I mean it operates out of an FBO haha. I also think CVG-BNA would happen someday.

Cubsrule wrote:

AAvgeek744 wrote:

ADrum23 wrote:

But doesn't Southern Airways Express already do MEM-BNA? Is that not adequate?

Even though I mentioned it, I don't think anyone needs to fly BNA-MEM. Given a choice however, most any passenger would choose WN and a jet over a cramped Caravan. I would be curious to know many many people actually use that flight.

Downtown Memphis to Downtown Nashville is 212 miles and doable in three hours without driving like an idiot virtually any time of day. Combine that with the fact that folks virtually everywhere can get to Memphis without too much traffic (840 from Williamson and Rutherford Counties; the west leg of Briley from Sumner, and the half of 40 that doesn’t back up too much from most of Davidson) and the business case for the route seems sketchy at best to me.

I agree. The two cities were basically spokes to each other during their respective hub days, doesn't make a lot of sense now. The June 1970 OAG shows 16 nonstops between the two cities, 3 one stops flights on SO via MKL. Times certainly change.

What is going on with BNA-MEM on Southern Airways express? I was trying to book a seat for later this week and it is not showing up on their website.

I tried doing a dummy booking for April, it shows up. I cannot imagine this flight lasts through the summer.

AAvgeek744 wrote:

I tried doing a dummy booking for April, it shows up. I cannot imagine this flight lasts through the summer.

I'm surprised it has lasted as long as it has. Does anyone here know of anyone who has even taken the flight? Where do you even go to board it?

ADrum23 wrote:

AAvgeek744 wrote:

I tried doing a dummy booking for April, it shows up. I cannot imagine this flight lasts through the summer.

I'm surprised it has lasted as long as it has. Does anyone here know of anyone who has even taken the flight? Where do you even go to board it?

Someone up in the thread mention one of the FBOs. Makes sense sense security not involved.

I'm gonna be kinda disappointed if Southwest doesn't add anything in BNA on Thursday.

Alright, two WN BNA rampers have told me they’re getting C13, C14, and C2. Yes C2! They also hired 40 new rampers. Bring on the new flights.

southwest1675 wrote:

Alright, two WN BNA rampers have told me they’re getting C13, C14, and C2. Yes C2! They also hired 40 new rampers. Bring on the new flights.

How many gates will that be now for WN and AA? And did they say anything about new flights?

Isn’t WN already using C2 as an overflow gate? I see their planes there every once in a while. I believe they share it with AA.

WN’s spirit rally is this Thursday at the Grand Ole Opry house so I’d imagine they’ll announce something then.

ADrum23 wrote:

southwest1675 wrote:

Alright, two WN BNA rampers have told me they’re getting C13, C14, and C2. Yes C2! They also hired 40 new rampers. Bring on the new flights.

How many gates will that be now for WN and AA? And did they say anything about new flights?

This is the question I never seem to get an answer to. They went from 10 to 12. Rumor, pickup two more gates on the C, now C2. If I am counting correctly that is 15 gates. If they don't add 10+ flights. they are under utilizing the gates they are using compared to other WN stations.

Spirit Rally on Thursday too? Come on, give us some damn new flights. With C13, C14, and C2, they would have 15 gates. They could turn 10 flights on each gate, each day, no problem. Yes, AA and WN share C2 as overflow, but my ramper friends say Southwest is picking it up full time now. AA would now have 7 gates.

Noticed the airport has a small press? stage setup near the WN ticket counter. Any idea or word why?

kingcavalier wrote:

Noticed the airport has a small press? stage setup near the WN ticket counter. Any idea or word why?

Idk, maybe a new flight announcement??? Is there anyone there right now?

ADrum23 wrote:

kingcavalier wrote:

Noticed the airport has a small press? stage setup near the WN ticket counter. Any idea or word why?

Idk, maybe a new flight announcement??? Is there anyone there right now?

MNAA's newsletter comes out pretty quick after an announcement, sometimes before. Seems there is going to be something for WN.

AAvgeek744 wrote:

ADrum23 wrote:

kingcavalier wrote:

Noticed the airport has a small press? stage setup near the WN ticket counter. Any idea or word why?

Idk, maybe a new flight announcement??? Is there anyone there right now?

MNAA's newsletter comes out pretty quick after an announcement, sometimes before. Seems there is going to be something for WN.

Does the stage look similar to the one WN had for the MKE and CUN annoucement last May?

The stage is bare with no people currently there. The backdrop is the BNA logos.

AAvgeek744 wrote:

ADrum23 wrote:

kingcavalier wrote:

Noticed the airport has a small press? stage setup near the WN ticket counter. Any idea or word why?

Idk, maybe a new flight announcement??? Is there anyone there right now?

MNAA's newsletter comes out pretty quick after an announcement, sometimes before. Seems there is going to be something for WN.

WN is going to be extending their flight schedule tomorrow.

WN has opportunities to add nonstop service from BNA to ATL, CVG, IND, LIT, ORF, OKC, OMA, PDX, RIC, SMF, SJC, and TUL. Is Southwest going to be announcing any nonstop service from BNA to any of these destinations tomorrow?

jplatts wrote:

AAvgeek744 wrote:

ADrum23 wrote:

Idk, maybe a new flight announcement??? Is there anyone there right now?

MNAA's newsletter comes out pretty quick after an announcement, sometimes before. Seems there is going to be something for WN.

WN is going to be extending their flight schedule tomorrow.

WN has opportunities to add nonstop service from BNA to ATL, CVG, IND, LIT, ORF, OKC, OMA, PDX, RIC, SMF, SJC, and TUL. Is Southwest going to be announcing any nonstop service from BNA to any of these destinations tomorrow?

Seems nothing has leaked. ORF was tried and failed, and I can't see the need to ATL. Ad for your list, I'd add BDL as a possibility.

Must be significant if there’s a press conference. I expect it around 9-10am tomorrow. IND and PDX are my initial guesses. We could see more as well.

ADrum23 wrote:

southwest1675 wrote:

ADrum23 wrote:

How much will they? They seem to be in love with STL (why, I have no idea), so they will probably shun BNA more. I only see a handful of destinations (IND, ATL, SJC, PDX and either BDL or PVD) that could be added in the near future.

I'm no expert, but I bet they could pull off OKC, LIT, SMF, PBI, year round RSW, and try EWR again from BNA. I could also see another odd-ball destination come into play as well. Can't forget about the possibility of a new international station too. You guys will laugh at this one, but I wonder if WN trying MEM-BNA would ever be feasible one day. STL became the MDW reliever station. They do have room for expansion, but we do have room for another 15-20 daily departures honestly. We'll see what happens with this new D Concourse in a few years.

CVG-BNA on WN is more likely than MEM-BNA.

PDX should be the priority for a new WN route, since I am skeptical AS will launch it anytime soon.

Yeah, AS is significantly downgrading at PDX right now, so if any airline were to start BNA-PDX, it would be WN for sure...

FA9295 wrote:

Yeah, AS is significantly downgrading at PDX right now, so if any airline were to start BNA-PDX, it would be WN for sure...

Alaska is not “downgrading” in Portland. The Horizon division is experiencing a pilot shortage at the same time it is shifting from Q400s to E175s. That’s a temporary situation. Alaska itself is expanding at PDX. Southwest is a better fit for PDX-BNA because of onward connections. Alaska can’t and won’t be responsible for every new route from PDX.

southwest1675 wrote:

Alright, two WN BNA rampers have told me they’re getting C13, C14, and C2. Yes C2! They also hired 40 new rampers. Bring on the new flights.

We’re hiring 40 rampers because we’re short 40 rampers. I already posted in here we’re taking C13 and 14 so it’s no big secret. C2 isn’t 100% confirmed yet.

BNA-ATL 5x daily as many already know. If there is a press conference stage next to the WN counter, I would expect one today at around 10AM. Odd to have a press conference for just ATL. Wonder if anything else will be revealed. There's also supposedly an announcement at the rally too.

southwest1675 wrote:

BNA-ATL 5x daily as many already know. If there is a press conference stage next to the WN counter, I would expect one today at around 10AM. Odd to have a press conference for just ATL. Wonder if anything else will be revealed. There's also supposedly an announcement at the rally too.

BNA twitter just announced that they will have an annoucement at 9:30 am. You can watch it on Facebook live.

ADrum23 wrote:

southwest1675 wrote:

BNA-ATL 5x daily as many already know. If there is a press conference stage next to the WN counter, I would expect one today at around 10AM. Odd to have a press conference for just ATL. Wonder if anything else will be revealed. There's also supposedly an announcement at the rally too.

BNA twitter just announced that they will have an annoucement at 9:30 am. You can watch it on Facebook live.

They said “a route” so I guess it’s just ATL

So what is the purpose of the flights to ATL? Are they targeting DL specifically? I don't have the data, but anecdotally I have never heard of someone flying to ATL from BNA....people just drive.

Are they just targeting connecting traffic, primarily ATL originating passengers? The route networks are the very similar, but there are some differences. ATL serves RIC, IND, PUJ, and PBI while BNA doesn't. BNA serves ECP, PNS, CLT, CHS, and SEA while ATL doesn't serve those markets nonstop.

HeyHey wrote:

So what is the purpose of the flights to ATL? Are they targeting DL specifically? I don't have the data, but anecdotally I have never heard of someone flying to ATL from BNA....people just drive.

Are they just targeting connecting traffic, primarily ATL originating passengers? The route networks are the very similar, but there are some differences. ATL serves RIC, IND, PUJ, and PBI while BNA doesn't. BNA serves ECP, PNS, CLT, CHS, and SEA while ATL doesn't serve those markets nonstop.

People don't fly BNA-ATL because of DL's confiscatory fares. At WN prices, I would fly for most of my daytrips to downtown or midtown Atlanta; the airfare plus MARTA now isn't much different from a rental car plus parking (and less than mileage plus parking), and that's before accounting for the time value of money.

There are a few connections that have now gotten much easier (BNA-PBI) and a handful of new markets (BNA-RIC/GSP - no, I don't count the FIVE stop, one plane change, 15 hour extravaganza offered on BNA-RIC today as a reasonable option), but most of the connecting traffic will come from having new options in existing markets.

tys777 wrote:

AAvgeek744 wrote:

ADrum23 wrote:

I'm surprised it has lasted as long as it has. Does anyone here know of anyone who has even taken the flight? Where do you even go to board it?

Someone up in the thread mention one of the FBOs. Makes sense sense security not involved.

Flights board(ed) at signature

My wife and I have flown it a few times being that we live in Nashville and family in Memphis. You board at Signature FBO.

From what I understand is the route is being used as a way to get pilots hours on a single engine while defraying the costs of just flying the plane back and forth.

tys777 wrote:

I see BNA-CLT at 2x daily after the extension, I only see it at 1x during the summer. Is this a new increase or previously known?

Yep, twice daily to CLT is new.

ATL surprises me. So that and an extra flight to CLT, is that all?

AAvgeek744 wrote:

ATL surprises me. So that and an extra flight to CLT, is that all?

Yup. Hoping for PDX/IND next

southwest1675 wrote:

AAvgeek744 wrote:

ATL surprises me. So that and an extra flight to CLT, is that all?

Yup. Hoping for PDX/IND next

WN seems to have announced 2-3 new BNA destinations per year over the last few years. My guess is we will see another annoucement like this sometime later this year. IND, SJC and PDX are the most likely next adds IMO.

southwest1675 wrote:

AAvgeek744 wrote:

ATL surprises me. So that and an extra flight to CLT, is that all?

Yup. Hoping for PDX/IND next

A bit underwhelming, but I'll take it.

111 daily departures this August from BNA

Will be interesting to see if DL goes through with dropping 1 of 12 flights this summer and another this fall, based on some of enrila's OAG postings. They can't be happy about WN rolling in with 5x daily.

I’ll definitely think you’ll see an explosion of O&D between BNA-ATL. Gonna drive down the fares for sure. I’m actually about to book an ATL day trip on WN.

southwest1675 wrote:

I’ll definitely think you’ll see an explosion of O&D between BNA-ATL. Gonna drive down the fares for sure. I’m actually about to book an ATL day trip on WN.

While this a route I scoffed at before announcement, you're probably right. The drive isn't terrible other than the choke point in Chattanooga, then when you start entering outer metro Atlanta. Low fares will give people reasons to leave the car at home.

The fares on BNA-ATL are pretty high on DL that being said if you have rewards points you can often book a round trip ticket on BNA-ATL-BNA between 10,000-20,000 miles

Well, even though I was hoping for something like PDX, it is nice to see something added. Nothing substantial had been announced at BNA since the LHR flight last August.

Given the recent trend of WN adding 2-3 new destinations per year for the last couple of years at BNA, I don't think this will be the last announcement we see. I doubt anything will happen at the schedule extension on March 8th, but perhaps the one after that. IND, PDX and SJC are the three most likely next WN adds at BNA (domestically). An international route may be possible as well.

According to a Tennessean article today, BNA is working on landing a nonstop to PDX, as it is very much in demand by business leaders. IMO, that needs to be the top domestic priority for BNA, as it is the biggest hole in their network. The question is whether AS or WN will serve it. It will have to be a mainline, and I heard a while back the reason it hasn't started is because of plane shortages at both AS and WN.

On a different note, who is going to be the carrier for the BNA-MYR flights being advertised on TV? I can't keep up with the charter carriers.

AAvgeek744 wrote:

On a different note, who is going to be the carrier for the BNA-MYR flights being advertised on TV? I can't keep up with the charter carriers.

What BNA-MYR flight? This is the first I’m hearing of this.

I oddly enough saw an Allegiant commercial during a News 2 commercial break the other day.