Airtran gives up monopoly to Flint

[General Lee]

FLX757,

I agree with you. Airtran did see it as a good alternative, and they have been successful. It isn't like Airtran never went to Detroit-----because Valuejet did way back when. And, DCI also flew into FNT---from CVG. I am glad you saw my joke in all of this.

Bye bye--General Lee

 

[General Lee]

Kingairer,

As I remember it, Detroit City was not a very friendly "airline" city due to it's size. The runways were long enough, but really skinny---I believe 75 feet wide. Sure, that is probably enough for most mid-sized jets, but I believe it was pretty narrow when the snow would build up on the sides. I know Southwest went in there for awhile (I think?) and the Proair guys---ofcourse.

Bye bye--General Lee

 

[dfw]

DET's problem...the short runway. Southwest wanted it expanded, but the city refused...so they packed up the rest of operation and moved it to Metro (they were using both airports at the same time). The other thing with DET...you have a graveyard at the end of the runways. Short runway...graveyard...I can see a problem with this.

 

[Ty Webb]

Yeah, I can just see the news report, "A Beech 1900 has crashed upon takeoff . . . . so far, authorities have recovered 47 bodies. .. . Film at 11:00".

 

[FLB717]

Les,
Yeah you are right about jumping the gun on the saftey issue. I recalled some of your previous posts on the topic, sorry. BTW who do you fly for? I dont believe you have said.

And yes it is more fun to drink and read these forums.

 

[fokkerjet]

Detroit City

City airport has only one runway suitable for large aircraft, 15 - 33 and it's 5715' x 100, if you use the "private" portion of the taxiway / runway. Both ends have ILS approaches down to 250' and 1 mile.

Southwest, when they flew there, only seviced IND and MDW nonstop, and ProAir didn't go much further, maybe ATL, even through they had direct service to Florida on the weekends. (fuel stop enroute)

I did hear on the radio not to long ago, Delta (i believe) was going to start service out of City again. I'm sure it was ComAir or ASA, going to CVG or ATL.

If you ever travel into City Airport, make sure you're "packing some heat" because I don't know anybody that wants to go to that part of town, in daylight, let alone after dark.

As far as Flint goes, a very large percentage of the population of Detroit lives in the northern suburbs making FNT an easy commute for millions of protential customers. The disadvantage to FNT might be the lack of airline traffic, or choices on one hand, but on the other hand, that lack of traffic means fewer delays, close-in, cheap parking and you don't have to put up with Northworst.