Originally Posted by
knope2001
--partly due to much lower load factors on mainline flights to DSM, CAK and perhaps STL...traffic not growing to meet the increased capacity shifted over.
A bit off topic, but here's some elaboration. Des Moines October stats show the first full month of CRJ upgrade to 717.
2010 Skywest to/from MKE
3715 passengers
114 flights
32.6 pax per flight
65.2% load factor
2011 AirTran to/from MKE
4241 passengers
124 flights
34.2 pax per flight
29.2% load factor
From what I've heard Akron has done a notch or two better, but not not all that much. I've heard mixed things about STL so far so I'm not sure what to make of it.
Even though added seats to DSM, STL and CAK very roughly offset the lost seats to OMA, PIT and IND, those lost passengers to those three cities were not replaced by lots of extra pax to DSM, STL and CAK.
That DSM is still in the schedule well into next summer (as far as the schedule goes) supports the idea that it's a placeholder until 717's can fly DSM-MDW with the WN code.