What to do about Columbus??

[N905AW]

The airline industry and the current airline environment at CMH has changed drastically since Mesa's attempt at feeder service from CMH. America West was still a fledgling airline at Columbus and was in the midst of Chapter 11 reorganization during the time the Beech 1900's were around. Also connecting opportunities were very limited (and for the most part, still are today.)
And also, once that feeder traffic was gone, the 737-300's going to places on the East Coast from Columbus flew empty, hence the introduction of regional jets to almost all destinations East of the Mississippi.

In my opinion, feeder service was begun too soon and too quickly, but shouldn't be out of the question now. The ERJ-145's could be used to introduce new cities into the America West system as well as provide feed into Columbus, such as Norfolk, Nashville, and Providence. But in order to attract more feed, more West Coast destinations should be added. Seattle and San Francisco could squeek by on O&D traffic from CMH alone, but increased feed could make them even more viable. The CMH-LAX flight is usually 1/3 to 1/2 connecting traffic as it is, so the addition of SEA and SFO from CMH in addition to more feeder cities from CMH could make things much better here. If only I ran America West...

 

[AWBusdriver]

CMH never produced the traffic that the demographics suggested. I forget the exact details but something like 1/3 of the Fortune 500 Companies were located within 200 miles of Port Columbus. That was the initial attraction to CMH as a hub for HP.

The traffic never really materialized. The Limited, Inc. and other corporate customers hit hard times, travel died out causing the guaranteed revenue base to virtually dissapear. Now the RJ's fly fully subsidized by HP at a cost higher than main-line flying I'm told.

It's my understanding that a multiple domiciled operation at HP would actually save the company a bunch. For some unknown reason their recalcitrance is evident. The flying just gets passed to the RJ's. Mesa has been edged out by Chitaqua, a lower bidder. So what Mesa Air Group did for HP, Chitaqua is doing to MAG. Funny how that works! It will happen to Chitaqua as well. As we speak, Freedumb Air is up & running. It's coming to an airport near you soon! No doubt your own corporate sponsors will disavow you for the almighty dollar just like all the others...

Behave boys & girls!

 

[MiAAmi]

Hows the new service to MCO doing?

 

[N905AW]

So far, bookings for the second MCO flight, as well as the new RSW nonstop, are looking very good. The days that I checked, flights were booked to well over 100, and there are still 3 weeks left for people to book. Also, the second MCO-CMH flight goes on to LAX, leaving Columbus at 8:50 PM.

 

[Columbia blue]

This is one of those stay tuned type scenarios....With U.S. Airways inevitable reductions at PIT and elsewhere...I would be rather shocked if new CMH service additions were not forthcoming...The question is ...Will it be in the next few months or.....eventually?

 

[barbee tantrum]

[blockquote]
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On 12/5/2002 3:31:49 AM Columbia blue wrote:

This is one of those "stay tuned" type scenarios....With U.S. Airways inevitable reductions at PIT and elsewhere...I would be rather shocked if new CMH service additions were not forthcoming...The question is ...Will it be in the next few months or.....eventually?
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[/blockquote]

New service is supposed to be announced sometime in the first half of next year. How they will do it is beyond me. There is not enough equipment or infrastructure now. There is now much stealing of equipment from other gates and much equipment is in maintenance.

 

[MiAAmi]

Has HP taken over the old United gates yet?

 

[Rob]

barbee, the whole airline is stretched these days. Maybe we'll hear about a few additional aircraft by next summer.

 

[barbee tantrum]

[blockquote]
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On 12/6/2002 12:17:32 AM Rob wrote:

barbee, the whole airline is stretched these days. Maybe we'll hear about a few additional aircraft by next summer.
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[/blockquote]


I was talking about ground equipment, not aircraft.

 

[Rob]

On 12/6/2002 6:24:34 AM barbee tantrum wrote:


I was talking about ground equipment, not aircraft.

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Obviously. I said the *whole* airline was stretched.

 

[barbee tantrum]

[blockquote]
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On 12/5/2002 9:54:51 PM MiAAmi wrote:

Has HP taken over the old United gates yet?
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[/blockquote]

With UA being bankrupt now, I don't see them moving to Concourse C with the higher rent anytime soon. Will CMH get stiffed on gate lease payments? CMH already is stuck with 3 unoccupied gates at Concourse C. Two of those due to the dirty rascals at UA. Unoccupied gates make no money. I heard a going rate of $10,000/week for gate payments at Concourse C. What is the going rate, usually?

CMH extended the concourse (just completed), completely renovated the tarmac, and now these gates are collecting dust because UA didn't move as planned. Now they are screwed.

 

[mga707]

[blockquote]
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CMH extended the concourse (just completed), completely renovated the tarmac, and now these gates are collecting dust because UA didn't move as planned. Now they are screwed.

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[/blockquote]

Not the first time, surely not the last--just ask the folks at COS about all of the nice stuff they added for WestPac...
[img src='http://www.usaviation.com/idealbb/images/smilies/9.gif']

 

[motnot]

I wouldn't necessarily think UA could get out of moving simply because of the bankruptcy, especially this close to the move.

If the airport has lined up someone to use the old gates, such as HP, then seems like it could cut UA a break in order to get paid for all the gates, even if not as much as it wanted.

Anyway, I'd think leases like this are normal operating costs (as opposed to debt) and would not be addressed anytime soon, if ever, in the bankruptcy process.

 

[MiAAmi]

Any word on whether MEM-CMH service will follow soon?

 

[mturpiz]

MEM-CMH is only averaging about 12 local passengers a day each way. MEM is a notoriously difficult market to do well in because NW owns it and it is small.