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PostMay 07, 2025#8851


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PostMay 07, 2025#8852

chris fuller wrote:
May 07, 2025
Delta Air Lines Brings Back JFK Destination To STL
https://www.flystl.com/newsroom/stl-news/2025/delta-air-lines-brings-back-jfk-destination-to-stl
Of course its one of those small 2x2 Embreaers. But then again, beggars can't be choosers.

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PostMay 07, 2025#8853

Cleveland announces a $1.1 billion project for a new headhouse, relocated metro station, and new parking garage.

Headhouse looks tall and light-filled, but not mind-blowing. Very curious to see what a couple billion more will buy STL.

https://www.news5cleveland.com/news/loc ... s-underway

https://itsaclevolution.com/

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PostMay 07, 2025#8854

Do we have any reason to worry about airport expansion in St. Louis given the current federal administration? 

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PostMay 07, 2025#8855

Dr. JShank, PhD in St. Louis Aviation Business may know better but I think you’d have three primary concerns from Trump administration.

1. A smaller federal government may not be able to review and approve as quickly. Things like advanced design, environmental, agreements will all have federal hands involved. That said, even Trumps terrible budget increased spending for aviation support.

2. General inflation, pesky interest rates, supply chain from tariffs could just make it more expensive or complicated to build. What was a four year project may turn into five or more due to supply chain alone.

3. A full blown recession that impacts travel may cause airlines to end or pause agreements to cover costs. This is especially precarious in STL as Southwest (the largest funder BY FAR) is in the middle of a milestone business pivot. They’re playing it more conservative while simultaneously redefining their brand. I can think of a dozen ways Southwest isn’t a Top 4 in 2030.

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PostMay 08, 2025#8856

^ I think Item 3 would be the real concern for Lambert expansion.  All about Lambert's biggest airline funding its share of new terminal.

Current POTUS will be all in on highways and airways while the squeeze will be put on rail/transit..   Lambert will be just fine.  Indirectly, Lambert will also be benefactor of current admin's desire for a big plus up on defense spending where Boeing/St Louis will be one of the winners even as proposed discretionary cuts will hurt rural Missourians.   

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PostMay 08, 2025#8857

addxb2 wrote:
May 07, 2025
Dr. JShank, PhD in St. Louis Aviation Business may know better but I think you’d have three primary concerns from Trump administration.

1. A smaller federal government may not be able to review and approve as quickly. Things like advanced design, environmental, agreements will all have federal hands involved. That said, even Trumps terrible budget increased spending for aviation support.

2. General inflation, pesky interest rates, supply chain from tariffs could just make it more expensive or complicated to build. What was a four year project may turn into five or more due to supply chain alone.

3. A full blown recession that impacts travel may cause airlines to end or pause agreements to cover costs. This is especially precarious in STL as Southwest (the largest funder BY FAR) is in the middle of a milestone business pivot. They’re playing it more conservative while simultaneously redefining their brand. I can think of a dozen ways Southwest isn’t a Top 4 in 2030.
1. I’m not too worried about, but I think the point about it reviews being slowed down if the workforce is slashed is a valid concern.

2. I think the biggest impact here won’t necessarily be slowing it down, but more functional over flash. Probably more likely we get a something that is boring but still works really well, to keep down costs. I think utilitarian would be the term.

3. Probably the biggest risk of the 3, but at this moment it seems like everything is still moving along. I’d be surprised if they weren’t top 4 in 2030. I personally still think the moves they have made will end up being an overall win once things blow over a bit. Cutting free bags completely I do think was a misstep though.

PostMay 08, 2025#8858

I listened to the airport commission meeting today.

The new comptroller made a few remarks to start. Said she took notes on everything the state gave to KC for their airport as it was happening and plans to use that to make sure we get out fair share also.

Had an ordinance related to accepting grants from the state quicker. Basically so they could cut out all the processes they have to go thru with the city each time. They said it can take up to 6 months. This would streamline it so it doesn’t have to go through all the different channels anymore.

Parking shuttle and lot management is changing. Good discussion on this. Commissioners were not happy with the current operator. One commissioner mentioned a sign that says call for a shuttle, or something like that. Said that sign shouldn’t exist because if they run on the schedule they are paid to run on, no one would ever need to call for a shuttle. That said the new company will have the phones manned 24/7 so someone will always pick up if there is an issue. Sounds like a good outfit but we’ll see.

Rhonda said April checkpoint numbers were much closer to last year than the first qtr. Said leisure travel had fallen off a bit in the 1st qtr.

Some terminal talk. HoK hasn’t been officially signed yet but it sounded like it was close. 90% design will take 18 months. 60% should be done Sept 2026. That sounds behind schedule a bit to me but I’d need to relook at it.

Negotiations with the airlines is going well they are getting into some of the finer details at this point.

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PostMay 08, 2025#8859

Southwest did not cut free bags completely, all Southwest cardholders still get at least 1 free bag per flight.

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PostMay 08, 2025#8860

legendrey wrote:
May 08, 2025
Southwest did not cut free bags completely, all Southwest cardholders still get at least 1 free bag per flight.
I still thought they should have gone to 1 free bag for everyone and CC holders get a 2nd. At least wind it down, don’t go all in.

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PostMay 08, 2025#8861

Yeah I don't disagree, just wanted to clear that up. 

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PostMay 09, 2025#8862

International Loads February (DOT)
Southwest Cabo 89.60%
Southwest Cancun 88.54%
Frontier Cancun81.49%
Alaska Puerto Vallarta 74.09%
AA Cancun 73.91%
Frontier Punta Cana 72.08%
AC Toronto 61.87%
LH Frankfurt 59.92%

International loads April (Customs)
LH Frankfurt 90.54% (37.4% foreign up from 33% last April)
Southwest Montego 76% (last inbound for season, restarts June)
AC Toronto 75.94% (53% foreign down from 55% last year)
Southwest Cabo 72.52% (last inbound for season, restarts June)
Frontier Punta Cana 54.38%

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PostMay 09, 2025#8863

jshank83 wrote:
May 09, 2025
International Loads February (DOT)
Southwest Cabo 89.60%
Southwest Cancun 88.54%
Frontier Cancun81.49%
Alaska Puerto Vallarta 74.09%
AA Cancun 73.91%
Frontier Punta Cana 72.08%
AC Toronto 61.87%
LH Frankfurt 59.92%

International loads April (Customs)
LH Frankfurt 90.54% (37.4% foreign up from 33% last April)
Southwest Montego 76% (last inbound for season, restarts June)
AC Toronto 75.94% (53% foreign down from 55% last year)
Southwest Cabo 72.52% (last inbound for season, restarts June)
Frontier Punta Cana 54.38%
It will be interesting to see what happens with the Southwest numbers once the bag charge kicks in. Industry-wide/other airports also on top of St. Louis' stats.

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PostMay 10, 2025#8864

Before Lambert Airport it was Lambert Field
495091146_122106446570851386_9027162845160974843_n.jpg (84.75KiB)

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PostMay 15, 2025#8865


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PostMay 15, 2025#8866

This seems like it could be a very good opportunity for STL to get more international flights.

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PostMay 15, 2025#8867

Auggie wrote:
This seems like it could be a very good opportunity for STL to get more international flights.
That’s what I was thinking. Even if just in North America.

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PostMay 16, 2025#8868

DFW has doubled the size/cost of its new terminal project (adding a sixth terminal to the airport), from $1.7B and 15 gates to $4B, 31 gates. The terminal will be "self supported," with its own baggage claim, check in, and parking garage, linking to the rest of the airport via a new station on a pre-existing people mover.
https://www.dallasnews.com/business/air ... erminal-f/

A Dallas architecture critic notes that the design is functional, but not extraordinary.
https://www.dallasnews.com/arts-enterta ... erminal-f/

I am tempering my expectations for a showpiece terminal in STL. This DFW project, already in progress (and using lower-cost modular construction) has a 30% larger budget for exactly half the number of gates, with many of the same other amenities (entire new baggage claim, parking garage, etc). Of course, with the new DFW terminal serving AA's hub, I assume there are costly demands for wide bodies and international flights that will not be as burdensome to STL.

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PostMay 16, 2025#8869

^I think you are right to temper expectations. With material prices going up and interest rates high, to keep prices down, I wouldn’t expect anything flashy. Unless they get some kind of outside investment which is probably doubtful

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PostMay 17, 2025#8870

After all the storms, they've got Southwest planes parked everywhere tonight. 

WN.jpg (160.15KiB)

PostMay 18, 2025#8871

I'm seeing on FB that the WN planes parked on the tarmac and at unused gates all sustained hail damage. Looks like 7-8 planes total.

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PostMay 19, 2025#8872

It appears like STL-Puerto Vallarta on Alaska will be back in 2026

Operated by Alaska Airlines:
St. Louis (STL) to Puerto Vallarta (PVR): Jan 24 – Apr 4

https://www.travelandtourworld.com/news ... o-in-2026/

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PostMay 20, 2025#8873

pdm_ad wrote:
May 18, 2025
I'm seeing on FB that the WN planes parked on the tarmac and at unused gates all sustained hail damage. Looks like 7-8 planes total.

I saw two planes on radar Sunday flying from STL direct to Everett in Washington. Most likely for repairs at Boeing

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PostMay 20, 2025#8874

American added two Mizzou football related flights for the Auburn and Oklahoma games.

Montgomery, AL down Oct 17 back Oct 19
Oklahoma City down Nov 21 back Nov 23

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PostMay 20, 2025#8875

Just watched a nice NOVA episode I taped a few weeks ago about the rebuild of LaGuardia terminals. Their unique challenges won’t necessarily apply to St Louis rebuild, but some do. And the result is spectacular. Flew into the new America terminal last fall.


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