Memphis is not a major hub. Cincy & Salt Lake are hubs for Delta, but not nearly as big as ATL. DEN has been a UA hub forever, and is pretty well located with a big, new airport.
AA is shrinking domestic capacity. Unless something major happens @ ORD or DFW, they don't need three mid-continent hubs, especially with STL being by far the smallest.
I'm not buying it. How is Denver a major hub, then, since it is about the same size city. And Memphis. And Cincinatti? AA was pretty quick to contract, weren't they. They still blame St. Louis for 911.
The theory behind the hub system doesn't rely on O/D traffic. It's simply the point where you choose to gather your traffic to regroup and then disperse it over a larger region. This creates more efficient use of aircraft and allows for frequency (convenience factor) rather than 1 departure on a large aircraft. The O/D traffic is bolstered at the hubs because of the nonstop opportunities it creates for locals. In theory, you could make any podunk town your hub as long as you funnel all of your connecting traffic through.
As a sidenote, Memphis is a bit of an oddity because of NW's Detroit and Minneapolis hubs, however NW in general relies a great deal on Pacific and Asian routes.
Billkn wrote:This website lists average fares, yields, and passenger numbers. As you can see, the yields on some of the heavier routes are terrible for STL.
With all the traffic to Detroit as shown by your map, I'm amazed that AA has no non-stops to Detroit. They force their frequent flyers to jump to Northwest or Southwest to go non-stop. Or go through the crapshoot of hoping to make a connection through Chicago.
Does anyone in the airlines industry know if Airtran is looking at STL to fill up the slots it just gained when ATA backed out of Laguardia in NYC? Airtran just gained 5 slots at LGA, and their CEO says they want to use those slots for midwestern cities-it seems with Airtran's recent entry and expansion at STL it would be a likely market. With Delta now offering nonstop JFK-STL within the past year, Americans flights to all 3 NYC airports, and Continentals flights out of Newark, they'd face some competition. But they faced competition in Orlando (Southwest, Allegiant, American) and Atlanta (American, Delta) as well and they are still running.
ATA's loss is AirTran's gain in New York, D.C.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (free registration) confirms that AirTran "plans to expand in the nation's financial and political capitals." The carrier intends "to add five daily flights out of New York's LaGuardia airport, plus another daily flight between Atlanta and Washington D.C.'s Reagan National airport before year end," the Journal-Constitution writes. "It's a very big deal for us," AirTran CEO Joe Leonard said yesterday while discussing the carrier's earnings. Landing rights are restricted at the two close-to-downtown airports, both favorites among travelers.
The Orlando Sentinel says AirTran's slots had been held by ATA Airlines, which recently disclosed it would phase out its service to both LaGuardia and National. Though the Journal-Constitution says AirTran will use its D.C. flight for additional Atlanta service, the Sentinel writes carrier plans to "use most of those extra flights from New York and D.C. for service to Midwestern cities, as it tries to build more east-west traffic." AirTran President Bob Fornaro says: "Those are really the key cities to really develop a Midwestern focus." At least one slot from LaGuardia will be used for daily Orlando flights this winter, Fornaro is quoted as saying by the Sentinel.
I sure hope AirTran makes STL a focus city or a hub. It would really help Lambert and bring more O/D flights. I see this as an opportunity for them since the president says he wants to bring a midwestern focus. STL is centrally located and has a lot of slots open in concourse D! I sure hope it makes AA wake up, but as long as they don't act like cry babies when AirTran or any other carrier brings competition or adds new flights.
Nearby cities with airline hubs/focus cities.
Kansas City has Midwest Airlines
Milwaukee has a Midwest Airlines hub/HQ
Memphis has Northwest
Indianapolis is a focus city for Northwest (new terminal opens next year )
O'**** AA and United
Midway a focus city for Southwest, and formerly ATA.
Pretty much all the cities I listed are within a days drive from here and have over a million people in their MSA's. Their to get an idea of what they have versus Lambert. This really could be an opportunity for Lambert, I sure hope they are on this and are talking with AirTran!
Memphis does have a flight to Amsterdam, not sure how that service is sustained. It was something from the era when NWA and KLM were partners. Other than that NWA, focuses all their international flights from Detroit and Minneapolis. Detroit is NWA's largest hub and IMO their nicest.
I, too, hope that STL is on the ball and working on this as it would be good for the area and - HOPEFULLY, good for AirTran!
Seems they would have a fight on their hands, though, if American and Southwest felt their toes being stepped on. Some say that American would simply abdicate.
I read on KSDK.com that Lambert is in the process of building a "cell phone lot". I really like this idea. Now we won't have to keep driving around waiting for someone to finally to come out so that we can pick them up. I remember I had picked up my mother and the East Terminal and ended up having to circle about 4-5 times because there were problems with getting the luggage to the terminal. They said there will be about 150 spaces making it one of the large cell phone lots in the nation. Its about 1/2 from the airport but that would save you some gas considering the prices I welcome that. Also it may save you from an accident.
Afftonguy78 wrote:I read on KSDK.com that Lambert is in the process of building a "cell phone lot". I really like this idea. Now we won't have to keep driving around waiting for someone to finally to come out so that we can pick them up. I remember I had picked up my mother and the East Terminal and ended up having to circle about 4-5 times because there were problems with getting the luggage to the terminal. They said there will be about 150 spaces making it one of the large cell phone lots in the nation. Its about 1/2 from the airport but that would save you some gas considering the prices I welcome that. Also it may save you from an accident.
It's about time. Every other major airport in the country has had this implemented for years. They'll need to make sure the public knows what it is and it's purpose to avoid the backlog of cars that continues to camp out in the 5 minute pickup area.
I'd also suggest better signage in the baggage claim area. It's confusing for out-of-town travelers to find the 5 minute pickup area, especially having to haul your luggage up the stairs. Most other airports you simply exit the baggage claim area and passenger pickup is directly in front of you.
From KSDK.com
The days of circling the airport may soon be over. Currently, drivers picking up airline passengers have a small waiting area that they can't stay in for more than 15 minutes while waiting for arriving flights. Soon, they'll have another option.
Officials with Lambert-St. Louis International Airport say a 'Cell Phone Lot' is under construction. The idea is that people who are picking up arriving passengers will be able to wait in the parking lot, and when the passengers get off their planes, they can call the drivers to come pick them up.
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The parking lot will also feature large signs that display arriving flight information.
Officials say the 150-car parking lot will be one of the largest cell phone lots in the country.
The lot will be on the north side of Lambert International Boulevard just east of Cypress, a half-mile from the exit from Interstate 70.
Officials say the lot should be ready before the holiday season.
Here are directions provided by airport officials:
# From I-170 Northbound take exit 7c to I-70 Westbound to exit 235c (Natural Bridge Road). Take a right. Drive past the Cypress intersection for another 3/10 of a mile, the cell phone lot is on the left side of the right of the road.
# From I-170 Southbound take exit 7b to I-70 Westbound to exit 235c (Natural Bridge Road). Take a right. Drive past the Cypress intersection for another 3/10 of a mile, the cell phone lot is on the left side of the right of the road.
# From I-70 Eastbound take exit 235c (Cypress Road). Turn left on Cypress, under I-70 to Lambert International Blvd. Take a right. Drive 3/10 of a mile. The cell phone lot is on the left side.
# From I-70 Westbound take exit 235c (Natural Bridge Road). Turn right on Natural Bridge Road. Drive past the Cypress intersection for another 3/10 of a mile, the cell phone lot is on the left side of the right of the road.
LAMBERT STL INTERNATIONAL CELL PHONE PARKING INFO:
A new parking option at Lambert St. Louis International Airport should ease those dreaded passenger pickup headaches caused by airline delays, traffic congestion outside baggage claim and short time waiting zones that force motorists to continually loop around the airport.
The solution is a Cell Phone Lot that allows motorists to park for free while they wait for their passengers to call them when they are ready to be picked up. Lambert has begun renovating an existing airport parking lot that will soon feature 150 temporary parking spaces and a large Airline Flight Information Display Board. It will be one of the largest “waiting’ lots in the country.
The Cell Phone Lot will be located on the north side of Lambert International Boulevard just east of Cypress and a half mile from the Natural Bridge exit off of Interstate 70. Motorists can park for free while waiting for arriving passengers. When those passengers have landed and are ready for their pickup, they make contact with the motorist by cell phone. Motorists can then pull up to the arrivals curbs at either the Main or East Terminal. Drivers will no longer have continually loop around the airport if passengers don’t arrive on time. Plus, the Cell Phone Lot will ease congestion along the arrivals curbs while helping motorists better comply with current security regulations.
Renovations to the Cell Phone Lot site include new asphalt, curbing, fencing, lighting and landscaping –all to provide a clean and safe location for drivers. The Cell Phone Lot should be completed in time for travelers and visitors to use for the busy holiday travel season. The Cell Phone Lot is part of the Lambert Advantage program, which focuses on giving passengers more amenities and better services.
Lambert St. Louis International Airport continues to see increase in passenger traffic. September showed more growth in the number of boarding passengers with a 4.2 percent increase over September 2006. Year to date, nearly 5.9 million passengers have originated from Lambert, a 1.2 percent over the same 9-month period in 2006.
American Airlines boarded 190,570 passengers in September. Frontier Airlines showed the biggest gain in boarding passengers, also called emplanements, among the major national airlines with 12,139 passengers originating from St. Louis in September. That’s a 57 percent increase over the same month in 2006. International Charter Airlines service increased 11.2 percent in September.
The number of passengers flying through Lambert Field jumped 4.2 percent in September, its fourth straight month of growth over the prior year.
Much of the gain came from new service from AirTran Airways and expanded flights from Frontier Airlines. Airport Director Richard Hrabko told a meeting of the Airport Authority today that an airline - and “not necessarily American Airlines” - will announce new service Thursday, though Lambert officials wouldn’t say where to.
I can't get the article to load, but the pd has an article about new flights to philadelphia. Doesn't US Airways fly there too? How many daily flights will that make?
American and US Airways fly to Philly. Now Southwest does as well.
More flights to Philly
By Tim Logan
11/08/2007 10:06 am
Southwest Airlines will introduce two daily non-stop flights from Lambert Field to Philadelphia, starting March 17, the airline said this morning.
It’s part of an expansion in several big cities by Southwest, which is trying to lure more business travelers. They picked St. Louis to Philly because they saw an opportunity there, said spokeswoman Brandy King.
WN (Southwest) flights to PHL this will be good for the market as WN will drive costs down. I wouldn't expect AA to add mainline service on this route, at least until US upgrades. I would expect in February or March US will replace several E70 US Airways express trips to be replaced with a combination of E90/737/A319 service.
US has a weird fleet, their regional parters operate the Embraer 170 while an Embraer 190 is operated by mainline. (E190 has about 20 extra seats and is a two-class f/y config).
I think that the announcement reported by the Post-Dispatch must be more newsworthy than WN adding two flights for the airport administration to announce it in advance. Besides, the article said next Thursday...My guesses are some new flights from FL (AirTran) and new service from other carriers. AirTran should be obvious as they now have possession of another gate, B-10, and are starting seasonal service to Sarasota-Bradenton on 11/15 (same day as the announcement).
As for FL to SRQ, I think they'll make this flight work. The problem with Trans State's (AA Connections) failed service in Winter/Spring 2006 was that the standard fare was $399. Few customers would pay that premium when a flight to TPA was $200 with a 1 hour drive. That flight always left full, but the yields must not have been so good...
Thank God for Southwest Airlines. Now on my frequest trips to STL to visit relatives, I don't have to rely on USeless Airways or AA.
USeless Airways performance/reliability record on the STL/PHL route is one of the worst of a very bad airline's routes. I've had too many flights to STL cancelled or very delayed by them so I will never fly them anywhere.
And both US and AA use those small planes. I'm 5'8" and I have a hard time getting in and out of those tin cans, so I feel for anyone over 6'.
No surprise US Airways is terrible. They've always been behind in customer service. I have had a particularly bad experience with them as a non-revenue passenger at their Philadelphia and Charlotte hubs.
Southwest starting their new seating policy. I Will find out if the extra $20 on my ALB to STL (via MDW) tomorrow is worth it or least worth it for my employer.
steveinphila wrote:
And both US and AA use those small planes. I'm 5'8" and I have a hard time getting in and out of those tin cans, so I feel for anyone over 6'.
The amount of personal space you have in regional jets is essentially the same amount you have in a larger mainline aircraft. Aside from CRJ100/200 aircraft, the CRJ-900/E-135-145-170 aircraft are quite comfortable. Without those aircraft, you'd be without the frequency STL has.
I think AA will defend LGA against an AirTran intrusion as much as they can, and WN will strategically fend off any areas of interest from JetBlue.
b777stl wrote:No surprise US Airways is terrible. They've always been behind in customer service. I have had a particularly bad experience with them as a non-revenue passenger at their Philadelphia and Charlotte hubs.
While it is GREAT to see more service coming to St. Louis, I cannot say anything bad about US Airways! Bear in mind, I have never flown them through Philadelphia! However, through Charlotte, I have had nothing but good experiences. Even with delays the airline kept us apprised of the situation letting us know what was going on and when we would be able to get underway.
I do despise the ERJs...the CRJs are tolerable (barely). But I am looking forward to flying their E170/190/195 family of aircraft!
Otherwise, if other carriers are adding service it's a sign that O&D is on the rise! After all the losses we've had, it's great to see the area getting its groove back!
Progress wrote:
I do despise the ERJs...the CRJs are tolerable (barely). But I am looking forward to flying their E170/190/195 family of aircraft!
Most people think the opposite. The CRJ100/200 have a horrible window level making it almost impossible to comfortably see out the window, and like the ERJ because of the shoulder room and single row of seats.
In other news, Frontier has also reduced Cancun service to weekend only and completely eliminated summer and early fall.
Progress wrote:
I do despise the ERJs...the CRJs are tolerable (barely). But I am looking forward to flying their E170/190/195 family of aircraft!
Most people think the opposite. The CRJ100/200 have a horrible window level making it almost impossible to comfortably see out the window, and like the ERJ because of the shoulder room and single row of seats.
In other news, Frontier has also reduced Cancun service to weekend only and completely eliminated summer and early fall.
I am not too particularly fond of regional jets myself, however the Embraer E-Jets series has been a winner for airlines so far (170, 175, 190, 195) with low operating and maintenance costs along with higher passenger satisfaction.
Embraer simply put the right product out at the right time...
The E-Jets are my choice when flying regional as they were designed to rival comfort of a mainline jet. I have been in First on both the E-170 and CRJ 900 on Delta with in the last year (both of which average less than two years old in DL's fleet).
B6 (JetBlue) and Air Canada also operate the E-190, a direct competitor of the CRJ 900.
Hopefully US Airways will upgrade their service at STL to compete with WN. Their fleet is strange, as their E-170s are operated as regionals while their E-190s are considered mainline and are operated by mainline. I can see a mix of 737s/A319s/E-190s on the STL-PHL route starting this spring/summer.
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