Jetblue starts SFO service

[lowecur]

This was out of left field. More transcon service from the airline that said it wants to cutback on transcons. I guess this might put the final nail in the Virgin America story, but who knows.

imp:​

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/artic...hive/2007/01/09/BUGJSNF21D1.DTL&type=business

 

[skiandsurf]

This was out of left field. More transcon service from the airline that said it wants to cutback on transcons. I guess this might put the final nail in the Virgin America story, but who knows.

imp:​

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/artic...hive/2007/01/09/BUGJSNF21D1.DTL&type=business

Martin of SFO Aviation says, " we hope to also get Virgin America to get more competition and lower fares. Its a win win for the consumer".

But another nail in the coffin for the industry and the employees. Fck the consumer, $99 transcon flight is what is killing the airlines.

 

[Blue Dude]

But another nail in the coffin for the industry and the employees. Fck the consumer, $99 transcon flight is what is killing the airlines.

Regular fares will be $159 to $399 on this route. If I had to guess, with the effort currently underway to raise yields, average fares will trend above $200. This isn't 2003.

 

[Truckdriver]

The next thing to come out of left field for lowecur will be LAX service. I'm hearing LAX growth because LGB is stuffed. Growth in the LA area along with a possible Bay Area domicile would be awesome for B6.

 

[Dirty Sanchez]

Probably going to try to get a waiver to make the SFO turn a day trip...

 

[lowecur]

The next thing to come out of left field for lowecur will be LAX service. I'm hearing LAX growth because LGB is stuffed. Growth in the LA area along with a possible Bay Area domicile would be awesome for B6.

Yeah, it's going to happen sometime this year. DL will be evicted from T-5, and it's my guess Jetblue and a few other carriers will head on in. This from the LA Times:

Panel acts to control LAX terminals

The city Airport Commission votes to use up to $154 million to end airline leases at two facilities and open up slots for other carriers.
By Jennifer Oldham, Times Staff Writer

January 9, 2007


Despite intensive lobbying from airline representatives to delay the matter, the city's Airport Commission voted unanimously on Monday to spend up to $154 million to take over several terminals at Los Angeles International Airport.

By gaining control of Terminals 2 and 5, airport officials hope to free up aircraft parking spots for discount carriers and other airlines that have repeatedly asked to add flights at the world's fifth-busiest airport.

Airlines that operate in the two terminals said they will fight the takeover in court, contending the airport agency would be violating the terms of their leases.

"We're very disappointed," said Robert S. Span, an attorney with Paul Hastings, who represents Delta Air Lines, which operates in Terminal 5, and an organization of carriers that offer flights in Terminal 2. "We're going to evaluate our legal options."

But airport officials say the terms of the carriers' leases specifically allow the airport agency to buy back bonds the airlines used to finance improvements to the terminals.

Once these bonds are paid off, the agency can terminate the leases, officials say. The agency said it will move immediately to use cash and credit to buy back the bonds.

Through long-term leases, five carriers control a majority of gates at LAX, leaving airport officials unable to accommodate many requests from other airlines to add flights. More than 60 passenger airlines offer service at LAX.

LAX is unusual in that it operates only 3 1/2 of its nine terminals, through what officials now call an outdated arrangement. Most other major airports control a majority of their facilities.

The city's airport agency says several of the five carriers with long-term leases hoard their gates and use them inefficiently.

"We know that there are airlines that can use some of these underutilized gates," said Airport Commissioner Walter Zifkin. "We have a duty of fulfilling a public trust here."



Jetblue is in discussions with a few international carriers about partnerships. These will include JFK, SFO, and LAX. With the SFO announcement, Virgin America could be history. If that's the case, it wouldn't surprise me if Virgin Atlantic and their 49% owner (Singapore Airlines) will do a partnership with Jetblue. Just speculation of course.

imp:​

 

[Truckdriver]

Probably going to try to get a waiver to make the SFO turn a day trip...

Yep.........Probably. DA

 

[clickclickboom]

Probably going to try to get a waiver to make the SFO turn a day trip...

Would you ike a " Hot Lunch " Or " Glass Bottom Boat" to go with your dirty sanchez?

 

[AKAAB]

Exactly as I have been predicting.

With JetBlue's expected announcement of an international codeshare partner any time now, I have been saying to put your money on it being Virgin Airways if they start service to LAX and SFO.

 

[skiandsurf]

Exactly as I have been predicting.

With JetBlue's expected announcement of an international codeshare partner any time now, I have been saying to put your money on it being Virgin Airways if they start service to LAX and SFO.

Are saying that JetBlue is really Virgin America?

 

[General Lee]

Lowecur,

You know DL and the City if LA are still in talks over terminal 5 rent etc, and that is expected in BK. The BK judge won't allow LA to take anything away right now anyway. It will all be worked out, and that is why we pay our lawyers and law firms so much money. Those BK related costs sure are up there....


Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[Blue Dude]

Are saying that JetBlue is really Virgin America?

Once upon a time, JetBlue almost was. If this puts the final nail into Virgin America, I think JetBlue may fill the codeshare role that VA was expected to. It's not a certainty, just a possibility.

 

[mach none]

Didn't Cactus attempt transcon from LA and SFO once upon a time? Didn't Frontier attempt the same?

 

[clickclickboom]

Once upon a time, JetBlue almost was. If this puts the final nail into Virgin America, I think JetBlue may fill the codeshare role that VA was expected to. It's not a certainty, just a possibility.

I recommend that anyone interested go out and buy the book " Bluestreak" It is about the history of Jetblue before JB even had the name jetblue. There is some interesting info in there about Neeleman and Branson. They were originally going to start up together branson was dragging his feet and Neeleman decided he couldnt wait any longer. The whole Virgin America thing is proof that Branson obviously regrets that decision.

2007/2008 should be an interesting few years for the airline industry. Does anyone have a crystal ball or a roulette wheel to make any predictions?

 

[lowecur]

Lowecur,

You know DL and the City if LA are still in talks over terminal 5 rent etc, and that is expected in BK. The BK judge won't allow LA to take anything away right now anyway. It will all be worked out, and that is why we pay our lawyers and law firms so much money. Those BK related costs sure are up there....


Bye Bye--General Lee

Have to get an injunction there GL. It may be tough as DL will have a tough time proving that they have been a viable tenant for those gates. Their utilization has been terrible (what 45-50 flts for 17 gates), and they still owe back lease payments.

Of course "the plan" has to be given to the judge in the what the next 30 days, so all this may be moot. That will have to include what DL plans to do with LAX gates. Man, I wouldn't want to be Grinstein/Whitehurst & Co, trying to spin so many plates at once. Doug can't be too happy with what's going on either at LGA & LAX. I think he planned on LAX being his Asian gateway. Maybe he'll lower his offer.

 

[Blue Dude]

Didn't Cactus attempt transcon from LA and SFO once upon a time? Didn't Frontier attempt the same?

JetBlue has been in these markets for six years already, more or less profitably. They've drawn down transcons significantly in the last year or two as fuel prices have risen. They can get better fares from serving SFO so it's worth adding a few flights back in to capture that revenue. Especially if it puts the lie to just about any future press releases from VA about the "need" for low-fare competition and helps remove any political pressure to bring a startup LCC to SFO. I think this move was very astute.

I don't hold any personal ill will towards anyone at VA, but if it fails before starting up, I think we'll all be better off.

 

[skiandsurf]

I recommend that anyone interested go out and buy the book " Bluestreak" It is about the history of Jetblue before JB even had the name jetblue. There is some interesting info in there about Neeleman and Branson. They were originally going to start up together branson was dragging his feet and Neeleman decided he couldnt wait any longer. The whole Virgin America thing is proof that Branson obviously regrets that decision.

2007/2008 should be an interesting few years for the airline industry. Does anyone have a crystal ball or a roulette wheel to make any predictions?

And Neeleman has a history of building airlines then selling out for the cash.
.....Morris Air to Southwest. And some Canadian Airline. I wonder if they will try to put those handful of Virgin America pilots on the top of your 1700 pilots. (ironic that a couple of the virgin pilots came from JB, and now might end up senior to all of you)

 

[elag777]

And Neeleman has a history of building airlines then selling out for the cash.
.....Morris Air to Southwest. And some Canadian Airline. I wonder if they will try to put those handful of Virgin America pilots on the top of your 1700 pilots. (ironic that a couple of the virgin pilots came from JB, and now might end up senior to all of you)

I think the water in your brain has frozen..

 

[8vATE]

And Neeleman has a history of building airlines then selling out for the cash.
.....Morris Air to Southwest. And some Canadian Airline.

Hmmmm...

Some Canadian Airline...?

Your astute knowledge of Mr. Neeleman's history is staggering...

 

[SSDD]

How is DL going to increase utilization of their gates? With ASA and Skywest.

That is exactly what UA did when it seemed like they were going to lose T8. They moved all the Skywest flights from the remote terminal and instantly trippled the utiliztion of T8. DL just had ASA open an LAX base and is restarting service to Mexico and the west coast.