SW733 From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 6072 posts, RR: 10 Reply 1, posted (3 years 10 months 1 week 6 days 1 hour ago) and read 2595 times:
I always smile when I see the AirTran planes at ICT because it's so rare to see mainline equipment there. Glad to see they will be around for at least another year. To be honest, I am somewhat surprised to see they have not pulled a profit once on that route...I know they compete with Delta, which has much more connections at ATL, but I was under the assumption their ICT routes did well...not sure why, really.
Atlwest1 From United States of America, joined Jan 2009, 1046 posts, RR: 1 Reply 2, posted (3 years 10 months 1 week 6 days 1 hour ago) and read 2541 times:
Airtran is doing alot of good things lately and the Wifi how to guide is so funny and cool. Now if they could make a guide for travel etiquette and drop it from the 737's to the hands of the entire country that would be even more awesome LOL. People check out there brains curbside and pick them back up curbside at there destinations lol
ALL views, opinions expressed are mine ONLY and are NOT representative of those shared by Southwest Airlines Co. or Airt
Ikramerica From United States of America, joined exactly 8 years ago today! , 21029 posts, RR: 60 Reply 3, posted (3 years 10 months 1 week 6 days ago) and read 2469 times:
Quoting Atlwest1 (Reply 2): Now if they could make a guide for travel etiquette and drop it from the 737's to the hands of the entire country that would be even more awesome LOL.
So true.
I think airports should install overhead TVs in the security line, with PSAs hosted by comedians, who inform you about the dos and don'ts of travel, both at the security line and elsewhere. Sort of like how they do it at Disney "audience" attractions. Not only would people learn some manners, but they'd be someone entertained and less annoyed with the long lines.
Of all the things to worry about... the Wookie has no pants.
Toltommy From United States of America, joined Dec 2003, 3220 posts, RR: 4 Reply 4, posted (3 years 10 months 1 week 6 days ago) and read 2427 times:
That's great that the Kansas taxpayer gets to subsidize ICT flyers. You might have DL mainline if the playing field were level. True the individual would pay more, but they are paying it anyway in the form of taxes.
Quoting SW733 (Reply 1): I am somewhat surprised to see they have not pulled a profit once on that route...
Why worry about making a profit when you know there's an open checkbook to cover your losses? FL can keep fares low, destroy DL's yields, and at the end of the quarter get a check to make themselves whole. FL has no reason to focus on anything more than filling the planes, regardless of cost.
FlyPNS1 From United States of America, joined Nov 1999, 6049 posts, RR: 25 Reply 5, posted (3 years 10 months 1 week 6 days ago) and read 2395 times:
Quoting Toltommy (Reply 4): You might have DL mainline if the playing field were level.
If the playing field were level, FL would leave and DL would quickly slash most of its capacity. You'd have 2-3 CRJ's and pay about $900 just to go to ATL.
And quite honestly, a big part of the reason that FL can't make money is that DL is pumping too much money-losing RJ capacity into the market.
Toltommy From United States of America, joined Dec 2003, 3220 posts, RR: 4 Reply 7, posted (3 years 10 months 1 week 6 days ago) and read 2367 times:
Quoting FlyPNS1 (Reply 5):
If the playing field were level, FL would leave and DL would quickly slash most of its capacity. You'd have 2-3 CRJ's and pay about $900 just to go to ATL.
So you'd have what the market could support. Other airlines would see an opportunity and come in. Instead, your neighbor gets to pay for your flight. It still costs more than you are actually paying, but as long as someone else pays for you, it's okay? God help us all if thats really how this country has started thinking.
Rampart From United States of America, joined Aug 2005, 2851 posts, RR: 7 Reply 8, posted (3 years 10 months 1 week 6 days ago) and read 2316 times:
Quoting Toltommy (Reply 7): So you'd have what the market could support. Other airlines would see an opportunity and come in. Instead, your neighbor gets to pay for your flight. It still costs more than you are actually paying, but as long as someone else pays for you, it's okay? God help us all if thats really how this country has started thinking.
A city trying to retain air service is not much different than providing tax incentives to attract new or more industry. (Didn't Kansas manage to retain one of the General Aviation manufacturers that way?) Somewhere between abject corporate welfare and complete laissez- faire letting the city whither up and blow away, there's some medium ground. It's called investment.
Flyinryan99 From United States of America, joined Feb 2001, 1919 posts, RR: 11 Reply 9, posted (3 years 10 months 1 week 6 days ago) and read 2309 times:
I wonder how much money is kept in the market instead of driving to TUL or MCI? What about the economic impact on the region? If that economic impact is much more then what they are putting into it, then I see it as worth it. They spend $6.5M and it retains passengers to the impact of say $15M or more, it's worth it - ROI is key. People have jobs and spend money and keep the money locally and keep others employed, etc I'm surprised you would take a line like this as if TOL could retain more passengers, the economic impact would be great too. More people would be employed, more money would be out there and other things would sprout up.
I wonder if we could see a copy of the agreement between AirTran and the City/County/Etc. I wonder what AirTran has to do to keep getting the subsidies - is it maintain a load factor of 75% and fly a minimum of 3 daily flights? What? I don't think it would be fair to fly flights 30% full and still get the subsidy. The airline should be held accountable for something.
FlyPNS1 From United States of America, joined Nov 1999, 6049 posts, RR: 25 Reply 10, posted (3 years 10 months 1 week 6 days ago) and read 2275 times:
Quoting Toltommy (Reply 7): So you'd have what the market could support.
You'd have what DL thinks the market can support at DL's bloated RJ cost structure.
Quoting Toltommy (Reply 7): Other airlines would see an opportunity and come in.
Unlikely, since the legacies have historically avoided invading each others turf.
Quoting Toltommy (Reply 7): Instead, your neighbor gets to pay for your flight.
Even if I don't own a car, I still have to pay taxes that go to pay for roads. Even if I don't have children, I still have to pay taxes that go to schools. Welcome to civilized society where sometimes you have to pay for things even if they don't directly benefit you.
Quoting Toltommy (Reply 7): It still costs more than you are actually paying, but as long as someone else pays for you, it's okay?
If the people don't like subsidizing these flights, then they can vote out their elected officials and replace them with someone who won't approve subsidies. That's how our democracy works.
Toltommy From United States of America, joined Dec 2003, 3220 posts, RR: 4 Reply 11, posted (3 years 10 months 1 week 5 days 23 hours ago) and read 2198 times:
Quoting Flyinryan99 (Reply 9): I'm surprised you would take a line like this
I'm never in favor of corporate welfare, even if it were to line my pocket. I don't believe in asking my neighbor to pay for something that only I want.
Flyinryan99 From United States of America, joined Feb 2001, 1919 posts, RR: 11 Reply 12, posted (3 years 10 months 1 week 5 days 18 hours ago) and read 1963 times:
Quoting Toltommy (Reply 11): I'm never in favor of corporate welfare, even if it were to line my pocket.
I wasn't referring directly to you, I was referring to the airport/region as a whole.
Is Delta losing their butts on the ICT-ATL route? If so, why not drop the route and cede to AirTran? There's no one holding a gun to their head saying they need to fly this route...
Ouboy79 From United States of America, joined Nov 2001, 4001 posts, RR: 23 Reply 13, posted (3 years 10 months 1 week 5 days 15 hours ago) and read 1848 times:
Quoting Flyinryan99 (Reply 9): I wonder how much money is kept in the market instead of driving to TUL or MCI?
AirTran, and Wichita overall, gets a good chunk of traffic from OKC as well. On one of the local discussion forums, people were discussing fare examples and it was come out to $50-200 or more that people were saving on a round trip driving north on I-35. I guess ICT is seeing a positive impact by drawing out of markets that would otherwise suck them dry.
Any opinion/comment posted is that of my own and not that of Southwest Airlines Co.
SurfandSnow From United States of America, joined Jan 2009, 2588 posts, RR: 31 Reply 14, posted (3 years 10 months 1 week 5 days 15 hours ago) and read 1826 times:
Nice to see Kansas' sole major airport hanging on to its prized LCC service. I see that a new, modern terminal project is soon to be underway - good for ICT! Kansas seems to be doing quite well in terms of air service, what with MHK getting AE regional jet service to DFW and ICT keeping its LAX link via Allegiant in addition to the maintenance of ATL service on FL. Now I'm sure USX to CLT or COEX to EWR would be a stretch, but would such flights be at all plausible? After all, I sure didn't think UAX and DLC would launch ICT-LAX!
Flying in the middle seat of coach is much better than not flying at all!
Super80DFW From United States of America, joined Oct 2007, 1637 posts, RR: 12 Reply 15, posted (3 years 10 months 1 week 5 days 7 hours ago) and read 1687 times:
Does anyone know if MQ's new DFW-MHK is going to be subsidized by any local, state, or federal grants?
Right now there is an AA MD-80 flying over my house.
KstateinALB From United States of America, joined Dec 2006, 732 posts, RR: 0 Reply 16, posted (3 years 10 months 1 week 4 days 21 hours ago) and read 1494 times:
Quoting Super80DFW (Reply 15): Does anyone know if MQ's new DFW-MHK is going to be subsidized by any local, state, or federal grants?
I'd have to think the government will help subsidize it for military use as well, since Ft. Riley is so close...
Super80DFW From United States of America, joined Oct 2007, 1637 posts, RR: 12 Reply 17, posted (3 years 10 months 1 week 4 days 21 hours ago) and read 1475 times:
Quoting KstateinALB (Reply 16): I'd have to think the government will help subsidize it for military use as well, since Ft. Riley is so close...
Good good. That's what I thinking. I love Manhattan. Lived there for 9 years, and I was born there. I know that there is no way in hell those flights will survive without a subsidy.
Right now there is an AA MD-80 flying over my house.
KstateinALB From United States of America, joined Dec 2006, 732 posts, RR: 0 Reply 18, posted (3 years 10 months 1 week 4 days 17 hours ago) and read 1379 times:
Quoting Super80DFW (Reply 17): I know that there is no way in hell those flights will survive without a subsidy.
Well, from what I've heard, out of state students are really digging the new service starting in August. I know a good thirty people that are taking the flight within the first week...
Sponsor Message: 
From United States of America, joined Nov 2007, 1111 posts, 
, 21029 posts, 
Printer friendly format 
