1925 replies to this topic

[wrldcoupe4]

Great news for the region.

[MicoMiles]

JetBlue possibly coming to Newport News/Williamsburg...?  If this is the case, I would be very surprised since the proximity to RIC is quite close.

http://articles.dail...ito-new-airline

[burt]

MicoMiles, on 02 February 2012 - 11:21 AM, said:

JetBlue possibly coming to Newport News/Williamsburg...?  If this is the case, I would be very surprised since the proximity to RIC is quite close.

http://articles.dail...ito-new-airline

Jet Blue, while still flying to Boston and Florida from RIC, no longer offers Richmond/New York service because they were not getting enough business (last minute) flyers.  Perhaps the Hampton Roads market will be more lucrative on that route for Jet Blue.

[MicoMiles]

Confirmation : JetBlue will not be serving Newport News/Williamsburg.

http://www.dailypres...0,6661661.story

[crashvt03]

The rumors that I've been hearing is that it will be Spirit Airlines which will start service to Newport News.  Guess we'll just have to wait and see...

[jbjust]

United and Continental have finally implemented electronic boarding pass technology at RIC.  Let's hope others follow quickly!

[burt]

Just a passing observation.

I talked recently to a Richmond friend and learned that there are many daily tour bus operations out of Richmond to gambling sites on the East Coast:  Atlantic City, Charlestown WVA,  casinos in Maryland, Pennsylvania, The Greenbrier,  and even scheduled and charter flights to The Bahamas and Mississippi.

When I told my friend that Southwest may soon fly from Richmond to Vegas, he laughed and said he's be the first passenger.

My point is that I believe there is a pent-up passel of people in Central Virginia that may surprise Southwest when (and if) it inaugerates Vegas service.

Edited by burt, 10 February 2012 - 10:52 AM.

[ACKDCA]

Is there any time frame as to when Southwest Airlines will announce which destinations will be available from Richmond International?

Also, how many destinations do you speculate we will get?  I look at parallel cities like Raleigh which obviously have larger passenger numbers due to American Airlines in the past and Delta now, but Southwest has 12 destinations available from KRDU.  They serve six cities out of Albany, NY, six out of Omaha, NE, 8 out of Indianapolis, 9 out of Jacksonville, FL and 9 out of Columbus, OH.  Due to their extensive route map, fleet size, and passenger traffic, can we expect as many as five destinations or more? Or less?

[burt]

ACKDCA, this Richmond Times Dispatch story dated February 1st indicates that it could be 12 to 15 months before Southwest begins flights in and out of Richmond.  

Unless someone has heard otherwise, destinations and number of flights from RIC are purely speculative at this time.

http://www2.timesdis...t-a-ar-1654297/

[crashvt03]

ACKDCA, on 16 February 2012 - 03:32 PM, said:

Is there any time frame as to when Southwest Airlines will announce which destinations will be available from Richmond International?

Also, how many destinations do you speculate we will get?  I look at parallel cities like Raleigh which obviously have larger passenger numbers due to American Airlines in the past and Delta now, but Southwest has 12 destinations available from KRDU.  They serve six cities out of Albany, NY, six out of Omaha, NE, 8 out of Indianapolis, 9 out of Jacksonville, FL and 9 out of Columbus, OH.  Due to their extensive route map, fleet size, and passenger traffic, can we expect as many as five destinations or more? Or less?

Like Burt said above, everything is pure speculation.  Here's my guess:
ATL
BWI (short flight, but if they want to capture connections to the northeast and Ohio valley area, they'll want to fly there)
Chicago
Houston
Orlando
Nashville

I also wouldn't be surprised to a see a couple of flights to a city like Denver, Phoenix or even Las Vegas.  We would probably only see 1 of those though.

[ACKDCA]

That sounds like a very realistic route list, crashvt.  I know everything is speculation but that's half the fun of forums.  Besides I'm impatient and hate the fact that we have to wait 12 to 15 months to find out where they will be flying.

From my research it looks like Southwest holds market shares of anywhere from 20 to 30 percent at most small to medium size airports that it serves in the United States.  Realistically, is 4 million passengers annually a number we may reach by 2014?  Again, speculation equals conversation.

Also,  if PEOPLExpress succeeds and sets up a respectable hub operation in Newport News/Williamsburg, does anyone see them as a legitimate threat to steal passengers from our area being that they are a "no frills" airline as well? Or do we see another Skybus coming?

[burt]

Air traffic is down again at RIC, albeit by a lesser percentage than in previous months.

Delta, US Air and American had the largest market shares in January.  Jet Blue, US Airways and Continental reported year-over-year growth for the month.

There was (gulp) no mention of Air Tran.

From Peter Bacque in today's RTD:

http://www2.timesdis...ar--ar-1727891/

[burt]

From Richmond Magazine:

http://www.richmondm...822b29d5ac92f66

[burt]

RIC is one of the US cities which has lost service by Air Canada due to a strike by ground crews at Pearson International in Toronto.

I suppose we can assume the cancellation is temporary.

From today's RTD:

http://www2.timesdis...-du-ar-1788453/

[burt]

Delta is adding 5 roundtrips between RIC and LGA on 50-Seat jets.

With all the shuffling around between several airlines, Richmond will end up with 13 daily flights to the New York market by mid summer.  Presently, there are 17.

Since Jet Blue dropped its RIC/JFK service, the cost of a seven-day advance ticket has quardrupled.

http://www2.timesdis...ork-ar-1790051/

[burt]

RIC noted an increase in passenger traffic of 2.9% during February compared to February 2011.

That 29th day helped.

From today's RTD:  

http://www2.timesdis...ati-ar-1797783/

[burt]

burt, on 27 March 2012 - 08:54 AM, said:

RIC noted an increase in passenger traffic of 2.9% during February compared to February 2011.

That 29th day helped.

From today's RTD:  

http://www2.timesdis...ati-ar-1797783/

In today's RTD follow-up story by Peter Bacque about the February passenger load increase AirTran was not one of the five airlines showing year over year growth for February in the number of passengers carried.  How significant is that in the airport's efforts to obtain good routes from Southwest?

http://www2.timesdis...uar-ar-1799441/

[eandslee]

burt, on 28 March 2012 - 06:53 AM, said:

In today's RTD follow-up story by Peter Bacque about the February passenger load increase AirTran was not one of the five airlines showing year over year growth for February in the number of passengers carried.  How significant is that in the airport's efforts to obtain good routes from Southwest?

http://www2.timesdis...uar-ar-1799441/

I noticed the same thing.  I'm sure this doesn't bode well for RIC.  I'm a bit concerned.

[Oaktowntwinz]

eandslee, on 28 March 2012 - 09:13 AM, said:

I noticed the same thing.  I'm sure this doesn't bode well for RIC.  I'm a bit concerned.

I don't think its as dire as you imagine.  The industry is taking a beating nationwide.  Southwest has already made a commitment to Richmond.  They do their homework so the likelihood of them reneging is very slight.

[eandslee]

Oaktowntwinz, on 28 March 2012 - 10:52 AM, said:

I don't think its as dire as you imagine.  The industry is taking a beating nationwide.  Southwest has already made a commitment to Richmond.  They do their homework so the likelihood of them reneging is very slight.

I hope you're right.  I think if given the chance, Southwest could change the airline leaders at RIC through what is so affectionately called the "Southwest Effect."  I wouldn't doubt that if they start at RIC with some great destinations, I can easily see Southwest have the majority of the market share after a year or two of operations.

Edited by eandslee, 28 March 2012 - 01:50 PM.