ATWZW170 From United States of America, joined Oct 2004, 904 posts, RR: 3 Posted (8 years 5 months 2 weeks 4 days 15 hours ago) and read 4612 times:
A few of us have talked about NW starting service into markets that would allow them to pick up passengers and be the "hero" should an airline go under. Is this a smart move on their part? If US is able to survive, will NW stop some of the expansion plans? And, if they are looking to pick up passengers of other airlines, why not go into CLT with extra mainline and express flights? Or even PIT for that matter. Could we see an East coast hub for NW?
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TOLtommy From United States of America, joined Dec 2003, 3220 posts, RR: 4 Reply 1, posted (8 years 5 months 2 weeks 4 days 15 hours ago) and read 4540 times:
Isn't that what they are doing with the new service to LBE? They can upgrade service into the hub cities, but a smarter move would be to open or improve service to the other airlines spoke cities if one or more goes under. CLT relies heavily on connecting traffic. The O&D traffic is easy to pick up.
UN_B732 From United States of America, joined Jul 2001, 4286 posts, RR: 5 Reply 2, posted (8 years 5 months 2 weeks 4 days 13 hours ago) and read 4367 times:
I've heard NW at PHL is a very solid rumor if US Airways goes under.
I think it would be a good idea.
7E72004 From United States of America, joined Mar 2004, 3586 posts, RR: 1 Reply 3, posted (8 years 5 months 2 weeks 4 days 13 hours ago) and read 4353 times:
I have also heard the rumor that WN has its eye on PHL
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PHLBOS From United States of America, joined Mar 2004, 7253 posts, RR: 25 Reply 4, posted (8 years 5 months 2 weeks 4 days 13 hours ago) and read 4331 times:
I've heard NW at PHL is a very solid rumor if US Airways goes under.
I think it would be a good idea.
The below-thread regarding NW picking up a 3rd Airlink partner would fit very well into a NW-PHL scenario. Should US go, someone has to occupy Terminal F.
Willbdsp From United States of America, joined Sep 2004, 300 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (8 years 5 months 2 weeks 4 days 13 hours ago) and read 4244 times:
Didn't NW have their eye on PIT? Do the same thing at PIT that they are doing at IND?
ATWZW170 From United States of America, joined Oct 2004, 904 posts, RR: 3 Reply 6, posted (8 years 5 months 2 weeks 4 days 11 hours ago) and read 4017 times:
I wouldn't think that NW would want to go up against WN (Southwest) in PHL. I'd rather fly planes in a market where yields are higher such as PIT and CLT. Fact is that US is in a position where it needs to defend it's homefront...if another carrier were to go in and offer a second option, I can see passengers leaving. Bringing in another Airlink partner to offer flights in markets such as CLT or PIT might be a good idea. NW has Worldperk members in each city and I'm sure would be able to convert a few US Chairmen members.
Success is getting what you want...happiness is liking what you get
Flaps From United States of America, joined Feb 2000, 1115 posts, RR: 4 Reply 7, posted (8 years 5 months 2 weeks 4 days 10 hours ago) and read 3968 times:
NW has already begun to very gradually build up services at PIT. Several months ago they re-initated service to MEM and they will shortly be adding service to MKE (a route that NW operated prior to deregulation).
Cubsrule From United States of America, joined May 2004, 21242 posts, RR: 19 Reply 8, posted (8 years 5 months 2 weeks 4 days 7 hours ago) and read 3803 times:
PIT is too close to DTW to be anything more than a focus city for NW.
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Longhaulheavy From United States of America, joined Dec 2003, 402 posts, RR: 2 Reply 9, posted (8 years 5 months 2 weeks 4 days 2 hours ago) and read 3366 times:
I've been a big fan of NW out of MKE. I hope they can get a few more routes in.
Ckfred From United States of America, joined Apr 2001, 4654 posts, RR: 1 Reply 10, posted (8 years 5 months 2 weeks 4 days ago) and read 3007 times:
I think it's safe to say that every airline will be upgrading and/or adding flights between its hubs and the three US hubs, if US goes under.
For instance, Eagle flies out of ORD to PIT and CLT. I would expect at least some of these flights to go over to mainline AA.
As to whether NW would be the main carrier to try and create focus cities or hubs at PIT or PHL is hard to say. What is more likely is for other carriers to add serivce to spoke cities in which US offered a lot of service.
RyanAFAMSP From United States of America, joined Nov 2004, 155 posts, RR: 0 Reply 11, posted (8 years 5 months 2 weeks 3 days 23 hours ago) and read 2833 times:
I think NW has done a fantastic job of strategically expanding in a chaotic and unfriendly marketplace. They have carefully evaluated marketplaces to build service to underserved communities with low LCC penetration.
The bottom line, however, is that the entire domestic market is experiencing profound overcapacity right now. Fundamentally this will not change if USAirways ceases operations. Yes Philadelphia would lose a hub carrier, but it already has a growing LCC presence and I have a hard time believing that NW would dump capacity into a region that is chronically overserved and hosts a wealth of low-yield markets. And even though CLT and PIT would experience a huge loss with the demise of US, I think any response by NW would be cautious at best. These ideas that NW would move into Philly, buy a bunch of US A320s and A330s, and run the hub as it is now are bizarre. This would subvert the entire reality that the industry desperately needs to reduce capacity.
NW has always been the most careful, strategic airline in the business and it will continue to be. I am sure they are preparing a billion contingency plans in the Pacific for a possible UA failure. But NEVER expect anything dramatic from NW. Their midwestern sensibility is why they're still around!
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