Flighty From United States of America, joined Apr 2007, 7450 posts, RR: 2 Reply 1, posted (2 years 2 months 2 days 9 hours ago) and read 4609 times:
Very interesting. I would not label this an "SY response" at all. SY provided UA with an _excuse_ to enter this historical monopoly NW route (cause it's not a '100% monopoly' anymore). US could also have entered the route from DCA years ago, but never has.
In days past, this would get an 8x 757 response from NW. Today, it might get no retaliation. DL will still have exclusivity on DCA nonstop. On balance, UA seeks the very good MSP feed for international, something they already know a lot about.
The IAD 'hub' ought to serve MSP if they want to call it a hub, anyhow.
PSU.DTW.SCE From United States of America, joined Jan 2002, 6874 posts, RR: 29 Reply 2, posted (2 years 2 months 2 days 9 hours ago) and read 4591 times:
Competing against SY? Against a one-stop route going for price sensitive / leisure type passengers? Doubtful.
This route likely isn't that, its competing against DL. With a hub in IAD, adding MSP is a natural market to add to the hub. It has arguably been a missing spoke from IAD for awhile.
MSPNWA From United States of America, joined Apr 2009, 1573 posts, RR: 4 Reply 5, posted (2 years 2 months 2 days 9 hours ago) and read 4534 times:
I don't know if does much to SY's operations. I just don't see the same type of customer targeted between UA and SY. For instance I don't see many D.C. originating customers very interested in SY's flight. On the flip side many MSP-based travelers would be.
However I bet it will affect DL's MSP operations to IAD. It's already #3 of the 3 airports in the D.C. area with just four CP 175s a day. Hopefully it works for UA. I don't mind the competition.
PSU.DTW.SCE From United States of America, joined Jan 2002, 6874 posts, RR: 29 Reply 6, posted (2 years 2 months 2 days 9 hours ago) and read 4513 times:
DL isn't going to change anything to compete with SY. DL already offers 4x to IAD, 4x to BWI, and 6x to BWI.
DeltAirlines From United States of America, joined May 1999, 8771 posts, RR: 13 Reply 8, posted (2 years 2 months 2 days 8 hours ago) and read 4254 times:
This isn't a shot across the bow at Delta or Sun Country...there is a large number of *A customers in MSP and this will give them further connectivity to Europe. I'd put this more in the organic growth category here...
Coronado From United States of America, joined Jun 1999, 1001 posts, RR: 2 Reply 9, posted (2 years 2 months 2 days 7 hours ago) and read 4154 times:
A few years ago I took the United ( at that time operated by Shuttle America) E170's on the non stop from MSP to IAD, was not full then, will probably not be full now that it has been restarted. With the current price of fuel it seems like a route which seems a bit long for connections considering ORD is a lot closer to MSP than IAD. for the upper midwest pax who wants to avoid DL. It was convenient however to visit a major national ISP client with HQ not too far from Dulles, which since has cut back its work force by 90%+..
J
The Original Coronado: First CV jet flights RG CV 990 July 1965; DL CV 880 July 1965; Spantax CV990 Feb 1973
usflyer msp From United States of America, joined May 2000, 1788 posts, RR: 0 Reply 10, posted (2 years 2 months 2 days 7 hours ago) and read 4128 times:
This is a not a response to SY. This was announced way back in October before SY to DCA was even applied for.
goblin211 From United States of America, joined Jun 2010, 1209 posts, RR: 0 Reply 11, posted (2 years 2 months 1 day 11 hours ago) and read 2968 times:
cbphoto From United States of America, joined Dec 2003, 1508 posts, RR: 6 Reply 13, posted (2 years 2 months 1 day 8 hours ago) and read 2028 times:
Umm..hate to break it to everyone, but this was announced back in October of last year! This is not new, and in all reality has little or nothing to do with SY operating to DCA! http://www.mspspotters.net/2010/10/21/ualtodulles/
msp747 From United States of America, joined May 2010, 219 posts, RR: 0 Reply 14, posted (2 years 2 months 1 day 6 hours ago) and read 1834 times:
If UA had wanted to respond to SY's flights to the DC area, it would have done it in the years past, when SY operated direct flights between IAD and MSP. Basically, SY took their nonstop flights to IAD away for one stop into DCA. There does seem to be a loyal UA following in the Twin Cities. There's even a Red Carpet club at MSP, even though the airport is a DL fortress.
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