I think it's about time we have one of these, since everywhere else seems to have a thread. To include MCO, DAB, JAX, TLH and any other airport in Central or North Florida. Recent news includes:

AA Eagle To Fly TLH-MIA

DL To Fly DAB-LGA

LH added MCO-FRA on an A330-300 at the end of October, and EI has come back on MCO-DUB. BA has upped MCO-LGW to 10x weekly 777 from 7x as well.

Feel free to add!  

17/35 just re-opened at Pensacola Regional after lengthy upkeep.

Don't forget TPA  

Josh

VQ adding service on 14 Dec to the following markets

FLL-MHH-FLL
FLL-TCB-FLL
FLL-EYW-FLL
EYW-APF-EYW
EYW-TPA-EYW
EYW-TLH-EYW
APF-TPA-APF
APF-TLH-APF
TPA-TLH-TPA

Then 1 Apr 08

DAB-TLH-DAB
MLB-TLH-MLB

AA to add

MIA-TLH-MIA

Rumors abound about possible DL service expansion intra-state.

Quoting ACVitale (Reply 3): DL service expansion intra-state.

Beside PNS-MCO PNS-TPA what other intra-state routes are their?

Quoting KevinSmith (Reply 4): Beside PNS-MCO PNS-TPA what other intra-state routes are their?

MIA/FLL/TPA/MCO-TLH

FLL/TPA/MCO-PNS

MCO-MIA/FLL/PFN/VPS/EYW/TLH/PNS

I don't know the status of the MLB- Berlin flights....Something creepy about them, I feel.

Quoting Beefstew25 (Reply 6): I don't know the status of the MLB- Berlin flights....Something creepy about them, I feel.

Word is that they might move to MIA next year as a scheduled service.

Quoting MAH4546 (Reply 5): MCO-MIA/FLL/PFN/VPS/EYW/TLH/PNS

MCO-VPS was chopped in August.

Beginning December 3rd, PNS-MCO goes back to 4x daily.

You can't forget about North Central Florida. GNV is a great small airport. I have flown in and out of there several times. On US and DL.

Who is operating the TPA-PNS routes? Which DL carrier is it?


SWA TPA

Damn, you beat me to it. I've been meaning to start this thread for a few days, but haven't done it. Good to see there's so much interest though!

Quoting TPA" class=quote target=_blank>SWA TPA (Reply 10): Who is operating the TPA-PNS routes? Which DL carrier is it?

TPA-PNS is actually flown by two carriers. For DL Connection, Freedom flies the route 2x daily with ERJ's. For CO Connection, Gulfstream flies the route 4x daily (ex SaSu) with BE1900's.

Many people forget that in terms of routes, Gulfstream is the leader in intra-florida service. They also provide the only scheduled intra-florida service for VPS and GNV.

DL 105 diverted to MCO last night, lost radar. Greeted by many emergency vehicles at the end of 36R!
http://flightaware.com/live/flight/D...5/history/20071119/0053Z/KATL/KMCO

Quoting KevinSmith (Reply 1): 17/35 just re-opened at Pensacola Regional after lengthy upkeep.

That is correct..

Also they're in the process of replacing the jet bridges now. ( The investment in all new jet bridges at Pensacola Regional will offer more quality passenger service for all airlines with lower jet bridge maintenance costs.)

Also starting in 2008..They will begin the terminal expansion..

USA 3000 starting BWI-MLB in december.

I have heard rumors that FL has been looking into MLB as well.

Hey,

I flew ATLPFN last week on EV and as we were coming in from the north I saw what looked like a relatively large abandoned airport not too far before we made the turn over the water to 14. I looked through "Abandoned & Little Known Airfields" but didn't see anything. Does anyone know the scoop?

Cheers,

Les

Quoting LesMainwaring (Reply 16): Does anyone know the scoop?

After a quick look at Google Maps, I came to the conclusion that it was Tyndall AFB. Having never heard of it before, I did a quick search to find http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tyndall_Air_Force_Base. Looks like it's still used, but not as much as it used to.

Quoting FlyPNS1 (Reply 12): Many people forget that in terms of routes, Gulfstream is the leader in intra-florida service. They also provide the only scheduled intra-florida service for VPS and GNV.

Indeed they are. They also just quietly added PBI-EYW a few weeks ago. And I've been hearing rumours they are looking at TPA/MIA-APF.

also , news for MCO Avianca is aplying for daily flights to MCO

Quoting PanAm330 (Thread starter): LH added MCO-FRA on an A330-300 at the end of October, and EI has come back on MCO-DUB. BA has upped MCO-LGW to 10x weekly 777 from 7x as well.

So three days out of the week there's 2 777s? When is this effective?


By the way, anyone who regularly goes by VQQ airport in Jax? Once in a while there are interesting planes going there for cargo conversion, mostly 757s.

Quoting Danimarroquin (Reply 19): also , news for MCO Avianca is aplying for daily flights to MCO

Interesting, somebody finally standing up to CM in the market.

Anyone have any thoughts on the possibility of VRB, LAL, and OCF getting service back?

Quoting CitrusCritter (Reply 22): Anyone have any thoughts on the possibility of VRB, LAL, and OCF getting service back?

Good question. I've been flamed a bit for my thoughts on this one...
LAL: Best chance is Skybus. I don't think that any legacy carriers will touch them because of their proximity to both MCO and TPA. But that is exactly why Skybus may be interested. They could serve both Orlando and Tampa by serving LAL.
VRB: I don't think that AA will start the VRB-MIA service that some people have speculated about. Even though this market is growing, I don't think that it is large enough to see commercial service for a while. A few months ago I would have said that DL could be possible for VRB-ATL but after the discontinuation of ATL-APF/MTH it doesn't look good. VRB traffic is thinner than APF but not quite as thin as MTH...but not ready for this kind of route.
OCF: This is where I received the most flaming. I think that OCF is ready for commercial service passenger-wise. This is a market of over 325,000 just in Marion County and a likely cachement area of over 500,000. How many markets in the US are this large with no commercial service? Very few. I have extensive knowledge of this airport's past commercial service. It was admittedly limited but this market was as small as 25,000 when EA served it and not a lot larger when US (Allegheny Commuter) served it..and LAL and VRB. The US service was through MCO and offered connections only to PIT...not convenient at all so no reason to fly that route. QH served TPA and MIA at the end using commuter aircraft. MIA actually did pretty well. The population is much larger now and has a completely different makeup than it used to. There is a nice sized population of Caribbean islanders (particularly Puerto Rico) in Ocala that would use MIA service. The problem is that the AA ATRs would be too large for this route...Definitely needs smaller aircraft about the size of the ATR42. If they were available OCF-MIA could be viable. The best option IMHO would be DL OCF-ATL. There is more than enough traffic for this one to happen. I often hear that GNV is an inhibitor to this happening. Trust me...OCF fliers by and large DO NOT use GNV. GNV locals and University of Florida students and faculty use GNV...not Ocalans. As DL pulls down more and more flights from MCO, OCF becomes more and more viable. It is a solid 80 miles from OCF to MCO and as less direct options from MCO are available, OCF passengers are more willing to connect through ATL. They travel well and would absolutely be willing to pay a premium to use this airport. Actually OCF's number one traveling market is New York City. It's very likely that an airline could fill at least one daily to JFK/EWR so three dailies to ATL would be very feasible. I feel that the biggest reason that OCF doesn't have service is due to the current Airport Manager. He just doesn't seem very interested in trying to attract commercial service at all. He has hitched his ride to Day Jet operations...which do not serve the general public very well. OCF has received funding to repair and expand the runways, build a control tower and expand terminal buildings...all things that a carrier would demand before starting service. IMHO it's just a matter of time before commercial service comes to OCF.

Does anyone know whether DL might resume its JAX-JFK flying in the near future?

Quoting Ezra (Reply 24): Does anyone know whether DL might resume its JAX-JFK flying in the near future?

They won't. The route performed poorly. No reason to resume it.

Alright, I've got some history questions related to central Florida. I was thinking of starting a new thread, but figure this was just as good and maybe more people will read it. I've been doing personal research on the history of DAB. I'm looking for some info on some of the rare airlines to come here. Does anyone have any info on when these airlines flew to DAB and perhaps what aircraft they used?

Florida State Airways (1930, one of the first airlines in Daytona...mail only)
Pan Am Airways
Pan Am Express
Trans-Florida Airlines (prev. Daytona Aviation) - according to many websites, they still operate - but their only two aircraft left have been sitting over in the graveyard since I've been here.
Shawnee Airlines/Florida Air Lines
Piedmont Airlines
Air Florida
National Florida Airlines
Dolpin Airlines
Providence-Boston Airlines
Skyway Commuter
Trans Air (commuter)
United Express op'd by Presidential Airlines
Eastern Express
Continental Connection op'd by Gulfstream International Airlines
US Airways Express
Delta Connection op'd by Comair
Florida Coastal Airlines

I have found at least some info on each of these airlines being at DAB at some point, perhaps even just seasonally. But all have had scheduled flights (ie, no charter-only airlines). Thanks in advance for any info provided.

Hey yall, I'd like to know if JAX really is the closest commercial airport to Amelia Island?

Quoting WesternA318 (Reply 27): Hey yall, I'd like to know if JAX really is the closest commercial airport to Amelia Island?

That's what it looks like. 25 miles too far?  

Quoting Pilotboi (Reply 28): That's what it looks like. 25 miles too far?

LOL, didnt think it was that close, lol. Thanks!! OH and one more about JAX, what does US send there?

Quoting WesternA318 (Reply 29): about JAX, what does US send there?

737s and A319s from PHL, CLT, and DCA, I believe.

MCO received the visit of a Pan Am 727 and 2 DC-9-30s of Usa Jet the day before thanksgiving. One of the two 9s is a pax aircraft, new addition to the fleet (ex NW I think).

Quoting MIAMIx707 (Reply 31): MCO received the visit of a Pan Am 727 and 2 DC-9-30s of Usa Jet the day before thanksgiving. One of the two 9s is a pax aircraft, new addition to the fleet (ex NW I think).

Funny - we usually see two Pan Am 727s and one USA Jets DC-9 in DAB twice a year for the Daytona 500 and the Pepsi 400.

Quoting MAH4546 (Reply 7): Word is that they might move to MIA next year as a scheduled service.

Yep, MLB to Berlin officially was axed before it ever happened. Now MLB needs to unload the $900,000 in equipment they bought for the flights. Idiots. I guess leasing was out of the question.

Quoting Luisca (Reply 15): USA 3000 starting BWI-MLB in december. I have heard rumors that FL has been looking into MLB as well.

Anything to keep Delta honest.

I mean we have Ft. Pierce up to Cocoa we can catch without the hassle of MCO (parking, baggage, etc).

Skybus would make a little sense, but I guess Lakeland would catch more passengers.

Quoting Beefstew25 (Reply 33): Yep, MLB to Berlin officially was axed before it ever happened. Now MLB needs to unload the $900,000 in equipment they bought for the flights. Idiots. I guess leasing was out of the question.

I didn't know that, but I'm not surprised. Here's the article:

http://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/stories/2007/11/19/daily20.html

Given how Air Berlin is building up MIA, I would think there's some truth into the rumours that if Air Berlin/LTU flies Berlin-Florida next year, it will be to MIA.

[Edited 2007-11-24 12:08:55]

Quoting PanAm330 (Thread starter): AA Eagle To Fly TLH-MIA

Lovely. Another route where the aircraft will be over weight and they'll leave bags in MIA. Happens on MIA-JAX often. One of the reasons I quit flying AA.

Quoting MAH4546 (Reply 34): I didn't know that, but I'm not surprised. Here's the article: http://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/s....html

Fair use:

M-Touristik has notified the airport that it expects $100,000 in additional compensation from airport due to the cancellation, but the airport does not believe any more money is owed.

MLB already gave them $200,000. Money, IMO, that could have been better spent trying to get a domestic in.

Quoting SPREE34 (Reply 35): Lovely. Another route where the aircraft will be over weight and they'll leave bags in MIA.

This is easily within the range of the ERJ-140, and given that this is a business route, not a route full of cruise passengers to the Midwest, baggage weight won't be a problem here.

Quoting SPREE34 (Reply 35): Happens on MIA-JAX often. One of the reasons I quit flying AA.

You can't really blame AA there. The ATR-72 carriers more cargo than any other regional aircraft, including RJs. They have the best plane for the job to handle the heavy luggage capacity that flyers to MIA tend to have. AA can't do any better, short of telling people they have strict baggage limits, which AA does do during the winter and summer peak periods.

Quoting MAH4546 (Reply 37): You can't really blame AA there

I disagree. If you can't expect you baggage to arrive with you, AA needs to tell you this up front. If AA has equipment on a route that can't serve the passenger and their baggage allowance, AA has failed to provide the advertised and paid for service. Put a 140 on the JAX route. AA knows this is a problem. Their own agents admit to this when it happens.

For those who want to delineate between AA and Eagle, don't bother. The ticket and credit card bill say American Airlines.

Quoting MAH4546 (Reply 37): AA can't do any better

Which is how they finally lost my business. Other carriers I'm using are doing better.

Quoting SPREE34 (Reply 38): I disagree. If you can't expect you baggage to arrive with you, AA needs to tell you this up front.

They do:

http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/...es/prnewswire/LAW11514112007-1.htm

While the restrictions don't apply directly to routes like JAX, LGA, etc., they do apply to people making connections such as JAX-MIA-KIN. It is those destinations that largely account for the baggage problems on these routes.

Quoting SPREE34 (Reply 38): Put a 140 on the JAX route.

That solves nothing. The ATR carries more cargo and has more room for luggage. That's why it is staple of American Eage's Caribbean operations. It's cargo hauling capabilities are excellent for a regional aircraft.

[Edited 2007-11-24 17:25:43]

Quoting MAH4546 (Reply 39): They do: http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/...1.htm

You link is to an article dated November 14th, 2007 at 10:11 EST. My issues were this Spring and Summer.

That is not telling a passenger up front that they can't haul you and your baggage allowance. My last incident was in June. They did it to me twice in one day. My self and about 40 other people got to sit in Customs in SJU for an hour until our bags came in on another flight. Tortola to SJU, a short leg. They got me again later on the MIA-JAX leg.

How can you defend this non-sense? I was never told,UP FRONT,(at time of purchase) they had equipment that couldn't hack it.
Is the above quoted article going to be included in future reservation e-mail? Does this (article) make what happened 6 months ago OK now?

Quoting MAH4546 (Reply 39): It's cargo hauling capabilities are excellent for a regional aircraft.

Not if it's hauling people the 330nm from MIA to JAX as well.

Quoting SPREE34 (Reply 40): How can you defend this non-sense? I was never told,UP FRONT,(at time of purchase) they had equipment that couldn't hack it. Is the above quoted article going to be included in future reservation e-mail? Does this (article) make what happened 6 months ago OK now?

Passengers who book flights to the destinations with restricted baggage allowance are notified with their receipt of purchase of the baggage restrictions.

Quoting SPREE34 (Reply 40): You link is to an article dated November 14th, 2007 at 10:11 EST. My issues were this Spring and Summer.

They put out that same PR every winter, every summer.

Quoting SPREE34 (Reply 40): Not if it's hauling people the 330nm from MIA to JAX as well.

Yes, they are. The baggage didn't make the flight because the passengers in total had too much baggage to fit, not because of weight restrictions. Do you want AA to tell everybody they can't bring their stuff? You can't blame AA for the fact that passengers on certain routes bring on so much luggage that it can't fit. It is not as if they don't try to handle the situation. They surely are not about to put a 738 on the route just because of baggage issues, and putting an ERJ on the route would reduce cargo capacity.

You faced an unfortunate situation in which they had too much baggage. It's a common problem for all airlines that is not exclusive to AA. I've had it happen to me twice on MIA-NAS in which one of my bags didn't make it, and came on the next flight. It is an especially common problem on routes to the Caribbean. It happens more on AA, obviously, because they are so huge in the Caribbean region.

Quoting SPREE34 (Reply 40): How can you defend this non-sense? I was never told,UP FRONT,(at time of purchase) they had equipment that couldn't hack it.

So you are trying to tell me that AA knew, up front, that there would be an above average amount of luggage on this route? Because they surely didn't. AA doesn't know how much luggage people are going to bring. Do you want AA to have everyone fill out a form telling them how much luggage they expect to carry on their trip six months in advance?

AA does know there are certain routes in which they expect people to carry an above average amount of luggage consistently, especially during peak summer and winter travel. That is why on those routes, where it is easy for them to predict these situations, they do put explicit baggage restrictions and notify passengers directly.

Quoting MAH4546 (Reply 41): Passengers who book flights to the destinations with restricted baggage allowance are notified with their receipt of purchase of the baggage restrictions

No such disclaimer was ever made to me, or was in my documentation. Yes, I still have the receipts and e-mails as well as the letters between myself and customer service.

Quoting MAH4546 (Reply 41): The baggage didn't make the flight because the passengers in total had too much baggage to fit, not because of weight restrictions.

Negative! AA personnel told us it was weight. This is why they asked some folks to give up SEATS for compensation in MIA, to get the WEIGHT down.

Quoting MAH4546 (Reply 41): You faced an unfortunate situation in which they had too much baggage.

No, by AA's own admission , I faced a situation where their equipment could not carry the weight of both pax and their allotted baggage.

Quoting MAH4546 (Reply 41): So you are trying to tell me that AA knew, up front, that there would be an above average amount of luggage on this route?

1. It was WEIGHT, not BAGGAGE. Again, by AA's own admission.

2. They knew before we left MIA for JAX. Had they upped the compensation offer, or openly communicated the issue to us, other arrangements may have been reached.

My checked bag could have been carried inside the cabin. It was small, fits overheads all the time. I check it for convenience.

I know other carriers aren't perfect either. They just don't share their imperfections with me as often as AA did, so I give them my business now. Caribbean via MIA,ATL,CLT. The times are all about the same. But my bags keep showing up with me on DL,US, Star, and the water taxi.

Quoting SPREE34 (Reply 42): No such disclaimer was ever made to me, or was in my documentation. Yes, I still have the receipts and e-mails as well as the letters between myself and customer service.

Was where you were flying to or from one of the destinations mentioned in the PR? It was not, so obviously you were not notified. Neither Jacksonville nor Tortola have frequent problems with too much baggage, so AA doesn't need to put heavy restrictions on those routes.

Quoting SPREE34 (Reply 42): Negative! AA personnel told us it was weight. This is why they asked some folks to give up SEATS for compensation in MIA, to get the WEIGHT down.

I stand corrected.

Again, though, the weight issue was relating to an unexpectedly heavy load of baggage, which AA cannot control in advance.

Quoting SPREE34 (Reply 42): 2. They knew before we left MIA for JAX. Had they upped the compensation offer, or openly communicated the issue to us, other arrangements may have been reached.

They don't know the total weight of the aircraft until after all the bags are checked in and right before boarding, and sometimes even after boarding has begun.

When a bag doesn't make it, it is industry custom that you are not notified before take-off. It would likely create hassles and delays. Could you have made "arrangements", sure. But at what cost and inconvenience to other passengers?

[Edited 2007-11-24 19:27:36]

[Edited 2007-11-24 19:28:35]

Quoting MAH4546 (Reply 43): They don't know the total weight of the aircraft until after all the bags are checked in and right before boarding, and sometimes even after boarding has begun.

Compensation being offered appx. 1h 15m before scheduled dep. 2 offers were made with no increase in the amount.

I take it you work for AA pr Eagle?

Quoting SPREE34 (Reply 44): Compensation being offered appx. 1h 15m before scheduled dep. 2 offers were made with no increase in the amount.

Did anyone take the compensation?

I understand your frustration, but AA (or any airline) has absolutely no obligation to let their passengers know that their luggage isn't going to make it.

Let's hypothetically say that on this day a MIA-JAX flight had too much luggage. They ask for compensation. Three random people take it. Their luggage is removed, and there's 20 minutes until take-off with the plane now boarding. Unfortunately, the weight removed from the three passengers' and their baggage isn't enough, so now they will have to randomly select baggage to go onto a later flight. To notify passengers right before take-off that their bags won't make it doesn't solve much. It could delay the flight. There is nothing AA, or any airline, can do here. And having the passenger say "oh, I'll just take it as carry-on" doesn't solve anything. The weight issue is still there.

Quoting SPREE34 (Reply 44): I take it you work for AA pr Eagle?

No.

[Edited 2007-11-24 19:48:09]

Quoting MAH4546 (Reply 34): User currently onlineMAH4546 From Sweden, joined Jan 2001, 18927 posts, RR: 54 Reply 34, posted Sat Nov 24 2007 09:08:40 your local time (7 hours 32 minutes 7 secs ago) and read 157 times: Quoting Beefstew25 (Reply 33): Yep, MLB to Berlin officially was axed before it ever happened. Now MLB needs to unload the $900,000 in equipment they bought for the flights. Idiots. I guess leasing was out of the question. I didn't know that, but I'm not surprised. Here's the article: http://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/stories/2007/11/19/daily20.html Given how Air Berlin is building up MIA, I would think there's some truth into the rumours that if Air Berlin/LTU flies Berlin-Florida next year, it will be to MIA.

Maybe Air Berlin/LTU would codeshare with AA on routes all over central and south america opening more lesiure routes for Germany through Miami

Some other North Florida news...DL will add service from VPS to CVG and LGA.

VPS-LGA will be flown for the holidays from 12/22 - 1/02 with a CRJ.
VPS-CVG will be flown 5x weekly with a CRJ and is scheduled to be a permanent addition...although given DL at CVG I wouldn't count on it.

Quoting Pilotboi (Reply 26): Providence-Boston Airlines

I think their correct name was Provincetown-Boston Airlines.

We send a 170 from DCA-JAX. This is on the US side.