ScottB wrote:tphuang wrote:That’s certainly a lot of short haul cuts in order to get the frames needed to fly the transcon stuff. I am really surprised they cut Seattle Portland and slc by one each. Those are actually performing quite well.
Looks like they are returning 10 slots
By my count it looks more like 11 slots. They're dropping 13 daily short-haul flights and adding 11 weekly flights to BOS/BZN/HDN. It might even be 12 slots if they end up reducing some markets on the days they operate to BZN & HDN; for example, it looks like LGB-SLC is only twice daily on Sa/Su from looking at the booking engine in December. I'm really surprised by the way they chose to cut flights to the Bay Area down to two each to OAK/SFO/SJC. I can't see that being competitive with the frequency at SNA & LAX.
i'm counting the weekly flights to BZN/HDN as 1 slot, but that's probably wrong. Since they are most likely just cutting back one of the other flights for those days. They said they are going from 35 to 23 flights and we know HA is taking one of those slots already, so 11 more will get returned this time.
As for OAK/SFO/SJC, I agree that's a very curious move. Going all to SFO would've made more sense.
It seems to me that they see LA area dragging down their yield and that there is no sense keeping these short haul flights going when they just get hammered by WN strengths all across California. So they made the only logical move. And 2 years from now, who knows if they will still be in LGB.
I don't see why other carriers would rush in though. The yields were really not good for WN/DL/AA. But I guess the forbidden fruit of getting slots will always keep carriers waiting for them.
Reading the press telegram.com sounds like 12 slots returned.
WN could easily add 12 more slots.
Going back to the 80's for the LGB land grab.
The airport awarded every new entry and current airlines 2 slots each.
That gives 6 bundles of 2 each.
But given the history of failures at LGB I don't see everyone rushing to add LGB.
well HA is definitely taking one already and possibly a second one. DL is ahead of them in the pool and probably will get 2 for SEA at minimum. So there is 8 slots they could add I guess.
Ouch!
Not an expansion at all, but reallocation and (for the west coast) a huge retreat.
Drops flights by 1/3 in LGB.
I dont think thw cuts stop there either. Time will tell
When they said increased transcon flying, I was hoping to hear about adding EWR-LAX or additional frequency on FLL-LAX. Nope, just more A320s across the country that probably will require tech stops every 3 days during winter time. At least BUR transcon should do pretty well, I'm not sure about the additional BOS-LGB flight though. Seems like a lot of added capacity in the BOS to LA area market.
So anyone still think EWR-LAX, EWR-SFO, and Midwest expansion will still happen?
I know IND is crowded to BOS/FLL/NYC but it still seems like a major network hole. (I admit I'm biased but STL, CMH, and CVG might be other options)
Amazing how close rumors were to reality on today's announcements.
I think IND will still happen this year. These moves don't use up any additional resources.