I flew Southwest out of DCA this morning. Just curious if anybody knows, where did all of their gates and slots come from?
I know a few years ago they didn't even fly there. Who had a larger presence before Delta or USAir?
Moderators: richierich, ua900, PanAm_DC10, hOMSaR
RE: Southwest At DCA
They inherited a lot of them from their acquisition of airTran.
They currently fly to Atlanta, Austin, Chicago–Midway, Columbus, Dallas–Love, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Houston–Hobby, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Milwaukee, Nashville, New Orleans, Omaha, Orlando, St. Louis, and Tampa.
They currently fly to Atlanta, Austin, Chicago–Midway, Columbus, Dallas–Love, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Houston–Hobby, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Milwaukee, Nashville, New Orleans, Omaha, Orlando, St. Louis, and Tampa.
RE: Southwest At DCA
12 from AirTran, 3 from DOT slot approval awards like AUS and MCI. The remaining slots were bought during the DOT auction after the DL and US slot swap.
Flyguy
Flyguy
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- quickmover
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RE: Southwest At DCA
Well they had 7 jets at the gate ready to go out this morning. Not as many as American or Delta had on the ground, but looked like they might have ranked 3rd this morning
Did AirTran have all that many flights from DCA?
Did AirTran have all that many flights from DCA?
RE: Southwest At DCA
Will we ever see WN service from DCA to EWR/LGA or BOS?
RE: Southwest At DCA
| Quoting stlgph (Reply 5): Quoting TUNisia (Reply 4): DCA to EWR/LGA or BOS? doubtful. |
We should. It'll make all those representatives and senators shut up about excess fees.
| Quoting quickmover (Thread starter): Who had a larger presence before Delta or USAir? |
I think US did, after their LGA slot swap with DL. Was that before or after WN entered DCA? If after, then the inverse is true.
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- airliner371
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RE: Southwest At DCA
| Quoting quickmover (Thread starter): Who had a larger presence before Delta or USAir? |
US was the largest carrier at DCA for decades. In fact, in 2000 they had proposed spinning off most of their DCA operation to a semi-independent carrier called DCAir in an attempt to gain approval for their failed merger attempt with United.
| Quoting TWA772LR (Reply 7): Quoting stlgph (Reply 5): Quoting TUNisia (Reply 4): DCA to EWR/LGA or BOS? doubtful. We should. It'll make all those representatives and senators shut up about excess fees |
It won't happen because it's extremely unlikely they'd be able to acquire enough slots at DCA/EWR/LGA to offer a competitive schedule and service the rest of their network.
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RE: Southwest At DCA
Did WN pay for these or was it granted by the govt?
[Edited 2016-03-26 15:48:00]
[Edited 2016-03-26 15:48:00]
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- Viscount724
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RE: Southwest At DCA
| Quoting ScottB (Reply 10): Quoting quickmover (Thread starter): Who had a larger presence before Delta or USAir? US was the largest carrier at DCA for decades. |
Before deregulation, Eastern was the largest DCA operator for quite a few years.
From April 1, 1974 OAG, daily DCA departures (some weekend variations). Have shown Allegheny and Allegheny Commuter separately. Allegheny changed its name to US Air in 1979.
Eastern - 70
United - 37
Allegheny - 31
Allegheny Commuter - 17
American - 29
Piedmont - 25
Northwest - 20
National - 18
TWA - 15
Delta - 13
Braniff - 6
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- quickmover
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RE: Southwest At DCA
Interesting how USAir had a large presence at DCA through allegheny while Piedmont (another subsidiary) also had 25 DCA slots and a large hub in Baltmore 30 miles up the road
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- airliner371
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RE: Southwest At DCA
ATA only had 1-2 slot pairs, so WN surrendered those slots back to the Feds who then put them up for auction. Ironically FL ended up acquiring the ex ATA slots and WN got them back when they acquired FL.
RE: Southwest At DCA
| Quoting usflyguy (Reply 17): Didn't the Fed say that the DCA slots were nontransferable, they had to be put up for reallocation and, if WN wanted them, they would bid for them? |
I'm not sure how the process originally worked. All I do know is that FL was awarded the ATA DCA slots that WN didn't take, and WN got those slots back by default when they acquired FL.
RE: Southwest At DCA
I flew DCA - DAL last night on WN. Compared to the other terminals at DCA, I feel like WN (and F9/AC) are the red-headed step children of the airport stuck over in the A Terminal. Wish they were in B/C with the better dining options/views/access to Metro/etc.
WNTex
WNTex
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RE: Southwest At DCA
| Quoting wntex (Reply 20): |
| Quoting wntex (Reply 20): |
| Quoting wntex (Reply 20): WN. Compared to the other terminals at DCA, I feel like WN (and F9/AC) are the red-headed step children of the airport stuck over in the A Terminal. Wish they were in B/C with the better dining options/views/access to Metro/etc. |
Is the area you are talking about what they call "the banjo area"?
RE: Southwest At DCA
| Quoting wntex (Reply 20): I flew DCA - DAL last night on WN. Compared to the other terminals at DCA, I feel like WN (and F9/AC) are the red-headed step children of the airport stuck over in the A Terminal. Wish they were in B/C with the better dining options/views/access to Metro/etc. WNTex |
WN had an opportunity to move when B6 moved. They chose to stay in A. They're not "stuck" anywhere.
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- airliner371
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RE: Southwest At DCA
DCA has made big improvements to Terminal A with more on the way. With the expanded security area and complete remodel, I think Terminal A is a convenient alternative to Terminals B and C. My only true complaint with A is the distance to the Metro.
RE: Southwest At DCA
| Quoting usflyguy (Reply 24): Where were they given the opportunity to go? I didn't realize DCA had 6 excess gates in either B or C. |
IIRC that stems from the AA-US merger, and being forced to give up a few physical gates in addition to slots at DCA. Further back, UA freed up a few when they decamped for the old CO gates in B.
If a few more gates eventually shuffle open between B, B/C, and C, it would be neat for WN if they eventually grew to take over all of A as the "WN terminal". For us avgeeks it would be fun given how recently they had zero DCA presence whatsoever.
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- washingtonflyer
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RE: Southwest At DCA
They're getting ready for a DCA expansion which would demo the MWAA building to the north of the northern C pier, demo the existing large AA hangar, and replace both with a new pier for CRJs/E-jets and a new hanger of a smaller size.
Gates might be freed up there as AA currently parks all of its E-jets at "mainline" gates and - once in a great while - will park a CR2 or CR7 at a mainline gate.
With those ops moving to the northernmost pier, one or two gates might become open in the middle pier. My bet is that AA would like its partner AS to move there...
Gates might be freed up there as AA currently parks all of its E-jets at "mainline" gates and - once in a great while - will park a CR2 or CR7 at a mainline gate.
With those ops moving to the northernmost pier, one or two gates might become open in the middle pier. My bet is that AA would like its partner AS to move there...
RE: Southwest At DCA
| Quoting catiii (Reply 22): They're not "stuck" anywhere |
I was just saying it seemed like they got to DCA so late that they are kind of "stuck" there since B/C are full. Did not know about the B6 option they had.
| Quoting airliner371 (Reply 23): DCA has made big improvements to Terminal A with more on the way |
And you can certainly tell...for a terminal built in the early 1940s, it looks nice. I was a little surprised by the check-in area and baggage claim being so close together, but it didn't seem to cause any big jams.
| Quoting lhcvg (Reply 25): it would be neat for WN if they eventually grew to take over all of A as the "WN terminal". For us avgeeks it would be fun given how recently they had zero DCA presence whatsoever. |
Certainly. I'm really glad they fly there now so I don't have to fly into BWI when I want to visit DC. DCA is just way too convenient!
RE: Southwest At DCA
| Quoting wntex (Reply 27): Did not know about the B6 option they had. |
It really wasn't an option as B6 only has 4 gates in Terminal B and WN operates 45 departures a day.
I know a lot of people don't like the interface between the Metro station and Terminal A. Interestingly, the distance between the south end of the Metro station and the Southwest check-in desks via the VIP parking lot where Members of Congress park is roughly the same as will be the case at IAD. However, once you arrive at the WN check-in desks at DCA getting to the gate is a breeze, while at IAD your journey to the gate has just begun. We are truly spoiled rotten at DCA.
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- airliner371
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- masseybrown
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RE: Southwest At DCA
| Quoting wntex (Reply 20): Wish they were in B/C with the better dining options/views/access to Metro/etc. |
| Quoting DCAfan (Reply 28): Interestingly, the distance between the south end of the Metro station and the Southwest check-in desks via the VIP parking lot where Members of Congress park is roughly the same as will be the case at IAD. |
The DCA walk, while not an outrageous distance, is inhospitable in good weather and pretty horrible in bad especially for a family with baggage. It's a serious negative for WN and the other carriers in A.
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- airliner371
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RE: Southwest At DCA
| Quoting MasseyBrown (Reply 30): |
You can simply walk inside the terminal from A to B to the Metro. No weather.
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- cageyjames
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RE: Southwest At DCA
| Quoting airliner371 (Reply 31): You can simply walk inside the terminal from A to B to the Metro. No weather. |
While that is true, it's a hike compared to being in B.
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- masseybrown
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RE: Southwest At DCA
| Quoting airliner371 (Reply 31): You can simply walk inside the terminal from A to B to the Metro. No weather. |
If you can find it. Plus, would the tourists know that? Anyway you slice it, Terminal A is still a negative.
RE: Southwest At DCA
| Quoting airliner371 (Reply 31): You can simply walk inside the terminal from A to B to the Metro. No weather |
| Quoting MasseyBrown (Reply 33): If you can find it. Plus, would the tourists know that? |
It is well marked in both A and B/C. It's the same hallway people in B/C have to walk if they are getting a rental car, which is out of the A Garage. It is cool to walk through the original terminal
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