This compares what is for sale THIS WEEK for the stated period versus what was for sale LAST WEEK...It does NOT compare to last year or now.

How to read:
Flights are daily except as noted "/wk" which means per week.
ABE-MDT 2>10/WK means a reduction from 2 daily flights to 10 flights per week which is about 1.5 flights
ABE-MDT 3>2 APR means a reduction in one roundtrip from 3 to 2 for April only
ABE-MDT 3.8>2.7 APR-JUN This is the raw format of the data which sometimes I'm too lazy to retype. It means that over a month they were averaging a little less than 4 trips per day and now it's a little less than 3 per day. So, basically they cancelled 8 flights per week or so. Airlines are doing A LOT of non-daily ops now, so these fractions are pervasive.
ABE-MDT 4>6 MAY- means an increase from 4 to 6 roundtrips starting in May and continuing
ABE-MDT 4>6 MAY-JUN, 5>6 JUL means the change is only for the stated period May to June and then a different change for July in the same route


AA
DFW-GJT 2>3 FEB-
DFW-MSN 2>3 FEB-
DFW-PIA 2>3 FEB-
DFW-QRO 0>1 FEB-
ORD-AZO 6>5 APR-
ORD-CMI 5>6 FEB-
ORD-FWA 3>4 FEB-
ORD-SPI 3>2 APR-

AS
GEG-SJC 1>0 JAN-
GEG-SMF 1>0 JAN-
LAX-RNO 3>2 MAR-
PDX-SEA 21>22 JAN-MAR
SJC-SMF 2>1 JAN-

CO
EWR-GSP 2>3 MAR
IAH-PVR 4>3 MAR-APR
MCO-MIA 4>5 DEC-

UA
UA adopted CO's traditional program of heavy mid-week cancel downs with day of week cancellations extending through June on many routes. These are flights cut per month using mid-week cancels. The cuts are nearly 2% of total departures in some hubs for some months.

DEN
JAN 25502>25329 -.7%
FEB 23606>23376 -1%
MAR 27022>26914 -.4%
APR 25692>25684 -.1%
IAD
JAN 11912>11728 -1.6%
FEB 10931>10834 -.8%
ORD
JAN 35956>35360 -1.7%
FEB 33153>32797 -1.1%
MAR 37579>37428 -.5%
APR 36466>36154 -.8%
MAY 37716>37424 -.7%
SFO
JAN 14797>14640 -1.1%
FEB 13513>13388 -1%
MAR 15371>15308 -.5%
APR 14972>14909 -.5%

ORD-DCA 15>14 JAN-
ORD-LGA 17>16 JAN-

DL
ATL-CVG 7>8 MAR-
ATL-ELP 3>2 MAY-
ATL-MGM 6>7 MAR-APR
ATL-MKE 7>6 MAY-
CVG-CDG 1>6/WK JAN-FEB
DTW-PHX 4>5 MAR-
DTW-TRI 0>1 FEB
DTW-XNA 3>2 JUN-
DTW-YQB 3>2 MAY-
JFK-AMM 4/WK>3/WK JAN-FEB
JFK-ATH 1>6/WK JAN-FEB
JFK-FCO 1>6/WK JAN-FEB
JFK-PHX 1>2 MAR-
JFK-SNA 4/WK>0 JAN-FEB; 1>0 MAR-
MEM-AMS 1>5/WK JAN-FEB
MEM-TLH 1>0 JAN-
MSP-BIS 7>6 MAR-APR
MSP-IAD 3>4 MAR-APR
SLC-SGU 7>3 JAN-FEB; Odd?
SLC-SUN 6>7 JAN-FEB

FL
DFW-MKE 2>0 JAN-

G4
Some of these take place in Dec and some in Feb. I don't analyze these too much because G4 doesn't take great care with their OAG filings since they don't use GDS distribution much, but this is a significant change because of the SFB>MCO move.
ABE-MCO 0.6>0.0
ABE-SFB 0.0>0.9
AZA-BZN 0.3>0.0
AZA-IDA 0.3>0.0
AZA-MLI 0.3>0.3
AZA-XNA 0.1>0.0
BLI-LAS 1.4>2.1
BLI-PSP 0.4>0.3
BZN-AZA 0.3>0.0
CID-LAS 0.3>0.6
DSM-MCO 0.4>0.0
DSM-SFB 0.0>0.3
ELM-FLL 0.3>0.0
FLL-ELM 0.3>0.0
GRR-MCO 0.3>0.0
GRR-PGD 0.3>0.0
GRR-SFB 0.0>0.6
GSO-PGD 0.3>0.0
GSP-MCO 0.4>0.0
GSP-SFB 0.0>0.6
HTS-MCO 0.3>0.0
HTS-SFB 0.0>0.4
IDA-AZA 0.3>0.0
LAS-BFL 0.4>0.4
LAS-BLI 2.1>1.5
LAS-EUG 0.0>0.3
LAS-MFE 0.7>0.9
LAS-MSO 0.3>0.3
LEX-MCO 0.3>0.0
LEX-PGD 0.3>0.0
LEX-SFB 0.0>0.3
MCO-ABE 0.6>0.0
MCO-DSM 0.4>0.0
MCO-GRR 0.3>0.0
MCO-GSP 0.4>0.0
MCO-HTS 0.3>0.0
MCO-LEX 0.3>0.0
MCO-SGF 0.3>0.0
MCO-TRI 0.3>0.0
MCO-TYS 0.4>0.0
MCO-YNG 0.3>0.0
MFE-LAS 0.7>0.9
MLI-AZA 0.3>0.3
MSO-LAS 0.3>0.3
PGD-GRR 0.3>0.0
PGD-GSO 0.3>0.0
PGD-LEX 0.3>0.0
PIA-PIE 0.1>0.3
PIE-PIA 0.1>0.3
PIE-YNG 0.3>0.0
PSP-BLI 0.4>0.3
SFB-ABE 0.0>1.0
SFB-DSM 0.0>0.3
SFB-GRR 0.0>0.6
SFB-GSP 0.0>0.6
SFB-HTS 0.0>0.4
SFB-LEX 0.0>0.3
SFB-SGF 0.0>0.6
SFB-TRI 0.0>0.3
SFB-TYS 0.0>0.7
SFB-YNG 0.0>0.3
SGF-MCO 0.3>0.0
SGF-SFB 0.0>0.6
TRI-MCO 0.3>0.0
TRI-SFB 0.0>0.3
TYS-MCO 0.4>0.0
TYS-SFB 0.0>0.7
XNA-AZA 0.1>0.0
YNG-MCO 0.3>0.0
YNG-PIE 0.3>0.0
YNG-SFB 0.0>0.3

NK
FLL-LAS 2>1 MAY-
FLL-ORD 5>4 FEB-
FLL-SDQ 3>2 MAY-

PD
MYR-YTZ 0>4/WK FEB-

US
BOS-CUN 0>1/WK FEB-APR
CLT-FLO 5>6 JAN-
CLT-LYH 5>6 JAN-
CLT-DAB 3>4 FEB

WN
Loaded weekend reductions for January. Unusual for them to do cancel-downs after the schedule is already loaded.

Y4
LAX-MLM 4/WK>6/WK FEB-
LAX-TLC 4/WK>1 DEC-JAN
LAX-ZCL 3/WK>5/WK FEB-
OAK-GDL 2>1 FEB-

My favorite posting of each week!
Thanks!

Quoting enilria (Thread starter): SLC-SGU 7>3 JAN-FEB; Odd?

Possibly related to the new SGU opening and DL starting to use CRJs on the route?

Quoting enilria (Thread starter): MEM-TLH 1>0 JAN-

Poor TLH, truly one of DL's red-headed stepchildren.

AA reducing O'Hare to Springfield, IL to twice daily is a little surprising. You would think there is a fair amount of traffic between Chicago and Illinois' capital, unless people are simply driving or taking Amtrak more and flying less.

Quoting sldispatcher (Reply 1): My favorite posting of each week! Thanks!

        

Quoting enilria (Thread starter): G4

A few of these routes were recently announced such as ELM-FLL and I believe PGD-LEX, I wonder if its an error, or if they are in fact being cancelled already.

Quoting sldispatcher (Reply 1): My favorite posting of each week!

     

Quoting DeltAirlines (Reply 2): Possibly related to the new SGU opening

What new SGU opening?

Quoting FlyPNS1 (Reply 3): Quoting enilria (Thread starter): MEM-TLH 1>0 JAN- Poor TLH, truly one of DL's red-headed stepchildren.

I think this continues a trend I spied a couple of months ago. As soon as DL entered negotiations with CVG over dumping their terminal and such on them, they have refrained from much in the way of cuts...but MEM has started to be on a downward trajectory since then in terms of destinations served. I don't know if that means MEM is in trouble or if they are simply unable to pry more planes loose from CVG while they negotiate so they have to come from somewhere and MEM is next on the list.

Quoting ckfred (Reply 4): AA reducing O'Hare to Springfield, IL to twice daily is a little surprising. You would think there is a fair amount of traffic between Chicago and Illinois' capital, unless people are simply driving or taking Amtrak more and flying less.

I always find it interesting when an airline does a press release for new services like AA did recently with the ORD frequencies, but we don't find out what got cut to do it until the OAG update.

Quoting BooDog (Reply 5):

 

Quoting rl757pvd (Reply 6): A few of these routes were recently announced such as ELM-FLL and I believe PGD-LEX, I wonder if its an error, or if they are in fact being cancelled already.

No idea. I usually don't even post the G4 changes because they tend to be erratic, but again this had the SFB-MCO move so I included the whole mess. Check G4's website and see if they are still for sale and report back for us!!!

Quoting enilria (Reply 7): What new SGU opening?

Brand new airport on the other side of town!!

Quoting enilria (Thread starter): AS GEG-SJC 1>0 JAN- GEG-SMF 1>0 JAN-

Quoting enilria (Thread starter): SJC-SMF 2>1 JAN-

Well.........that didn't last long.

Quoting enilria (Thread starter): JFK-SNA 4/WK>0 JAN-FEB; 1>0 MAR

Well.........that didn't last long either.

You gotta appreciate carriers for trying, but you gotta lament the loss of the unique.

-Dave

Quoting enilria (Thread starter): SLC-SGU 7>3 JAN-FEB; Odd?

SLC-SGU is actually going from 7x EM2 to 4x CRJ,1x EM2 (3x CRJ on sat, sun) beginning Jan 13 to coincide with the new airport opening.

SkyWest To Begin CRJ Service Out Of SGU (by xpfg Nov 6 2010 in Civil Aviation)



[Edited 2010-11-10 10:30:12]

Glad to see DFW-QRO and DFW-VER are finally up for booking!

Who would have thought that the ill-timed JFK-SNA flights wouldn't have worked??????

Quoting rl757pvd (Reply 6): Quoting enilria (Thread starter): G4 A few of these routes were recently announced such as ELM-FLL and I believe PGD-LEX, I wonder if its an error, or if they are in fact being cancelled already.

When G4 announces service they don't wait to operate a few months to see if low boardings will grow. They'll cancel on a new market entirely, before service starts, if the numbers aren't there.

Quoting dsuairptman (Reply 13): Quoting rl757pvd (Reply 6): Quoting enilria (Thread starter): G4 A few of these routes were recently announced such as ELM-FLL and I believe PGD-LEX, I wonder if its an error, or if they are in fact being cancelled already. When G4 announces service they don't wait to operate a few months to see if low boardings will grow. They'll cancel on a new market entirely, before service starts, if the numbers aren't there.

All the new flights....PGD-LEX, PGD-GSO, FLL-ELM, etc. are still bookable through April on allegiantair.com

Interesting to see YNG losing PIE so soon after the deal they just entered into with G4....

Quoting OOSLC (Reply 8): Brand new airport on the other side of town!!

Isn't it unusual to retain the same 3 letter identifier?

Quoting PlanesNTrains (Reply 9): Well.........that didn't last long.

That may be related to the plan to convert QX to only ASM purchase flying for AS.

Quoting PlanesNTrains (Reply 9): Well.........that didn't last long either.

SNA-JFK was doomed. They should have left the flight where it was instead of moving it to JFK.

Quoting enilria (Reply 16): Isn't it unusual to retain the same 3 letter identifier?

Not when the old SGU/KSGU will be closed permanently. The new SGU airport is a replacement airport. When Denver International Airport opened in 1995, the DEN/KDEN identifiers were transferred from Stapleton to the new DIA as well.

Quoting toltommy (Reply 15): Interesting to see YNG losing PIE so soon after the deal they just entered into with G4....

I was thinking the same thing. Anyone know what the deal is. Service was to begin Nov. 17 according to the PIE airport website.

Quoting enilria (Thread starter): AS GEG-SJC 1>0 JAN- GEG-SMF 1>0 JAN-

Well, that's the end of the GEG focus city. There will now just be SEA (AS/QX) and PDX (QX) out of there. I must admit, over the years they really have tried just about every conceivable thing out of there (SMF, SJC, LAX, SAN, etc.). Too bad none of it worked out.

Quoting enilria (Thread starter): SJC-SMF 2>1 JAN-

The O&D on this one must be incredibly low. Do they really see a bunch of folks connecting through SJC and/or SMF to justify the flight? Or is it just a means of a/c or crew repositioning?

Quoting enilria (Thread starter): JFK-SNA 4/WK>0 JAN-FEB; 1>0 MAR-

It's unbelievable that SNA has supported virtually none of its new air service, other than WN to SFO, DEN, and MDW. VX and AC quickly pulled out, DL tried not one but two unique Eastern destinations, and even CO's Hawaii flights had to be reduced to seasonal. The folks at the airport used to brag about a long list of airlines wanting in and/or incumbents wanting to expand. With all these failures, I have to wonder if that is still the case. I think the airport folks should be trying much harder to get residents to use SNA instead of LGB and LAX.

Quoting enilria (Thread starter): PD MYR-YTZ 0>4/WK FEB-

Why are they wasting valuable slots on this route? Couldn't they be put to better use serving a key business market like PHL?

Quoting enilria (Thread starter): US BOS-CUN 0>1/WK FEB-APR

Quoting enilria (Thread starter): Y4

I thought BOS was now a network spoke? Are they still serving other leisure hotspots out of there?

Quoting enilria (Reply 16): Quoting PlanesNTrains (Reply 9): Well.........that didn't last long either. SNA-JFK was doomed.

Yes, but one city's loss is another city's gain. PHX-JFK goes up to 2 daily. The additional flight is a redeye and competes with both US and B6.

So next summer, there will be 3 daytime PHX-JFK flights (2 on US, 1 on DL), and 3 redeye flights (1 each DL, B6, US). It looks like B6 drops their daytime PHX-JFK flight in the summer (or has not yet been loaded in the system).

I don't recall ever seeing redeyes making up 50% of the total flights from PHX-JFK. This seems very high.

Quoting enilria (Reply 16): Quoting OOSLC (Reply 8): Brand new airport on the other side of town!! Isn't it unusual to retain the same 3 letter identifier?

:Not when the old airport closes when the new one opens which I believe is the plan for SGU.

Quoting SurfandSnow (Reply 19): Well, that's the end of the GEG focus city. There will now just be SEA (AS/QX) and PDX (QX) out of there. I must admit, over the years they really have tried just about every conceivable thing out of there (SMF, SJC, LAX, SAN, etc.). Too bad none of it worked out.

Unfortunately, the BOI/GEG focus cities (once full-fledged hubs for QX with near or over 50 flights a day) have long been gone. Luckily SEA-GEG and BOI-GEG still have as much service as they do. It's just now it's mostly spoke flying...

Unrelated question: I've noticed that on Wednesdays in early-mid December, DL is flying 4 mainline in one day between BOI-SLC... is this a glitch or for real? If its real, that's the first time they've offered 4 mainline in a day on that route since probably 1999-2000. Considering the norm is 2x daily mainline, anyone know why they'd suddenly do 4 just on Wednesdays? Regardless, I'm happy to see it.  

Cheers!
Anthony/Airport

Quoting Airport (Reply 22): Unfortunately, the BOI/GEG focus cities (once full-fledged hubs for QX with near or over 50 flights a day) have long been gone. Luckily SEA-GEG and BOI-GEG still have as much service as they do. It's just now it's mostly spoke flying...

If I'm not mistaken, BOI-GEG is down to 2x a day and only on WN as of their new schedule. QX dropped the route after Labor day in 2009. The funny part personally is that I stopped using the route in August 2009, and I had been taking it at least weekly. Just one of those weird coincidences, I guess...

Whoops! Sorry, I meant SEA-GEG, and SEA-BOI, not BOI-GEG. Freudian slip.  

Yeah, too bad that BOI-GEG is gone, I used to fly that all the time, that was one of QX's oldest routes.

Cheers!
Anthony/Airport

Quoting Airport (Reply 24): Whoops! Sorry, I meant SEA-GEG, and SEA-BOI, not BOI-GEG. Freudian slip. Yeah, too bad that BOI-GEG is gone, I used to fly that all the time, that was one of QX's oldest routes.

For sure, it is too bad. It seemed to die a slow death after being cut from 3x to 2x per day on QX. They played around with the times enough in its last year or two that even the regulars didn't know know time the flights were anymore. Sad  

Quoting jfklganyc (Reply 12): Who would have thought that the ill-timed JFK-SNA flights wouldn't have worked??????

I well recall the DL fan boys praising the new flight.

Quoting SurfandSnow (Reply 19): long list of airlines wanting in and/or incumbents wanting to expand. With all these failures, I have to wonder if that is still the case

Yes there are 3 new entrant airlines on the list -- AirTran, Westjet and Horizon. County board will decide by January who get slots for the next schedule period commencing April 1, 2011.

In addition SWA has a standing commitment to pick up any slots that should become vacant.

Quoting SurfandSnow (Reply 19): I think the airport folks should be trying much harder to get residents to use SNA instead of LGB and LAX.

Well in fairness all available slots do get allocated to airlines, so its not like the airport is operating below possible maximum alloted slot capacity.

Quoting LAXintl (Reply 26): Yes there are 3 new entrant airlines on the list -- AirTran, Westjet and Horizon. County board will decide by January who get slots for the next schedule period commencing April 1, 2011.

Horizon is the only carrier that I could see still wanting them. Westjet has to be cautious about wanting the slots after AC failed there. And I can't see FL, while still independent making either MKE/ATL work

Quoting jfklganyc (Reply 12): Who would have thought that the ill-timed JFK-SNA flights wouldn't have worked??????

Actually, I'm not surprised. As we all know, travel in January and February is extremely slow. I think DL will bring it back when demand picks back up in March. I look for them to re-time the flight to early a.m. eastbound and an evening departure westbound.
What have the loads been like thus far?

Quoting SurfandSnow (Reply 19): Quoting enilria (Thread starter): SJC-SMF 2>1 JAN-

[quote=SurfandSnow,reply=19]The O&D on this one must be incredibly low. Do they really see a bunch of folks connecting through SJC and/or SMF to justify the flight? Or is it just a means of a/c or crew repositioning?

The SJC-SMF runs are part of GEG-SMF-SJC round robin and same from BOI. Just to offer pax options from BOI/GEG to both SJC and SMF with one plane for each.

Quoting OH-LGA (Reply 17): When Denver International Airport opened in 1995, the DEN/KDEN identifiers were transferred from Stapleton to the new DIA as well.

Good point.

Quoting SurfandSnow (Reply 19): Quoting enilria (Thread starter): SJC-SMF 2>1 JAN- The O&D on this one must be incredibly low. Do they really see a bunch of folks connecting through SJC and/or SMF to justify the flight? Or is it just a means of a/c or crew repositioning?

It has to be a repo/tag. I didn't even know they flew it.

Quoting SurfandSnow (Reply 19): It's unbelievable that SNA has supported virtually none of its new air service, other than WN to SFO, DEN, and MDW.

We don't know that stuff even does well. They only added SFO/DEN to shaft VX and F9. They probably both suck. Who knows about MDW.

Quoting SurfandSnow (Reply 19): Why are they wasting valuable slots on this route? Couldn't they be put to better use serving a key business market like PHL?

I suspect PD is really just covering Winter slots and airplanes until Summer comes and they can move them to something better inside Canada.

Quoting EricR (Reply 20): Quoting enilria (Reply 16): Quoting PlanesNTrains (Reply 9): Well.........that didn't last long either. SNA-JFK was doomed. Yes, but one city's loss is another city's gain. PHX-JFK goes up to 2 daily. The additional flight is a redeye and competes with both US and B6.

With the two PHX adds I wondered if this is part of the quiet ongoing peeing match between US and DL that has been growing since the slot deal collapsed.

Quoting LAXintl (Reply 26): In addition SWA has a standing commitment to pick up any slots that should become vacant.

WN, your friendly neighborhood monopolist.

Quoting smoot4208 (Reply 27): And I can't see FL, while still independent making either MKE/ATL work

Well considering the planned purchase by SWA, makes absolute sense for FL to acquire slots IMO which can get passed downline to SWA.
Slots are not married to destinations, so getting 3 or so new entrant slots could have nice long term value for SWA.

Quoting enilria (Thread starter): DEN JAN 25502>25329 -.7% FEB 23606>23376 -1% MAR 27022>26914 -.4% APR 25692>25684 -.1%

This is interesting to me. I know overall most airports see lulls in that time but January and February are high months for skiier visits. DEN and SLC always feel more crowded to me in January and February then in October, non thanksgiving November or May. Baggage Claim seems incredibly busier. Does anyone have any data on o&d at DIA month by month?

Quoting SlcDeltaRUmd11 (Reply 32): This is interesting to me. I know overall most airports see lulls in that time but January and February are high months for skiier visits. DEN and SLC always feel more crowded to me in January and February then in October, non thanksgiving November or May. Baggage Claim seems incredibly busier. Does anyone have any data on o&d at DIA month by month?

Jan 7-Feb 12 is a lull for DEN, but keep in mind leisure (ski) doesn't fly much on Tue/Wed and that's when most of these flights were cut. These were all day of week cancels above and beyond what UA normally does...and had already planned. CO is much more agressive by spot cancels of weak flights.

Quoting LAXintl (Reply 26): Quoting jfklganyc (Reply 12):Who would have thought that the ill-timed JFK-SNA flights wouldn't have worked??????I well recall the DL fan boys praising the new flight.

God forbid DL try a new route and someone be supportive of it.   They tried it and it didn't work. At the very least, they tried it. I realize that some on this board are thrilled every time a DL route fails, but believe me, that attitude gets very old, very fast.

Quoting smoot4208 (Reply 27): Westjet has to be cautious about wanting the slots after AC failed there

Westjet is supposed to do noise checks before the end of the year.

WW

Quoting toltommy (Reply 15): Interesting to see YNG losing PIE so soon after the deal they just entered into with G4....

It shows on their website through 5/14. Maybe they aren't running it over the summer and that's what OAG picked up.

Quoting enilria (Reply 33): keep in mind leisure (ski) doesn't fly much on Tue/Wed and that's when most of these flights were cut.

oh ok that makes more sense then, thanks

Quoting OA412 (Reply 34): At the very least, they tried it.

Well, by trying it they took it away from another Delta hub. Clearly it was worse at JFK than DTW given that it lasted hardly any time. That makes me question why they moved it in the first place. Now WN is gonna get one more slot at SNA.  

Quoting OA412 (Reply 34): God forbid DL try a new route and someone be supportive of it.   They tried it and it didn't work. At the very least, they tried it. I realize that some on this board are thrilled every time a DL route fails, but believe me, that attitude gets very old, very fast.

We'll it would help the credibility of some if they would take off the rose color glasses and be a bit critical of DL moves instead of clapping for everything that comes along such as this ill timed SNA-JFK venture.

Quoting enilria (Reply 38): Now WN is gonna get one more slot at SNA.

And whats wrong with that?

They offer something that works, and people enjoy.

They did not become the largest airline in California for no reason.

Anyhow, this slot is still Delta's to use on something else. The slots up for reallocation are the former VX and AC slots.

Quoting LAXintl (Reply 39): And whats wrong with that?

Domination of slots by one carrier is always bad. Note how much DAL fares have gone up. BTW, I realize it's not technically slot restricted there, but it might as well be.

Quoting enilria (Reply 40): Domination of slots by one carrier is always bad. Note how much DAL fares have gone up. BTW, I realize it's not technically slot restricted there, but it might as well be.

It looks like there may a change coming to the way slots are awarded. From the up coming agenda from the SNA airport commission agenda. Not exactly sure what it means but I am sure someone on here can explain it. Maybe LAXintl

"REALLOCATION OF “ORIGINAL” CLASS A AVERAGE DAILY DEPARTURES AT JWA (ASR 10-001648) Authorize the “grandfathering” and reallocation of “original” Regulated Class A Average Daily Departures (“ADDs”) and related capacity at John Wayne Airport, Orange County"

Quoting enilria (Reply 40): Domination of slots by one carrier is always bad. Note how much DAL fares have gone up. BTW, I realize it's not technically slot restricted there, but it might as well be.

We agree to disagree. I don't buy the Southwest domination argument especially here in California. SWA is the #1 airline at all state airports it serves except LAX and SFO, but we still enjoy very robust competition and friendly and low fare service thanks to SWA.

Quoting gmcc (Reply 41): It looks like there may a change coming to the way slots are awarded.

Nothing major. Really just reaffirming grand father rights for incumbent carriers for the 70 or so current slots from April 1, 2011, through December 31, 2015 as part of the updated airport operating leases which are in the renewal process now. All current air carrier leases expire March 31, 2011.

For the record and not directly related to this action, 2011 will be last scheduling year that vacant slot reallocations are being issued on April 1 onward basis and instead will revert to a 12-month calender planning year period effective January 1st 2012. As expected some airlines prefer a simple calender year, while others prefer April schedule period change especially for start ups or new routes. Cant please everyone.

[Edited 2010-11-11 23:06:51]

Quoting enilria (Reply 40): Note how much DAL fares have gone up.

One of the biggest reasons DAL fares have gone up is the fact that tickets from DAL aren't restricted to the within-perimeter cities anymore. A DAL-SEA ticket is going to typically cost more than a DAL-TUL ticket. But it is also true that fares have gone up from DAL as Southwest's costs have gone up. Either way, average fares at DAL remain lower than average fares at DFW to their respective spokes.

I suppose it might be of greater concern if Southwest actually priced like a monopolist. Their average fare in 2010Q2 for SJC-SNA, a route on which they held a monopoly, was slightly lower than their average fare in the same period for SNA-PHX, a route on which they competed with US Airways. Their monopoly OAK-SNA fare was about 15% higher than their SFO-SNA fare -- an airport pair with two other non-stop competitors. Compare that to a monopoly market of similar stage length like PVD-DCA where US Airways' average fare was well over twice Southwest's OAK-SNA fare.

Quoting LAXintl (Reply 42): We agree to disagree.

Quoting ScottB (Reply 43): One of the biggest reasons DAL fares have gone up is the fact that tickets from DAL aren't restricted to the within-perimeter cities anymore.

Does that explain why the average fare in DOT from DAL to HOU has gone from $65 to $110 in the last 5 years, while air fares have gone down overall?

It seems as if DFW-MKE will resume in March for FL. Perhaps this is a misload and will be corrected again next week, or it could be that they are just seasonally discontinuing the route from Jan-Mar.

Also, it appears that the often asked question of DL's future in HTS will finally be answered: DL will transfer its twice daily service from CVG to DTW beginning in March. HTS had the distinction of being the only city in the DL network that was solely served via CVG.