us2
May 10, 02, 9:37 am
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/local/sfl-zair10may10.story?coll=sfla%2Dbusiness%2Dfront
US Airways cuts 5 Lauderdale flights
By Tom Stieghorst
Business Writer
May 10, 2002
US Airways is shrinking its flights from Fort Lauderdale next month, but is standing pat at West Palm Beach.
The carrier has long been runner up to Delta Air Lines at both airports in passengers carried and seats offered. But financial troubles have forced the Arlington, Va.-based airline to retrench and focus its schedule on its most profitable routes, including coast-to-coast flights.
As a result, the number of daily US Airways flights from Fort Lauderdale will drop in June to 15, down from 20 currently and 32 in June 2001. At West Palm Beach, it will offer 15 daily flights as well, the same as currently but down from 26 daily departures in June 2001.
A big difference between last year and this year is the December demise of MetroJet, a low-fare brand within US Airways meant to compete with discount airlines.
"Quite a bit of service in and out of Florida was MetroJet," said company spokesman David Castelveter, including 8 daily flights to West Palm Beach and 14 flights to Fort Lauderdale.
Another factor is the seasonal swing in demand in Fort Lauderdale. "Florida, the market year-round is popular, but it is more popular in the Northeast in the winter than the summer," Castelveter said. US Airways' schedule calls for Fort Lauderdale flights to bump up to 21 in November.
That could change, however, with the adoption of a new business plan now in the works, he said.
One change with the June schedule will be the end of direct flights between Fort Lauderdale and New York's LaGuardia Airport, Castelveter said. There is no direct service from West Palm Beach on US Airways. Connecting flights are offered through Orlando or Charlotte, N.C.
In 2001, US Airways carried 13.9 percent of the passengers at Fort Lauderdale, ranking it second behind Delta. At West Palm Beach it was also second with about 24 percent of the traffic.
Tom Stieghorst can be reached at tstieghorst@sun-sentinel.com or 305-810-5008.
Copyright © 2002, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
US Airways cuts 5 Lauderdale flights
By Tom Stieghorst
Business Writer
May 10, 2002
US Airways is shrinking its flights from Fort Lauderdale next month, but is standing pat at West Palm Beach.
The carrier has long been runner up to Delta Air Lines at both airports in passengers carried and seats offered. But financial troubles have forced the Arlington, Va.-based airline to retrench and focus its schedule on its most profitable routes, including coast-to-coast flights.
As a result, the number of daily US Airways flights from Fort Lauderdale will drop in June to 15, down from 20 currently and 32 in June 2001. At West Palm Beach, it will offer 15 daily flights as well, the same as currently but down from 26 daily departures in June 2001.
A big difference between last year and this year is the December demise of MetroJet, a low-fare brand within US Airways meant to compete with discount airlines.
"Quite a bit of service in and out of Florida was MetroJet," said company spokesman David Castelveter, including 8 daily flights to West Palm Beach and 14 flights to Fort Lauderdale.
Another factor is the seasonal swing in demand in Fort Lauderdale. "Florida, the market year-round is popular, but it is more popular in the Northeast in the winter than the summer," Castelveter said. US Airways' schedule calls for Fort Lauderdale flights to bump up to 21 in November.
That could change, however, with the adoption of a new business plan now in the works, he said.
One change with the June schedule will be the end of direct flights between Fort Lauderdale and New York's LaGuardia Airport, Castelveter said. There is no direct service from West Palm Beach on US Airways. Connecting flights are offered through Orlando or Charlotte, N.C.
In 2001, US Airways carried 13.9 percent of the passengers at Fort Lauderdale, ranking it second behind Delta. At West Palm Beach it was also second with about 24 percent of the traffic.
Tom Stieghorst can be reached at tstieghorst@sun-sentinel.com or 305-810-5008.
Copyright © 2002, South Florida Sun-Sentinel