Southwest to King County Int'l Airport (Outside SEA)

[SWA/FO]

When did Alaska kick our ass? We never flew into LGB? Where did this take place?

If any airline could make BFI work -Southwest could. We built our own terminal in ISP, thats right we built the terminal in ISP....its ours baby!!! Just like the one we will build in BFI.

 

[chase]

SWA/FO,

I'm not 100% sure of the following so I'm asking for others smarter than I to comment who may know. The terminal at Islip was built by SWA but I believe it is actually deeded back to the city or other governing body & SWA leases back the space for only a nominal fee. Concessions are another issue, SWA gets a cut of those dollars. I can't recall all of the details but believe "ownership" isn't technically SWA's but the agreement reached between SWA & others gives SWA great leverage without the headaches of managing an airport terminal/gate area.

 

[Buckaroo]

When did Alaska kick our ass? We never flew into LGB? Where did this take place?

If any airline could make BFI work -Southwest could. We built our own terminal in ISP, thats right we built the terminal in ISP....its ours baby!!! Just like the one we will build in BFI.

That's right, we're gonna come into BFI and kick some major butt!!!!

 

[FlyBoeingJets]

Southwest and other airlines have made no secret of their unhappiness with rising fees at Sea-Tac, which is run by the Port of Seattle. To pay for the third runway, new terminal and other improvements, the airlines' cost to use the airport has been projected to rise from about $4 a passenger in the mid-1990s to about $23 each in 2009. That, airlines say, makes Sea-Tac one of the most expensive airports in the country.

Airlines will be responsible for about half of the billion dollars it is costing to build the airport's third runway — more than double what they originally anticipated.

But Bob Edwards, president of the Port Commission, said airlines were part of a decision 10 years ago to expand Sea-Tac rather than open another airport or send traffic to other airports.

Were airlines to pull out now, he said, costs for Sea-Tac's remaining passengers would rise, and the overall air transportation system would be less efficient. For example, if federal security personnel had to deploy more resources to Boeing Field, that could mean more bottlenecks for Sea-Tac passengers, he said.

Here you go, another example of the supplier (airport authorities)trying to dictate to their customers (airlines). More than one airline is unhappy with a decision to spend big bucks and increased fees. Southwest is the only one prepared to deal with these bully tactics.

A SEATAC bureaucrat claims the airlines affected were 'part of the decision' and shouldn't go back on the deal. The only reason the airlines were part of the deal is because they were asked their opinion THEN IGNORED. And, oh no, pulling out now will hurt the Seattle Tacoma economy! Efficiency will be degraded! The sky is falling! Next time listen to your customers, bucko.

This is just like the Wright Amendment debate.

 

[furloughfodder]

No, but there is one in Renton, Federal Way, Auburn, Covington, Puyallup, Lynnwood and other locations in the Greater Seattle/Puget Sound area. Maybe not in the city limits of "Seattle", but plenty in King Co and surrounding areas.

Like I said.......No Walmart in Seattle......Ever.....

--the terminal doesn't have anything close to SEA-TAC in amenities (food, shops, etc...)

Amenities????? Are you kidding me? Did you forget what type of passengers ride Southwest? They wouldn't know an amenity if it walked up and bit them on the arse.

 

[Yank McCobb]

No Walmart is Seattle....Ever...means exactly WHAT to this debate? Absolutely nothing. As pointed out, there are many Walmarts in King County and the cities surrounding "Seattle". The economic and population base of these areas are just as profound as that of "Seattle". The majority of people who would use BFI should SWA operate there would come from somewhere other than "Seattle".

If the "Midwesterners" are GASPing, it is about the absurdity of your argument. In fact, they are probably laughing, assuming they care at all. Over a dozen Walmarts in the Seattle area alone. Yeah, no Walmarts in the Northwest. He!!, no Walmarts in Seattle. Right.

Go find another issue to chest thump about.

 

[canyonblue]

Did you forget what type of passengers ride Southwest?

Passengers are passengers, I'd fly a mountain goat if it paid for the ride. The guys at the Cargo Carriers fly brown square boxes and they make more than you, I don't think they care what is in the back of their planes. Enlighten me on where you work and the high quality of your passengers, somehow I don't expect you will respond.

 

[SirFlyALot]

I think flying out of BFI is a great idea. However, I see it potentially being very expensive for SWA to implement. For those of you who have never been to BFI, it is in a very congested area with very little in the way of street access especially on the non-Boeing side. Even if SWA put the terminal on the Boeing side, it would require A LOT of modifications to roads, exits, and access points. I occasionally visit the pilot supply store at BFI. However, I dread going there because it is a major hassle to reach. I'm sure making the required improvements is doable for SWA and they may end up getting government assistance with the effort, but I don't see it being cheap.

There are other airports in the Seattle area that might work better for SWA. There is Renton airport. This is where 737's are put together. It is almost as close to Seattle as BFI. However, it also would require major changes to streets in the area and would have to deal with the political problems of trying to increase jet traffic over the politically very powerful Mercer Island. Then there is Paine Field up in Everett. This is where 747's, 777's and some others are assembled and is where I thought SWA would end up going. However, it is much further from Seattle than either BFI, SEA, or Renton. I'm not as familiar with the layout of the area, but my guess is that it would be easier and less expensive to make the required changes there.

 

[furloughfodder]

Passengers are passengers, I'd fly a mountain goat if it paid for the ride. The guys at the Cargo Carriers fly brown square boxes and they make more than you, I don't think they care what is in the back of their planes. Enlighten me on where you work and the high quality of your passengers, somehow I don't expect you will respond.

I'll give you a hint. I fly brown square boxes.

 

[OrcasC180]

Then there is Paine Field up in Everett. This is where 747's, 777's and some others are assembled and is where I thought SWA would end up going. However, it is much further from Seattle than either BFI, SEA, or Renton. I'm not as familiar with the layout of the area, but my guess is that it would be easier and less expensive to make the required changes there.

Paine Field (KPAE) makes much more sense to me than BFI. The fact that it's north of Seattle will make it attractive to many people that live in the Northend and don't like to have to drive I-5 through Seattle to get to SeaTac. Paine Field also has good freeway access via highway 526 which goes to the Boeing plant. There is a good deal of open space between the Boeing plant and the new control tower that could possbly be used for ramp space and terminal. One drawback is that PAE is in a bit of a convergence zone and, in my experience, has more low IFR days than BFI or SEA.

Just my $.02 as a frequent airline passenger and someone that keeps an airport car at KPAE.

-DJ

 

[FlyBoeingJets]

I'll give you a hint. I fly brown square boxes.

Sounds like you prefer it that way

 

[Traderd]

Like I said.......No Walmart in Seattle......Ever......
[/font]

Sam's Club
(206) 362-6700
[size=-1]13550 Aurora Ave N[/size]
[size=-1]Seattle, WA 98133[/size]

No Wal-Mart. And the difference is???

 

[canyonblue]

I'll give you a hint. I fly brown square boxes.

Then you should not worry about what's in the back of my plane, but I worry about whats in the front of your's.

 

[furloughfodder]

Hahaha...I love stirring the ants on here....

 

[canyonblue]

Hahaha...I love stirring the ants on here....

Don't you have a Cargo section?

 

[Corona]

Having flown to BFI more times than I can count, I just can't see where SWA'd park those airplanes, unless they have one of those hangar stackers you see in Sporty's. There just ain't no room left. Also, the terminal, though cool-looking, is tiny.

That being said, it'd be cool to see them pull it off...

C

 

[Yank McCobb]

It's not going to happen, no matter what. This is all posturing, posing and postulating. In the end, everyone moves a little off their stance, and the world goes on just as it is.