Slot Swap

[john john]

http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/sub/shippingtimes/story/0,4574,460716,00.html
Delta and rivals have been improving their New York facilities and adding flights to win business travellers who fly frequently and often pay the highest fares.
'From the sheer size of the project, they are clearly putting more effort into this and more money into this than anybody else is,' Bob McAdoo, an analyst at Avondale Partners LLC, said of Delta's investments in New York. 'It's a very competitive market, but it's clearly worth fighting for.'
The accord calls for Atlanta-based Delta to take over most of the US Airways terminal at LaGuardia, spending US$100 million on improvements that will include a connection to the adjacent Delta terminal, Mr Anderson said.
'We will turn LaGuardia into a true domestic hub, and make Delta the clear choice for business travellers to and from New York,' he said last week in his weekly recorded message to employees.

And USAirways in DCA is doing what????

 

[WorldTraveler]

I think it has been discussed before that US has the facilities at DCA to handle the level of flights which will be added.... because there are a larger number of flights at LGA and DL was filling its current terminal with its current schedule, DL has more incentive to build.
.
Also, DL carries a very low percentage of connecting traffic thru LGA right now while the geography of DCA in US' network means they have operated connections at DCA for quite some time.
US has allowed connections to/from the Shuttle at LGA which DL has not - and that apparently will not change since DL is not getting rid of the Marine Air Terminal and apparently plans to continue to operate the Shuttle in the MAT which makes connections to the rest of DL's system all but impossible.
US does not have that problem.
.
Sounds like the slot auctions could take place in the next month or so with the first flights under the swaps taking place around the end of the year.
While there is general pessimism that US is going to use these new slots for growth, I find it hard to believe that there won't be some mainline growth - most of the slots they are giving up are being flown by small RJs if not turboprops and they will be gaining slots in a market where their average aircraft size is quite a bit larger - and can grow as the number of slots grows.

 

[dash8roa]

Any word yet on what cities or frequency's will be added at dca?
It would seem they must have plans drawn up by now.
Also what happens to the dash's that will be pulled from lga?
906 and 907 are coming due on cycle limits.

 

[cynic]

Also what happens to the dash's that will be pulled from lga?
906 and 907 are coming due on cycle limits.

Last I heard, the four oldest ones were still good for another year or so.

 

[USA320Pilot]

It is my understanding the PANYNJ has not provided approval of the slot transfer or building modifications. In addition, US Airways is anticipated to be able to use the 3 RJ parking spots near gate 1, the ZA pad, gates 1-6, and be able to build a new club on top of the terminal.

However, there are still challenges to the deal of trying to get the DOJ to not object to the case within 30 days and getting PANYNJ approval.

 

[USFlyer]

Last I heard, the four oldest ones were still good for another year or so.

Which begs the question of PDT's future in general, given there are no orders for new turboprops yet the Dash-8s are not exactly young birds.

 

[cynic]

Which begs the question of PDT's future in general, given there are no orders for new turboprops yet the Dash-8s are not exactly young birds.

PDT has no future as an operational airline. Their only purpose is to outsource mainline ramp functions wherever possible before outsourcing them completely.

 

[dash8roa]

PDT has no future as an operational airline. Their only purpose is to outsource mainline ramp functions wherever possible before outsourcing them completely.

Sad but true!

 

[USA320Pilot]

JetBlue Will ‘Aggressively’ Bid for Slots at LaGuardia, Reagan

“JetBlue is concerned about Southwest’s further incursions into what it views, in a geographical sense, as its turf,” said George Hamlin, president of Hamlin Transportation Consulting in Fairfax, Virginia. Even with additional slots, JetBlue would “end up with such a small market footprint that they’re not going to get much traction.”

Click here to read the story.

 

[crazystnic]

A 3rd shuttle?

 

[Travelpro72]

Well most on the shuttle do not connect to international so it could be a problem for US. Jetblue has a far superior product to US and if they get enough slots could put a serious dent in their business.

 

[ggiby]

Well most on the shuttle do not connect to international so it could be a problem for US. Jetblue has a far superior product to US and if they get enough slots could put a serious dent in their business.

But you have to consider where Jet blue's terminal is... US Air has a very superior terminal... and that is Why Delta's Shuttle does nothing...
I do not think that Jet Blue will give USAir a problem... USAir will win../

 

[crazystnic]

But you have to consider where Jet blue's terminal is... US Air has a very superior terminal... and that is Why Delta's Shuttle does nothing...
I do not think that Jet Blue will give USAir a problem... USAir will win../

 

[Travelpro72]

In LGA I can see your point but as a passenger why would I care what terminal my vehicle pulled up to or where I got picked up? In BOS US may have a prettier terminal but US can't remotely touch the operation Jetblue has there today. I'm sure their terminal is filled with just as many options if not more than US. Jetblue has a roomie cabin, DirectTV, WIFI and unlimited snacks to name a few. What on Earth does US offer it's shuttle passengers in comparison? Farse class? I hope US holds their own against Jetblue if they get in the race.

 

[WorldTraveler]

I would be very surprised if B6 goes after slots and then uses them to run a shuttle... B6's theat from WN comes from WN being a larger nationwide airline. Neither WN or B6 is likely to use their limited number of slots to create a shuttle. The greatest value to B6 comes from creating a more nationwide network from NYC instead of their primary strength up and down the east coast, to the Caribbean, and to the west coast (which they can't do from LGA or DCA anyway).
If B6 wins slots, they will develop more middle of the country business markets.