ChrisNH From United States of America, joined Jun 1999, 3805 posts, RR: 2 Posted (9 years 10 months 3 weeks 10 hours ago) and read 2090 times:
There was an interesting Q&A in the Boston Sunday Globe with JetBlue CEO Neeleman. 'Inquiring Minds Want To Know' whether JetBlue will opt for the lure of the big city (Boston) or the more sensible 'Regional' alternative (Manchester, NH). When asked, Neeleman said he likes both and intends to serve both. OK, so now we have that answered. But which airport do you think will lay claim to 'being first?' And will it likely be this year, or later?
John From United States of America, joined Sep 1999, 1366 posts, RR: 6 Reply 1, posted (9 years 10 months 3 weeks 9 hours ago) and read 2024 times:
Good question Chris, but I think BOS will probably be first. I think they need to build up the fleet a little more substantially, before they decide to go head to head with WN in MHT. Right now with 42 airplanes, they seem to be predominately concentrating on increasing transcon services. I wonder if PVD officials are actively persuing B6 as well? There's enough gate capacity there, but they'd have to extend the ticket counter area(which is full) to accomadate B6.
UN_B732 From United States of America, joined Jul 2001, 4286 posts, RR: 5 Reply 2, posted (9 years 10 months 3 weeks 9 hours ago) and read 2023 times:
But Neeleman said that "markets that have already been stimulated he will not go into" SW has made fares to certain destinations cheaper...I could see BOS on the A320 or MHT on the ERJ-190 or maybe both on the 190.
Who knows?
or MHT-LGB??? MHT-FLL??
-UN
Who knows???who knows??
DCA-ROCguy From United States of America, joined Apr 2000, 4402 posts, RR: 37 Reply 3, posted (9 years 10 months 3 weeks 9 hours ago) and read 1980 times:
Nothing against MHT, but I'd bet on Boston first. They'd probably run BOS-LGB and BOS-OAK to start, maybe BOS-FLL; even with a Song presence the density of the market would probably support both.
But it's very possible that with E190's, both MHT and PVD could support flights to JFK, and perhaps MCO and FLL. Both markets are dense enough with outer Boston catchment to support both WN and B6.
N951U From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 4, posted (9 years 10 months 3 weeks 9 hours ago) and read 1959 times:
I'm going to agree with Jim here. Boston seems more logical. There is enough demand on the likely routes that all airlines could prosper. jetBlue is after the business traveler as well, just like everybody else is, and Boston is what they want, not a drive in from Manchester.
ScottysAir From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 6, posted (9 years 10 months 3 weeks 7 hours ago) and read 1873 times:
My guess that jetBlue would flying out from BOS. I think this is should be good for those flight out of BOS. Let see how is doing for announces soon from BOS to OAK/LGB/FLL and I know if Delta as Song was competition nonstop from BOS-FLL flight and jetBlue will decide to began nonstop soon.
OzarkD9S From United States of America, joined Oct 2001, 4680 posts, RR: 23 Reply 7, posted (9 years 10 months 3 weeks 7 hours ago) and read 1825 times:
MHT and PVD are great, but BOS is the big cheese. B6 would need at least a gate and a half to hit the market hard (if they included JFK in the game plan). Frequent flights to JFK plus assorted transcons and a few Florida flights.
MSYtristar From United States of America, joined Aug 2005, 6242 posts, RR: 51 Reply 8, posted (9 years 10 months 3 weeks 6 hours ago) and read 1775 times:
BOS should come first...nonstops to OAK/LGB probably. I could see some E190 flights from MHT to Florida down the road. I don't think B6 will serve PVD along with BOS and MHT, but you never know.
Jeff G From United States of America, joined Jan 2002, 431 posts, RR: 1 Reply 9, posted (9 years 10 months 3 weeks 2 hours ago) and read 1719 times:
No brainer - BOS. I don't see JFK service from there given all the hourly shuttle service to LGA, but for sure we'll see FLL, MCO, TPA, PBI, SJU, and maybe even RSW. LAS is a good possibility, ditto MSY. LGB is a real haul, as is OAK, so I don't know about those unless they can block probably 30 to 40 seats in the winter and still make money. The other blue cities are pretty iffy; they mostly smell like -190 routes if anything, or maybe a daily 320 redeye.
ChrisNH From United States of America, joined Jun 1999, 3805 posts, RR: 2 Reply 10, posted (9 years 10 months 2 weeks 6 days 23 hours ago) and read 1691 times:
Well, the consensus thus far is clearly Boston. Even though I'm a MHT-booster myself, I'd have to agree. However, the issue that comes to mind is the operator of Logan, Massport, and how they gave JetBlue the REALLY 'cold shoulder' a couple years ago when (A) JetBlue wasn't the 'Belle of the ball' they are now, and (B) when Logan was living high off the hog in pre-9/11 days. Of course, things are different now and Massport is courting JetBlue more than Manchester is...so it may end up being Boston.
The wild card in all of this? Song. Delta is building a huge, new terminal at Logan and in creating Song, Delta has made it clear that their target is JetBlue. This is a LCC that they want to vanquish before it reaches a critical mass and is thus unchallengeable (a la Southwest). My question is this: If Delta is pouring millions of $$$ into Logan, and if Logan/Massport and Delta are comfortable bedfellows, is that REALLY the place Neeleman wants to be? Is it conceivable that once landing JetBlue, Massport could 'make things difficult' for the upstart carrier if Delta put some pressure on them (i.e. lousy landing/takeoff slots; taxi instructions that favor DL aircraft over B6 ones; etc.). Some of you may believe in a 'perfect' world where such political hardball doesn't occur. But you're talking about Boston here, where politics is a year-round sport.
UN_B732 From United States of America, joined Jul 2001, 4286 posts, RR: 5 Reply 11, posted (9 years 10 months 2 weeks 6 days 21 hours ago) and read 1646 times:
BOS-MSY could be good for jetBlue. MHT-FLL or MCO is a no-no cause Neeleman said "He won't go into markets that are stimulated" Stimulated by SOUTHWEST.
-UN
DeltAirlines From United States of America, joined May 1999, 8771 posts, RR: 13 Reply 12, posted (9 years 10 months 2 weeks 6 days 19 hours ago) and read 1589 times:
I'm going to go against you guys and say that I think MHT is going to get the nod over BOS. I have a few reasons for this:
1.) Lack of terminal space at BOS. The only available space at BOS is in Terminal E, which also happens to be the newest (opened last month) and most expensive terminal. Neeleman said that he is not that interested in paying extra for these gates. Also, he said he thinks he can get a spot in Terminal A when that opens up in 2005. If that happens, then we have a problem, since we all know that Delta is not going to let JetBlue anywhere near its latest jewel in their crown. Most likely, they will be in Terminal C in 2005 (the ex-DL/CO gates, since CO most likely will be moving to A with DL).
2.) Song. While we could use some more Florida service, DL will not be afraid to inundate the Florida market with seats. In Boston, I have found that most people will fly AA, DL, or US, as it seems Bostonians are addicted to their FF programs. If DL is offering the same service, but at a greater frequency, the people will go with Song. Just mention "Delta SkyMiles" and voila.
3.) Manchester doesn't have a ton of competition on potential B6 routes. MHT-FLL is crying out for service, and this would be an instant hit. The only current MHT-FLL service is once weekly WN 737 service during the winter only. The only cities with Florida service out of MHT are CO / KMCO), USA - Florida">MCO and TPA, both could handle an extra daily A320. West coast service would also work out of MHT, since the market is large enough to handle a daily to LGB and OAK. Also, as of December, when I would assume B6 would start either their BOS or MHT services, MHT will be getting some new gates. Neeleman said in that article that service to either one of the cities would start at around this time, so I see 2 and 2 adding up together here to equal 4.
Sllevin From United States of America, joined Jan 2002, 3376 posts, RR: 6 Reply 13, posted (9 years 10 months 2 weeks 6 days 18 hours ago) and read 1548 times:
Manchester doesn't have a ton of competition on potential B6 routes. MHT-FLL is crying out for service, and this would be an instant hit. The only current MHT-FLL service is once weekly WN 737 service during the winter only.
True, but not exactly the whole story. Even right now (July) there's two WN flights a day that are one-stop, no change of plane flights. I believe it would be a significant mistake for jetBlue to go quite so head-to-head with Southwest. Operating MHT-FLL/OAK/LGB would be even worse -- they would be opening a base and then going nose-to-nose with Southwest on MULTIPLE routes. There are better places to use airplanes right now than on routes where you'd have to flight Southwest.
Bhill From United States of America, joined Sep 2001, 843 posts, RR: 0 Reply 14, posted (9 years 10 months 2 weeks 6 days 18 hours ago) and read 1504 times:
Man...I hope it is MHT..BOS is a mess getting into and out of and will be until Massport gets the project done (if ever) at Logan. Besides, MHT is MUCH easier to get to/from, without getting nickled and dimed to death by the toll collectors!!!
DeltAirlines From United States of America, joined May 1999, 8771 posts, RR: 13 Reply 16, posted (9 years 10 months 2 weeks 6 days 14 hours ago) and read 1425 times:
I wouldn't be surprised to see WN launch MHT-FLL, especially with their new terminal down there. I still think that, since WN doesn't have the non-stop yet, that B6 could easily come right on in and swoop this route up.
MAH4546 From Sweden, joined Jan 2001, 31117 posts, RR: 74 Reply 17, posted (9 years 10 months 2 weeks 6 days 13 hours ago) and read 1409 times:
BOS-MCO/TPA/PBI on jetBlue is highly unlikely. jetBlue puts the Florida focus on FLL and nobody else. Although that can change in the future, for now that seems to be where it will stay. Also, if jetBlue were to hypthetically start FLL-PVD or MHT, they need not wait for the 190s. Total O&D passengers on Miami-Providence is 720 a day, largest without non-stop service. Miami-Manchester is 395 passengers a day with only a Saturday-only during the winter months. Filling up an A320 would be no problem. With the 190s though, two routes that are a given, IMO, are FLL-PWM and FLL-BVT, both with significant O&D traffic, especially for cities of thier size.
Elwood64151 From United States of America, joined Feb 2002, 2477 posts, RR: 7 Reply 18, posted (9 years 10 months 2 weeks 6 days 9 hours ago) and read 1348 times:
BOS, of course. MHT isn't really a Boston airport, though it is used that way by some, especially by the people in the northern suburbs.
My question is when is B6 coming to a) MCI and b) BDL so I can fly them?
Cheers!
Those who fail to learn history are doomed to repeat it in summer school.
Luv2fly From United States of America, joined May 2003, 11957 posts, RR: 51 Reply 19, posted (9 years 10 months 2 weeks 6 days 9 hours ago) and read 1344 times:
I think BOS is what they want, tho when I read the article I can see that between the airport authority and B6 they are miles apart so my guess would be MHT would/will be first.
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