What to do about Columbus??

[Cart Pusher]

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On 10/14/2002 5:35:56 PM trvlr64 wrote:

I think PIT could support a major and a minor airline. The reason that AirTran, Vanguard and the others didn't last is because they didn't have a route structure to support flying them. AWA does. A rather good one from what I see on their route map.

Us loyal USAirways PAX are seeking more alternatives to our travel needs. Yes it will be nice to have the United codeshare, but I think it's just the precursor to a final merger in the future. And once that happens the PIT airport will become lost as an unnecessary hub.

Part of the problem with USAirways having PIT as a hub was caused by our county commissioners 10-15 years ago. They are gone and we have new blood. Hopefully they will see the potential of another carrier (I see a letter writing campaign...LOL)

Just wishful thinking. I know I will give AWA a chance that I didn't give the other entrants into the PIT airport. I want to go to Cabo San Lucas!!



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Actually, opportunities to fly on AWA from PIT are just as limited as Airtran's were. Basically, HP can take you to many west coast destinations as FL could take you to many east coast and midwest destinations. I guess it just depends on where you need to travel to. HP and FL are two entirely different airlines, serving two entirely different areas of the country.

If not for US, PIT would most likely not have the service that it does. While US probably does keep fares high, they offer more options for nonstop travel than does any other airline. They offer nonstops to cities that, without THEIR hub, would probably not see nonstop service from PIT. SNA, AUS, LGW, CDG, SFO, SEA are all perfect examples.

 

[motnot]

I think the previous poster's point is that AWA can take PIT flyers to many destinations that U can't, whereas AAI's service out of PIT overlapped U's 100 percent.

 

[lowfareair]

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On 10/15/2002 209 AM Cart Pusher wrote:

Actually, opportunities to fly on AWA from PIT are just as limited as Airtran's were. Basically, HP can take you to many west coast destinations as FL could take you to many east coast and midwest destinations. I guess it just depends on where you need to travel to. HP and FL are two entirely different airlines, serving two entirely different areas of the country.

If not for US, PIT would most likely not have the service that it does. While US probably does keep fares high, they offer more options for nonstop travel than does any other airline. They offer nonstops to cities that, without THEIR hub, would probably not see nonstop service from PIT. SNA, AUS, LGW, CDG, SFO, SEA are all perfect examples.

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SNA, AUS, and CDG(effective 11/2/02) don't have non-stop PIT service on USAirways.

 

[Cart Pusher]

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On 10/15/2002 10:32:20 PM lowfareair wrote:


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SNA, AUS, and CDG(effective 11/2/02) don't have non-stop PIT service on USAirways.
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Actually, US serves SNA twice a day from PIT. I didn't realize they were ditching CDG. Forgive my mistake regarding AUS, let's subsitute MSY for AUS.

My point being that PIT would not have service to well over 1/2 the cities they currently do, without US Airways maintaining a hub there.

 

[MiAAmi]

I'm surprised HP doesn't jump on the Florida market more out of CMH at least during the winter. A non-stop to FLL and MIA would at least capture the cruise ship market and connections to the islands out of MIA. Also a flight to either TPA or PIE should make them some $$$ during the winter.

 

[MAH4546]

USAirways's PIT-CDG service is summer-only. They never had PIT-AUS. US announced CLT-AUS, CLT-SAT, PHL-PDX, and PIT-PDX in summer 2001, but they never entered any of those markets.

 

[W:EXCH:INVOL]

Have heard from a couple sources that HP will be scaling back CMH to east coast. Makes no sense to me, but has anyone else heard this?

INVOL

 

[motnot]

AWA just added a BOS and YYZ flight from CMH. They won't drop LGA, so that leaves EWR, BDL, BWI and PHL. I suppose BWI's possible, but this rumor doesn't make sense to me, either. And with others (including LUV) cutting back in CMH, there seems to be no reason for AWA to do so.

 

[Columbia blue]

That would be interesting news...especially since DAL appearantly announced CMH-TPA-MCO-DCA today...AWA would be foolish to drop their DCA slots so I wonder where the cuts would come?.....BOS maybe (shrug)....Oh..and by the by..It's Chautauqua doing the DAL service... [A href=http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/021031/atth024_1.html]http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/021031/atth024_1.html[/A]

 

[MAH4546]

What ever happened to CMH-MIA/FLL/PBI? They all started within 3 days of each other in October 1997 with daily 737-300s on each. They seem like logical routes. I would not be surprised to see CMH-MIA in the near future.

 

[N905AW]

W:EXCH:INVOL:

I have also heard that America West Express will be scaling back operations in CMH. The rumor I have heard is that we'll drop down to about 44 daily flights total from around 50. As for the potential cuts, I have no idea where they'd take place. The DCA flights were recently retimed to coincide with the banks operated here, so I doubt they'd be on the chopping block. Then, as stated, YYZ and BOS just gained additional flights. I cannot see BWI being shrunken down, since those flights go out packed daily. My guess would be EWR, LGA, BDL, and maybe even ORD. I don't see how futher scaling back operations, especially when most flight to these cities go out very full daily, would help operations in CMH.

Columbia_Blue

The service Delta recently started with Chautauqua with ERJ-145's to Florida is replacing Delta Express service offered with 737-200's. By the start of 2003, DLEX will only be operating on the East Coast to Florida, as IND will also transition from Delta Express to Delta Connection by year's end. The Comair service to DCA, however, is brand new.
Delta and America West have been fighting for dominance at CMH for about 4 years now. America West is the current market-share leader, but now it looks like Delta is trying to recoup some of their losses. I don't think America West's CMH-DCA service will be discontinued though.

motnot:

The rumor doesn't make any sense to me either. I wish I knew exactly what America West has in store. I keep hearing that we'll expand in 2003, but with this latest rumor, it just keeps adding to the confusion. Also, where is Southwest going to be cutting back? Right after Sept. 11, 2001, SWA discontinued 2 flights from CMH, 1 to PHX and 1 to MDW. Their schedule has remained the same since then.

MAH4546:

I think there were a number of factors that lead to the demise of all Florida routes from CMH in 1997. At that time, Bill Franke was at the helm of America West, and the airline was constantly going from trying to cater to the business traveler to leaning towards the business traveler. When the service was discontinued, America West gave the response that they were going to try and focus on the East Coast business market from CMH instead. Either way, I've been told that the loads to the Florida cities we served: MIA, PBI, RSW, and FLL were very good. MCO and TPA were faltering, and went to 4 and 5 times per week service. I'm guessing that yields were the problem, which has traditionally plagued HP's operations here. I don't know what kind of yields they were looking for though, since Florida is traditionally a low yield market. However, since that time, America West has resumed service to RSW on a seasonal basis, and has returned flying CMH-MCO, which will go back to double-daily service this December. There's no doubt in my mind that they could make CMH-FLL service work, however I wouldn't expect any sort of expansion by HP from CMH anytime soon.

 

[barbee tantrum]

Word I heard from the bird is that flights at CMH will go to 44. One flight will be pulled from six banks. For the summer of 2003, all flights will be back and there are plans to start new service to existing AWA cities. Now if only our conniving and deceitful friends at Chautauqua can stir up some more planes! Better yet, bring Mesa back.

 

[Chicken Taco]

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Word I heard from the bird is that flights at CMH will go to 44. One flight will be pulled from six banks. For the summer of 2003, all flights will be back and there are plans to start new service to existing AWA cities. Now if only our conniving and deceitful friends at Chautauqua can stir up some more planes! Better yet, bring Mesa back.
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Deceitful??? i think not. At least, no more to the outside world than to our own employees Secretive would be better...

As for more planes, CHQ holds options that can be filled within 6 months if needed. We'd love nothing more than to see our CMH operation continue to grow with AWA. Mesa, is gone, and judging from the scene at Gatsby's will be missed [img src='http://www.usaviation.com/idealbb/images/smilies/2.gif'] , but CHQ can provide an equal if not superior product.

with regards to the reduction rumors, CHQ's 12 jets are conracted to AWA through 2006 at the earliest, so we seem to be secure at current size or better in CMH. Furthermore, judging from the loads lately, i can't think of a single city to reduce service to. The only things that haven't been packed have been the last set of nightly inbounds to CMH, with few outbound connections. I flew a day last week where i looked thru the plane's log at the end of the shift and the lightest load i saw all day was 44. that's 88%, a pretty good load in anybody's book..

..CT

 

[motnot]

I don't remember hearing about the new CMH-MCO service, although it's in the res system (and doesn't appear to be seasonal). Has that been out for a while? A good sign, though, even if it's just one more mainline flight.

 

[barbee tantrum]

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On 11/3/2002 8:35:39 PM motnot wrote:

I don't remember hearing about the new CMH-MCO service, although it's in the res system (and doesn't appear to be seasonal). Has that been out for a while? A good sign, though, even if it's just one more mainline flight.
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Oh, that's old news! See how much you miss on that Yahoo board with all that hootin and hollerin? Gee willickers! I believe that this is seasonal, ending after spring break, but don't take my word for it. I need to check the schedule. Don't forget Ft. Myers also starts next month. That's two more Airbus's until after spring break. Considering we used two fly 3 full buses to MCO last winter, this really isn't great news.