PA727 From United States of America, joined Dec 2011, 30 posts, RR: 0 Posted (1 year 4 months 2 weeks 3 days 4 hours ago) and read 1504 times:
Looking for an informed opinion on whether or not XNA is a logical fit for LCC service. While the Northwest Arkansas metro area isn't exactly huge at 500k residents, being the home of Walmart, Tyson Foods and JB Hunt trucking does provide for a large amount of business travel.
Currently, XNA offers non-stop service to 16 destinations as follows
AZA*
LAS*
SFB*
LAX*
All less than 3x weekly on G4. (AZA seasonal service resumes in Feb.)
While XNA is well served to most major hubs, it would seem to be a logical place for entry by a LCC given the current fares and fairly decent O&D traffic due to Walmart and vendor office locations. While I would consider WN to be an outside shot given the market size and relatively short distance to TUL (90 mi) and LIT (150 mi), I could see an airline such as NK or F9 doing well with both business and leisure travelers. Clearly don't think it's in any way a fit for the likes of B6 (one can dream) or VX, but I have to believe the market would be a moneymaker for a daily scheduled LCC.
Really interested in the thoughts and opinions of the educated anet community on this topic!
olddominion727 From United States of America, joined Jan 2012, 336 posts, RR: 0 Reply 1, posted (1 year 4 months 2 weeks 3 days 3 hours ago) and read 1408 times:
Well, I think the only LCC carriers we have left are NK & G4. G4 does fly into XNA from LAX 2-3 x's a week when Eagle pulled their nonstop CR7 to LAX. To say B6, VX, WN are LCC is no longer a true statement. Not when BNATPA r/t with a month notice on WN is 444. Since FL was bought out by WN they've slowly increased their fares too. Not as dramatic though. I think FL 717's could easily make XNA work. If WN wasn't getting rid of their 735's I think that could work too. But anything else would be too big. Anyway, there's either ULCC or the big boys. Braniff used to use their 727's in FYV & FSM & Ozark used their DC9's. I think they could make. But the hubs they fly to are so close, they don't need them so it's not necessary. I think the MD80 service to DFW is the best you're going to get.
amccann From United States of America, joined Mar 2008, 171 posts, RR: 0 Reply 2, posted (1 year 4 months 2 weeks 3 days 2 hours ago) and read 1364 times:
This is slightly off topic, but, why does the XNA airport have a second parallel runway (of the same dimensions as the original) with only two of five taxiways connected? Are there enough operations to warrant the second runway or will construction soon be performed on the original runway creating the need for a second runway?
PA727 From United States of America, joined Dec 2011, 30 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (1 year 4 months 2 weeks 3 days 2 hours ago) and read 1318 times:
Quoting amccann (Reply 2): This is slightly off topic, but, why does the XNA airport have a second parallel runway (of the same dimensions as the original) with only two of five taxiways connected? Are there enough operations to warrant the second runway or will construction soon be performed on the original runway creating the need for a second runway?
It's an alternative runway and not yet active. While not as wide as 16/34, it was built to allow repairs and resurfacing to the main runway without having to limit operations. From the XNA website:
"The Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport is currently constructing an Alternate Landing Surface on the west side of the airport to facilitate the future rehabilitation of the airport's only runway (16/34). The project is nearing completion but is still under construction.
The Alternate Landing Surface has been marked as Runway 17/35; however, the runway identification numbers are covered with temporary closed runway markers. Lighted X closed runway markers are also being used as work is ongoing and the pavement is not open for use."
IndianicWorld From Australia, joined Jun 2001, 2403 posts, RR: 0 Reply 4, posted (1 year 4 months 2 weeks 3 days 1 hour ago) and read 1279 times:
For a city its size, XNA does have a comprehensive route network already.
The local HQs of some large organisations sure help, but can not really see lots of growth potential at this point in a market that size. A few extra flights on existing routes may occur though, but in aviation surprises happen
fjnovak1 From United States of America, joined Apr 2000, 582 posts, RR: 2 Reply 5, posted (1 year 4 months 2 weeks 2 days 13 hours ago) and read 1088 times:
There's a nice new terminal with unoccupied jetbridges here at XNA but since I moved here in October 2007, we've lost service. Lost NW obviously, and the merger has cost us flights there (MSP used to be 3x daily, now 2, MEM used to be 3x daily, now 2, DTW was anywhere from 1-3x daily, now 1, CVG was 2x daily, now 1). Same with UA/CO (IAH used to be 5x daily, now 3, EWR used to be 3x daily, now 2, DEN used to be 3x daily, now 1). Lost AA service altogether to LAX, RDU, MIA, and DCA, and DL to SLC.
southwest737500 From United States of America, joined Mar 2011, 594 posts, RR: 0 Reply 6, posted (1 year 4 months 2 days 11 hours ago) and read 756 times:
I fly to XNA alot on US.VERY nice terminal. Maybe Spirit could come in and fly las,aza,dtw. But I don't know if the market could support it I think the best you could see would be G4 beefing up all the routes they have
Planes I've been on: Dash8,CRJ 200,CRJ 700,CRJ 900,ERJ 175, ERJ 190, 717,732,733,734,735,737,738.A319,A320,A321,762,763
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