AirTran, Frontier to battle it out for Chicago-Cancun rights

[c9skytrain]

The U.S. Department of Transportation has opened up a route proceeding that will decide whether Frontier Airlines or AirTran Airways will get the right to fly between Chicago and Cancun, Mexico.

The U.S.-Mexico air treaty allows three U.S. carriers on that route. United Airlines and American Airlines already hold those rights, but the third carrier - Brendan Airways flying as USA 3000 Airlines - is leaving the route as of Jan. 30.

According to the DOT, Frontier on Nov. 21 said it would like to fly the route up to seven times a week, using 164- to 168-seat Airbus A320 aircraft. It would also provide pick up the Apple Vacations business that USA 3000 has carried.

On Dec. 6, AirTran filed its own submission opposing Frontier's proposal and proposing its own daily service with 137-seat Boeing 737-700 aircraft..........

 

[texman]

Go get em AT(Swa)!

 

[Flying the Line]

AT holds the edge because service would be from midway versus frontier's service from ORD

 

[outerlimits]

AT holds the edge because service would be from midway versus frontier's service from ORD

Who makes the decission and when will it be made?

 

[Bill Nelson]

AT holds the edge because service would be from midway versus frontier's service from ORD

Frontier doesn't even serve ORD today. What kind of connecting traffic do you think they will have? Frontier is a dying entity. They are just trying to round up some assets with the hopes of a buyer.

 

[fam62c]

I'm surprised JB didn't apply as well.

 

[chqflyer]

SWA already has a mega hub out of MDW. Why bother delaying the obvious?

 

[Muppets]

If Im a passenger and flying with my family, I would choose F9 over AirTran any day of the week. Better cabin, better seats, in flight entertainment, etc. We at the tranny got nothing. Absolutely no reason for any human being to fly on us....yet they do.

 

[On Your Six]

AT holds the edge because service would be from midway versus frontier's service from ORD

Frontier doesn't go to ORD, only MDW from DEN. And they do a lot of CUN flights from other cities, like SLC on Saturdays, MCI, etc.


Godspeed!


The OYSter

 

[Mamma]

168 seat A320 sounds miserable. Have fun.

 

[outerlimits]

Thanks your royal dickieness, but they applied to fly ORD-Cancun.

Makes sense , an ORD slot and more for someone to buy.


Hope republic get to fly some of it.

 

[Ty Webb]

If Im a passenger and flying with my family, I would choose F9 over AirTran any day of the week. Better cabin, better seats, in flight entertainment, etc. We at the tranny got nothing. Absolutely no reason for any human being to fly on us....yet they do.

We have Beck's! An essential part of flying with family . . . especially some of my wife's family. :smash:

 

[Captain Morgan]

This is charter work for Apple Vacations done by Frontier Airlines. No connecting traffic required.

 

[Captain Morgan]

Who makes the decission and when will it be made?

Thedecision will be made when enough pizza arrives at the doorstep of the Feds' office. :laugh:

 

[Whataburger]

We have Beck's! An essential part of flying with family . . . especially some of my wife's family. :smash:

I keep some crack, a tranqulizer dart, and ether in my drag bag for "family travel." I roll Mr. T style.

 

[outerlimits]

Thedecision will be made when enough pizza arrives at the doorstep of the Feds' office. :laugh:

I wish you guys the best of luck. Since your at Frontier, how/why do see why Bedford wants that route. Do you think it is because it would be one more asset to sell?

 

[Andy]

168 seat A320 sounds miserable. Have fun.

I used to fly that route - ORD-CUN/other Caribbean destinations - for Ryan International when they had the Apple Vacations contract. We flew those routes with 178/180 seat A320s. We also originated flights out of MSP and some Wisconsin airports for Apple.
The A320s were flown in the UK during the summer and the US during the winter. The planes were UK registry for a low cost carrier over there. Needless to say, 180 seat A320s were NOT designed with the average Wisconsin cheesehead in mind.
I remember one flight where the FA called us and said that she couldn't get the drink cart through the aisle because we had a 'person of size' in an aisle seat - he had raised his aisle armrest and had one cheek on the seat and another in the aisle. The flight was ~6 hours long and there were no empty seats.

 

[gobyebye]

The other day Frontier was ferrying a plane from midway to ord and the tower guy asked them if this was a regularly scheduled flight now. The frontier guys said yes, they are now ferrying over to ord to do some apple vacation charter flights out of ord on a regular basis.

 

[Crash Pad]

Looks like a SWA needs to expand some service. GK is out of the dugout and he is going to go with a rookie out of Georgia. This kid has been in the news lately over some contract issues. They were going to release him to free agency but his performance in the international market has proven helpful in the playoffs.

I'll say. He is the only one on the team that can pitch international. They should pay the man.

 

[Data]

Thedecision will be made when enough pizza arrives at the doorstep of the Feds' office. :laugh:

More like when enough unmarked bills show up in a briefcase, this is the government we're talking about.