Quote:
Originally Posted by nickodemis
Expect the airfare prices to sky rocket out of Huntsville.
If Airtran would have offered flights from HSV to Atlanta the planes would have been full. The Baltimore flights where full and the Orlando flights where sometimes full. The biggest problem, there where no connection options out of BWI or MCO.
It wasn't the Frequent Flier program that did Airtran in, it was the lack of connection options. Let's face it, if you where flying to HSV from anywhere except BWI or MCO, you would not use Airtran. The Orlando flights left in the middle the of the afternoon, not good for business travelers.
Also Southwest already services BHM and Nashville. Why keep HSV?
Maybe Southwest will eventually end those backroom deals between Delta and the city of Atlanta that restricts flights to/from certain high value markets. That's why Airtran didn't fly to Atlanta. Besides Southwest isn't always cheap.
Well, at least you can still fly to Chicago for $200 on Saturday morning with a return on Tuesday.
|
I would agree with your argument that the reason AirTran was not successful at HSV is because there were limted connections at BWI and no connections at MCO. However, the reason AirTran chose not to offer flights to their ATL hub is not because of back room deals with the CIty of Atlanta restricitng certain markets, no, AirTran did not want to take on Delta directly because they knew if they did, Delta would respond agressively by changing from flying small regional jets to 737's and match AirTran's low fares. Delta would count on HSV passengers responding the same way that Mobile passengers did where they said, "Gee, Delta is offering the same low fares as AirTran, why don't we fly them." They didn't realize that Delta was only matching AirTran's fares for a short time in order to put them out of business. Meanwhile, Airtran's planes out of Mobile were empty, they lost money and pulled out. Then, Delta doubled and tripled fares out of Mobile. However, Mobile passengers at least have AirTran out of Pensacola close by.
Logically, AirTran should have done better out of HSV because BWI and MCO are two of the top three markets out of HSV. However, many loyal Delta fliers chose to make connections through ATL when traveling to D.C. in order to keep their elite status with Delta's SkyMiles Program. HSV passengers are at an advantage over ATL passengers because your status in SkyMiles is based on the number of segments you fly and connecting passengers (like those from HSV, BHM, etc.) fly twice as many segments as those who live in the ATL area and just make one flight to their destination.
Another point is that Southwest plans to dismantle the AirTran hub at ATL and have more direct flights and fewer connections. They say they make more money on direct pasengers than they do connecting passengers. So, it is unlikey that Southwest would have added HSV to ATL flights.
Wichita, KS provides a contrast ot HSV in that Southwest has chosen to contiue service there. Even though Wichita is not as big a market as HSV, it does not have a large number of pasengers who are either work for the federal government or a gov. contractor These pasengers are not always concerend about getting the lowest fare because it's not going to affect their profitability as the gov. is not in competition with anyone.
Anyway, the passengers at HSV have spoken and they have said they are content to remain having the highest fares in the country. Losing AirTran/Southwest will restrict the growth of the airport.