urbanSTL

Also, the SLEDP retweeted a stat today saying International traffic at STL was up 277% (!!!!)

^matguy70

I assume you saw the video of the D concourse walkway before remodel? (Which is how I discovered the Youtube "Elevator Channel.") If not . . .



I really kind of miss the red. The light grey and white seem almost too sterile and it feels a little more loud and echoey now. The carpet helped to deaden things down a bit. They might have thought that with less traffic that would be less necessary, but E gets pretty hopping. Anyway . . .

Fun little now and then comparison. I really wish I could find a good video walk in C or D from back in TWA days, but there weren't so many people doing that then. Hard to even find good pictures. Thanks for posting that!

Chalupas54 wrote: ↑

Feb 28, 2018

Also, the SLEDP retweeted a stat today saying International traffic at STL was up 277% (!!!!)

Interesting. Should get another boost from the Southwest flights to CUN, extra Air Canada flight, and the WOW flights.


Also thanks to the two of you that posted the videos of the concourses. Except I just wasted an hour going down the youtube rabbit hole of the 2nd guys posts.

As others posted, DL won't do anything. Their hub is too big in ATL to change things now. I would expect at some point Georgia stands down and give them whatever incentives they want.

I’m just going to leave this here, a classic from the past:

http://crankyflier.com/2010/06/15/a-del ... eah-right/

This is the problem with social media when everyone has a megaphone. Surely the mayor of a city of 300k should know a multinational corporation is not going to pick up and leave from their established home base of 70 years over some silly exchange of words that upset a local politician.

I'm curious on that 277% number. Mainly how does it all break down when you compare actual demand from people starting or ending flights here. Is that increasing or will increase by a notable number and to which areas.

matguy70 wrote: ↑

Feb 28, 2018

JAL...

It's called tongue and cheek and many other cities responded. You may want to also add that Atlanta city population is only around 100k more than STL (not too mention ATL city size is more than double STL size making it way smaller in population per cap)... You pointing that out blantantly shows nothing more than your dislike for STL or any of the region in general and why you troll these boards is beyond me. But like you said... "This is the problem with social media when everyone has a megaphone."

Agreed. I don't think she or any other mayor/gov actually think they will move but throwing out a tweet doesn't hurt anything. At least she is aware of what is going on out there. Southwest has STL pretty much locked down now anyways. It did what Delta couldn't do back in 2010 when that article was written.

Chalupas54 wrote: ↑

Feb 28, 2018

Also, the SLEDP retweeted a stat today saying International traffic at STL was up 277% (!!!!)

https://www.bizjournals.com/houston/new ... owing.html

matguy70 wrote: ↑

Feb 28, 2018

JAL...

It's called tongue and cheek and many other cities responded. You may want to also add that Atlanta city population is only around 100k more than STL (not too mention ATL city size is more than double STL size making it way smaller in population per cap)... You pointing that out blantantly shows nothing more than your dislike for STL or any of the region in general and why you troll these boards is beyond me. But like you said... "This is the problem with social media when everyone has a megaphone."

Eh, I don't think JAL was trying to bash. Airliners.net has been inundated with posts about these tweets today. Yes, DL will not move, but I do find it impressive that Lyda tweeted. Typically, STL remains silent on these things. As Jshank pointed out, it's always good to see local leaders pursuing things.

Its more about other companies, especially the Amazon HQ2 decision which this political issue may very well be a factor in location.

Also at this point since the 2010 article Southwest has in all but name hubbed here based on what is served, their obvious hub bank system here, and overall market share. One question i have is how much larger could they realistically be here and would some of it be if they want to go into fortress hub model with such an overwhelming dominance of the air traffic market here. (they can't do that in any place with larger Southwest service due to other airlines have hub operations in the same markets)

If Delta moved their Atlanta hub to STL, they would need to build a completely new set of terminals. A move is highly unlikely, but I would expect it to take place at an airport with lots of empty space surrounding it.


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ldai_phs wrote: ↑

Feb 28, 2018

If Delta moved their Atlanta hub to STL, they would need to build a completely new set of terminals. A move is highly unlikely, but I would expect it to take place at an airport with lots of empty space surrounding it.


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It isn't moving anywhere so it really doesn't matter. But it is fun to think about.

Just for fun: Vintage Ozark Airlines poster from Antiques Roadshow's St. Louis visit:

matguy70 wrote: ↑

Feb 28, 2018

JAL...

It's called tongue and cheek and many other cities responded. You may want to also add that Atlanta city population is only around 100k more than STL (not too mention ATL city size is more than double STL size making it way smaller in population per cap)... You pointing that out blantantly shows nothing more than your dislike for STL or any of the region in general and why you troll these boards is beyond me. But like you said... "This is the problem with social media when everyone has a megaphone."

Would you have rather I had said “mayor of the anchor city of a top-30 MSA” instead?

I stand by my comment, even tounge in cheek it’s still bad form and preposterous especially after how the local media totally blew a few incremental regional flight additions to DCA and LGA out of proportion.

Look I have ties to the area and have a selfish personal interest in the airport being well served and meeting the needs of the local business community. While my posts may be perceived as snarky I assure you I am not here to troll, I’m just coming with my perspective having both worked in the industry directly and serving carriers in a once removed capacity. In my view the tenor of this discussion has gotten considerably more sophisticated since I joined five years ago and I also believe the airport has a great thing going with WN, which is why I personally don’t buy into the hyperbole that a costly Taj Mahal facility built a MCI will have WN abandon their solid franchise and strong following at STL.

I hope I’m wrong but from my informed opinion I still believe a daily wide body to LHR is a bridge too far, and IMO there are other more promising secondary US cities for AA/BA to add. I also maintain that even *if* LHR service materializes the AA LOPA, product, airport personnel/facilities infrastructure and legacy FF affiliation from TW and AA hub days make AA the more likely operator, as much as people here would love to see the Speedbird gracing Lambert.

Sorry if my comment wasn’t productive but I still think her tweet was preposterous and distracts people from other viable additions and progress that has been made at STL.

JAL007 wrote: ↑

Feb 28, 2018

I hope I’m wrong but from my informed opinion I still believe a daily wide body to LHR is a bridge too far, and IMO there are other more promising secondary US cities for AA/BA to add. I also maintain that even *if* LHR service materializes the AA LOPA, product, airport personnel/facilities infrastructure and legacy FF affiliation from TW and AA hub days make AA the more likely operator, as much as people here would love to see the Speedbird gracing Lambert.

Just curious why you think AA is more likely than BA? And what other cities you put ahead of us.

BA has been the one doing secondary cities, not AA, so that is why I ask. IMO, there aren't may secondary cities left to add for them that do not already have a legacy type on the route.

AA is more likely as the overhead associated with staffing a new point goes away. Although STL is no longer a “hub” it is still among the largest non-hub cities in the LAA system with an in-flight cabin crew base, Class 1 aircraft maintenance (operates around the clock with stores, inspectors, and MTC classifications), has the Admirals Club, and can easily handle an additional flight.

BA on the other hand would need to lease facilities, contract a ground handler, and market more heavily in the area. Plus the cabin configurations with AA (especially with the new America West leadership at the helm) is shrinking the size of the premium cabins, which would be more in line with cabin layout STL would need.

IMO IND, SAT, or CMH are also contenders here.

Thanks for your informed perspective JAL007. I was also wondering why BA was the first European carrier that came to your mind. Talking to regional execs I keep hearing references to a potential LH flight to FRA, but I never saw/read anything substantial.

JAL007 wrote: ↑

Mar 01, 2018

AA is more likely as the overhead associated with staffing a new point goes away. Although STL is no longer a “hub” it is still among the largest non-hub cities in the LAA system with an in-flight cabin crew base, Class 1 aircraft maintenance (operates around the clock with stores, inspectors, and MTC classifications), has the Admirals Club, and can easily handle an additional flight.

BA on the other hand would need to lease facilities, contract a ground handler, and market more heavily in the area. Plus the cabin configurations with AA (especially with the new America West leadership at the helm) is shrinking the size of the premium cabins, which would be more in line with cabin layout STL would need.

IMO IND, SAT, or CMH are also contenders here.

They can't just share ground crew (other non flight staff) and Admirals Club with AA? I figured that is what they did at MSY, BNA, AUS, SJC and other stations where they just had one flight or less daily. If they don't it must not have been much of an issue to do those things at those airports.

You think IND would get another legacy flight to go with their daily Delta flight to Paris before us? That is a little hard for me to see. I can't imagine any other legacy is going to be in a hurry to go in there. It also is a little hard for me to see SAT getting BA with AUS up the road with 3 carriers to Europe, two of which are to London already and one being BA on a 747 over summer. I would doubt they want to take people away from their flight in AUS.

CMH is really the only other one I can see and they don't have the AA base we do, or traffic for that matter, that makes me think they would get BA over us. But then again if they pay out a bunch of money like Indy did for Delta then who knows.

kipfilet wrote:Thanks for your informed perspective JAL007. I was also wondering why BA was the first European carrier that came to your mind. Talking to regional execs I keep hearing references to a potential LH flight to FRA, but I never saw/read anything substantial.

I am thinking KC and STL are really bumping elbows on a few of these direct to Europe flights. Both cities have pros and cons over the others.


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Found this while going through the upload files for the airport.

stl-airlines-to-invest-50-million-for-jet-fuel-storage-facility

https://www.flystl.com/uploads/news/stl ... dering.jpg

I would guess the story will come out today or tomorrow but it looks like a new fuel storage facility is going up in the NE corner of the airport property. Looks like an abandoned neighborhood area.

jshank83 wrote: ↑

Mar 01, 2018

Found this while going through the upload files for the airport.

stl-airlines-to-invest-50-million-for-jet-fuel-storage-facility

https://www.flystl.com/uploads/news/stl ... dering.jpg

I would guess the story will come out today or tomorrow but it looks like a new fuel storage facility is going up in the NE corner of the airport property. Looks like an abandoned neighborhood area.

Interesting. Any speculation as to why this facility is going up? Is there enough demand currently to warrant it? Is the current facility old and/or insufficient?