7E72004 From United States of America, joined Mar 2004, 3586 posts, RR: 1 Posted (8 years 7 months 4 weeks 1 day 1 hour ago) and read 2183 times:
I know that ATA has a bunch of flights out of IND but most of them are to leisure destinations. NW is using IND as a focus city starting next month. Does anyone think that IND has any chance of becoming a hub like it used to be when USAir had its operations back in the 80s? Will the new midfield terminal have any impact on that? thanks
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LambertMan From United States of America, joined Aug 2003, 2040 posts, RR: 38 Reply 1, posted (8 years 7 months 4 weeks 1 day ago) and read 2142 times:
Even when USAir was at its peak, it wasn't a full fledged hub. It would be a focus city by todays standards.
The new midfield terminal won't necessarily help its chances since it only has like 35 gates, and NW and TZ will probably get 10-15 of them. Plus, there are no airlines that need another hub and its right in the middle of ORD, DTW, STL, and CVG. I'm not sure that we'll see any "true" hubs opened in the near future....
7E72004 From United States of America, joined Mar 2004, 3586 posts, RR: 1 Reply 2, posted (8 years 7 months 4 weeks 1 day ago) and read 2120 times:
I think TZ should concentrate on IND and back off of MDW because there is no more room at MDW. It would be nice to have more non stops from IND and it does not make sense that ATA would just let NW invade "their" territory.
The next generation of aircraft is just around the corner!
MAH4546 From Sweden, joined Jan 2001, 31118 posts, RR: 73 Reply 4, posted (8 years 7 months 4 weeks 22 hours ago) and read 1977 times:
I think TZ should concentrate on IND and back off of MDW because there is no more room at MDW.
Why? Midway is where ATA makes most of their money. Indianapolis cannot support an operation like what ATA has at Chicago Midway.
Indianapolis is extremely lucky - they have plenty of non-stop service to major leisure destinations and business centres throughout the United States - Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York City, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Dallas, Chicago, Boston, San Juan - not to mention Toronto and Cancun. Most markets of its size would love such a well covered route network.
Boeing7E7 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 5, posted (8 years 7 months 4 weeks 17 hours ago) and read 1830 times:
The new midfield terminal won't necessarily help its chances since it only has like 35 gates
35 with a tunnel that will run down the center of the ramp for two 40 gate satellite terminals and a 20 gate RJ terminal (this would cause change in the taxiway layout, but the initial plans included this). It'll be interesting to watch Midwest in the next couple of years to see what they do in the coming years.
FlyCMH From United States of America, joined Jul 1999, 2260 posts, RR: 11 Reply 8, posted (8 years 7 months 4 weeks 16 hours ago) and read 1752 times:
Indianapolis is extremely lucky - they have plenty of non-stop service to major leisure destinations and business centres throughout the United States - Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York City, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Dallas, Chicago, Boston, San Juan - not to mention Toronto and Cancun. Most markets of its size would love such a well covered route network.
MAH4546 is very right. 3 hours east on I-70, we'd love to have the level of service that IND enjoys. Both Indianapolis and Columbus are very similar cities, in terms of population, growth, and relative newness compared to its peers. Yet Indianapolis has been able to maintain excellent, expanding service over the years, with an extremely heathly mix of legacy carriers and low fare service. Having ATA as the hometown carrier has also given IND the pleasure of a variety of nonstop destinations on mainline aircraft at a fare price, more than many metropolitan areas of similar size could hope for. While I don't see any carrier operating 200+ flights to dozens of destinations around the globe for IND anytime soon, I do see the airport building upon its current success and maintaining its excellent air service for the years to come.
ORDflyer From United States of America, joined Aug 2004, 511 posts, RR: 0 Reply 9, posted (8 years 7 months 4 weeks 16 hours ago) and read 1730 times:
I doubt it in that STL is so close
While that is true, there are several closer and larger hubs than STL in the vicinity.
As Lambertman mentioned, ORD, DTW and CVG are all relatively close.
Other than maybe some more ATA expansion if things pick up, I can't see any airlines establishing large hubs at IND anytime soon.
Great point by LV...I stayed at the airport Radisson last May and those FedEx planes kept me up all night, definitely a big hub. Not that I was complaining though...it made for some good spotting/scanner listening
MasseyBrown From United States of America, joined Dec 2002, 4725 posts, RR: 7 Reply 11, posted (8 years 7 months 4 weeks 12 hours ago) and read 1601 times:
Isn't ATA on the verge of discontinuing scheduled services? Their future seems to be in charters. This would be a setback for IND, but some airline or other would probably backfill most of the service.
Tiger119 From United States of America, joined Sep 2003, 1919 posts, RR: 0 Reply 12, posted (8 years 7 months 4 weeks 8 hours ago) and read 1564 times:
"I think TZ should concentrate on IND and back off of MDW because there is no more room at MDW."
- There was some talk throughout the employee rumor mill about cutting back some service out of MDW but it is not because of the room, it had something to do with finances, unfortunately I do not know the specifics. But I do like that new terminal up there (MDW, I was there a couple times last week) but they could use more "restroom" room.
"Isn't ATA on the verge of discontinuing scheduled services? Their future seems to be in charters. This would be a setback for IND, but some airline or other would probably backfill most of the service. "
- Where in the world did you hear this? In a memo faxed to CBS? Or is this just something to start people talking? TZ may not be in the best of financial situations (what airline is?), but the airline is not going to discontinue scheduled service. Yes, AMC charters are a good chunk of their money flow. That's the only reason they are keeping those five L1011s. But, they have a lot invested in those 738s and 753s. I know this may come across as a super-sensitive response to the post, but believe me, suspension of scheduled service is not going to happen, at least not soon.
Flying is the second greatest thrill known to mankind, landing is the first!
7E72004 From United States of America, joined Mar 2004, 3586 posts, RR: 1 Reply 13, posted (8 years 7 months 4 weeks 4 hours ago) and read 1487 times:
I am not saying that IND will or was a "genuine hub" but after looking back at USAir in the 80s there it got me wondering if IND can ever gain that amount of destinations, etc.
The next generation of aircraft is just around the corner!
MasseyBrown From United States of America, joined Dec 2002, 4725 posts, RR: 7 Reply 15, posted (8 years 7 months 4 weeks 2 hours ago) and read 1416 times:
Tiger119, where did I hear that ATA was on the verge of discontinuing scheduled flights? The press was full of it in August - about possible bankruptcy, ATA running out of cash by January, pulling out of MDW, and going back to charters only.
Do a search on any of the financial news sites and you'll find it. Here's a sample:
Cubsrule From United States of America, joined May 2004, 21244 posts, RR: 19 Reply 16, posted (8 years 7 months 4 weeks 2 hours ago) and read 1412 times:
Tiger119, where did I hear that ATA was on the verge of discontinuing scheduled flights? The press was full of it in August - about possible bankruptcy, ATA running out of cash by January, pulling out of MDW, and going back to charters only.
...and now that US has filed, they have become (with more justification than TZ) the press' whipping boy. Whose turn will it be next month?
I can't decide whether I miss the tulip or the bowling shoe more
ATAIndy From United States of America, joined May 2004, 579 posts, RR: 4 Reply 17, posted (8 years 7 months 2 weeks 4 days 21 hours ago) and read 1265 times:
It certainly would be nice if IND developed into major hub. A know as a spotter a would enjoy a couple more widebody flights, since all we have are the Fedex's and occasional ATA L1011.
7e72004 From United States of America, joined Mar 2004, 3586 posts, RR: 1 Reply 18, posted (8 years 7 months 2 weeks 4 days 18 hours ago) and read 1213 times:
ATAIndy...i know what you mean...i would not mind seeing a 777 or 767 Although if i pass the WA bar exam, i will be spotting from SEA
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