njdevilsin03 From United States of America, joined Apr 2004, 713 posts, RR: 0 Posted (1 year 6 months 1 week 3 days 1 hour ago) and read 2378 times:
On November 16th 2011, American Airlines will finally vacate concourse F after cutting back service dramatically over the years and shift to concourse E. This now gives jetBlue the entire concourse for the first time ever at FLL. With ten gates now, what can we see for the future of B6 @ FLL?
SurfandSnow From United States of America, joined Jan 2009, 2588 posts, RR: 31 Reply 1, posted (1 year 6 months 1 week 2 days 23 hours ago) and read 2310 times:
Quoting njdevilsin03 (Thread starter): On November 16th 2011, American Airlines will finally vacate concourse F after cutting back service dramatically over the years and shift to concourse E. This now gives jetBlue the entire concourse for the first time ever at FLL.
Interesting. AA has not been cutting much at FLL lately (though, they don't have much left to cut!) while B6 hasn't been expanding much from FLL lately (most of their recent growth has been at BOS and the Caribbean, not Florida). In fact, while all is quiet on the B6 FLL front, AA is actually about to restart FLL-LAX for reasons that I do not understand...
10 gates, but all (non-precleared) international arrivals must still use the saturated Terminal 4 facility. Therefore, B6's opportunities to expand internationally may be limited by capacity constraints there, despite the abundance of exclusive use [domestic] gates in Concourse E. Fierce competition from NK and WN also poses challenges.
As for opportunities, it seems B6 has done well adding new Northeastern/Mid-Atlantic markets to the network from Florida lately (DCA, BDL). Should they decide to start the likes of PHL, PVD, MHT, ISP, etc. I think service to/from FLL would be an integral part of the strategy. If Canada ever happens, Florida (certainly MCO, but probably also FLL) could be a slam-dunk from there. Those flights wouldn't have to use T4 because they come in precleared. On that note, they could also link their existing markets of BQN, PSE, STT, STX, BDA, and/or AUA (as well as FPO, a market they do not serve - yet) without having to use T4. I also wonder if airports like PHF are actively recruiting B6 - I think B6 could nicely fill the void from there to BOS and Florida. Also, B6 could simply connect the dots - why aren't there any links to BWI, PIT, ROC, etc.? I also think a MCO-FLL service might make sense, if only to provide feed for unique or complementary scheduled routes from the other "hub".
Internationally, there are lots of opportunities - if they are willing to challenge NK. I know they applied for FLL-BOG, but no mention of that yet. Given B6's amazing strength in the Dominican market, I am surprised they are not already flying FLL-STI. I think they could offer much more Dominican service from FLL than they already do, and I daresay FLL-Jamaica and FLL-Costa Rica would do well too. They could even add new markets in Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and South America from FLL that can't be served from JFK (too far) or MCO (poor O&D and/or yields). FLL-POS immediately comes to mind, though of course FLL-PAP would do very well too .
Bottom line is that I think this is a mixed blessing for B6 - they have more gate space, but it will be very difficult to expand internationally. I imagine we'll see quite a few domestic, Puerto Rican, and pre-cleared spokes added, with relatively few int'l markets added due to NK and foreign competition and the lack of room in T4. Of course, WN/FL will also be hardpressed to expand internationally from FLL for the same reasons .
Flying in the middle seat of coach is much better than not flying at all!
SCL767 From Chile, joined Feb 2006, 8262 posts, RR: 5 Reply 2, posted (1 year 6 months 1 week 2 days 22 hours ago) and read 2261 times:
Quoting SurfandSnow (Reply 1): Interesting. AA has not been cutting much at FLL lately (though, they don't have much left to cut!) while B6 hasn't been expanding much from FLL lately (most of their recent growth has been at BOS and the Caribbean, not Florida). In fact, while all is quiet on the B6 FLL front, AA is actually about to restart FLL-LAX for reasons that I do not understand...
The FLL-LAX service will allow connections to the 10 new cities that AA recently added from LAX. AA is actually increasing flights at FLL, i.e. FLL-DFW increases to 7x daily, FLL-JFK increases to 2x daily, FLL-ORD increases to 3x daily, FLL-PAP increases to 2x daily, and FLL-LAX resumes as a daily service.
MAH4546 From Sweden, joined Jan 2001, 31107 posts, RR: 74 Reply 3, posted (1 year 6 months 1 week 2 days 21 hours ago) and read 2217 times:
Quoting SurfandSnow (Reply 1): AA is actually about to restart FLL-LAX for reasons that I do not understand...
Because LAX is officially a hub for AA, and it makes perfect sense to connect FLL to all the non-MIA hubs. Not to mention its a huge O&D market, even when looking at just the FLLLAX airport pair.
SurfandSnow From United States of America, joined Jan 2009, 2588 posts, RR: 31 Reply 4, posted (1 year 6 months 1 week 2 days 20 hours ago) and read 2165 times:
Quoting SCL767 (Reply 2): The FLL-LAX service will allow connections to the 10 new cities that AA recently added from LAX.
Ok, that makes sense. Out of 4 carriers on the FLL-LAX route, AA is the only one that can seamlessly connect you beyond LAX to anywhere other than SFO or LAS. I'm sure they are getting great yields connecting folks FLL-LAX-SMF or FLL-LAX-BOI
Quoting SCL767 (Reply 2): AA is actually increasing flights at FLL, i.e. FLL-DFW increases to 7x daily, FLL-JFK increases to 2x daily, FLL-ORD increases to 3x daily, FLL-PAP increases to 2x daily, and FLL-LAX resumes as a daily service.
This is eerily reminiscent of AA's past build-ups at LCC alternate airports in their hub markets. Major expansion from places like MDW, DAL, and LGB comes to mind. Let's hope this does not achieve the same end result.
UA, US, and DL have all decided that FLL simply isn't worth their while, and have focused their efforts elsewhere. Is it possible that those money-making carriers are in the dark?
Quoting MAH4546 (Reply 3): Because LAX is officially a hub for AA, and it makes perfect sense to connect FLL to all the non-MIA hubs.
I disagree. LAX is an AA hub, yes, but it offers *very* little that DFW cannot. You can even reach places like OGG, FAT, and Australia nonstop from DFW. If somebody from Fort Lauderdale is heading to Kauai or Santa Barbara then they are probably prepared to drive down to MIA or make a double connection anyway. I don't see how AA can justify overflying DFW in this case.
Quoting MAH4546 (Reply 3): Not to mention its a huge O&D market, even when looking at just the FLLLAX airport pair.
Absolutely. But for AA's sake I hope there is some sort of corporate contract or widespread FF demand because otherwise it will be a bloodbath against 3 LCCs, two of which offer vastly superior service (if you are in Y, anyway).
Flying in the middle seat of coach is much better than not flying at all!
Erj170 From United States of America, joined Apr 2004, 6626 posts, RR: 19 Reply 6, posted (1 year 6 months 1 week 2 days 16 hours ago) and read 1882 times:
I can only wish they will start a 2nd RDU flight. One is nice, but 2 is better...
Santi319 From Puerto Rico, joined Dec 2005, 323 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (1 year 6 months 1 week 2 days 16 hours ago) and read 1850 times:
The only reason AA is vacating this concourse is for NK to have more gates. So now NK will have T4 and part of the F concourse, no expansion from B6 besides BOG....
airjamaica From Jamaica, joined Aug 2006, 2314 posts, RR: 0 Reply 8, posted (1 year 6 months 1 week 2 days 11 hours ago) and read 1481 times:
Quoting SurfandSnow (Reply 1): and I daresay FLL-Jamaica and FLL-Costa Rica would do well too.
Agree. If JFK-KIN and JFK-MBJ are any indication to go by, then FLL-MBJ and FLL-KIN will be a sure success story for them as well considering the size of the Jamaican population in that general area. PAP would also be a gold mind for them too I think.
Quoting SurfandSnow (Reply 1): I also think a MCO-FLL service might make sense, if only to provide feed for unique or complementary scheduled routes from the other "hub".
Surprised they aren't already operating that route.
Quoting SurfandSnow (Reply 1): I think they could offer much more Dominican service from FLL than they already do
nkops From United States of America, joined Jun 2005, 2543 posts, RR: 6 Reply 9, posted (1 year 6 months 1 week 2 days 9 hours ago) and read 1374 times:
Quoting airjamaica (Reply 8): Surprised they aren't already operating that route.
Not sure it would be worth it with NK and WN on the route already
zippyjet From United States of America, joined Sep 2001, 4720 posts, RR: 13 Reply 10, posted (1 year 6 months 1 week 2 days 5 hours ago) and read 1147 times:
If you build it they will come meaning expanding and adding gates at FLL. Sure FLL has some international flights but with all the LCC activity you get your "Grizwalds" (Octomoms/daddys with legions) of kids even during school year who also pilgrimidge to Micky land up the turnpike, your trailer park folks who when not sunning in front of their doublewides way out toward the glades are into NASCAR, Adam Sandler movies and think the Miami is an un-american scourge. B6 will do quite fine. Let us the new and improved WN expand into MIA and take on the Darth Vader of the skies (AA). Of course now FLL is so congested and overcrowded with tons of narrow bodies and barbie jets. B6 just take heed for when the Northeast (NY, EWR and BOS) get one of those nasty snowstorms and gate access becomes fun and games.
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