urbanSTL

The free hour of wifi passed. Just has to pass the BOA now. Should go into effect Oct 1.

https://www.flystl.com/newsroom/stl-new ... -travelers

Also, the Kansas City City Council (ugh) selected a design team for the new airport...

...with no renderings.

Of the several design teams that applied, all had renderings except Edgemoor, who was selected.

http://kcrag.com/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=2874&start=3540

^^^The fallout is occurring at the forum above.

If anything, this sinks any hope for the new terminal to pass in November.

I keep coming back to how it seems any percieved shortcomings with international service is partially due to thea airports focus has only very recently been on that and was prioritizing filling in domestic holes first. Its not the flashy way of doing things but more practical and has worked very well.

Another growing need is actually dealing with the sizable growth in local demand and connecting passengers in terms of accommodating everyone and not have congestion issues. Heard the dropoff and pickup areas are getting a bit hairier, especially with the rideshare services entering into it along with making sure theres enough amenities in the terminals, especially Terminal 2 with more people connecting through it.

Two questions:

1. Is there a way to know if planes are using the "new" runway at Lambert?
2. If so, I wonder if activity on that runway has increased as ridership has increased.

Matthew Hibbard wrote: Two questions:

1. Is there a way to know if planes are using the "new" runway at Lambert?
2. If so, I wonder if activity on that runway has increased as ridership has increased.

The airport's noise reports have the data you're interested in.

I am going to guess that the answer to your question is "no" as even with the increased passenger counts, the number of operations at the airport has remained relatively static for more than 5 years

I'm not sure why some think 11/29 doesn't get used. It absolutely does. If the airport is on a southeast flow and your flying on Delta, United or a sub of the two your landing 11 most of the time. If the airport is on a northwest flow and flying out on one of those airlines your most likely departing 29. It gets used by the other airlines too at times, and aircraft will land on 29. Beats having a 30 mile final.

According to a travel agent friend, WOW Air's outbound STL flight's in May and June 18' are all rapidly selling/sold out. She had a family itinerary planned for STL-LGW departing May 21, and the outbound STL flight does not have enough seats left for a party of 5. The return is also filled. She said the inbound inaugural flight on May 17th is nearly sold out. Apparently, a Danish tour company did a bulk purchase of 65 seats. Great news, considering flights have been on sale less than a month.

Could we see them go daily this summer?

Chalupas54 wrote: ↑

Sep 10, 2017

According to a travel agent friend, WOW Air's outbound STL flight's in May and June 18' are all rapidly selling/sold out. She had a family itinerary planned for STL-LGW departing May 21, and the outbound STL flight does not have enough seats left for a party of 5. The return is also filled. She said the inbound inaugural flight on May 17th is nearly sold out. Apparently, a Danish tour company did a bulk purchase of 65 seats. Great news, considering flights have been on sale less than a month.

Could we see them go daily this summer?

That is good to see it doing well from the Europe end.

That said, I put in that I wanted to buy 9 tickets on May 21 and it didn't have a problem letting me do that. Your friend might want to just book them directly on the site. There were plenty of seats available to pick from (although that isn't the best indicator since not everyone is paying to pick their seat)

jshank83 wrote: ↑

Sep 10, 2017

Chalupas54 wrote: ↑

Sep 10, 2017

According to a travel agent friend, WOW Air's outbound STL flight's in May and June 18' are all rapidly selling/sold out. She had a family itinerary planned for STL-LGW departing May 21, and the outbound STL flight does not have enough seats left for a party of 5. The return is also filled. She said the inbound inaugural flight on May 17th is nearly sold out. Apparently, a Danish tour company did a bulk purchase of 65 seats. Great news, considering flights have been on sale less than a month.

Could we see them go daily this summer?

That is good to see it doing well from the Europe end.

That said, I put in that I wanted to buy 9 tickets on May 21 and it didn't have a problem letting me do that. Your friend might want to just book them directly on the site. There were plenty of seats available to pick from (although that isn't the best indicator since not everyone is paying to pick their seat)

Her travel agency uses a specific software (?) of some kind to do bulk bookings, and the flight returned as full. Not sure what it's called.

Chalupas54 wrote: ↑

Sep 10, 2017

Actually just received clarification. She uses a program that allows her company, along with others, put tentative 'reservations' on bulk seats for flights, without having to purchase upfront. Basically, the airline will set those seats aside until the client's purchase the tickets. WOW is one of the few non-charter airlines that use the service. She would not identify the service due to competitive purposes.

She said that STL and CLE are seeing their flights being consumed by travel agents who are putting in these tentative reservations, which is why they may not appear on WOW's website.

She said she knows of many people from Kansas City and as far away as Des Moines, IA that have already booked flights. Travel agents in Springfield and Columbia are also taking advantage of them according to her.

I don't understand the travel agent lingo, however.

Ohh got it. So I am guessing there are only so many of those seats they (they being all travel agents) can reserve at a time without paying. Once they pay then more spots open back up for them to book. But while all that is going on there will be seats for just anyone to buy off the site, until it is actually sold out.

Either way it is good to hear there is demand. It will be interesting to keep an eye on them as the dates get closer. Des Moines people could alway fly the Southwest nonstop down then WOW over, if they don't want to drive any.

Chalupas54 wrote: ↑

Sep 10, 2017

According to a travel agent friend, WOW Air's outbound STL flight's in May and June 18' are all rapidly selling/sold out.

This is by no means correct. Looking at the first 3 weeks of flights, there are greater than 9 seats available on every single flight. Looking at specific fare classes, there does not appear to be a significant change since when the flights went on sale.

I can't help but think that Amazon choosing St Louis would not be a bad outcome for Southwest Airlines with STL as focus city that can add gates, has a huge runway capacity, centrally located with minimal weather impacts relative so some hubs not too mention existing West Coast service. Talk about a underdog card if you can get the US largest domestic carrier put their stamp approval on your proposal

As someone noted in the Amazon thread, STL is weak into all New York airports but I'm pretty sure United would add flights from Newark as well as Delta from either LaGuardia or JFK with increased demand.

dredger wrote: ↑

Sep 10, 2017

I can't help but think that Amazon choosing St Louis would not be a bad outcome for Southwest Airlines with STL as focus city that can add gates, has a huge runway capacity, centrally located with minimal weather impacts relative so some hubs not too mention existing West Coast service. Talk about a underdog card if you can get the US largest domestic carrier put their stamp approval on your proposal

As someone noted in the Amazon thread, STL is weak into all New York airports but I'm pretty sure United would add flights from Newark as well as Delta from either LaGuardia or JFK with increased demand.

I think it was just noted we don't have flights to JFK. We are not weak to the others. MCI doesn't even have AA flights to New York at all starting in a couple months. We have 20+ flights a day to New York. Southwest, AA/UA/Delta all have at least 5 flights a day each to New York during the week.

^ Thanks for the clarification

To really get out there you can add the fact if Amazon wants to be an airport operator St. Louis has one of those also with a private application already sent to the Feds.

I know Gregl can give me a lot of reasons why Southwest will not want to get into it or how far out of its business it would need to go. But STL with Southwest essentially taking over Terminal 2/E gates with its existing international gates/customs/immigration and everyone for the most part in Terminal 1 sets up nicely for Southwest to give it try as an airport operator and or maybe just partnering with an existing European/International private airport operator.

Language can always be added to contract to protect the existing airlines and the up front payment can be used for major terminal upgrade, either doing something about the lousy curbside arrangements or add a consolidate car rental/additional short term parking. STL is in unique position of using existing D gates to rebuild or reshape existing concourses or simply knock down and utilize space on the huge amount of tarmac that goes unused.

I'm guessing with the WOW flights there was likely the initial rush but likely not many more sales will happen until after the new year. Since its still rather far out and many haven't made travel plans next summer yet since situations are uncertain and time out. Also of note on the other side of the Atlantic there is likely not much knowledge of the flight starting up and advertising obviously wouldn't start up until earlier. I know a few people looking into it for next summer but waiting until after new year to plan.

Likely bookings definitely rise once the first advertising pops up on either side and when you actually see signs of it at the airport.

Seeing some interesting Delta diversions today - flights from Salt Lake City, Phoenix and Montego Bay(!) have diverted to Lambert due to the impact of the Tropical Storm in ATL.

I was dropping my other half off at the airport today and as we are driving up she says "wow that's a big plane!"

Sure enough there was a 747 cargo jet parked by the southwest gates. It has been a long time since I have seen one. Nice start to the morning. I took a couple pics I'll post later.

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/ABW9 ... /KORD/KSTL

Weird the plane is next to the Southwest gates, unless they are either transferring cargo to/from Southwest flights or delivering things for Southwest. Since with their expansion there is likely quite a bit of new equipment they need for operations along with any replacement equipment. Not sure how much of things like that would come by plane vs other modes of transport. Its just a little odd its parked there and not near other cargo facilities present.

imperialmog wrote: ↑

Sep 12, 2017

Weird the plane is next to the Southwest gates, unless they are either transferring cargo to/from Southwest flights or delivering things for Southwest. Since with their expansion there is likely quite a bit of new equipment they need for operations along with any replacement equipment. Not sure how much of things like that would come by plane vs other modes of transport. Its just a little odd its parked there and not near other cargo facilities present.

Well it was kind of by the cargo, it was kind of behind/offset from E4. So it was on the cargo end. But it wasn't all the way over by the cargo stations like you see other planes sometimes. It did seem like it was somewhat in the way of Southwest operations which was weird. When the Condor plane was parked here for its issue, it was much further away.

Today, PIT announced plans for a new terminal building. BNA will be breaking ground soon, MSY is well underway, and so is LGA.

MCI is in limbo and most likely will not go forward.

It does have me wondering, however. Do you think we would see STL come out with an updated terminal proposal in the next 5 years? Granted we just underwent the massive renovation, but is STL's facilities ready to continue on in the future? I would assume yes, but what does everyone else think?

I do think in the next 5 years we could see the end of Concourse C torn down. I don't think anything will happen to D/E given WN's growth.

One area i could see be an issue and possibly within a couple of years is capacity for international arrivals. With the new incentive money approved last week it seems likely at least one or two new international routes will happen in the next couple of years, and depending on times it could be an issue with gates. And this isn't even considering if Southwest has further plans on that front in the future as well. I know there are some deficiencies with the old facilities in the end of C, so something might need to be worked out on this front to have more gates available.

This is the only thing i could see in improvment and renovations in the near term at this point since everything else was recently done and Southwest can keep reopening D as needed.

Chalupas54 wrote: ↑

Sep 12, 2017

Today, PIT announced plans for a new terminal building. BNA will be breaking ground soon, MSY is well underway, and so is LGA.

MCI is in limbo and most likely will not go forward.

It does have me wondering, however. Do you think we would see STL come out with an updated terminal proposal in the next 5 years? Granted we just underwent the massive renovation, but is STL's facilities ready to continue on in the future? I would assume yes, but what does everyone else think?

I do think in the next 5 years we could see the end of Concourse C torn down. I don't think anything will happen to D/E given WN's growth.

PIT is just downsizing and consolidating. I personally think they are wasting a bunch of money. All they are doing moving the land side building closer so they can get rid of the train and closing about 1/4 of their gates permanently. IMO, they already have a pretty good setup with an X shaped terminal. They can put a food courts/shops in the center of the X and have everything centralized. I wish we had that and weren't so spread out.

I still have no clue what to think about MCI's chances. I know they aren't doing themselves any favors in the media lately. I haven't see any polls yet though.

For us, I can't see them tearing down the end of C now that they are talking about redoing it. I really don't know what they will do. What I would really like to see is them close A (maybe they could figure out some kind of rental car facility there) and then build some kind of bridge from the end of C to E. Extend C as far as you can ( and still allow enough room for planes to pass) before you build the bridge. It would be kind of a wonky setup but then everything would be accessible to each other.

This may be totally unfeasible but I don't see E going anywhere and I don't really know any other way to try to connected the entire airport together. I would like them to find a way to have a big indoor plaza (with food, shopping, etc) past security but I have no clue where it would go unless you pushed out E29-33 further and built it up.