RayChuang From United States of America, joined Jun 2000, 7716 posts, RR: 5 Posted (10 years 10 months 2 weeks 5 days ago) and read 607 times:
Folks,
There has been considerable talk on Airliners.net about another low-cost airline moving into Colorado Springs, CO (COS).
Right now, I can envision both WN and FL seriously looking at using COS a major destination city, capitalizing on the winter sports and increasingly year-round traffic from Pueblo in the south and the southern suburbs of Denver in the north.
Yet, both airlines have yet to announce service to COS. Why?
I'll take an educated guess at this: there is a "Gentlemen's Agreement" of sorts in place for WN and FL to stay out of COS until UA's financial situation improves. This is because some of the highest yields for UA are at DEN, and any serious competition for UA in the Denver, CO area will be financially devestating for the airline. I don't think WN founding CEO Herb Kelleher and and FL CEO Joe Leonard wants to be remembered as the airline that killed UA.
In short, I don't think WN or FL will fly to COS until the economy improves and UA is back on firm financial ground.
Jessman From United States of America, joined Jul 2001, 1506 posts, RR: 8 Reply 1, posted (10 years 10 months 2 weeks 5 days ago) and read 595 times:
I don't know; "The Airline That Killed UA" sounds like something Southwest would print in its advertising.
I would venture to say that for just the reasons you mentioned WN and FL don't want to spark a war with UA; even in their current state UA has a good number of resources with which they could play dirty.
OA412 From United States of America, joined Dec 2000, 4994 posts, RR: 25 Reply 2, posted (10 years 10 months 2 weeks 4 days 23 hours ago) and read 574 times:
I agree with Jessman on this one. Killing UA is not what is keeping FL and WN from operating into/out of COS. Honestly, UAs weak position should make COS all the more attractive to these two airlines. On the surface, COS seems like a perfect destination for both. It could attract business from COS and points south as well as siphon off traffic from UAs hub in DEN. Obviously, there is some other reason that is keeping both from opening service to COS.
Shawn Patrick From United States of America, joined Jan 2000, 2588 posts, RR: 18 Reply 3, posted (10 years 10 months 2 weeks 4 days 23 hours ago) and read 562 times:
As the Japanese say, business is war. I highly doubt that WN and FL are playing nice, it just doesn't work that way unfortunately.
RayChuang From United States of America, joined Jun 2000, 7716 posts, RR: 5 Reply 4, posted (10 years 10 months 2 weeks 4 days 23 hours ago) and read 564 times:
Jessman,
UA cannot afford to get into a war with WN. You must remember UA's capitalization is something like US$370 million, while WN's capitalization is US$10 billion.
In short, if WN does decide to start flying to COS it would immediately spark a price war with UA fighting for Denver, CO passenger loads, which would be a serious financial killer for UA.
DEN is UA's only hub where they're strong enough to keep their yields high; they're not doing that great in San Francisco, Chicago and Washinton-Dulles, the other major hubs on UA's domestic system because of heavy competition.
Jessman From United States of America, joined Jul 2001, 1506 posts, RR: 8 Reply 5, posted (10 years 10 months 2 weeks 4 days 22 hours ago) and read 555 times:
Ray;
I said they had enough resources to play dirty; something like dumping a huge ammount of capacity into COS, Undercutting WNs fares and offering Triple Miles toward elite status and awards. This is where the FF programs make the big difference. Many people in Colorado are loyal to United because of the FF program. Part of the reason that Southwest is so successful is that they don't fight battles that will be difficult. They choose routes they know will win. When they feel that way about COS, they'll be in there.
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