttle America was going to the next UA Express carrier. The article said they were to fly 10 Saab 340s. How could they continue to fly out of PIT if all their aicraft are either in Chicago or Dulles painted a different blue and grey?

Because 1) Shuttle currently has about 20 SF340s, and 2) they can always add more. There are plenty available on the market.

 

[tadjr]

I believe one of the articles I read also mentioned that SA will continue to operate 6 Saabs for USExpress right now running from PIT.

 

[Rob]

tadjr, that's good news for Hagerstown. (I assume Lynchburg is still discontinued.)

This outcome assumes Piedmont has lower costs than Shuttle America, although maybe Maryland is subsidizing the route. MD offered to once before.

 

[tadjr]

tadjr, that's good news for Hagerstown. (I assume Lynchburg is still discontinued.)

Right now PIT-LYH is also showing 4 Dash8 flights a day in May. So, it looks like the market will still be operated, just by a different carrier.
Once again a reason, I feel, that ALL Express should be technically operated publically as 1 carrier. How many people heard USExpress (operated by Shuttle America) is dropping the market, but missed the Now Serviced By Piedmont part of it? Normally this shouldnt even be news since there is no break in service. If anything it should have been promoted by Express as an UPGRADE in service and not a discontinuance/replacement. Its still US EXpress service and is actually a better product, IMO, using the Dash vs Saab. Once again, another PR chance squandered. :down:

 

[airbiiguy]

whats gonna happen to all the other cities like , FWA,TOL,LEX,etc???Are they gonna get dorniers and dash8s or jets? Or are they gonna kill those cities off also??

 

[ITRADE]

whats gonna happen to all the other cities like , FWA,TOL,LEX,etc???Are they gonna get dorniers and dash8s or jets? Or are they gonna kill those cities off also??

With the relative population bases, I would think that FWA and TOL would go Dash-8. LEX is probably big enough to go RJ.

 

[funguy2]

FWA is Shuttle America's maintenance base. I recall the company making a big deal out of this not too long ago... So I think as long as SA is around, PIT-FWA will be flowng by them.

 

[airbiiguy]

Before shuttle arrived into their current cities many were serviced by Rjs. TOL had ERjs operated by transstates and did quite well until SA came in.

 

[autofixer]

FWA, TOL and LEX at one time, used to be mainline RJs...F28s. 737-200s during PI days.

 

[airbiiguy]

well i heard TOL is going dash8-200. a 300 would be nice but oh well

 

[Boeing4me]

Right now PIT-LYH is also showing 4 Dash8 flights a day in May. So, it looks like the market will still be operated, just by a different carrier.
Once again a reason, I feel, that ALL Express should be technically operated publically as 1 carrier. How many people heard USExpress (operated by Shuttle America) is dropping the market, but missed the Now Serviced By Piedmont part of it? Normally this shouldnt even be news since there is no break in service. If anything it should have been promoted by Express as an UPGRADE in service and not a discontinuance/replacement. Its still US EXpress service and is actually a better product, IMO, using the Dash vs Saab. Once again, another PR chance squandered. :down:[/QUOTE]
LYH-PIT servce is to be picked up as of May 2nd by Allegheny using Dash-8's. This is a big improvement over the Shuttle America 340's.

On may 2nd as well, LYH-CLT service is being picked up by Piedmont with Dash 8's. No more Air Midwest B1900's to contend with on this route.

All-in-all improvments to service at LYH from what it has been over the last 24 months. The airport is doing a good job at touting the improved service levels here but nothing from the Airlines themselves.

 

[Rob]

With this replacement service planned, I don't know why UAIR went through the charade and associated negative publicity of *two* DOT hearings and associated legal expenses.

Despite reduced hqs. numbers, it sounds as if communications in Arlington is a problem.