How did the Indy pick these four cities to discontinue?
After a careful analysis of operating costs and revenue in all these cities, these four were chosen as the markets in which overall costs were highest, compared to expected revenue.
As for Chicago and Jacksonville—two cities that were recently upgauged to Airbus service—the
company has come to the conclusion that they just don’t have the right equipment to serve those
markets economically. Because of the longer stage length to serve these two cities, the 50-seat
CRJ presents seat-mile costs that are just too high. But the 132-seat Airbus A319 creates an
overcapacity in those markets. If Indy had an aircraft with operating costs and seating capacity inbetween
the two, that might be exactly the right fit. But since they don’t, the best financial decision
at this time is to discontinue service starting January 5th.
Indy will also trim back their total number of flights by reducing the schedule in most markets on Saturday nights, Sunday mornings and during the day on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
In two markets, they will also reduce from the current seven-day-a-week service:
• LAS will be served just four days a week (no flights on Mon-Tues-Wed)
• SJU will be served six days a week (no Wed flights)