AUSTIN | ABIA Updates

[LoneStarMike]

An update of sorts on vivaAerobus. They had applied to the Department of Transportation back in March to serve Austin - Puerto Vallarta (4 times per week); Austin - Veracruz (3 times per week); Las Vegas - Monterey (daily); and Gary, IN - Monterey (daily)

Austin - Puerto Vallarta and Austin - Veracruz were approved April 25, 2008.

Source

(Click on the view icon once you get to the above link to read the actual document.)

Special conditions/Remarks: We have approved the requested exemption authority for the Veracruz-Austin and Puerto Vallarta-Austin routes, but have deferred action on the remainder of vivaAerobus’ application. We note that federal inspection services for entry of international traffic are not currently available at Gary. For this reason, we shall defer action on the Monterrey-Gary portion of this application until such time as these services are available.

In addition, under the provisions of the Agreement, only three combination carriers may be designated to serve the Monterrey-Las Vegas market. Compania Mexicana de Aviacion, S.A. de C.V., Aerovias de Mexico, S.A. de C.V., and Consorcio Aviaxsa, S.A. de C.V. currently hold the available designations to serve the Monterrey-Las Vegas market; therefore, no designation is available under the Agreement for vivaAerobus to serve that market at this time. In the circumstances presented, we have elected to defer action on the applicant’s Monterrey-Las Vegas request until such time that a designation in the Monterrey-Las Vegas market becomes available.

Whether or not vivaAerobus starts these routes remains to be seen, but at least they've been approved.

[hookem]

In addition, under the provisions of the Agreement, only three combination carriers may be designated to serve the Monterrey-Las Vegas market. Compania Mexicana de Aviacion, S.A. de C.V., Aerovias de Mexico, S.A. de C.V., and Consorcio Aviaxsa, S.A. de C.V. currently hold the available designations to serve the Monterrey-Las Vegas market; therefore, no designation is available under the Agreement for vivaAerobus to serve that market at this time. In the circumstances presented, we have elected to defer action on the applicant’s Monterrey-Las Vegas request until such time that a designation in the Monterrey-Las Vegas market becomes available.

The answer seems simple enough to me... $9.99 flights Austin to/from Las Vegas, baby!

[LoneStarMike]

Even if vivaAerobus operated a MTY-AUS-LAS flight, the passengers who originated in MTY would be the only ones able to continue on to LAS. It wouldn't really benefit Austinites traveling to LAS. Since vivaAerobus is a Mexican carrier, they're not permitted to transport U.S. passengers between two U.S. domestic cities.

[hookem]

Ah, thanks for the info, I figured there was something like that. I also figured SWA would figure out some way to stop it, if it were legal...

But just for giggles, if they had LAS-AUS-MTY on one plane or flight #, and MTY-AUS-LAS on another, could an AUS passenger fly AUS-MTY-(MTY)-AUS-LAS?

[LoneStarMike]

If the AUS-MTY ticket was booked separately from the MTY-AUS-LAS ticket, I suppose you could, but by the time you threw in all the taxes on both flights, it wouldn't really be worth it.

The only way I could see Austinites getting dirt-cheap tickets to LAS would be if Allegiant Airlines decided to start flying into AUS, but I don't see that happening either.

Interestingly, though, the founders of Ryan Air are investors of both vivaAerobus and Allegiant.

[texastarkus]

VivaAerobus adding nonstop from Austin to Puerto Vallarta

VivaAerobus has added another nonstop flight out of Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. This time, it’s Puerto Vallarta.

The Mexican discount airline announced the new service at ABIA on Monday. The service, which will be offered two days a week, begins Jan. 15.

VivaAerobus’ Austin-Puerto Vallarta flights will be on Thursdays and Sundays. Flights will depart Austin at 3 p.m. and arrive in Puerto Vallarta at 5:05 p.m. Flights will depart Puerto Vallarta at 11:55 a.m. and arrive in Austin at 2:15 p.m.

This is VivaAerobus’ third nonstop destination from Austin. The carrier also offers flights to Cancun and Monterrey.

All VivaAerobus flights are $9.99 one way. But with fees, the average flight totals about $200 round trip, says ABIA spokesman Jim Halbrook.

[KevinFromTexas]

September traffic down at Austin-Bergstrom
http://austin.bizjournals.com/austin...7/daily30.html

[NThomas]

Southwest cutting Austin to Midland service
December 9, 2008
Austin Business Journal
Link to Article

Southwest Airlines is eliminating its service between Austin and Midland.

The Dallas-based airline said Tuesday it will cut 32 existing roundtrip flights from its existing schedule and add 19 flights when it launches its spring schedule May 9.

Southwest (NYSE:LUV) is also eliminating direct service between three other sets of U.S. markets: Detroit and Orlando; Long Island, N.Y., and Fort Myers, Fla.; and Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and Manchester, N.H.

Southwest is just one of the airlines dealing with lower demand as the recession bites into tourism and business travel.

[LoneStarMike]

Several photos from January 10, 2009 and January 15, 2009


East Ticketing Lobby


Mezzanine overlooking baggage Claim with West Ticketing Lobby in background


Baggage Claim


Highland Lakes Bar and Live Music Stage across from Southwest gates


Central Concourse (Southwest Gates)


West Concourse Gates


View of terminal from plane


View of terminal from plane


Terminal from the air (Sorry for the blurry part at the bottom)

[TXLove]

Great shots LSM!!!! We have a nice airport!!!!

[oldmanshirt]

Gotta admit that's first time I've ever seen the inside of Austin's airport. Looks pretty sleek.

[paulsjv]

I didn't realize just how small the airport is, but that aerial shot just goes to show it's not too big. Thanks for the photos!

[priller]

No, it's not very large. But it's nice. And almost always uncrowded and relaxed.

I love the local food outlets. In a lot of airports you're wondering which restaurant sucks the least, but it's great to be able to choose from the Salt Lick, Waterloo Ice House, Amy's Ice cream, Round Rock donuts, etc, etc.

[Jdawgboy]

They designed the airport specifically to make it as easy and quick for people to get from the entrance to the gate and vice versa. It does not have to be large like some airports. it is sleek and slim and can be expanded fairly quickly and as Priller mentioned it is more relaxed and is not as cramped and crowded for an airport that 8 million plus use yearly.

[LoneStarMike]

January 26, 2009

Passenger record, 9 million traveler milestone passed in 2008 at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport
December 2008 Passenger & Air Cargo traffic at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport

January through December 2008 Year-to-Date

Passenger Activity: Total passenger traffic for January – December YTD was a record 9,039,075, up 2% compared to January – December 2007. January – December 2008 enplanements totaled 4,619,630, up 1.5%.

Southwest Airlines passengers totaled 3,214,426, up 7%;
American Airlines (including Trans States) passengers totaled 2,233,227, down 7%; Continental Airlines passengers totaled 972,839, down 7%; Delta Air Lines (including SkyWest Airlines, Shuttle America, Atlantic Southeast Airlines, and Pinnacle) passengers 692,487, down 14%; United Airlines (including SkyWest, and Mesa) passengers totaled 418,199, down 1.5%; JetBlue Airways passengers totaled 361,978, up 51.5%; U.S. Airways (including Mesa) passengers totaled 355,225, up 27%; Northwest Airlines (including Pinnacle Airlines) passengers totaled 272,659, up 8.5%; Frontier Airlines passengers totaled 225,656, up 3%; vivaAerobus passengers totaled 62,854; Air Canada passengers totaled 18,273.

Link to full press release

Link to activity report (pdf)

Between Viva Aerobus, Air Canada, and AeroMexico (before they left in July) AUS ended 2008 with 91,711 international passengers. That's definitely an all-time record.

[Jdawgboy]

Now I can say 9 million plus LOL. That is pretty impressive considering 2008 was not the best year for flying.

[shakman]

It is to my understanding that JetBlue was going to add more flights, but it is now on hold?

[texastarkus]

Alaska Airlines Announces New Seattle-Austin and Portland-Maui Service Starting in August
Airline also extends Anchorage-Maui service to year-round

Tuesday February 3, 2009, 8:00 am EST
SEATTLE, Feb. 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Alaska Airlines today announced it will inaugurate daily service between Seattle and Austin, Texas, starting Aug. 3, 2009, and thrice-weekly service between Portland, Ore., and Maui starting Aug. 7, 2009. The airline also announced it is expanding its seasonal service between Anchorage, Alaska, and Maui to year-round.

The flights will be available for purchase starting today at alaskaair.com or by calling (800) ALASKAAIR.

"Austin represents a great opportunity for Alaska Airlines, filling in a gap in our route map and fitting in our strategy of increasing capacity in markets where we can grow," said Steve Jarvis, Alaska's vice president of marketing, sales and customer experience.

"In addition, we're delighted to offer our customers in Oregon nonstop service from Portland to Maui. Combined with new year-round service between Anchorage and Maui, this greatly expands our coverage from the West Coast to the Hawaiian Islands," Jarvis said.

Alaska Airlines inaugurated service to Hawaii in October 2007. The airline currently offers daily non-stop flights between Seattle and Oahu, Kauai, Maui and the Big Island of Hawaii; and between Anchorage and Oahu, Kauai and Maui.

The new Seattle-Austin flight will depart Seattle at 9:45 a.m. Pacific time and arrive at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport at 3:40 p.m. Central time. The return flight will depart Austin at 4:40 p.m. Central time and arrive at 6:45 p.m. Pacific time. Flights are timed to provide connections to other Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air flights to Alaska and the Pacific Northwest. Travelers can earn double Mileage Plan miles on the new flights between Seattle and Austin from Aug. 3 through Oct. 15, 2009. To qualify, customers must first register at alaskaair.com.

The new Portland-Maui flight will depart Portland at 9:50 a.m. Pacific time Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, and arrive at Kahului Airport at 12:45 p.m. Hawaii time. The return flight will depart Maui at 1:45 p.m. Hawaii time the same days and arrive at 10:15 p.m. Pacific time. The airline is offering an introductory fare of $169 one way on the route for tickets purchased by Feb. 12, 2009, and travel from Aug. 7 through Dec. 13, 2009, on select days of the week. Alaska Airlines Vacations is offering a package price of $723 per person, which includes round-trip airfare and hotel accommodations for three nights.

Alaska Airlines will operate the flights with Boeing 737-800 aircraft, accommodating 16 passengers in first class and 141 in the main cabin. Flights will offer Alaska's Northern Bites meals-for-purchase service, which allows coach passengers to purchase a meal onboard for $5. Inflight service also will include Alaska Airlines' digEplayer, a personal entertainment system offering a variety of movies, television shows, music and other features. Complimentary in first class, digEplayers are available for $10 in coach.

Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air, subsidiaries of Alaska Air Group (NYSE: ALK - News), together serve more than 90 cities through an expansive network in Alaska, the Lower 48, Hawaii, Canada and Mexico. Alaska Airlines ranked "Highest in Customer Satisfaction among Traditional Network Carriers (tie)" in the J.D. Power and Associates 2008 North America Airline Satisfaction Study(SM). For reservations, visit alaskaair.com. For more news and information, visit the Alaska Airlines/Horizon Air Newsroom at alaskaair.com/newsroom.

Alaska Airlines Vacations package price shown includes round-trip airfare and three nights' accommodation at the Royal Lahaina Resort for travel Aug. 19 to Dec. 12, 2009. Price is per person based on adult double occupancy and requires outbound travel on Sunday. Other hotels and day of departure available. Prices will vary. Price may not be available on all dates. Terms and conditions of Alaska Airlines Vacations apply.

[alexjon]

It's good to connect Austin to a first-tier tech city!

[rhoby13]

AA pulls out of this route and Alaska moves in! Wonder which gate they will use...