nomadic From United States of America, joined Apr 2004, 398 posts, RR: 0 Reply 1, posted (3 years 1 week 2 days 15 hours ago) and read 2852 times:
Congratulations, Southwest!
With the UA/CO merger taking place, is it probable that Southwest will now have the C Concourse all to themselves? I suppose that Continental Express will move over to the United gates in the 'almost empty' A Concourse.
Or perhaps Southwest will take over the A Concourse. More room for them there. UA could move to C. Unless they are planning a huge expansion of service at ALB, United should find the three C gates sufficient for them.
If Southwest stays in C, will they have to modify/replace the jet bridge at C-1.
planespotting From United States of America, joined Apr 2004, 3438 posts, RR: 5 Reply 2, posted (3 years 1 week 2 days 14 hours ago) and read 2781 times:
Woo! Go ALB.
I spent an overnight in ALB when I was a Flight Ops intern at WN. It was pretty funny actually. I had just met an ALB customer service manager/employee at DAL a few weeks before, standing in the employee security line. He had been in town for training.
Flash forward a few weeks later, and our aircraft is secured at an ALB jetway. I'm standing with the flight attendants, they open the door, and his face is the first thing I see. I don't remember his name anymore, but we both remembered each other and had a good laugh.
kstateinALB From United States of America, joined Dec 2006, 732 posts, RR: 0 Reply 4, posted (3 years 1 week 2 days 12 hours ago) and read 2654 times:
Quoting nomadic (Reply 1): Or perhaps Southwest will take over the A Concourse.
My guess is CO will move to A. No point in having WN take time, money, and resources to move over to A. CO is almost definitely going to be moving since there are not enough gates for UA to use in C. C is going to be completely WN here in a year or so...
nomadic From United States of America, joined Apr 2004, 398 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (3 years 1 week 1 day 18 hours ago) and read 2466 times:
Quoting kstateinALB (Reply 4): there are not enough gates for UA to use in C.
I just read somwhere that even after the merger, Southwest will still have more flights than UA/CO. ( and about 38% of ALB pax traffic.) I think that SW is looking to add some additional service but there is 'no place to park'.
The last few times I have flown in to ALB it has been about 11:45pm and there were SW birds all over the place waiting for gate space for the early-morning departures. UA/UA Express had only 2 aircraft on the ground. Concorse A is like a ghost town and although there will be expense involved, it just seemed logical that ALB's #1 carrier would jump at the chance to have a larger area all to themselves.
I think there have been a few threads here about ALB looking to build another concourse or expand C in order to help SW, but there just isn't any room without demolishing some of tf the general aviation facilities. Now might be a good time for SW to make their move to A.
USAirALB From United States of America, joined Sep 2007, 2681 posts, RR: 1 Reply 7, posted (3 years 1 week 1 day 14 hours ago) and read 2307 times:
Quoting nomadic (Reply 1): Or perhaps Southwest will take over the A Concourse. More room for them there. UA could move to C. Unless they are planning a huge expansion of service at ALB, United should find the three C gates sufficient for them.
If Southwest stays in C, will they have to modify/replace the jet bridge at C-1.
Quoting nomadic (Reply 5): The last few times I have flown in to ALB it has been about 11:45pm and there were SW birds all over the place waiting for gate space for the early-morning departures. UA/UA Express had only 2 aircraft on the ground. Concorse A is like a ghost town and although there will be expense involved, it just seemed logical that ALB's #1 carrier would jump at the chance to have a larger area all to themselves.
I think there have been a few threads here about ALB looking to build another concourse or expand C in order to help SW, but there just isn't any room without demolishing some of tf the general aviation facilities. Now might be a good time for SW to make their move to A.
The problem is, WN invested money into the duel jetbridge system, and I doubt they would want to take them off of the gate, then add them back on to a different gate.
And yes, WN has been wanting to expand in ALB, but they can't. I have flown ALB-FLL countless times and everytime I have, there are 3 aircraft parked in the WN cargo area, waiting for space at one of their two gates. The thing is, there is not enough room for a new concourse at this time, the only place I could think of is the Hockey Facility, which is North of the old AA gate. The problem is, would the airport be willing to get the Hockey rink to move in order to add a new concourse. And, the area is a good 5 min walk to the main terminal, how would pax get there?
UA currently uses 3 gates. Two jetbridges and one LL gate in Concourse A. Add on 1 CO gate, and remember, one of these gates has to be used to house AC.
Another problem is, what if FL/F9 want to enter the ALB market, and there is only one gate left. Im assuming the port authority would want to leave gate A1 open for AA, who will come back...
Quoting dolphinflyer (Reply 6): Now if we could just get WN to add nonstop service between ALB and both DEN and PHX... (fingers crossed)
LoneStarMike From United States of America, joined Jul 2000, 3638 posts, RR: 38 Reply 8, posted (3 years 1 week 1 day 12 hours ago) and read 2245 times:
Quoting USAirALB (Reply 7): The problem is, WN invested money into the duel jetbridge system, and I doubt they would want to take them off of the gate, then add them back on to a different gate.
Southwest has removed the other dual jetbridges that they paid for (one at DAL and one at AUS). I think the only reason those dual jetbridges at ALB haven't been removed is because Southwest did not pay for them. Here's an old Business Review Article from 2002 about those jet bridges.
Quote: Installing the two new dual-boarding systems at Albany International will cost up to $3 million, said John Egan, CEO of the Albany County Airport Authority. A state economic development grant will cover $2.3 million of the cost, with the airport picking up the remainder of the tab.
dvincent From United States of America, joined Jan 2007, 1719 posts, RR: 12 Reply 9, posted (3 years 1 week 1 day 12 hours ago) and read 2226 times:
Quoting LoneStarMike (Reply 8): Southwest has removed the other dual jetbridges that they paid for (one at DAL and one at AUS).
Why did they remove them?
Though ALB's success means no PSF service ever again, I'm glad Southwest has made flying more affordable in that area. My first flight ever was on a WN 737 to BWI from ALB back in 2002.
LoneStarMike From United States of America, joined Jul 2000, 3638 posts, RR: 38 Reply 10, posted (3 years 1 week 1 day 11 hours ago) and read 2211 times:
Quoting dvincent (Reply 9): Quoting LoneStarMike (Reply 8):
Southwest has removed the other dual jetbridges that they paid for (one at DAL and one at AUS).
Quote: The dual loading bridges at gates used by Southwest Airlines at Albany International Airport were supposed to speed passenger boardings and deplanings.
They apparently did that. But lately, airport officials say, the 3-year-old bridges also have become less dependable.
"We've had some difficulties with their operation from time to time," spokesman Doug Myers said Monday. "We are waiting for a final determination from Southwest as to what they'd like to do."
odwyerpw From Mexico, joined Dec 2004, 641 posts, RR: 3 Reply 11, posted (3 years 1 week 1 day 11 hours ago) and read 2202 times:
I do enjoy the dual jet bridges at ALB.....everyone packs to the front of the plane when boarding...I stroll to the back and often get an extra seat....then when you land in ALB, surprise I deboard quicker than those packed up front. However, the last few times I flew in..they did not use the rear.
kstateinALB From United States of America, joined Dec 2006, 732 posts, RR: 0 Reply 13, posted (3 years 1 week 1 day 11 hours ago) and read 2139 times:
Quoting USAirALB (Reply 7): Another problem is, what if FL/F9 want to enter the ALB market, and there is only one gate left. Im assuming the port authority would want to leave gate A1 open for AA, who will come back..
They can have A2. UA/CO can keep their existing gates, considering by the time they merge, the amount of flights that they would have would serve the demand to have the two upper level gates and one lower level gate. AC can also use that lower level gate.
AA is not certain to ever make it back. They don't have the appopriate aircraft to fly the route, so A1 can be any airline's if they decide to come in and serve ALB. The airport authority is going to do anything to make money, and saving a gate for an airline who left one year ago is not a smart decision by any means.
Quoting odwyerpw (Reply 12): JETBLUE had pulled out of ALB...I had wanted to fly aboard one of their E190s.
B6 has never flown scheduled service to ALB. Ever...
USAirALB From United States of America, joined Sep 2007, 2681 posts, RR: 1 Reply 14, posted (3 years 1 week 1 day 10 hours ago) and read 2116 times:
Quoting LoneStarMike (Reply 8): Quoting USAirALB (Reply 7):
The problem is, WN invested money into the duel jetbridge system, and I doubt they would want to take them off of the gate, then add them back on to a different gate.
Southwest has removed the other dual jetbridges that they paid for (one at DAL and one at AUS). I think the only reason those dual jetbridges at ALB haven't been removed is because Southwest did not pay for them. Here's an old Business Review Article from 2002 about those jet bridges.
Quoting LoneStarMike (Reply 10): Quoting dvincent (Reply 9):
Quoting LoneStarMike (Reply 8):
Southwest has removed the other dual jetbridges that they paid for (one at DAL and one at AUS).
Why did they remove them?
Dual loading bridges await airline verdict: Southwest says reliability is key as balky equipment gets repair.
Times Union (Albany, NY) | June 19, 2007
Quote:
The dual loading bridges at gates used by Southwest Airlines at Albany International Airport were supposed to speed passenger boardings and deplanings.
They apparently did that. But lately, airport officials say, the 3-year-old bridges also have become less dependable.
"We've had some difficulties with their operation from time to time," spokesman Doug Myers said Monday. "We are waiting for a final determination from Southwest as to what they'd like to do."
The ones in DAL & AUS may have been the same way.
LoneStarMike
They are alive and well today. Used them about a month ago. I especially like them how they have glass walls, allowing you to take some amazing pics. The gate agents warn you however "Dont try to go to the front of the plane after you board from the back."
I'm glad they are there, but what is going to happen to them in say, 10 years?
Since ALB is only about half an hour, forty five minutes tops drive away to Pittsfield, there's no real reason for any kind of scheduled service at all to Pittsfield again.
737tanker From United States of America, joined Dec 2005, 221 posts, RR: 0 Reply 16, posted (3 years 1 week 1 day 8 hours ago) and read 1981 times:
In addition to being more mechanically unreliable the dual bridges didn't speed up the turn of the aircraft. While the dual bridges reduced the time it took to board the passengers it didn't do anything to shorten the time it took for the rampers to unload/load the cargo bins. So that is why WN got rid of the dual bridges in AUS & DAL. If ALB gets rid of their dual bridges before the time stated in the grant, and I don't know what that time frame is, then they have to repay the grant. As soon as ALB meets the time requirement of the grant then their dual bridges will be gone also!
point2point From United States of America, joined Mar 2010, 1959 posts, RR: 1 Reply 18, posted (3 years 1 week 1 day 6 hours ago) and read 1939 times:
Congrats, Albany, for 10 years of service.
This is my state capital, and it is otherwise known as dysfunction junction, so it's good at least that they maintained regular WN air service.
Quoting bigsky09 (Reply 17): I don't think ALB ever see n/s flights to DEN or PHX from WN!
I got Boyd city-pair numbers q3 09 and from DEN to ALB is about 117 both ways, so that's about 59 people per WN's 137 seats for a 43% load factor, and that is low. If they could get to about 200 people per day at a 73% load factor then WN might (again might) start to consider it. Of course, from the 117 in q3 maybe a handful of people from both Denver or Albany could start taking this for the nonstop convenience, and then add in a handful those who would connect in DEN, but still to push over a 200 a day is a stretch. A smaller aircraft would work.
And just FYI, since I did DEN numbers, the two best shots for adds would be JAX at 143 per day and maybe BUF at 121 per day, and these might be adjusted seasonally, but still low for WN metal. If anyone know how much price simulation with the convenience of a nonstop could add to the passenger count and how this is figured out, please let me know.
And sorry, I dont know what the PHX - ALB numbers are.
point2point From United States of America, joined Mar 2010, 1959 posts, RR: 1 Reply 20, posted (3 years 1 week 1 day 1 hour ago) and read 1878 times:
Quoting kstateinALB (Reply 19): And I doubt those will ever be considered. Especially BUF, since US already flies the route with 30 seaters every day...
Sorry, I meant from DEN to JAX and BUF on WN or other airlines, not from ALB.
From ALB, I could maybe see routes added going to hubs of DEN, DFW, MIA, IAH, PHX, and maybe even seasonal LAX and SFO, but probably not on WN. Aircraft is too big except maybe seasonal LAX. After all, it is the capitol of New York State, and that may be worth something.if the politicians got their acts tog together there.and could get NY State attractive for business.
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