Will GLS ever see scheduled commercial service? I know people come from as far as Dallas to go to the beaches there (I know they suck, but people still come). Could AA start Emb-135/140/145 service from DFW, or Spirit from DFW/MSY or WN from LBB/SAT/AUS/DAL/ELP? I know WN is the biggest long shot because of their HOU hub. If UA reintroduces 30 seat turboprops at IAH, maybe they could serve GLS? They did serve VCT, and even EFD before 9/11.
It is far enough from the Houstin area for its own small catchment area. Or are the likes of IAH and HOU stealing its thunder?
Or perhaps with Schlitterbahn literally across the street, maybe the City of Galveston Schlitterbahn and G4 can work some kind of vacation package deal.
[Edited 2014-08-06 00:42:30]
Moderators: jsumali2, richierich, ua900, PanAm_DC10, hOMSaR
Galveston (GLS) And PAX Service
When wasn't America great?
The thoughts and opinions shared under this username are mine and are not influenced by my employer.
The thoughts and opinions shared under this username are mine and are not influenced by my employer.
RE: Galveston (GLS) And PAX Service
| Quoting TWA772LR (Thread starter): WN from LBB/SAT/AUS/DAL/ELP? |
Like you said, with the Wright drawdown many of these cities will be losing a large chunk of their services.
WN is probably not going to happen unless they decide it's worth it to run a plane on the route instead of leaving it idle at DAL.
RE: Galveston (GLS) And PAX Service
GLS currently bans regular ops for planes over 30 pax. The terminal really can't support anything much bigger than that either. With HOU about 30 mins away what's the big deal. If I am flying from D/FW area I'd rather go to Padre or Corpus but that's just me.
"I want to know the voice of God the rest is just details" --A. Einstein
RE: Galveston (GLS) And PAX Service
| Quoting TWA772LR (Thread starter): Or perhaps with Schlitterbahn literally across the street, |
What in the hell is the Schlitterbahn?Sounds like a highway in Germany.
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- Longhornmaniac
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RE: Galveston (GLS) And PAX Service
| Quoting bobnwa (Reply 3): |
It's a waterpark. The original is in New Braunfels (30 miles north of San Antonio), which was settled by Germans, hence the name. It has been consistently voted the best waterpark in the US.
Cheers,
Cameron
Cheers,
Cameron
Cameron
RE: Galveston (GLS) And PAX Service
| Quoting bobnwa (Reply 3): What in the hell is the Schlitterbahn?Sounds like a highway in Germany. |
Huge waterparks. This one is the one in question http://www.schlitterbahn.com/galveston
Why it got the name it has, I have no idea.
“Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, an
RE: Galveston (GLS) And PAX Service
They don't really have a commercial airline terminal to speak of, do they? Can't imagine any major airline would even consider service without one being built.
Also, one thing to consider is that Texas also has several lake resorts which offer many of the same things you can find at Galveston, only within driving distance of many places like Austin and Dallas. Given that, there's not as much incentive to fly to Galveston (especially since the beach there isn't particularly nice).
Also, one thing to consider is that Texas also has several lake resorts which offer many of the same things you can find at Galveston, only within driving distance of many places like Austin and Dallas. Given that, there's not as much incentive to fly to Galveston (especially since the beach there isn't particularly nice).
RE: Galveston (GLS) And PAX Service
| Quoting TWA772LR (Thread starter): Will GLS ever see scheduled commercial service? I know people come from as far as Dallas to go to the beaches there (I know they suck, but people still come). Could AA start Emb-135/140/145 service from DFW, or Spirit from DFW/MSY or WN from LBB/SAT/AUS/DAL/ELP? I know WN is the biggest long shot because of their HOU hub. |
The answer is, probably not*, with an asterisk... but that can be addressed later.
AA already serves DFW-HOU, and it seems unlikely that they'd make much money on highly seasonal beach traffic on a high-cost aircraft like the ERJ. Folks from MSY are unlikely to fly to Galveston when nicer beaches in Mississippi are basically an hour's drive away. And as you say, WN has a huge business in HOU and they'd really only end up stealing their own traffic by serving GLS.
Now to the *: that's all subject to change if/when casino gambling were to come to town, as Landry's owns quite a few hotel/resort properties on the island and no doubt would love to build a Golden Nugget there.
The location of GLS is also suboptimal as it basically limits the airport's catchment area to the island itself. By the time you get up to the Mainland communities of Texas City/La Marque/Hitchcock, it takes the same amount of time to drive to HOU as it would to drive to GLS.
RE: Galveston (GLS) And PAX Service
Exactly, I can only see an ad hoc charter service or at best Allegiant, to support the cruse industry. Now if gambling comes to the island, then maybe.
Ironically in 2013...http://www.familyvacationcritic.com/10-best-beaches-for-families/art/ how....I don't know lol.
Ironically in 2013...http://www.familyvacationcritic.com/10-best-beaches-for-families/art/ how....I don't know lol.
HOUSTON, TEXAS
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- FlyingSicilian
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RE: Galveston (GLS) And PAX Service
| Quoting TWA772LR (Thread starter): and even EFD before 9/11 |
EFD was served well after 11 Sept 2001, until at least 2004 IIRC. It was a quite popular with the Clear Lake/NASA/Galveston crowd to get up to IAH, plus free parking and 500 extra FF miles!
Some AA connection prop-job to DFW is the only thing I could see working. Much of the cruise ship traffic goes via HOU and there is a large shuttle business to handle it already.
Maybe via EAS like Victoria has....one day.
I was told there would be cookies...
RE: Galveston (GLS) And PAX Service
Here's where they can start using all those ERJ's / CRJ's in my other topic - "Why do airlines Hate the ERJ's / CRJ's"
The cruise ships are in Galveston on Mon, Thur, Sat, Sun (for now) On Mon, Thurs and Sat around 2500 pax (on and off ship - 5000 total ) on Carnival Triumph. Sun there are approx 6000 pax (on and off ships - 12000+ total) on Carnival Magic and Navigator of the Seas. Add the fact that Carnival is bringing in another 2500 pax ship on Sat next spring (Carnival Freedom - another 5000 + total) it's gonna be even more traffic up I - 45 to HOU (30 - 45 mins away) or IAH (which is 1.30 hr to 1.45 hrs) on a good day....no traffic.
I've been saying this since the cruise ships started coming in - have some ERJ / CRJ service to PHX / DEN / DFW / ATL / ORD - IF the 2 - 6000 ft runways at GLS could handle ERJ / CRJ to those destinations?
Tilman Fertitta (CEO Landry's Inc / hotel and restaurant empire) should approach Galveston officials and GLS airport to spruce up and build an air terminal (Can't imagine why this has not happened to this date) - Then the cruise pax would have a short 10 - 15 min ride to the ship. Construction funds could come in the form of an additional hotel or cruise ship pax tax...He's got several restaurants, hotels, and a big convention center that he has helped bring to fruition in GLS.
Just up the road at the new Houston cruise terminal 2 more ships are in on Sat and Sun starting this fall 2014 (Norwegian and Princess) (another 6000+ pax each weekend day) - but it's much closer to HOU - I've noticed AA adding S80 service HOU DFW lately. Maybe it's the uptick in cruise ship pax traffic in GLS?
-LX2IAH
The cruise ships are in Galveston on Mon, Thur, Sat, Sun (for now) On Mon, Thurs and Sat around 2500 pax (on and off ship - 5000 total ) on Carnival Triumph. Sun there are approx 6000 pax (on and off ships - 12000+ total) on Carnival Magic and Navigator of the Seas. Add the fact that Carnival is bringing in another 2500 pax ship on Sat next spring (Carnival Freedom - another 5000 + total) it's gonna be even more traffic up I - 45 to HOU (30 - 45 mins away) or IAH (which is 1.30 hr to 1.45 hrs) on a good day....no traffic.
I've been saying this since the cruise ships started coming in - have some ERJ / CRJ service to PHX / DEN / DFW / ATL / ORD - IF the 2 - 6000 ft runways at GLS could handle ERJ / CRJ to those destinations?
Tilman Fertitta (CEO Landry's Inc / hotel and restaurant empire) should approach Galveston officials and GLS airport to spruce up and build an air terminal (Can't imagine why this has not happened to this date) - Then the cruise pax would have a short 10 - 15 min ride to the ship. Construction funds could come in the form of an additional hotel or cruise ship pax tax...He's got several restaurants, hotels, and a big convention center that he has helped bring to fruition in GLS.
Just up the road at the new Houston cruise terminal 2 more ships are in on Sat and Sun starting this fall 2014 (Norwegian and Princess) (another 6000+ pax each weekend day) - but it's much closer to HOU - I've noticed AA adding S80 service HOU DFW lately. Maybe it's the uptick in cruise ship pax traffic in GLS?
-LX2IAH
RE: Galveston (GLS) And PAX Service
| Quoting bobnwa (Reply 3): |
AND...
The newest Schlitterbahn is in Kansas City !!!
With the All NEW Verrückt - World's tallest water slide !!!
http://www.schlitterbahn.com/kansas-city
RE: Galveston (GLS) And PAX Service
| Quoting LX2IAH (Reply 10): Tilman Fertitta (CEO Landry's Inc / hotel and restaurant empire) should approach Galveston officials and GLS airport to spruce up and build an air terminal (Can't imagine why this has not happened to this date) - Then the cruise pax would have a short 10 - 15 min ride to the ship. |
An easy bus ride to/from the cruise terminal doesn't really bring much in the way of hotel or restaurant traffic unless there's a mandatory stop at one of his restaurants...
| Quoting FlyingSicilian (Reply 9): EFD was served well after 11 Sept 2001, until at least 2004 IIRC. It was a quite popular with the Clear Lake/NASA/Galveston crowd to get up to IAH, plus free parking and 500 extra FF miles! |
Sure, because the parking was free and CO didn't charge extra for that hop -- but no doubt it was a big loss leader for them.
RE: Galveston (GLS) And PAX Service
If anyone knows about Houston's traffic - if you can fly above it - without having to pay - that's priceless!
Too bad that hop is gone from EFD & a long time ago from SGR.
Houston has just been named the city with the WORST drivers in the USA!
LX2IAH
Too bad that hop is gone from EFD & a long time ago from SGR.
Houston has just been named the city with the WORST drivers in the USA!
LX2IAH
RE: Galveston (GLS) And PAX Service
Correction... The RUDEST drivers -
http://www.weather.com/news/commuter...drivers-america-20140521?pageno=19
LX2IAH
http://www.weather.com/news/commuter...drivers-america-20140521?pageno=19
LX2IAH
RE: Galveston (GLS) And PAX Service
Also, the Lone Star Flight Museum (http://www.lsfm.org/) is moving to Ellington, so maybe they could use that structure as a passenger terminal?
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- FlyingSicilian
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RE: Galveston (GLS) And PAX Service
| Quoting ScottB (Reply 12): Sure, because the parking was free and CO didn't charge extra for that hop -- but no doubt it was a big loss leader for them. |
I know, I took it all the time when visiting family and business near NASA. It was great save for the rare random WX delay.
I think GLS is still better served to DFW. Not because I am a big AA fan or something it just seems like it would draw more pax that way.
I was told there would be cookies...
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- thomasphoto60
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RE: Galveston (GLS) And PAX Service
As others have correctly stated GLS simply does not have the capacity to handle large jets and there seem to be little willingness on the part of the local government to upgrade the facilities. Perhaps if casino gambling were brought back (which I oppose) and increase in cruise ship activity, who knows.....? Frankly, I would rather see a rail link
With all of this slamming of poor old Galveston and her beaches, while there is some truth to this, I have seen worse. The city and county of Galveston could do something with the beaches, sadly the ugly brown waters of the upper Texas coast, well not much can be done about this. As Galveston lies to the west of the Mississippi, all that sediment and silt flows this way, can't do much about that.
As someone earlier suggested the best beaches and waters in Texas are further south, Corpus Christi, Aransas and of course SPI (South Padre Island) as well as other lesser know hideaways between Port O'Connor and SPI.
With all of this slamming of poor old Galveston and her beaches, while there is some truth to this, I have seen worse. The city and county of Galveston could do something with the beaches, sadly the ugly brown waters of the upper Texas coast, well not much can be done about this. As Galveston lies to the west of the Mississippi, all that sediment and silt flows this way, can't do much about that.
As someone earlier suggested the best beaches and waters in Texas are further south, Corpus Christi, Aransas and of course SPI (South Padre Island) as well as other lesser know hideaways between Port O'Connor and SPI.
"Show me the Braniffs"
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- JBAirwaysFan
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RE: Galveston (GLS) And PAX Service
Anything going out of GLS would have to be to a major hub like DFW or ATL. No airline could rely solely on O&D traffic alone there. Since GLS is less than 750 miles from ATL, DL could technically do this with the CRJ.
In Loving Memory of Casey Edward Falconer; May 16, 1992-May 9, 2012
RE: Galveston (GLS) And PAX Service
I remember flying DL BOS-DFW-IAH in 2003 (I had been rerouted by Icelandair after a cancellation on a KEF-US routing) and seeing DFW-GLS on the route map.
RE: Galveston (GLS) And PAX Service
TTA/Texas International served Galveston for many years until the early 70s. Convair 600 and Beech 99 service all the way to Houston. Several times a day at one point.
http://www.departedflights.com/TI070170p10.html
Tom In SJC
[Edited 2014-08-09 12:55:10]
http://www.departedflights.com/TI070170p10.html
Tom In SJC
[Edited 2014-08-09 12:55:10]
When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the Earth with your eyes turned skyward -Leonardo DaVinci
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- toxtethogrady
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RE: Galveston (GLS) And PAX Service
| Quoting TWA772LR (Thread starter): It is far enough from the Houstin area for its own small catchment area. Or are the likes of IAH and HOU stealing its thunder? |
I could plausibly see a weekend service (Saturday/Sunday) to meet the cruise ships, but it would require the airline to set up a partnership similar to the casino flights to Gulfport, MS. Otherwise, it's too convenient to travel to Galveston from IAH/HOU.
RE: Galveston (GLS) And PAX Service
| Quoting toxtethogrady (Reply 23): but it would require the airline to set up a partnership similar to the casino flights to Gulfport, MS |
Speaking of which...Vision has been using the 767-200 on the HOU-GPT run. I've seen it gracefully gliding over the S. Loop on approach to 12R
HOUSTON, TEXAS
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