JBLU to leave ATL

[jetblue320]

Question

The lions den has nothing to do with it. B6 made a mistake by going into a feeder hub for both DL and FL, without having a feeder network in place. Let's face it, many people who board those planes to LAX, SFO, and OAK are fed into the system from smaller markets around ATL. B6 never had a chance at those customers.

B6 will be back, but they will establish their feeder network first with 190 service. FL will keep those prices low for the present, thus continuing to make those markets low fare for ATL pax. DL will continue to lose money on those markets until they get a renegotiated contract.

lowecur or somebody, help me out, who is FL? Haven't seen that one before. Is it the two letter for Airtran? I've seen AAI used for Airtran because that is their stock ticker symbol.

Thanks.

 

[G4G5]

Airtran was the airline that was going to be the most adversly effected with B6's success in ATL. Lenord was smart, it's one thing to fight on a daily basis against DAL. It's another to allow a competing LCC in your back door. The 737's from Ryan, was a smart move. The other thing to remember is Lenord is not going away. He already has his version of the ERJ-190, now he's ging out and getting the larger equipment.

IMHO B6 underestimated Lenord. My guess is they won't make that mistake again.

ATL is extremely difficult, that's why LUV has decided to not to bother and take a stronghold in BHM.

Speaking of LUV, Lenord may have 4 gates in ATL but that's is going to prove much more difficult then just beating AA. KDAL belongs to LUV and unlike BHM, DAL is right down town and an easy LCC alternative Vs Airtran and their 4 gates at DFW.

AA makes DFW work because of the vast network, AA also has the Eagle factor to compete with any LCC. The same weapon that DAL will no doubt use (has anyone else seen the planned ASA/Comair expansion at DFW).

While getting kicked out of Atl is a blemish on B6, at least Dave was smart enough to take the assets to a place where he can make more money. I believe the saying is, Live and Learn

 

[FDJ2]

then it became kind of a war between Air Tran and Delta.

It sounds like Delta had something to do with it. I very much doubt that JBLU got chased out of the ATL market by a couple of leased A320s, but maybe that's all it takes. JBLU was going to have to deal with a war with DAL out of ATL anyways, so I don't see how adding a couple of Air Tran flights into the mix made that much of a difference, in the end it's still war. I guess JBLU just saw other routes they could cherry pick for now. At the end of the day, it really doesn't matter what we think about it, the future success or failure of our airlines will not hedge on what is written here. It's just fun getting a few jabs in. No harm, no foul. Y'all take care.

 

[lowecur]

320

FL is the code for Airtran. Just like B6 & DL.

 

[Ty Webb]

Good point, but I think you mean Airbuses from Ryan. We are getting B737's for ourselves, starting in June.


The other thing to remember is Lenord is not going away. He already has his version of the ERJ-190, now he's ging out and getting the larger equipment.

Another good point.

Speaking of LUV, Lenord may have 4 gates in ATL but that's is going to prove much more difficult then just beating AA. KDAL belongs to LUV and unlike BHM, DAL is right down town and an easy LCC alternative Vs Airtran and their 4 gates at DFW.

Here I think you mean DFW, not ATL (we have around 25 gates in ATL).

We go to many places that SWA doesn;t go, so while they are a powerhouse, if you want an AAlternative to go to BOS, PHL, DCA, DEN, LGA, EWR, and other places, we're aavailable, not to mention the smaller cities like ICT, MCI, MLI, Freeport, SAV, MYR, GSO, PNS, etc.


AA makes DFW work because of the vast network, AA also has the Eagle factor to compete with any LCC. The same weapon that DAL will no doubt use (has anyone else seen the planned ASA/Comair expansion at DFW).

You could say the same things about competing against Delta at ATL. We also have RJ's available to us though AWAC.

We are short on planes right now . . . yet we are expanding at DFW, so the powers that be (ie Bob Fornaro and Joe Leonard) obvioulsy believe that we are making the right move.

We'll see, but so far, the smart money is betting with them, not against them.

 

[FLB717]

Ty,
Great post. DAL and AA both have mainline and RJ's to use against us. Ask delta how ell its working and you have the answer to how AA will do in stopping us. They may slow us, but not kill us.