Xero

Right, but every route needs a level of O&D traffic in order to make money by charging a premium for the convenience of the nonstop. AA's cash cow is DFW and MIA, O&D to these airports are very expensive.

FullFare

Well, it must be some deal AA got from the ACV operators. They, ACV, must have been hell bent, perhaps from their business backers, to get more air service. AA can't do better for them to SFO than UA (I mean, come on, where the heck will AA take you from SFO compared to UA?)

So AA can get the ACV folks all the way to LAX (albeit on an RJ--but then the ACV folks are resigned to that) and that then gets you to the places AA goes to from LAX---which is not bad.

So, if you're an ACV resident, you do get an advantage of where you might want to connect to, maybe to places like SAF. They (UA) can get you to Shanghai, sure, and maybe with more seats to JFK than UA.

I've been to ACV many times in the past. Definitely a UA-owned airport. I remember when we would be taking the first flight out in the morning and the flight on UA (something like a 727 in the old days) would deadhead in from SFO. Boy that was before oil went through the roof. It really has traditionally been a place you fly to SFO too, although UA goes to SMF and maybe other places I'm forgetting.

I'll be interested to see how it does. It must be subsidized. I will bet the ranch it will fold when, and if, such subsidy fails. And, oh yeah, pretty country up there in Humboldt County. God's country. Great redwoods. Plenty of rain and mist, though. You can certainly spot a local. He/she will not sport a sun tan.

living near shamu

Link states article is no longer valid.

FlyMeToTheLooneyBin

UA has many routes out of ACV, to Crescent City, Redding, Sacramento, SFO. From those cities, it goes to other places, like Texas and beyond.

With AA's only route to LAX, it's going to be a tough sell to the residents to make that leg far south unless AA makes the flights fairly frequent.

A big problem with ACV is the many delayed or canceled flights due to the weather conditions: fog.

FlyMeToTheLooneyBin

Interesting. It was valid this afternoon.

FWAAA

Here are two links that are active as of right now:

http://www.northcoastjournal.com/blo...ican-airlines/

http://www.times-standard.com/breaki...dt-county-says

Here's the cache of the earlier article linked above:

http://webcache.googleusercontent.co...&ct=clnk&gl=us

JDiver

Mary and Jane would agree with you; these crops generate more cash than any other of California's crops. You could even call it a holy crop.

BTW, eight miles south is the Samoa Cookhouse, a most interesting dining experience - a logging camp cookhouse and dining room operated much as it used to when it was stuffed to the gills with loggers. I know from working with the CHP any local CHP member will be able to direct you ('cause that's how I found out about it).

Do be aware early morning and late afternoon flights in particular can be canceled due to coastal fog - maybe especially in summer.

sdsearch

Me too.

That's because the airport is actually called Arcata-Eureka airport, and Eureka is the more famous (outside the area) of the two towns.

FullFare

Let me identify an elephant that is in the room: Frequent flyer loyalists in the Eureka/Arcata area. There is little doubt that the reservoir of mileage plus loyal-flying folks there far exceeds those of the AAdvantage program. One could debate me, but I still truly believe that, after seeing UA haul most of the flying in and out of there for decades.

So, IMHO, that will have a significant effect on flying decisions of the locals. Unless AA comes in at realistic prices (not unthinkable given how UA has enjoyed high prices here) UA will not suffer ill effects and will have an advantage that the nearest major connection hub (SFO) is dominated by UA, as it has for decades.

Sum up: Hope AA has run the numbers and looked at all the factors and assumptions. They could well be swimming upstream here. Look for UA to lower its prices to compete as needed. Nice for pax, yes. If that's the case, what will trump for the deciding pax? Undoubtedly the pax's long-standing FF program.

chanp

All AA needs is a Triple EQM promo to/from ACV, done! There will be plenty of people coming in and out of here.

JDiver

I'm assuming AA performed a market study and came up with supporting figures for ACV-LAX for connections that might be more desirable for some of the flying passengers than SFO. Then again, I suppose they did for ORD-DEL...

hillrider

Schedules are loaded, effective 14JUN12:
They actually look more timed towards an O&D of LAX passengers going to ACV for business than to capture ACV-originating traffic connecting through LAX.

MAH4546 as usual a big thanks and ^

chanp

The fares currently loaded aren't cheap.

rabble

They flew in to ACV for years, but just this year dropped the route. Odd choice that AA are doing it to LAX and not SFO.

As an AA EXP with plenty of miles and family in ACV it's great, i can use miles to have them fly directly from there instead of having them drive to SFO. I just wish it was ACV-SFO.

demkr

AA Treats SFO like it does a spoke outstation in central Kansas-so this isn't a surprise unfortunately

It would be a tad ridiculous for AA flyers in SFO to fly SFO-LAX-ACV (for probably a pretty penny)--than to simply make the drive or fly United.