Commavia From United States of America, joined Apr 2005, 10189 posts, RR: 62 Posted (5 years 10 months 1 week 1 day 13 hours ago) and read 4335 times:
Heard through the grapevine ...
Effective 13 December 2007, American Eagle will be launching flights to Santa Fe, New Mexico from both Dallas/Fort Worth and Los Angeles, and from 4 November 2007, American Eagle will be launching nonstop flights from Raleigh/Durham to Northwest Arkansas.
About SAF: interesting move, and no doubt the DFW flights will do well, but the LAX flights are an interesting move because while they will serve a strong niche seasonal travel market, they will be competing directly with Delta. That being said, I think that AA's huge FF base in the LA area should help them do just fine relative to Delta in the market.
About RDU-XNA: makes sense, given the huge AA/Eagle presence in Wal*Mart/Tyson central (Northwest Arkansas), and this will link XNA directly into some of the east coast's larger business markets and connecting hubs not served by AA from XNA, like BOS, JFK and EWR, plus provide more connection opportunities to cities like LGA and DCA.
RL757PVD From United States of America, joined Dec 1999, 4537 posts, RR: 13 Reply 1, posted (5 years 10 months 1 week 1 day 13 hours ago) and read 4327 times:
geesh... i knew XNA was a good market for AA but wow. XNA will now have:
LGA
DCA
RDU
MIA
DFW
LAX
ORD
STL
heck, wonder if we will see an AUS-XNA!
Experience is what you get when what you thought would work out didn't!
Commavia From United States of America, joined Apr 2005, 10189 posts, RR: 62 Reply 2, posted (5 years 10 months 1 week 1 day 12 hours ago) and read 4248 times:
Quoting RL757PVD (Reply 1): geesh... i knew XNA was a good market for AA but wow. XNA will now have:
LGA
DCA
RDU
MIA
DFW
LAX
ORD
STL
I agree. The level of service that mainline and Eagle can sustain at XNA really is impressive. The market is large and growing, so it air capacity there may well just continue to grow!
PanAm747 From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 4242 posts, RR: 10 Reply 3, posted (5 years 10 months 1 week 1 day 12 hours ago) and read 4229 times:
How is American Eagle doing with planes nowadays? I keep hearing a.netter's saying, "they're stretched pretty thin", but are more planes being received and put into service?
Congrats to XNA for all their new and sustained service! Poor little stepchild FSM at least got DL to ATL...
I would have hoped that BFL might get a return of American (Eagle) to DFW... ...hey, it worked getting United to DEN!!
Pan Am:The World's Most Experienced Airline - P(oor) S(ailor's) A(irline): San Diego's Hometown Airline-Catch Our Smile!
CasInterest From United States of America, joined Feb 2005, 3255 posts, RR: 1 Reply 5, posted (5 years 10 months 1 week 1 day 8 hours ago) and read 3970 times:
I want to see MAH weigh in on this one. This kinda goes against the whole Hub Fying bit out of RDU....
What are the passenger numbers for XNA-RDU currently?
Older than I just was ,and younger than I will soo be.
STLGph From United States of America, joined Oct 2004, 8977 posts, RR: 27 Reply 6, posted (5 years 10 months 1 week 1 day 8 hours ago) and read 3926 times:
Quoting PanAm747 (Reply 4): How is American Eagle doing with planes nowadays? I keep hearing a.netter's saying, "they're stretched pretty thin", but are more planes being received and put into service?
There's been a couple of route pull downs lately ... they're dotted around these boards somewhere.
Eternal darkness we all should dread. It's hard to party when you're dead.
ElmoTheHobo From United States of America, joined Aug 2006, 1515 posts, RR: 1 Reply 7, posted (5 years 10 months 1 week 1 day 8 hours ago) and read 3906 times:
Quoting STLGph (Reply 11): There's been a couple of route pull downs lately ... they're dotted around these boards somewhere.
Most recently LaGuardia/Logan-Bangor. A bit of capacity will be coming from that.
IADLHR From Italy, joined Apr 2005, 669 posts, RR: 0 Reply 8, posted (5 years 10 months 1 week 1 day 8 hours ago) and read 3906 times:
Quoting Commavia (Thread starter): About SAF: interesting move, and no doubt the DFW flights will do well, but the LAX flights are an interesting move because while they will serve a strong niche seasonal travel market, they will be competing directly with Delta. That being said, I think that AA's huge FF base in the LA area should help them do just fine relative to Delta in the market
I am not surprised at LAX-SAF. There is a staggering amount of visitors from LA to the Santa Fe area. Staggering indeed, much of it from the entertainment industry. There are many, many people who commute to LA from SAF as their work schedules in LA dictate.
1337Delta764 From United States of America, joined Oct 2005, 5758 posts, RR: 2 Reply 9, posted (5 years 10 months 1 week 1 day 7 hours ago) and read 3721 times:
Hmm, both Delta and American doing SAF-LAX. Neither Delta nor American operate an ABQ-LAX route; that service is handled by Southwest. I wonder if this will draw Santa Fe locals away from ABQ to use SAF instead.
The Pink Delta 767-400ER - The most beautiful aircraft in the sky
Commavia From United States of America, joined Apr 2005, 10189 posts, RR: 62 Reply 10, posted (5 years 10 months 1 week 1 day 7 hours ago) and read 3690 times:
Quoting 1337Delta764 (Reply 23): Hmm, both Delta and American doing SAF-LAX. Neither Delta nor American operate an ABQ-LAX route; that service is handled by Southwest. I wonder if this will draw Santa Fe locals away from ABQ to use SAF instead.
Assuming that the fares are at least reasonably competitive, I can't see how this would possibly not pull at least some traffic away from Southwest's ABQ-LAX flights. Saving people the 1 hour drive to ABQ is enticing, plus the relatively short length of flight (sub-2 hr block) shouldn't make the RJ an issue.
ABQ747 From United States of America, joined Dec 2006, 833 posts, RR: 1 Reply 11, posted (5 years 10 months 1 week 1 day 6 hours ago) and read 3598 times:
Quoting 1337Delta764 (Reply 9): Neither Delta nor American operate an ABQ-LAX route; that service is handled by Southwest.
Don't forget that UA (SkyWest) also flies that route.
STLGph From United States of America, joined Oct 2004, 8977 posts, RR: 27 Reply 12, posted (5 years 10 months 1 week 1 day 6 hours ago) and read 3584 times:
Quoting Commavia (Reply 2): The market is large and growing, so it air capacity there may well just continue to grow!
Is AA exclusive to Wal Mart travel contracts?
Eternal darkness we all should dread. It's hard to party when you're dead.
BlueheronNC From United States of America, joined Jun 2007, 86 posts, RR: 0 Reply 13, posted (5 years 10 months 1 week 1 day 6 hours ago) and read 3547 times:
Quoting STLGph (Reply 12): Is AA exclusive to Wal Mart travel contracts?
and, as a follow-up, how much business does Northwest Arkansas do in Great Britain or Europe? I wonder if the XNA-RDU flight is in part supposed to serve as a dedicated tie-in to RDU-LHR?
1337Delta764 From United States of America, joined Oct 2005, 5758 posts, RR: 2 Reply 14, posted (5 years 10 months 1 week 1 day 6 hours ago) and read 3525 times:
I wonder what other potential destinations can be served from SAF. I am thinking if these other routes are a success, United may upgrade the SAF-DEN route to RJs and operate them under their own United Express banner rather than via their codeshare partner Great Lakes Airlines. I also think that Delta may start an SAF-SLC route via SkyWest, and CO may start an SAF-IAH route via Continental Express. Someone in the past has stated that an ATL route may work, but a CRJ-200 may have problems on the route, especially in the summer. The infrastructure at SAF is currently designed to only handle aircraft up to 60 seats. A CRJ-700, while capable of handling an SAF-ATL route, may be too large for the airport's current infrastructure.
New Mexico Airlines recently started an SAF-ABQ route, I wonder how it is doing. Once the New Mexico Rail Runner Express runs to Santa Fe, I don't know if this route could survive.
Can anyone think of other potential routes.
The Pink Delta 767-400ER - The most beautiful aircraft in the sky
AeroWesty From United States of America, joined Oct 2004, 18833 posts, RR: 64 Reply 16, posted (5 years 10 months 1 week 1 day 5 hours ago) and read 3508 times:
Quoting BlueheronNC (Reply 13): how much business does Northwest Arkansas do in Great Britain or Europe?
Wal-Mart owns the Asda supermarket chain in the U.K., the second-largest chain in the U.K. behind Tesco.
Commavia From United States of America, joined Apr 2005, 10189 posts, RR: 62 Reply 17, posted (5 years 10 months 1 week 1 day 5 hours ago) and read 3478 times:
Quoting STLGph (Reply 12): Is AA exclusive to Wal Mart travel contracts?
I'm not sure if it is exclusive, but it is pretty darn huge. AA/Eagle carry most of Wal*Mart's/Tyson's corporate traffic that isn't flown on those companies' own private jets, and in addition, AA/Eagle's dominant lead in the XNA market means that most of the ancillary traffic that Wal*Mart creates -- vendors, corporate partners, etc. -- tends to be flying on AA.
SilentObserver From United States of America, joined Mar 2005, 42 posts, RR: 0 Reply 18, posted (5 years 10 months 1 week 1 day 5 hours ago) and read 3434 times:
i don't know specific details, except that the AA/Wal-Mart contact, use to require at least two-class service XNA-ORD, hence the MD-80 flight...i believe there are seat requirements on AA to provide and also Wal-Mart to utilize...apparently these flights are low load factor, high yield w/ a guarantee thrown in there...if i recall it used to be all MD-80 service and now they have raised the frequency with CR7s and dropped a few MD80s flights, but there is still one...
N1120A From United States of America, joined Dec 2003, 25852 posts, RR: 79 Reply 19, posted (5 years 10 months 1 week 19 hours ago) and read 3175 times:
Quoting Commavia (Reply 10): I can't see how this would possibly not pull
Ouch. Careful with those double negatives.
Mangeons les French fries, mais surtout pratiquons avec fierte le French kiss
ABQ747 From United States of America, joined Dec 2006, 833 posts, RR: 1 Reply 20, posted (5 years 10 months 1 week 19 hours ago) and read 3167 times:
Quoting 1337Delta764 (Reply 14): Someone in the past has stated that an ATL route may work, but a CRJ-200 may have problems on the route, especially in the summer.
A CRJ-200 would never be able to do SAF-ATL. DL would need to use a 757 on that route due to Santa Fe's high altitude and relatively short runway. MD-88's struggle to do ABQ-ATL/CVG in the summer even with ABQ's long runways and lower altitude.
The reason New Mexico is so windy is because Texas sucks and Arizona blows.
DFW13L From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 21, posted (5 years 10 months 1 week 17 hours ago) and read 3137 times:
Quoting 1337Delta764 (Reply 9): Neither Delta nor American operate an ABQ-LAX route
When Eagle first started flying Embraers out of LAX they were bridged through ABQ. For a short time there was a once daily DFW-ABQ-LAX run (and return). Now we just ferry them back and forth as needed. But SAF will provide a bridge route, which is always useful for maintenance planning. The DFW-ABQ was at 8am and the first MD80 was at 9am. But that was also when Eagle had PHX to LAX & SJC flights too, and that has been scaled back, so I doubt we'll see ABQ return.
Oh and yes, the capacity seems to come from the BGR closure. That's quite a bit of capacity freed up. And that's in addition to the SWF closure, all of which is EMJ flying.
CIDflyer From United States of America, joined Apr 2005, 1990 posts, RR: 3 Reply 22, posted (5 years 10 months 1 week 3 hours ago) and read 2951 times:
has all the capacity from the BGR and SWF flights been put into these new routes, or could we possibly see some new routes from MIA too?
Lexy From United States of America, joined Jun 2006, 2362 posts, RR: 9 Reply 23, posted (5 years 10 months 1 week 1 hour ago) and read 2862 times:
Quoting BlueheronNC (Reply 13): how much business does Northwest Arkansas do in Great Britain or Europe? I wonder if the XNA-RDU flight is in part supposed to serve as a dedicated tie-in to RDU-LHR?
I would doubt it has much to do with the London flight.
ERJ170 From United States of America, joined Apr 2004, 6626 posts, RR: 19 Reply 24, posted (5 years 10 months 5 days 10 hours ago) and read 2648 times:
SAF (12:55pm) - DFW (3:35pm)
DFW (11:25am) - SAF (12:25pm)
LAX 2x weekly (F/Sun)
SAF (2:45pm) - LAX (4:00pm)
LAX (11:15am) - SAF (2:15pm)
Aiming High and going far..
25 ERJ170: Here is the official RDU-XNA announcement.. American Eagle expands from Northwest Arkansas Through service: BOS Connections: LGA, CMH, BDL, and EWR Ai
26 Flyby519: The reduction of BGR service has free-ed up some E135s for the DCA-XNA service as well as this RDU-XNA service. BGR used to be a major maintenance ba
27 CasInterest: Kinda means, a hub type activity. Definately seems to indicate that American is looking for ways to connect the Southeast/Midwest to Big East coast c
29 FlyPNS1: I'd be surprised to see these routes. AA did try PNS-RDU on the weekends, but pulled it quickly. I do think that AA at times regrets giving up their
30 ERJ170: Where are the American Eagle maintenance bases/hangers? is there one in XNA?
31 Flyby519: Here is a link to the A&P Mechanic job opening positions for AE. All of those locations (except Bangor ME) are MX bases. They do have hangars for hea
32 HVNandrew: Has this been announced yet? Because it's not in any of the schedules through November...
33 Belizexp: SAF-LAX DL7708 dep SAF 8AM arr LAX 9AM LAX-SAF DL7707 dep LAX 6PM arr SAF 9PM 1X Daily Starting Oct 5
34 CasInterest: XNA, doesn't have the traffic volume to outpace even Mob or PNS. However the MTC shed may account for the route. It just seems that if AA has loyal f
35 FlyPNS1: Actually, XNA produces more traffic volume than MOB, but less than PNS. In June, XNA had about 56K enplanements versus 30K at MOB and 80K at PNS. How
36 MAH4546: Just to add, the flight is being added per Wal*Mart's request. While the local market is not huge, when you combine the local market that with much sm
37 Akizidy214: Not so hot. MQ is up over 300 flt cancels for the month for various reasons Not closing until September Of the top of my head. LAX SBP ABI DFW ORD MQ
38 BlueheronNC: ...and according to the AA press release, "This service will compliment existing connection options on other American Airlines flights from Raleigh/D
39 MAH4546: That is the purpose of this flight. AA is expecting upwards of 80% of the passengers on this flight to be connecting to those four cities, as well as
40 Flyby519: Is there any talk of upgrading the RDU-BOS service to an MD80 due to the loads? I know they already did this with a RDU-LGA spot.
41 MAH4546: No. The RDU-LGA mainlie flight isn't a strong performer in itself. The main reason it was upgraded to mainline was to free up slots for other markets
42 ERJ170: Have to agree. Don't see it happening. The only reason I could see an upgrade is to free up 2 or 3 ERJ for other routes (I think 5x to BOS instead of
43 MAH4546: Agreed, that is a situation where it might happen. Though simply reducing RDU-BOS by 2-3x daily flights without replacement is also a possibility. No
44 ERJ170: True.. except then AA would open themselves up to losing those fliers to DL or B6. I think there are a couple of markets that AA would maintain near
45 BlueheronNC: I wonder how much untapped revenue potential exists out there for AA to pursue more of these secondary markets (in the Midwest or Southeast) connecti
46 MAH4546: Not nessecarily. The BOS-RDU flights, like many business routes for Eagle, rarely go more than 70% full. There is plenty of space to take them on the
47 PVD757: If they would just supplement the RDU-northeast service and add PVD, they could caprure a greater % of the regional market share...
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From United States of America, joined Apr 2005, 10189 posts, 
...hey, it worked getting United to DEN!!
From Germany, joined Feb 2005, 5721 posts, 
. XNA for them should be on the level of BNA and SJC flight-wise, or is it still smaller?
From Italy, joined Apr 2005, 669 posts, 
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