Apparently Airtran is making a big announcement tomorrow. Anybody have any guesses? My guess is service to St. Thomas

Hmmm i wonder what it is? Ive heard some speculation about things but nothing that was going to be announced this week or anything. Well hopefully its something worth while and big. There is about 3-4 things it could be.

Well, they seem to be in hiring mode for everything except flight ops....and I cant imagine attrition is all that high in this job market. Hmmmmmm.

Quoting Atlwest1 (Reply 1): There is about 3-4 things it could be.

And they are?

Please let it be FWA...   

Quoting FWAERJ (Reply 4): Please let it be FWA...

...Or GSP!...

Quoting KcrwFlyer (Reply 3): Please let it be FWA...

Quoting GSPSPOT (Reply 5): ...Or GSP!...

Would either of those be a big announcement? Haven't we waited for BIG announcements by Airrtan in the past that have never materialized?

I'll throw out a random idea. Could they be dropping bag fees to compete with WN?

I'm sure it is a new destination, but I thought of that, since WN is really advertising that like crazy.

Quoting Jreuschl (Reply 7): I'll throw out a random idea. Could they be dropping bag fees to compete with WN? I'm sure it is a new destination, but I thought of that, since WN is really advertising that like crazy.

This would be nice, and it would be a direct rail against DL out of the Atlanta Market. Perhaps start a reverse trend on the issue.

However I would imagine they are announcing Spring or Summer destinations

My speculation
1. Something to do with Milwaukee and not just an "oh Dallas here we come but something bigger"
2. An announcement of converting options to orders and moving up delivery of the 737-700's and maybe also getting 800's, or a whole new order for something else.
3. More international maybe Northern South AMerica/Central AMerica and or Canada
4. Turning BWI into a full fledged hub

Now a very very almost nill proposition maybe Airtran buys Republic and gets Midwest and Frontier. Now THAT would be a major announcement.

Purchasing remaining assets of YX with RP being a feeder to the combined FL and YX?

Chris

Quoting Atlwest1 (Reply 9): Now a very very almost nill proposition maybe Airtran buys Republic and gets Midwest and Frontier. Now THAT would be a major announcement.

I hope that it isn't being hyped up like other "major announcements" lately.. (B6 "livery change", DL's "long-haul" BDL announcement). I really don't want to end up disappointed again, and my guess is that FL is opening maybe 1 or 2 more new cities.. I hope to be pleasantly surprised.  

Quoting Atlwest1 (Reply 9): 3. More international maybe Northern South America/Central America and or Canada

That's what I'm leaning towards as well.

Quoting Jreuschl (Reply 7): I'll throw out a random idea. Could they be dropping bag fees to compete with WN?

That would be interesting if it is so, maybe that will light a fire under DL's tail to drop theirs as well.......

I'm going to throw in upgrades to their transcon product in order to compete with DL as a possibility. Here comes LiveTV......

Then again, this could be like a number of other rumored "Big AirTran Announcements" and in reality be nothing earth shattering.

Quoting Atlwest1 (Reply 9): 1. Something to do with Milwaukee and not just an "oh Dallas here we come but something bigger"

Milwaukee is already (or will be) over-served. Can't see too much more to happening.

Maybe the addition of Austin, Texas. They have done really well with their San Antonio service.

DSM! DSM! DSM! Who do you have to (censored) around here to get Des Moines? I hope AirTran realizes that it's long past due to return to
DSM and OMA.

Well beginning this month they will have Machiottos avaiable(Illy Coffee served over ice for 4 dollars in the main cabin free in Biz) plus they added Maryland punch usuing FUZE and some other catering upgrades in the pipe line not to mention there is ONE plane in the system that is all Leather from head to toe. From what I hear it is really really nice.

Quoting Evanbu (Reply 14): DSM! DSM! DSM! Who do you have to (censored) around here to get Des Moines? I hope AirTran realizes that it's long past due to return to DSM and OMA.

LOL Me lol nah. Im sure DSM will come at some point, I mean if Moline/Quad cities is online Des Moines should definitely be

[Edited 2009-11-02 15:03:06 by srbmod]

Wasn't AirTran starting to look at replacements for their "aging" 717s? Perhaps they have decided on one!

http://www.tradingmarkets.com/.site/news/Stock%20News/2616823/

Lol, I hope this isn't it..

Just read a rumor on another message board that it could be SkyWest flying 700s for AirTran in BWI and MKE..... my feelings are easy: HA HA HA HA HA HA..... pause for breath..... repeat......

Though maybe it would mean I could hold a line again.....

Quoting MKE22 (Reply 18): http://www.tradingmarkets.com/.site/news/Stock%20News/2616823/ Lol, I hope this isn't it..

LOL god I hope not! Though that news has been on the wire and announced by Airtran last week so I hope not. I hope its some new routes sans Orlando. Something new through MKE and BWI and a dash of ATL.

I'm sure this probably doesn't have anything to do with this "big" annoucement but I have noticed this week that the new Airtran STL schedule published on Saturday doesn't make sense.....there is a flight that comes in from MKE to STL at 10:45am but the next flights leaving St. Louis isn't until 4:37pm to MCO, 4:50pm to MKE and 5:39pm to ATL. Where does this plane from MKE coming in at 10:45am go? Maybe someone can explain.....

Quoting Vulindlela744 (Thread starter): Apparently Airtran is making a big announcement tomorrow. Anybody have any guesses? My guess is service to St. Thomas

My bet is that they are ordering Boeing 737-800's or -900ERs for new international services to the Caribbean and South America. That would be a nice complement to their current fleet of 737-700's and they would probably get them at a bargain price right now.

Maybe we will be able to see one of their -900ERs taking off from Boston like this AirTran 737-700 that I captured on video yesterday:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5A9T7JT5xhg

Quoting Atlwest1 (Reply 9): 3. More international maybe Northern South AMerica/Central AMerica and or Canada

How many of those places could they be starting service to without filing some sort of public document that we would have noticed?

Quoting Evanbu (Reply 14): DSM! DSM! DSM! Who do you have to (censored) around here to get Des Moines? I hope AirTran realizes that it's long past due to return to DSM and OMA.

DSM already has nonstop flights from DL, so really there isn't much else you can do besides wait...or build a private airport and pay FL to fly there.   

Quoting BMI727 (Reply 22): How many of those places could they be starting service to without filing some sort of public document that we would have noticed?

Well they could announce there intentions tomorrow and actually file it tomorrow as well. Plus I think they have some rights to Canada from the old days and they fly to some of these places as sub services so it could be the conversion of some of them to actual scheduled services.

My guess is a direct response to F9's new OKC-MCO/TPA service as well as YX's new OMA-MCO/TPA service: MCO-OKC and MCO-OMA maybe. However, this would require new station costs, which right now probably would make this a long shot.

But, it will take money to drive back F9 from this small Florida expansion which may result in a slightly larger Florida operation if the two existing routes do well. FL is very territorial, and it would not surprise me to see them throw money into the wind for new stations / existing competitor routes and dumping more capacity on the route than the city(ies) can handle to protect their turf.

Quoting Stl1326 (Reply 20): there is a flight that comes in from MKE to STL at 10:45am but the next flights leaving St. Louis isn't until 4:37pm to MCO, 4:50pm to MKE and 5:39pm to ATL. Where does this plane from MKE coming in at 10:45am go? Maybe someone can explain.....

Saturday is typically a low utilization day for airlines due to the reduced demand, so the plane may very well just sit on the ground at STL during that time.

My guess as to the "major" announcement is the cancellation of their existing relationship with Frontier.

Quoting SLUaviator (Reply 19): Just read a rumor on another message board that it could be SkyWest flying 700s for AirTran in BWI and MKE..... my feelings are easy: HA HA HA HA HA HA..... pause for breath..... repeat......

That's actually not all that funny, and makes some sense. I remember when the AirTran JetConnect product was about to wind down, there were rumors of CRJ-700s being brought in. Unlike with the CRJ-200s Air Wisconsin operated, you can actually have a first/business class cabin on a CRJ-700. The lack of a business class product was one of the complaints business travelers on FL had about the JetConnect operation.

Quoting Surfandsnow (Reply 17): Wasn't AirTran starting to look at replacements for their "aging" 717s? Perhaps they have decided on one!

AirTran Studies 717 Replacement (by Olympic472 Oct 7 2009 in Civil Aviation)

They're actually looking at starting to replace them about 5 years down the road. But let's run with this for a moment. Bombardier has got the CSeries EIS date penciled in for 2013, and perhaps that plays into the FL's plan to start replacing the 717s starting sometime around 2014-2015. Maybe they're going to announce an order for the CSeries, perhaps 50 50 options with the a/c being a mix of financed and leased a/c (like the deal they made wi

Quoting Evanbu (Reply 14): DSM! DSM! DSM! Who do you have to (censored) around here to get Des Moines? I hope AirTran realizes that it's long past due to return to DSM and OMA

I hope you're right!!!!!! Either one would be great!! I think they would do a little better out of Omaha though with the much higher traffic numbers, even with Southwest around

3x ATL
1x MCO
1x BWI
2x MKE (even tough this wouldn't do very well)

Quoting Atlwest1 (Reply 23): Well they could announce there intentions tomorrow and actually file it tomorrow as well.

Could they do that and still be realistically be able to have the flights for the 2010 spring/summer season, or would it need more lead time?

Quoting Steex (Reply 25): My guess as to the "major" announcement is the cancellation of their existing relationship with Frontier.

That's what I first thought too, but I'm not sure that is "major" announcement type material unless they are going to announce a new relationship at the same time.

Quoting Jetmatt777 (Reply 24): My guess is a direct response to F9's new OKC-MCO/TPA service as well as YX's new OMA-MCO/TPA service: MCO-OKC and MCO-OMA maybe. However, this would require new station costs, which right now probably would make this a long shot.

You read my mind!!....read post 27 above, even though I didn't mention what you said directly.

Quoting Atlwest1 (Reply 15): not to mention there is ONE plane in the system that is all Leather from head to toe. From what I hear it is really really nice.

Why is this? Is it a trial? I really wish we had some pics, I bet it looks really nice.

Quoting Jetmatt777 (Reply 24): But, it will take money to drive back F9 from this small Florida expansion which may result in a slightly larger Florida operation if the two existing routes do well. FL is very territorial, and it would not surprise me to see them throw money into the wind for new stations / existing competitor routes and dumping more capacity on the route than the city(ies) can handle to protect their turf.

Are you sure you're not thinking of another carrier? Because your FL description seems to be the opposite of how FL normally is. Where is FL very territorial besides ATL (where they have to be)? FL seems to coexist well with WN in BWI and MCO. And when has FL ever thrown money away just to "protect their turf"? FL is as notorious as any carrier when it comes to yanking money losing routes.

Quoting FL787 (Reply 30): Are you sure you're not thinking of another carrier? Because your FL description seems to be the opposite of how FL normally is. Where is FL very territorial besides ATL (where they have to be)? FL seems to coexist well with WN in BWI and MCO. And when has FL ever thrown money away just to "protect their turf"? FL is as notorious as any carrier when it comes to yanking money losing routes.

The point being, does FL want to risk these two routes doing good and F9 announcing more and more Florida routes? Do they want to spend money and kill the "weed" when it has no strength or root system to feed itself. Or do they want to ignore the weed until it has a complex root system and is feeding itself and constantly growing in their yard and is harder and harder to pull out of the ground?

There is a first time for everything, and if I were FL I would definitely think about killing this weed before it grows.

Quoting FL787 (Reply 30): Why is this? Is it a trial? I really wish we had some pics, I bet it looks really nice.

Its just the first one done. The leather will be fleet wide but i guess they are going slowly.

Quoting Jetmatt777 (Reply 31): The point being, does FL want to risk these two routes doing good and F9 announcing more and more Florida routes? Do they want to spend money and kill the "weed" when it has no strength or root system to feed itself. Or do they want to ignore the weed until it has a complex root system and is feeding itself and constantly growing in their yard and is harder and harder to pull out of the ground? There is a first time for everything, and if I were FL I would definitely think about killing this weed before it grows.

That's quite the analogy. Is it possible that FL and F9 are in completely different yards? I don't see why there's only a limited amount of space. As of right now they don't compete at all to Florida besides MKE. FL could have started OMA and OKC if they had wanted to but they didn't. I don't know how it can be interpreted that F9 is invading FL's turf by starting Florida routes to cities FL doesn't even serve. It would be dumb of FL to start a route just because someone else did. If FL did that, they might be able to make F9 lose money but what would FL really gain? There's no assurance that FL would push F9 off the route if they tried.

Quoting Atlwest1 (Reply 9): 2. An announcement of converting options to orders and moving up delivery of the 737-700's and maybe also getting 800's, or a whole new order for something else

Quoting Reggaebird (Reply 21): My bet is that they are ordering Boeing 737-800's or -900ERs for new international services to the Caribbean and South America.

Now these WOULD be big and justify all the hype. Let's hope they are placing a big order for aircraft and announcing international destinations. It would certainly make my day.

Quoting MKE22 (Reply 11): I hope that it isn't being hyped up like other "major announcements" lately.. (B6 "livery change", DL's "long-haul" BDL announcement).

Who knows, maybe they've got a Hartford Wolfpack logo-jet and announcing new service to BDL  

Quoting FL787 (Reply 33):

You also need to read what I said above. I said if these two routes do good, what would happen if F9 announced a major expansion out of MCO. I feel these two routes are just testing the water, if the water is good then they will get serious. If FL spoils the water, they just prevented a possible future expansion into their yard. You are looking at the current route system versus the future probabilities/odds.

Is F9 a threat to FL right now, out of MCO probably not. If F9 added 7-8 more cities because the existing cities did well, what would FL think? Who has status quo? We are talking preemptive strategy (offense) versus a defensive one.

Quoting Jetmatt777 (Reply 38): You also need to read what I said above. I said if these two routes do good, what would happen if F9 announced a major expansion out of MCO. I feel these two routes are just testing the water, if the water is good then they will get serious. If FL spoils the water, they just prevented a possible future expansion into their yard. You are looking at the current route system versus the future probabilities/odds. Is F9 a threat to FL right now, out of MCO probably not. If F9 added 7-8 more cities because the existing cities did well, what would FL think? Who has status quo? We are talking preemptive strategy (offense) versus a defensive one.

I guess I just fail to see why F9 would announce a whole bunch of routes that FL already serves. Why would they do that? F9 and FL are both currently taking low hanging fruit. Why would F9 just decide to go after fruit that has already been picked? I also don't see why if FL pushed F9 off these new routes that F9 would just give up on any future florida service. You seem to think the legacy tactics of capacity dumping would stop F9.

Quoting Jetmatt777 (Reply 38): You also need to read what I said above. I said if these two routes do good, what would happen if F9 announced a major expansion out of MCO.

I think that is extremely unlikely given Sean Menke's statements I the last week or so - they are looking to the midwest for expansion, not MCO.

I agree it did happen when Frontier announced MEM-MCO and Airtran retaliated by announcing the same route.

But the killer on that route was Northwest. Frontier dropped out first and then Airtran.

In this case, if Airtran did announce OKC-MCO and/or OMA-MCO, I guess Frontier/Midwest would probably announce MCI-MCO and MCI -TPA.

mariner

[Edited 2009-11-02 16:18:14 by mariner]

Other crazy ideas:

* FL will have YV's fleet of CR9's currently used to support US ops flying for FL

* FL will have AX MRJ-900 flying for FL starting in 2014

* FL is expanding at BOS or LAS in place of US flying

* FL is expanding at SJU or starting STL in place of AA flying

* FL is purchasing the DTW and/or ACY operations of NK

* FL is purchasing the scheduled service operations of SY

* FL is selling part of its 717 fleet to Click Mexicana

They're announcing that they're getting LiveTV, 738s, 739ERs, CSeries, 787s for TATL from MCO, BWI, and possibly ATL if they wanna start something with DL. Buying out Republic to take over F9 and YX and have Lynx fly Q400s out of MKE.

Also, they're buying WN as well

  

But seriously, I'd like to see LiveTV but I'm not gonna hold my breath.

Quoting VictorKilo (Reply 41): starting STL in place of AA flying

Are they afraid that they won't lose enough money fighting for Milwaukee?   

Quoting ElBandGeek (Reply 42): But seriously, I'd like to see LiveTV but I'm not gonna hold my breath.

I don't see why they would do that since they already have WiFi. I don't have a laptop, but I like the idea of WiFi on planes over just TV and it is better for the airline too.

Quoting FL787 (Reply 39): Why would F9 just decide to go after fruit that has already been picked?

Why did FL go after fruit that has been picked in MKE?

Florida is a huge market, there is a ton of potential in Florida, even though the trees have been picked over, there are still a good amount of good fruit in those trees. F9 could expand into niche routes and not bother FL, or do the opposite. But, if you read my posts I am presenting hypothetical and theoretical scenarios. No where have I used will or shall in the context of predicting new service or announcements. I am presenting scenarios and questions, not rhetorical questions either. I want answers.

Time will tell tomorrow, although I do have a feeling this is over-hype similar to the DFW Dancers, BDL-DEN service, and B6 new livery. Maybe another logo-jet, who knows.

Quoting ElBandGeek (Reply 42): They're announcing that they're getting LiveTV, 738s, 739ERs, CSeries, 787s for TATL from MCO, BWI, and possibly ATL if they wanna start something with DL. Buying out Republic to take over F9 and YX and have Lynx fly Q400s out of MKE. Also, they're buying WN as well    But seriously, I'd like to see LiveTV but I'm not gonna hold my breath.

That would make it this countries version of Air Berlin or Air AsiaX? Which I don't think is to far off in the future. Its inevitable some Low Fare Carrier, Airtran Jetblue or Midwesterontierpublic will make a run for it trans Atlantic wise. Now what would be compelling is if the 3 somehow worked together on creating a separate entity that had full codeshare with all three and flew long haul routes. That way you pull from the sum total of all threes networks. JFK MCO BWI as gateway cities. Just a thought lol  

Quoting Jetmatt777 (Reply 44): Why did FL go after fruit that has been picked in MKE?

That's a whole different situation. I don't think the MKE hub-building is comparable to this situation at all.

Quoting Jetmatt777 (Reply 44): Florida is a huge market, there is a ton of potential in Florida, even though the trees have been picked over, there are still a good amount of good fruit in those trees. F9 could expand into niche routes and not bother FL, or do the opposite.

What is it that you are arguing then? Obviously F9 could announce a massive Florida expansion. But they won't. I thought you were arguing that if FL doesn't stop F9 on OKC-MCO/TPA, then F9 will for some reason begin to consider competing on routes FL already flies.

Quoting Jetmatt777 (Reply 44): I want answers.

To what? Are you talking about this supposed announcement?

Quoting Jetmatt777 (Reply 44): Time will tell tomorrow, although I do have a feeling this is over-hype similar to the DFW Dancers, BDL-DEN service, and B6 new livery. Maybe another logo-jet, who knows.

I'm definitely not getting my hopes up.

Quoting Atlwest1 (Reply 9): 4. Turning BWI into a full fledged hub

Well, supporting that supposition is the fact that my cousin just finished a class for new hires based at BWI.

Quoting FL787 (Reply 46): Quoting Jetmatt777 (Reply 44): Time will tell tomorrow, although I do have a feeling this is over-hype similar to the DFW Dancers, BDL-DEN service, and B6 new livery. Maybe another logo-jet, who knows. I'm definitely not getting my hopes up.

I'm still trying to find anything - anything at all - that would indicate there will even be an announcement from FL tomorrow - big or otherwise. Has anyone else seen something (like a media advisory, etc) that would make it "apparent" (OP's words not mine) that there will be an announcement tomorrow? There must be something out there I've missed.

LoneStarMike

Quoting Flylku (Reply 48): Well, supporting that supposition is the fact that my cousin just finished a class for new hires based at BWI.

Not to mention they opened a customer service counter, there is a huge god awful room but it is the crew lounge though none use it. Also they have been parking a few spares in BWI and they have a ton of gate space relative to the ops already there. They just need to add a few more destinations, Keep the west coast flying year round and add some Caribbean and maybe a 3x daily Bermuda and then add frequencies and theres a hub, oh and make it a crew base as well.

Could be a deal for Q400s with Republic/Lynx.
Could be an acquisition of Midwest from Republic.
Could be a deal to buy the US Airways Shuttle.
Could be an alliance with Allegiant.

It's probably just Branson-Baltimore service on alternating Wednesdays!

OK, I'll bite...

MKE - SJU (seasonal)
MKE - MIA (seasonal)
MKE - YUL (beginning March 2010)
MKE - YYZ (beginning March 2010)
MKE - YVR (beginning March 2010)

New Stations?

SLC
PDX

Wild shot in the dark... but fun!  

Quoting MKENut (Reply 52): OK, I'll bite... MKE - SJU (seasonal) MKE - MIA (seasonal) MKE - YUL (beginning March 2010) MKE - YYZ (beginning March 2010) MKE - YVR (beginning March 2010) New Stations? SLC PDX Wild shot in the dark... but fun!

Something in that may not be that far off. Not Necessarily the cities but the region those cities are in. If we operate that MKE is a city unto itself but yet also a feeder of Chicago then theoretically offering Carribean services from there shouldn't be a stretch per-say. Also Canada as well. If the marketing is right which Airtran has a knack for then they could really market it as a real alternative to ORD or MDW.

Quoting Jetmatt777 (Reply 24): My guess is a direct response to F9's new OKC-MCO/TPA service as well as YX's new OMA-MCO/TPA service

FL did add some extra service from MCI a few years ago to compete with YX only to have it pulled back.

Airtran Starting MCI-MIA, RSW, 2nd MCO. (by Quickmover May 2 2007 in Civil Aviation)

Quoting Vulindlela744 (Thread starter): Apparently Airtran is making a big announcement tomorrow. Anybody have any guesses?

They are starting to hire FA's again according to their website.

Just my 0.02

Quoting VictorKilo (Reply 39): * FL will have YV's fleet of CR9's currently used to support US ops flying for FL

Well - there have been rumors for some months about a potential deal between Airtran and Skywest.

mariner

Quoting Mariner (Reply 53): Well - there have been rumors for some months about a potential deal between Airtran and Skywest.

Quoting MKENut (Reply 49): New Stations? SLC

Well SkyWest did have an MX base at MKE and I believe ASA does have some excess RJ-200s to get rid of. I vote for OO service from MKE and SLC-MKE service among others.

Goodness the suspense is killing me!!!!!!!! LOL. I want a full muti teired announcement with lots and lots of goodies but sadly I bet it will be Branson to Moline nonstop lol god I hope not!

New service to BOI!! 1 daily ATL, 1 4x wk ATL and 1 daily to MKE.

Could it be the unveiling of Colts 1?

I highly doubt that FL will try RJ service again. They had it before, and as you can see, they did away with it. Maybe, due to the new RP/YX/F9 deal, AirTran is expanding their little deal with F9 to include YX?

Or, maybe FL is gonna buy (or lease) the E190s that US is selling to RP (just throwing a random thing out there).

To really go out on a limb to the impossible, FL is announcing that they are returning to a few stations that they closed in the last couple of years (DAB, SWF, GPT) Haha, yeah right!

Quoting FWAERJ (Reply 4): Please let it be FWA...

Agreed.

Another possibility is the addition of EVV. I know EVV was working on getting subsidies for EVV-ATL service.

Quoting Igneousrocks (Reply 13): Maybe the addition of Austin, Texas

Good enough for me!!! Their 737's or even 717's would be a GREAT addition at AUS!

I'm going to go out on a limb and suggest that part of the news will be adding ROA as a station. While it seems like the current carriers are running fewer flights, the airport has been doing a lot of improvement work over the past several months, from putting down new carpet to building a new TSA checkpoint with a second security line. Allegient seems to be doing pretty well with their service to Florida, but I don't think they have enough flights to justify the security expansion and otherwise the checkpoint rarely has more than a few people in line.

What I would like to see is FL using Skywest or someone for CR7/CR9 flying to smaller markets out of ATL, BWI, MCO, or MKE to places such as DSM, OMA, CID, FSD, etc.

It would definetly be really cool to see FL take on DL on some of those routes. DL just ended ATL-FSD which was a really successful route, but they figured that the route needed to be replaced by FSD-DTW for easier use of a CR2 I would assume.

I can't see FL doing CR2 service anymore, but I could definetly see CR7 or CR9 service, or possibly ERJ-175 but more likely the CRJ's.

It would also be good to have those smaller regional jets for places such as CAE or CHS. But then again would regional aircraft fit into the FL business model?

Quoting Airbusaddict (Reply 63): But then again would regional aircraft fit into the FL business model?

Honestly I think ERJ-195 might be the smallest we would ever see Airtran go. Some markets the 717 is just a tad to big but the 195 fits perfectly. That could free up 717's to do routes like Austin Tul and OKC which are in bad need of FL service.

Quoting JBAirwaysFan (Reply 58): Maybe, due to the new RP/YX/F9 deal, AirTran is expanding their little deal with F9 to include YX?

Looking on airtrans website today, Frontiers codeshare map shows the YX coded flights out of MKE. Has this always been that way or did i stumble onto something?

Quoting Airbusaddict (Reply 63): What I would like to see is FL using Skywest or someone for CR7/CR9 flying to smaller markets out of ATL, BWI, MCO, or MKE to places such as DSM, OMA, CID, FSD, etc.

They already fly to some smaller destinations with the 717, in a way not too different from Allegiant in some cases. I don't know how much they would need RJs.

By the way, would it be a good idea for someone to start a thread about the inevitable DL announcement of whatever routes FL might be about to start?   

Quoting JBAirwaysFan (Reply 58): To really go out on a limb to the impossible, FL is announcing that they are returning to a few stations that they closed in the last couple of years (DAB, SWF, GPT.) Haha, yeah right!

I'll do you one better, JB'Fan. They're going to announce their terrible mistake in thinking SAN is a "seasonal" destination (??    ??) and make it year-round (to ATL and MKE) plus add a couple of additional destinations (including MCO again) as an apology to the city! (And the city, as a way to celebrate their elimination as a seasonal AirTran station, will take one of their many "City of San Diego" snowplows and drive it into the Pacific Ocean!!!    )

bb

Quoting MKENut (Reply 49): OK, I'll bite... MKE - SJU (seasonal) MKE - MIA (seasonal) MKE - YUL (beginning March 2010) MKE - YYZ (beginning March 2010) MKE - YVR (beginning March 2010) New Stations? SLC PDX Wild shot in the dark... but fun!

Well I like the idea of MKE having some International service, I don't think it will happen this year at MKE. They need to connect the I.A.B. to the main terminal first in some way before anyone gets serious about international service here @ MKE.

Please be AUS. LCC competition on the AUS-ATL route is desperately needed! The walkup DL fares are downright CRIMINAL. $1041.20 if I wanted to go to ATL tomorrow morning on DL1466 and come back Wednesday evening on DL1689.

Quoting Atlwest1 (Reply 55): Branson to Moline nonstop

haha I got a good laugh out of that. I wish we'd get and keep our LAS service, but FL seems to be much to fickle for that. I'd also like to see BWI service because the East is really lacking from MLI, with the exception of DTW and possibly ATL if you want to count that. But I'm not counting on it, especially in this economy, but maybe by next spring/summer things will start to pick up.

Quoting YXwatcherMKE (Reply 68): Well I like the idea of MKE having some International service, I don't think it will happen this year at MKE. They need to connect the I.A.B. to the main terminal first in some way before anyone gets serious about international service here @ MKE.

(Speculative) service to YVR, YYZ and YUL would arrive in MKE like a domestic flight due to USCPB Pre-clearance at those Canadian airport. They would only need to use the FIS facilities in the RARE instance that USCPB requires an additional check at MKE.

Me personally, I would like to see FL initiate some service to PDX, even seasonal, something like:

PDX - MKE: 1x day (seasonal)
PDX - ATL: 2x day -- would be good to compete against DL on that route!  
PDX - BWI: 3-4x weekly (seasonal)

~CGKings317  

[Edited 2009-11-02 22:58:10]

Air Tran is changing their name...to Eastern.

[quote=Brons2,reply=69]Please be AUS. LCC competition on the AUS-ATL route is desperately needed! The walkup DL fares are downright CRIMINAL. $1041.20 if I wanted to go to ATL tomorrow morning on DL1466 and come back Wednesday evening on DL1689.
Well at one time if you walked to the ticket counter and asked for a ticket for that days and the return the following day you got a down right cheap ticket so they could fill up the plane, I guess that era has passed as well.

I saw someone in Daytona Beach buying a bottle of champagne that cost more than $15... I wonder if there's a connection?

So what time is this announcement being made? Does anyone know?

Quoting Atlwest1 (Reply 75): So what time is this announcement being made? Does anyone know?

No announcement has been announced yet.

My wild shot in the dark:

AirTran is going to start offering connections through MCO.

Quoting Luv2cattlecall (Reply 74): I saw someone in Daytona Beach buying a bottle of champagne that cost more than $15... I wonder if there's a connection?

LMAO...thanks for that. I needed a good laugh this morning.

From what I hear, the talk of FL and OO may have some teeth.

Quoting JayDub (Reply 78): From what I hear, the talk of FL and OO may have some teeth.

If that is somewhat the case, I sense some angry pilots and work groups somewhat. We all know that smaller jet flying is becoming a necessity at FL but I think most think it can be done in house but hey one way to think of it is that the freed 717's could actually be used to open new markets and strengthen others.

Quoting JayDub (Reply 78): From what I hear, the talk of FL and OO may have some teeth.

FL already tried this about 5 years ago with the Air Wisconsin deal. They ended that deal less than a year later, when FL discovered it was more cost effective to keep the flying in house.

Based on recent history, I wouldn't be surprised if this was one of these dissapointments, like the BDL-DEN, or the DFW Dancers.

Quoting Apodino (Reply 80): FL already tried this about 5 years ago with the Air Wisconsin deal. They ended that deal less than a year later, when FL discovered it was more cost effective to keep the flying in house.

When I was at FL, Joe Leonard always said something to the effect of "we will never contract CRJ's again". I just wonder if Bob Fornaro has had a change of heart in order to build up MKE.

Also, one must consider, as someone pointed out on another forum, that AirTran ALPA want stronger scope language in their next contract...but those clauses typically don't include "existing agreements".

Who knows...maybe it's just more Branson flying.  

/wearing my still-super-comfy FL ramp jacket today

Quoting Apodino (Reply 80): FL already tried this about 5 years ago with the Air Wisconsin deal. They ended that deal less than a year later, when FL discovered it was more cost effective to keep the flying in house.

700s are way more efficient to operate then the 200. We fly higher, faster in climb/cruise/descent and burn about the same amount of fuel per hour. Your costs are not a lot higher with a 700: pay the pilots a little more, add a flight attendant and the APU burns a little more but you are offsetting that with potentially a significant amount of additional revenue. Especially with a first class cabin.

Are they going to announce the Embraer order?

Quoting JBAirwaysFan (Reply 58): AirTran is expanding their little deal with F9 to include YX?

A full blown codeshare between the 3 would really make my day. It wouldn't make WN wet thier pants, but it would create a formidable competitor.

Quoting Derik737 (Reply 83): Are they going to announce the Embraer order?

What Embraer order? Do you happen to know something Kind sir?  

Quoting OzarkD9S (Reply 84): A full blown codeshare between the 3 would really make my day. It wouldn't make WN wet thier pants, but it would create a formidable competitor.

That would be compelling. The technology exists already to do codeshare with any airline its time to put it to use. I think the only thing that would make them wet there pants is a full blown merger using the strengths of all 3 combined carriers That would allow Frontier to solidify DEN, FL to have a solid MKE hub and FL to handle the Florida flying and tie the combined network together.

FL IND-LAX is back probably seasonal though...

Quoting Jreuschl (Reply 7): I'll throw out a random idea. Could they be dropping bag fees to compete with WN?

I know that this is slightly off-topic but the above makes me ask this question. How's FL weathering the 3-way LFC bloodbath over BOS-BWI? FL's main disadvantage on this route vs. B6 & WN is that they charge for the 1st checked bag whereas the other two do not.

I'll throw out another annoncement possibility: FL will restart PHL-BOS (hence beat either B6 or WN to the punch, it's only a matter of WHEN not IF one of these carriers start offering this route); and hopefully, will properly time the flights so that someone making a day-trip (whether on business or leisure) this time around. IMHO, that's what killed them during the final year-and-half they (FL) offered the route.

This is so far the only announcement from FL today. Could the day this happens actually be the day of a big announcement? http://pressroom.airtran.com/phoenix...5&p=RssLanding&cat=news&id=1350046

Quoting Reggaebird (Reply 21): My bet is that they are ordering Boeing 737-800's or -900ERs for new international services to the Caribbean and South America. That would be a nice complement to their current fleet of 737-700's and they would probably get them at a bargain price right now.

Do they have any plans for 737-800s? Their 737 safety cards all say 737-700/800

My guess is that this will be like all the other "big announcement" threads.






NADDA!

Quoting Cmhsrq (Reply 90): My guess is that this will be like all the other "big announcement" threads. NADDA!

LOL Oh have a little optimism  

Quoting N776AU (Reply 89): Do they have any plans for 737-800s? Their 737 safety cards all say 737-700/800

When they ordered I think they had options to buy 8's? Don't think it will happen though.

I am sorry but with all the USAirways pull back at LAS, perhaps this the build up of an operation at LAS for AirTran?

BP1

Quoting Vulindlela744 (Thread starter): Apparently Airtran is making a big announcement tomorrow. Anybody have any guesses? My guess is service to St. Thomas

Well, there's been an announcement about 2-for-1 wi-fi connections. I hope that this isn't the "big" news!

http://www.tradingmarkets.com/.site/news/Stock%20News/2616823/

Quoting Reggaebird (Reply 94): Well, there's been an announcement about 2-for-1 wi-fi connections. I hope that this isn't the "big" news! http://www.tradingmarkets.com/.site/...6823/

Well I doubt its that. I think the announcement if anything will be in a few days at that investors confrence that I think Arne Haak will be speaking and leading. What better place to announce to a room full of money your intentions to expand and lay out the plan and how they can help.

Quoting SlUaviator (Reply 82): 700s are way more efficient to operate then the 200. We fly higher, faster in climb/cruise/descent and burn about the same amount of fuel per hour. Your costs are not a lot higher with a 700: pay the pilots a little more, add a flight attendant and the APU burns a little more but you are offsetting that with potentially a significant amount of additional revenue. Especially with a first class cabin.

900s are even better, especially if they're planing on installing F.
XJ has a ton of them, maybe the announcement is that they're contracting a few out of MKE under the condition that FL leave ATL forever.   

Quoting Cmhsrq (Reply 90): My guess is that this will be like all the other "big announcement" threads.

   looks that way!!!!

Falcons 1 is being repainted into Saints 1 since FL wants to show some love to the premier team in the NFC South.   (said in jest, of course)

Maybe the fact that they are now going to serve MBJ? Or was that already announced?

Another false announcement about an announcement, that generated 99 replies. Must be a dull airline news day. Have all these been reported by the same guy?

Quoting ElBandGeek (Reply 96): 900s are even better, especially if they're planing on installing F. XJ has a ton of them, maybe the announcement is that they're contracting a few out of MKE under the condition that FL leave ATL forever.

Only problem with this is NW, now DL owns the leases on the CR9's. I highly doubt that FL would ever see an XJ CR9!

Quoting ElBandGeek (Reply 96): , maybe the announcement is that they're contracting a few out of MKE under the condition that FL leave ATL forever.

And kick the door wide open for Southwest to side in and take around six gates?
As Al Boreland used to say........."I dont think so, Tim."

You're just messin with us........I know.
safe   

So the question for me is.... was there actually a solid chance of an announcement, was it fabricated as a game to see how many people would post on nothing of substance, or is someone trying to make fun of bloggers by starting a rumour and then seeing how long before the forum picked it up and ran with it. Kinda like a Seinfeld show built around seemingly a nothing event. Except it wasn't as funny.

Some rumours come from pilots who know a little about an airlines plans and then run with them filling in what they think. Some come from Anetters and are entirely speculation. Some come from other airline personnel who just go on scuttlebut that get passed around. And the minority is actually in part or in whole true. It could be just a study that an airline undertakes and then gets reported as plans or fact.

The day may be wrong but the announcement will be made. One of our seniors exec. is speaking tomorrow morning at a conference and their is alot of specualation that he will announce something then. Stay tuned. BTW, I have more important things to do than start false blogs.

Quoting Pnwtraveler (Reply 103): was there actually a solid chance of an announcement

I played along because I figured there probably wasn't anything of substance about to be announced. I follow Yahoo! Finance regularly and rarely does a week go by that you don't see some kind of news related to AAI (FL Stock). AirTran loves to see their name out there on a regular basis.

Everyone needs to wait about 2 weeks. Too me it's really not that big of news. All I can say is that it deals with AirTran and another airline. I'll give clues leading up to the end of the 2 weeks. Right now I'll say that at least 2 people have the right idea, they are very close.

I guess as long as the topic is named "Big Airtran Announcement Tomorrow" it's bound to come true someday. I fell for it too. My finger hurts from hitting the refresh button all day yesterday. I guess I'll wait to see what "tomorrow" brings.

Cheers,
Drew MCO

Quoting Vulindlela744 (Reply 104): One of our seniors exec. is speaking tomorrow morning at a conference and their is alot of specualation that he will announce something then.

To satisfy SEC requirements, public companies usually make "big" announcements in news release form just before/after the stock market closes.

Quoting Av8orwalk (Reply 107): I guess as long as the topic is named "Big Airtran Announcement Tomorrow" it's bound to come true someday.

Free beer tomorrow!

Quoting Devildog2222 (Reply 106): Everyone needs to wait about 2 weeks.

I'd say less than a week, from what I'm hearing.

Quoting Devildog2222 (Reply 106):

Quoting Devildog2222 (Reply 106): Everyone needs to wait about 2 weeks. Too me it's really not that big of news. All I can say is that it deals with AirTran and another airline. I'll give clues leading up to the end of the 2 weeks. Right now I'll say that at least 2 people have the right idea, they are very close.

Do we have to sign up in a secret society to get the clues you are going to leak out? Did you take a blood oath, promising not to reveal the info? Sounds like Dan Brown's new book the "Lost Symbol".

press release just came out

Here's the link: http://pressroom.airtran.com/phoenix...-newsArticle&ID=1350983&highlight=

Skywest and FL out of MKE.

Quoting Pilotfox (Reply 113): Skywest and FL out of MKE.

THAT'S THE BIG NEWS?

Interesting to say the least. I thought FL would never go back to CRJ's.

Quoting MKENut (Reply 115): Interesting to say the least. I thought FL would never go back to CRJ's

Well, they're technically not. It's more of a codeshare than a partnership...where OO handles costs of the flying and the inventory and FL handles the ticket sales.

These will operate under the SkyWest brand. No "AirTran JetConnect".

It looks like AirTran will be serving Omaha once again, but only with CRJs to MKE.

Well there might be more news coming out, because this was not the news I was hearing about. I'll have to talk too my contacts to see if they got there info wrong or if there is still news too come.

Quoting SY738fan (Reply 112): Here's the link: http://pressroom.airtran.com/phoenix...ight=

Here's my take. They had 36 mainline flights scheduled for January and now they have what appears to be 32 mainline plus 12 RJs. That's just for January. They dropped mainline service to STL(2rt)/PIT(1)/IND(1). By April they are back to 36 mainline again, but now with 18 RJs per day.

I would call this a retrenchment and an alliance of aggrieved parties. If Skywest is truly flying this stuff prorate without any support from AirTran, then Skywest is retaliating both against YX for dropping them and regional rival Republic for their ambitions. I say that because if FL could not make money in those markets with their low CASM, what chance does Skywest have of making money with their multiplied CASM. I suspect its a little of both in the real world. AirTran is probably giving them a sweetheart deal on the prorate to keep them from losing too much and Skywest is probably eager to poke Republic/YX in the eye.

I think if this gets bigger it takes away the last unique advantage YX offers in MKE which is their regional feed program. It'll be interesting to see how long the STL service lasts once WN inevitably enters it. Since this is purportedly Skywest at risk flying there are now four major "at risk" players in MKE: FL/WN/YX(F9)/Skywest. Jeez...

Just takled to the contact and this is the big news. The news they were told was that OO was going to do ground handling for AirTran in MKE, which is not happening.

excellent flow thru possibilites within the midwest region rather than having to deal with ORD or DTW. they will pick up a lot of that traffic!

Please continue the discussion here:

Airtran Climbs In Bed With SkyWest In MKE (by Vivavegas Nov 4 2009 in Civil Aviation)