National757 From United States of America, joined Jul 2007, 717 posts, RR: 1 Posted (5 years 2 months 2 weeks 6 days 20 hours ago) and read 2943 times:
Quote:
Since Allegiant Air launched nonstop service between Knoxville and Fort Lauderdale, Fla., in November, every flight has been late, with several of them excessively delayed.
"Unfortunately, this is an accurate account," Allegiant spokeswoman Tyri Squyres said Wednesday. "Fort Lauderdale as a base has not performed to our standards."
"We are evaluating every aspect of the operation - scheduling, station operations, aircraft and maintenance procedures. For example, at our Fort Lauderdale base, we currently do not have a maintenance facility. So if we have a maintenance issue, it has to be coordinated from our base in (Orlando Sanford International Airport). This has worked well for our Tampa base, but Tampa is much closer to Sanford than Fort Lauderdale. Just one of many variables (a)ffecting our ability to perform on schedule," Squyres said in an e-mail response.
"I will tell you, in contrast, our service to Orlando, Tampa and Las Vegas performed better. For the month of February '08, we operated 100 percent completion (basically no canceled flights) and at a 74 percent on time rate. We are actively taking steps to address these operational issues. Obviously such failures are not only costly to our company, but more importantly they do a disservice to our customers. We remain committed to the Knoxville community and look forward to continuing to provide the community affordable and convenient access to their favorite vacation destinations," Squyres added.
"The ball is in their court," he [Kirk Huddleston] said. "What are you (Allegiant) going to do about it?"
Very interesting update on how the new FLL base is doing and unfortunately it is not good news from an operational standpoint. Any thoughts?
Formula 1 Grand Prix Trips: YUL '08, MEL '09, BCN '10, SIN '11, and LGW '12
MAH4546 From Sweden, joined Jan 2001, 31119 posts, RR: 73 Reply 1, posted (5 years 2 months 2 weeks 6 days 15 hours ago) and read 2881 times:
Quoting National757 (Thread starter): Very interesting update on how the new FLL base is doing and unfortunately it is not good news from an operational standpoint. Any thoughts?
Nobody to blame but Allegiant themselves. FLL isn't exactly the most on-time airport, and they knew that coming in and should have planned accordingly. It's the most congested airport they fly to.
OzarkD9S From United States of America, joined Oct 2001, 4682 posts, RR: 23 Reply 2, posted (5 years 2 months 2 weeks 6 days 14 hours ago) and read 2860 times:
Nobody to blame but Allegiant themselves. FLL isn't exactly the most on-time airport, and they knew that coming in and should have planned accordingly. It's the most congested airport they fly to.
Spot on. FLL is essentially a one-runway (jet) airport with an NK hub and frequent flights by WN, B6 and DL, with a good number of flights by other carriers as well. SFB and PIE are ghost towns by comparison. Perhaps Allegiant should have based themselves up the road at PBI instead.
Sflaflight From United States of America, joined Nov 2005, 1182 posts, RR: 1 Reply 3, posted (5 years 2 months 1 week 6 days 22 hours ago) and read 2666 times:
Unfortunately, G4's on time record at FLL has become the butt of jokes at my office. Just this week alone, two of my co-workers have joked about a 6 hour delay from Chattanooga and another about a 4 hour delay to Huntington. But, as has been said before, G4 have no one but themselves to blame. I just love how they just stepped right up and acknowledge their mess in the report. No beating around the bush here!
MAH4546 From Sweden, joined Jan 2001, 31119 posts, RR: 73 Reply 4, posted (5 years 2 months 1 week 6 days 21 hours ago) and read 2661 times:
Quoting OzarkD9S (Reply 2): Perhaps Allegiant should have based themselves up the road at PBI instead.
That wouldn't solve anything. Allegiant caters a lot to cruise and family vacation traffic, which is going to Fort Lauderdale and Miami.
PBI caters to wealthy Northeasterners, and while PBI is a good alternative for those in northern Broward, it is not an alternative if you are going to Miami or are vacationing in Miami/Lauderdale.
They are better off flying to MIA - near the Port of Miami, four runways, not congested, plenty of gate space. Of course, the high landing fees don't make it feasible.
Flyinryan99 From United States of America, joined Feb 2001, 1919 posts, RR: 11 Reply 5, posted (5 years 2 months 1 week 6 days 13 hours ago) and read 2600 times:
The real problem is they don't have a spare aircraft for this operation. It's way too small to have an extra one or be able to swap planes out if one goes on mechanical for a while. Also, as stated above, they don't have maintenance parts there in FLL. I don't think the issue right now is the airport itself, it's the operation. I'm not sure if bridging aircraft over from SFB is the answer or what, ex FLL-XXX-SFB and visa versa. That would throw crews out of position though. Not sure what a simple solution to this is though especially with the operation so small.
GSPSPOT From United States of America, joined Sep 2003, 2749 posts, RR: 2 Reply 6, posted (5 years 2 months 1 week 6 days 12 hours ago) and read 2579 times:
Ahh.... This one's too easy! I'll be diplomatic and skip this one.....
John From United States of America, joined Sep 1999, 1366 posts, RR: 6 Reply 7, posted (5 years 2 months 1 week 6 days 11 hours ago) and read 2546 times:
Perhaps they could possibly move the FLL operation to FXE or OPF....if these facilities would allow commercial flights. The runways are certainly long enough at Fort Lauderdale Executive and Opa Locka for MD-80 operations. Just a thought.
767driver From United States of America, joined Feb 2008, 103 posts, RR: 0 Reply 8, posted (5 years 2 months 1 week 6 days 11 hours ago) and read 2541 times:
Quoting John (Reply 7): Perhaps they could possibly move the FLL operation to FXE or OPF....if these facilities would allow commercial flights. The runways are certainly long enough at Fort Lauderdale Executive and Opa Locka for MD-80 operations. Just a thought.
How would that solve the issue of no spare aircraft or parts?
John From United States of America, joined Sep 1999, 1366 posts, RR: 6 Reply 9, posted (5 years 2 months 1 week 6 days 11 hours ago) and read 2536 times:
767 driver: I was referring to congestion and ATC at FLL. Maintanence is another issue, of course.
ScottB From United States of America, joined Jul 2000, 6365 posts, RR: 34 Reply 10, posted (5 years 2 months 1 week 6 days 10 hours ago) and read 2498 times:
Quoting Sflaflight (Reply 3): I just love how they just stepped right up and acknowledge their mess in the report. No beating around the bush here!
Well, you certainly have to give Allegiant's spokeswoman credit for being honest there! I do wonder, though, at what point G4's inability to operate the route on time will affect their ability to attract customers in the market.
Jlbmedia From United States of America, joined Jun 2002, 604 posts, RR: 0 Reply 11, posted (5 years 2 months 1 week 6 days 10 hours ago) and read 2486 times:
Quoting Flyinryan99 (Reply 5): The real problem is they don't have a spare aircraft for this operation. It's way too small to have an extra one or be able to swap planes out if one goes on mechanical for a while. Also, as stated above, they don't have maintenance parts there in FLL. I don't think the issue right now is the airport itself, it's the operation. I'm not sure if bridging aircraft over from SFB is the answer or what, ex FLL-XXX-SFB and visa versa. That would throw crews out of position though. Not sure what a simple solution to this is though especially with the operation so small.
As I have stated before, I tend to think in simple terms. Would it be feasible to have a small (possibly turboprop) aircraft stationed at their Florida base to transport parts and mechanics to smaller Florida operations as needed? I am sure there are many problems with this plan that I am not aware of. Your thoughts. John.
FATFlyer From United States of America, joined May 2001, 5668 posts, RR: 17 Reply 12, posted (5 years 2 months 1 week 6 days 9 hours ago) and read 2478 times:
Quoting Sflaflight (Reply 3): I just love how they just stepped right up and acknowledge their mess in the report. No beating around the bush here!
Allegiant can be very honest and blunt, including many times about their own actions or inactions. Some don't like that but its one of the things I respect about them.
Here they don't try to excuse it by pointing at conditions at FLL or some other reason, they accept responsibility.
They do the same thing with route decisions, if a route isn't working out they aren't afraid to admit they made a poor decision and pull it.
"Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness." - Mark Twain
STLGph From United States of America, joined Oct 2004, 8981 posts, RR: 27 Reply 13, posted (5 years 2 months 1 week 6 days 8 hours ago) and read 2443 times:
Quoting ScottB (Reply 10): Well, you certainly have to give Allegiant's spokeswoman credit for being honest there!
i like Tyri. i've spoken to her a few times, she's quite fun and very *very* polite for an official spokeswoman.
Skyrat From United States of America, joined Mar 2007, 173 posts, RR: 0 Reply 14, posted (5 years 2 months 1 week 6 days 6 hours ago) and read 2406 times:
I have been told in FWA that they are pulling all their flights except SFB. They also have heard that they will pull out of FWA completely.
FWAERJ From United States of America, joined Jun 2006, 3179 posts, RR: 1 Reply 15, posted (5 years 2 months 1 week 5 days 8 hours ago) and read 2277 times:
Quoting Skyrat (Reply 14): I have been told in FWA that they are pulling all their flights except SFB. They also have heard that they will pull out of FWA completely.
I wouldn't be surprised if FWA-IWA leaves completely due to the high oil prices and FWA-FLL leaves completely (along with a bunch of other FLL routes) due to the atrocious FLL delays. Wasn't there a G4 FWA-FLL flight that was delayed by 22+ hours a few months ago? Still, I like Allegiant's refreshing honesty about their operations.
At the same time: If FL comes into FWA as has been rumored for eons, you can bet that SFB and PIE will be gone in a nanosecond, too... just look at what happened at G4's SWF ops after FL and B6 came in.
Skyrat From United States of America, joined Mar 2007, 173 posts, RR: 0 Reply 16, posted (5 years 2 months 1 week 4 days 10 hours ago) and read 2171 times:
Quoting FWAERJ (Reply 15): At the same time: If FL comes into fwa as has been rumored for eons, you can bet that SFB and PIE will be gone in a nanosecond, too... just look at what happened at G4's SWF ops after FL and B6 came in.
I can see FL doing well on FWA-TPA, FWA-MCO, FWA-ATL, and FWA-BWI with the 717. But I believe that they have bigger cities on their mind right now.
Sflaflight From United States of America, joined Nov 2005, 1182 posts, RR: 1 Reply 17, posted (5 years 2 months 1 week 2 days 17 hours ago) and read 2042 times:
Quoting FWAERJ (Reply 15):
I wouldn't be surprised if FWA-IWA leaves completely due to the high oil prices and FWA-FLL leaves completely (along with a bunch of other FLL routes) due to the atrocious FLL delays. Wasn't there a G4 FWA-FLL flight that was delayed by 22+ hours a few months ago? Still, I like Allegiant's refreshing honesty about their operations.
None of this has to do with FLL delays. It has to do with G4's planning and logistics. Delay after delay is mechanical or aircraft tie ups. Oh, and since when are FLL delays attrocious? I would hate to see how you consider PHL and ORD delays!
Airguardtn From United States of America, joined May 2007, 44 posts, RR: 0 Reply 18, posted (5 years 2 months 1 week 2 days 13 hours ago) and read 2014 times:
I took this flight from TYS to FLL on Allegiant Mar 6. We were scheduled to arrive FLL at 10:20 p.m. but due to weather at FLL we did not arrive until 2:00 a.m. on Friday. This is not the airlines fault, but what made me upset with them, was that the FA's would not dim the lights on the plane. Here it was 1:00 a.m. all we wanted to do was sleep and they told us they needed all the lights on to be able to have cabin service. They did not even have a cart to push through the isle.
STLGph From United States of America, joined Oct 2004, 8981 posts, RR: 27 Reply 19, posted (5 years 2 months 1 week 2 days 12 hours ago) and read 1987 times:
Bwohlgemuth From United States of America, joined Oct 2006, 90 posts, RR: 0 Reply 20, posted (5 years 2 months 1 week 2 days 7 hours ago) and read 1925 times:
I sincerely hope Allegiant's FWA ops don't end soon, I have a flight booked on them July 4th to SNF!
GSPSPOT From United States of America, joined Sep 2003, 2749 posts, RR: 2 Reply 21, posted (5 years 2 months 1 week 2 days 7 hours ago) and read 1919 times:
I never got a chance to book & fly GSP-LAS before they canned that one. We've still got SFB, PIE & FLL so far, but who knows?
National757 From United States of America, joined Jul 2007, 717 posts, RR: 1 Reply 22, posted (5 years 2 months 1 week 2 days 7 hours ago) and read 1914 times:
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