compensateme wrote:We may have gone through it before but I probably wasn't proactive and didn't include it in my notes, trust me I have a huge Google Docs sheet that explains a.net theories and points I've collected, and this wasn't one of them.flymco753 wrote:I realized something, maybe this is the reason G4 doesn't do DTW, maybe the lack of travers going from Detroit to Punta Gorda and Sanford is the reason they don't fly to DTW. Most people in Detroit use MCO and RSW and it would make no sense to drive out of the way to SFB if you live in the corridor between Downtown Orlando and Tampa. FLL already has enough seats in correlation to PDEW, the only route that would probably work is PIE, but I wouldn't expect them to just add PIE with JAX and AUS, it would make no sense for G4 which in my opinion is why they don't fly to DTW. I'm conveniently located about 20 minutes south west of MCO also never would I go to SFB to catch a flight where I have both NK and F9 doing low cost at MCO direclty to DTW which is also located closer to family.
Haven't we been through this before? G4's niche is linking smaller (and select medium-sized), low-cost airports to "sun and fun" (Florida, LAS, LAX, etc.) destinations. DTW doesn't fit this model -- it's a very large, costly airport to operate from and it doesn't provide the "free" advertising that G4 thrives on. For example - when I'm home and at the gym during the noon hour, I see multiple commercials (across the channels) for FNT; these commercials very prominently feature G4 "...get to the Orlando and Tampa areas from here for as low as $39, the lowest fares in Michigan." G4 thrives off that free advertising*** -- in fact, it's the #1 way their passengers hear about the service.
Practically nobody flies G4 to go to Sanford, FL and few people fly into Punta Gorda to vacation there -- they merely serve as gateways into the Orlando and Fort Myers areas, respectively. It's just that the use of these secondary airports enables G4 to provide lower fares, which attracts budget-minder travelers. (Remember, during the Great Recession NK acknowledged it might move to SFB). Which is the problem -- DTW has sufficient low-cost service into MCO, TPA & RSW. Until G4's business model changes, they're not coming here.
***I know somebody's going to respond 'it's really not free advertising because G4's fees are paid into FNT's budget, which is used to pay for advertising.' Wrong. FNT has historically relied on marketing campaigns, even during the periods its service was primarily turboprops to DTW; thus, it would be paying for marketing, anyway. Not to mention that a large chunk of its budget comes from county taxpayers (not atypical of community airports).
OTOH, my point is MCO and RSW are much more convenient for the travel base that DTW is catering to.