Congrats to SWA

[lowecur]

One yr at PHL and already they have 10% of the traffic. With speculation that UAIR mainline will lose another 60 planes and have only 180-200 a/c, it's my feeling that AWA will be more than happy to share PHL with LUV similar to what they do at PHX and LAS. My guess is they will draw down flts enough where SWA should be able to obtain another 10 gates or so. Of course if that many gates open up, you just may see B6 in there. I think this is a station that needs heavy duty pruning with connecting flts, and it needs to take on an identity of more direct O&D with limited connections. CLT should take on the roll as the primary connecting hub. It just makes sense as it's much cheaper to operate there than PHL. PIT will also probably be drawn down further to a strictly O&D station.

If SWA would like some extra 737's for the PHL base, it looks like they will be available.

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/050509/dam064.html?.v=3

 

[SRJ]

One yr at PHL and already they have 10% of the traffic

I don't think the folks that drove across the Delaware river from the Jersey oil refinery neighborhoods ever had any intention of flying out of Philly until Southwest came into town.

 

[Juvat]

Now if we could just get deiced there without having to donate a left nut.

 

[ivauir]

Congrats to lowecur - awfully big of you to admit we got something right, expecially since I remember you saying PHL was a mistake: "but my guess is PHL will turn out to be a strategic blunder in the next few years".

http://forums.flightinfo.com/showthread.php?t=46792&page=2&pp=15&highlight=PHL

Again, thanks for the props.

 

[lowecur]

Congrats to lowecur - awfully big of you to admit we got something right, expecially since I remember you saying PHL was a mistake: "but my guess is PHL will turn out to be a strategic blunder in the next few years".

http://forums.flightinfo.com/showthread.php?t=46792&page=2&pp=15&highlight=PHL

Again, thanks for the props.

Just giving credit where it is due.

It's a little to early for me to acknowledge that I made a blunder. Afterall, PHL was initiated as a "dagger to the heart" to remove UAIR from the scene. PHL is still an anomaly to the WN business model(slow turn-a-rounds, high landing fees), and it is siphoning business from BWI. Let's give it a couple of years and see how things play out. Also, PHL makes DFW look like a tea party when you compare costs and turn-a-round times. You got to laugh when you hear Kelly talk about how DFW doesn't fit the business model.

 

[mach zero]

Just giving credit where it is due.
You got to laugh when you hear Kelly talk about how DFW doesn't fit the business model.

Actually you have to laugh when you hear lowecur talk about anything related to this business.

 

[ivauir]

Just giving credit where it is due.

It's a little to early for me to acknowledge that I made a blunder. Afterall, PHL was initiated as a "dagger to the heart" to remove UAIR from the scene. PHL is still an anomaly to the WN business model(slow turn-a-rounds, high landing fees), and it is siphoning business from BWI. Let's give it a couple of years and see how things play out. Also, PHL makes DFW look like a tea party when you compare costs and turn-a-round times. You got to laugh when you hear Kelly talk about how DFW doesn't fit the business model.

I never heard any of our peopl talk about a "dagger to the heart". I do think they expect PHL to get better soon. I don't have any inside numbers, but every time I go to Dallas theyseem excited about PHL. I've been told that we are absolutly makeing great money in PHL despite the challenges of operating there. DFW is an entiely different beast, I'm sure you know that.