American's getting a little "scrappy"

Re: American\'s getting a little \"scrappy\"

[ QUOTE ]
DFW officials say the Wright Amendment must remain in force to protect a recent multibillion-dollar investment in new facilities.

[/ QUOTE ]

Why? Should we pass government legistlation to protect boneheaded investments as a rule now, or in this case keep outdated laws in place? There's really only one entity that benefits from the Wright Ammendment now, and that's DFW. If American moved ops to DAL, they'd probably pick up the pace with the business travellers. Let's face it, DFW is hardly a central location to the metro Dallas area. DAL is MUCH closer to downtown offices and businesses, and there's no wonder that that is where the passengers WANT to fly.

By keeping the Wright Ammendment around (which was more or less a punishment on SWA for not going with the flow to start DFW), not only is the governement subsidizing failed airlines (US Air) but now they're jumping in and subsidizing failed AIRPORTS.
 
Re: American\'s getting a little \"scrappy\"

I'm not sure if I'd call DFW a failed airport, it's normally an outright mad house. At least in the AA terminal.

However, DAL isn't going to be able to handle the international traffic that DFW can, so it kind of behooves them to keep DFW vibrant.

I dunno, all my former base are belong to American!
 
Re: American\'s getting a little \"scrappy\"

[ QUOTE ]
I'm not sure if I'd call DFW a failed airport, it's normally an outright mad house. At least in the AA terminal.

[/ QUOTE ]

Well, maybe "failed" is a stong word to use. How about "not worthy of a law that benefits solely that airport?" If the Wright Ammendment is overturned (and with SWA's new market power, it could finally happen), you'll see DFW shirnk even more. Delta has killed it as a hub, so that really hurt. SWA gave them the brush off when begged to move there to take Delta's gates, and now American wants to move to DAL if allowed. They might not be failed, but they're teetering on the brink of some major breakdowns. A lot of money has been invested in that airport for the future. If the Wright Ammendment goes down, that money becomes a bad investment. I don't think American's int'l operations will bring the passenger fees needed to keep it running as a major airport. It might fall all the way down to CLT size.
 
Re: American\'s getting a little \"scrappy\"

So, uh, if I wanna keep my job, I best not bring up the Wright amendment and Southwest with some of the DFW people I'll be seeing tomorrow?

And I probably shouldn't mention that I've got a good friend who flies for Delta, either, eh?
 
Re: American\'s getting a little \"scrappy\"

[ QUOTE ]
Let's face it, DFW is hardly a central location to the metro Dallas area.no wonder that that is where the passengers WANT to fly.

[/ QUOTE ]

that's the point. DFW is mostly in tarrant county, of which fort worth is the county seat. the idea is that the bigger city doesn't monopolize the business. why should we have to drive 40 miles each way from FW to go to the airport? saying passengers want to fly out of DAL is a bit shortsighted. there's just as much business in FW as in dallas, and moving to DAL would alienate quite a large number of local residents.
 
Re: American\'s getting a little \"scrappy\"

Hobby and IAH do just fine together. Why not DFW and Love?
 
Re: American\'s getting a little \"scrappy\"

I love it how when a traditional carrier talks about expansion its called a "Threat" and when SW does it its a sign from God.
 
Re: American\'s getting a little \"scrappy\"

If American cut it's fares to $40, it's called "predatory pricing", but if Air Tran does it, it's a "paradigm shift, new pricing structure, etc".
 
Re: American\'s getting a little \"scrappy\"

[ QUOTE ]
If American cut it's fares to $40, it's called "predatory pricing", but if Air Tran does it, it's a "paradigm shift, new pricing structure, etc".

[/ QUOTE ]

Reason number 12,345,102 that CAB is gone. Now it's all in the marketing.
 
Re: American\'s getting a little \"scrappy\"

Isn't the last function of the CAB the EAS (Essential Air Service) routes?
 
Re: American\'s getting a little \"scrappy\"

Actually, those were established in the Deregulation Act of 1978. I think it has more to do with the DOT and FAA now than CAB. They were put into the act to make sure that senators from places that were going to lose air service voted for it. At least, that's my guess. I'm sure a couple of extra airports like Farmington, NM and Roswell, NM were deemed "essential to the air transportation infrastrutcture."
 
Re: American\'s getting a little \"scrappy\"

EAS is the result of deregulation. Before when it was regulated cities could be assured airservice. When deregulation came along, it was feared that now that airlines had a choice of where they flew and how much they charged, they would focus on larger cities and smaller towns would be the loser, thus EAS.

Or so i remember from a class about 5 years ago.
 
Re: American\'s getting a little \"scrappy\"

Is there really enough business to keep DFW and DAL going, with both de-regulated?

If the answer is yes, then they should go for it, and let things go as they should.

If DFW is the only airport of the 2, to handle international flights, then it'll need other air services to serve those, just as JFK does against LGA.

Could American fit all their DFW services into DAL?

London has 5 airports handling commercial air services and it still isn't enough!!
 
Re: American\'s getting a little \"scrappy\"

[ QUOTE ]
When deregulation came along, it was feared that now that airlines had a choice of where they flew and how much they charged, they would focus on larger cities and smaller towns would be the loser, thus EAS.


[/ QUOTE ]

Correct. Lack of service to smaller communities was one of the major arguements against deregulation. Other arguements were consolidation of airlines through mergers, predatory pricing and labor disputes. Makes ya wonder.....
 
Re: American\'s getting a little \"scrappy\"

[ QUOTE ]
Is there really enough business to keep DFW and DAL going, with both de-regulated?


[/ QUOTE ]

IMO, yeah. The problem is DFW wants ALL the traffic to go through them. The Wright Ammendment was written specifically to kill service into DAL so DFW could get all of the funding. Pretty much all of the airlines flying in there signed on except for SWA. The fact that SWA stayed at DAL is one of the ways they were able to get a leg up on Texas International and Braniff, and we all know where those two carriers are today.

I think there's plenty of service for both airports, but DFW has to be willing to let go. They've been fighting to more or less shutdown DAL for thirty years now. It's not gonna happen, and they need to just let go and move on.
 
Re: American\'s getting a little \"scrappy\"

[ QUOTE ]
I love it how when a traditional carrier talks about expansion its called a "Threat" and when SW does it its a sign from God.

[/ QUOTE ]

It's called a "Threat" because it usually done to put a smaller airline out of business. Kinda like when AA overlaped every JB route outta JFK....and we ALL know they had NO intention of building up Long Beach. But in my anger I digress......I think the Wright Amendment should be repealled and American allowed to fly out of LUV,so they can be embarassed like USAir at BWI.
sarcasm.gif
 
Re: American\'s getting a little \"scrappy\"

Air Trans not trying to put Delta out of business in ATL?
 
Re: American\'s getting a little \"scrappy\"

[ QUOTE ]
Air Trans not trying to put Delta out of business in ATL?

[/ QUOTE ]

NO.

And I tell you why. AirTran is catering to a certain type of passneger, the low cost passenger. Now AirTran can charge those $49 for transcons because it cost structure is set up to get revenue from it. Delta can only dream about getting their costs down to AirTran,so it looks funny when they are charging the same amounts when they know they CAN'T make money on it.

Now I'm a realist...for most Atlantans if given the choice would choose Delta beacuase of certain things like skymiles and other incentives and Delta has every right to offer those things,but I think that if they are going to compete with AirTran,they should offer superior service and show that paying a little more on Delta has its values instead of trying to come down to our level. That what leaves a nasty taste in our (the LCC employees) mouth
 
Re: American\'s getting a little \"scrappy\"

But the transcons are apparently losing cash for Air Tran...

Kind of like purchasing a turkey at the grocery store for el cheapo when they know you're going to spend some cash on potatoes, stuffing and wine.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top