Maiznblu_757 From United States of America, joined Mar 2002, 5112 posts, RR: 52 Posted (9 years 4 months 2 days 8 hours ago) and read 2790 times:
I know Grand Rapids needs to expand before it could support any new airlines, but, how well do you think F9 would do with a couple daily GRR-DEN flights? There are no nonstop flights west of DFW/MSP from Grand Rapids. This might open things up to the west.
UAL would also do well I think. They already serve GRR with a mix of A319/A320/737's to ORD.
Syncmaster From United States of America, joined Jul 2002, 1983 posts, RR: 14 Reply 1, posted (9 years 4 months 2 days 6 hours ago) and read 2684 times:
I wouldn't count on F9 doing it until another LCC does (i.e. B6) especially since UA would start the same route, and I'm sure down the road NW would too.
Tan flyr From United States of America, joined Aug 2000, 1847 posts, RR: 0 Reply 2, posted (9 years 4 months 1 day 23 hours ago) and read 2652 times:
As a former midwest native, I seem to recall that UA had nonstops to DEN from a lot of cities around the Great Lakes,ie: FWA,SBN, TOL and I think GRR at one time.
Seems to me that an opportunity exists here for RJ's to DEN particularly now with the restictions at ORD. However AA seems to have thought of this first with its RJ's to DFW from a number of these locations.
Access-Air From United States of America, joined Sep 2000, 1939 posts, RR: 15 Reply 3, posted (9 years 4 months 1 day 23 hours ago) and read 2647 times:
It all depends.
Back in the day, before airlines went hub and spoke crazy, United flew "big" 727s and 737s from cities such as Moline, South Bend, Ft. Wayne, etc.. out to Denver. A 1979 UAL timetable shows such flights... Most people hate changing planes thru Ohare and if GRR had a nonstop link to Denver via Frontier using their new regional partner it just might work.
UA has biggger fish to fry I'm not so sure that Jet Blue would go there...
Just my opinion....
Capt078 From United States of America, joined Jul 2003, 421 posts, RR: 2 Reply 4, posted (9 years 4 months 1 day 21 hours ago) and read 2619 times:
i think the only chance would be an rj flight to a western city. aa flies erj's to dfw, and continental flies the erj-145xr to houston. the problem of course, is that there is not much of a call for nonstops to the west from grand rapids. northwest has 8 or 9 frequencies all through the mcnamara terminal at detroit connecting with dozens of western flights. add to this connections through msp, mem, ord (aa and ual), mdw (ata), stl and dfw (aa), cle, ewr, and iah (continental), atl and cvg (delta), pit (us), and mke (midwest), and these pretty much satisfy demand. furthermore, grand rapids sees much less mainline traffic than it used to. continental, aa, us airways, ata, and midwest all use regionals, delta uses regionals and one 737-200, ual uses mainly crj's and bae-146s, along with two 737s, and even northwest runs a couple arj's to detroit.
the best argument for the need for western nonstops is the overcapacity at chicago. however, whether or not this will result in western nonstops is in question.
SprxflySWA From United States of America, joined Nov 2003, 597 posts, RR: 0 Reply 6, posted (9 years 4 months 1 day 13 hours ago) and read 2513 times:
I would think a nonstop to Las Vegas would be the most likely of routes.
As for old mainline flights, I was looking at a July 1,1970 United timetable, and from Youngstown,OH (YNG), they had: 4 NONSTOPS all the way to Akron/Canton (CAK),2 nonstops to ORD,3 nonstops to Newark (EWR),1 n/s to Philadelphia,and 5 nonstops to Pittsburgh.
Flyingbronco05 From United States of America, joined May 2002, 3838 posts, RR: 3 Reply 7, posted (9 years 4 months 1 day 13 hours ago) and read 2502 times:
Wedgetail737 From United States of America, joined Aug 2003, 5534 posts, RR: 5 Reply 11, posted (9 years 4 months 1 day 12 hours ago) and read 2431 times:
The only airline that would be gutsy enough to fly nonstop to LAS would be Allegiant Air. But they already serve LAN. How far is GRR from LAN?
In terms of F9, I would think they would they inaugurate service to DTW before any other secondary airports.
Syncmaster From United States of America, joined Jul 2002, 1983 posts, RR: 14 Reply 12, posted (9 years 4 months 1 day 12 hours ago) and read 2425 times:
Yes, GRR get's service from Chicago Express, WMUPilot should be able to fill you in on that
Wedgetail737 From United States of America, joined Aug 2003, 5534 posts, RR: 5 Reply 13, posted (9 years 4 months 1 day 12 hours ago) and read 2411 times:
Is Chicago Express considered as part of the LCC pack, since they are associated with ATA??? It would be nice to see Air Tran fly to GRR.
CALMSP From United States of America, joined Aug 2003, 3662 posts, RR: 8 Reply 14, posted (9 years 4 months 1 day 12 hours ago) and read 2408 times:
i dont think F9 would fly to DTW first, why jump into a market and compete with two major airlines. If they fly into GRR they will not have competition with anyone, all they will have is steal people from UAL, since most pax of UAL flights seem to be going to DEN.
okay, I'm waiting for the rich to spread the wealth around to me. Please mail your checks to my house.
Maiznblu_757 From United States of America, joined Mar 2002, 5112 posts, RR: 52 Reply 15, posted (9 years 4 months 1 day 12 hours ago) and read 2403 times:
LAN is approximately 70 miles East of GRR.
IIll 4th the Southwest idea..
Markets I could see Southwest serving from GRR:
BWI
MCO
HOU
MDW
LAS
PHX
Maiznblu_757 From United States of America, joined Mar 2002, 5112 posts, RR: 52 Reply 16, posted (9 years 4 months 1 day 12 hours ago) and read 2400 times:
Wedgetail737 From United States of America, joined Aug 2003, 5534 posts, RR: 5 Reply 18, posted (9 years 4 months 1 day 12 hours ago) and read 2389 times:
CALMSP...F9 is building a focus city at LAX. I would think that would be more risky than opening DTW.
Wedgetail737 From United States of America, joined Aug 2003, 5534 posts, RR: 5 Reply 19, posted (9 years 4 months 1 day 12 hours ago) and read 2386 times:
Does GRR meet the population base that WN requires?
Maiznblu_757 From United States of America, joined Mar 2002, 5112 posts, RR: 52 Reply 20, posted (9 years 4 months 1 day 12 hours ago) and read 2377 times:
Grand Rapids city Population is 190,000. Kent County has 550,000. There are a lot of peple from smaller cities near Grand Rapids using that airport. I am sure it could support SWA.
Wedgetail737 From United States of America, joined Aug 2003, 5534 posts, RR: 5 Reply 21, posted (9 years 4 months 1 day 11 hours ago) and read 2369 times:
Send a letter to the CEO of WN and see what he has to say. I used to do that when I was younger about OAK. Sometimes it's interesting what they have to say. ICT has been trying for years to woo WN in. But it can barely support F9 (sort of) and FL as it is.
With a population of 300,000, it doesn't meet WN's population base and I personally don't think it could support WN.
SprxflySWA From United States of America, joined Nov 2003, 597 posts, RR: 0 Reply 23, posted (9 years 4 months 1 day 11 hours ago) and read 2346 times:
CALMSP,
Okay, we'll only schedule the repainted and special scheme planes into GRR.
You could also add in the Lansing population of 120,000. I am sure there would be folks that would drive the 70 miles to travel via WN. Plus Muskegon County's 170,000,etc.
Being centrally located in West-Central Michigan, I am sure there are enough people to sustain WN's service. But only time will tell.
Wmupilot From United States of America, joined Jan 2003, 1473 posts, RR: 12 Reply 24, posted (9 years 4 months 1 day 10 hours ago) and read 2323 times:
Yes, the only LCC service to/from GRR is Chicago Express (dba ATA Connection). Chicago Express doesn't have the maintenance base at GRR anymore. The base was moved to SBN once the new SF340's came online. I have a feeling that the next possible LCC you will see in GRR is Jet Blue. AirTran would be competing head-to-head with Delta. Really no big competition with ATA. It maybe some time before you see Southwest in GRR, if ever. On average 400,000 passengers use GRR to travel a month. The metro population of western michigan is about 700,000 people. That includes Ottawa, Kent, and Allegan County.
JetBlue - Bringing humanity back to air travel
25 Venuscat2: As far as I can see, WN is NOT coming to GRR anytime soon. We're smacked between MDW and DTW, and until this is such a thing as Southwest Express (whi
26 HlywdCatft: **i dont think F9 would fly to DTW first, why jump into a market and compete with two major airlines. If they fly into GRR they will not have competit
27 Uadc8contrail: look at bmi,,,,didnt bmi biz people get together and pony up some cash for f9 to do bmi-den...1 stop in oma ...but it beats going to ord or stl.....mo
28 Maiznblu_757: Venus, I dont think anyone in here expects SWA will be serving GRR anytime soon. So, you are not special in that regard. I could see F9 or UAL flying
29 F9Fan: I keep seeing comments from F9 CEO Jeff Potter about wanting to serve DTW, BOS and, on occasion, PIT. I don't see DEN-GRR, except for regional jet ser
30 Syncmaster: I can also confirm an email from JetBlue about GRR being a possible new route...probably not until the E190's start coming in, I don't see a profitabl
32 B4real: In my opinion, GRR could only support a single Westerly flight daily - morning departure West, late afternoon arrival from West. I think the most like
33 LambertMan: Uadc8contrail, you are quite right about the BMI flight. Back in the 90's local business leaders from State farm insurance (largest insurance corp in
34 Luv2fly: B4real Having lived almost all of my life in Michigan you have hit the nail on the head. Maybe, and this is just a maybe if B6 does come in, you might
35 B4real: Luv2fly: Thanks for agreeing! I guess you are not in MI now. I am, but am originally from Ohio. One other note, I also think WN's model would just not
36 Luv2fly: I was originally from MI and ended up relocating to Ohio for a job, I actually never thought I would be living in Ohio.. Speaking of B6 I really would
37 PSU.DTW.SCE: On the B6 topic, they would likely go to FNT with the E190's before DTW. The problem is, DTW-JFK would be not necessarily going heads up against anyon
38 B4real: Right on PSU.DTW.SCE, and a LCC doesn't have the patience to experiment with a market. Which leads to another point, if an airline (given a flexibilit
39 Venuscat2: B4Real, Regarding your common use idea: The only way that I can see anything like this happening would be for an airline to rent out their gate to ano
40 B4real: Venuscat2, I have to disagree with you. GRR is not a busy airport. How can busier European airports like FCO, ATH, and locally LAS do it? It is a grea
41 B4real: Okay, further with my idea... The biggest obstacle is not the dollars needed upfront to make GRR more attractive to more carriers by the common-use mo
42 Maiznblu_757: Great discussion guys. As far as expansion goes, has anyone seen the updated Master Plan? I am just curious if there was anything in the works for a t
43 B4real: Chad/Maiz: I was talking with an airline employee @ GRR and he mentioned a possible RJ concource going from close to where gate A2 goes , chopping up
44 Maiznblu_757: Username: B4real From United States, joined Aug 2003, 494 posts, RR: 2 Further, if WestMI customers Really want the WN experience for a non-stop fligh
45 Wmupilot: NW: 4 (?) 2xA319,2xDC-9 DL: 3 3xCRJ US Express: 1xERJ UA: 2x737 TZ: 1XSaab? YX: 1x? COExp: 1xERJ? AEagle: 2xERJ? Correct on DL, US, AE, UA NW depends
46 Maiznblu_757: Brian, Is that possibly the 26R project?
47 Wmupilot: Yeah i think so. The planned runway was to intersect 26L before 35 and then intersect 35 just east of the fire station. Prolly a 13/31 runway if they
48 B4real: Well if this is true that they have more moeny than they know what to do with it, this is good! I'd like to see them gain efficiencies, but if they ar
49 Wmupilot: Before politicians went bad, sounds like the next Fox show, the founding fathers of the original Grand Rapids Regional Airport set up a type of trust
50 Tjwgrr: "Now where Steelcase is at on 44th is where the original airport use to be and now Steelcase has to pay rent on the land and that money goes into the
51 Wmupilot: I knew the area was around there...just wasn't sure on the exact location. Yes the funds from the land are used by GRR for airport improvements. The a
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