http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/040802/dcm050_1.html

Press Release Source: US Airways

US Airways Announces Caribbean and Latin America Expansion
Monday August 2, 1:59 pm ET
New Charlotte-Liberia, Costa Rica Service Begins in February

ARLINGTON, Va., Aug. 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- US Airways will expand its Caribbean and Latin America network on Feb. 12, 2005, with new service to Liberia, Costa Rica from Charlotte, N.C., and new nonstop Charlotte-Barbados service. In addition, US Airways will increase nonstop Boston-Aruba service in November 2004, and add a second nonstop Saturday flight between Charlotte and St. Thomas in December 2004.

Subject to foreign government approval, new Charlotte-Liberia service will operate each Saturday using 120-seat Airbus A319 aircraft. Liberia is one of the fastest-growing destinations in Central America, offering customers convenient access to the north Pacific beach communities and many ecotourism attractions. Flights will depart Charlotte at 10:30 a.m., and will arrive in Liberia at 1:40 p.m. Return flights will depart Liberia at 1:15 p.m., and will arrive in Charlotte at 6:15 p.m.

"The addition of Liberia to our Caribbean and Latin America network and the expansion of service to existing destinations underline our growth strategy in this region over the past four years," said Andrew P. Nocella, US Airways vice president of network and revenue management. "We now offer nonstop service to three times the number of destinations in the region as we did in 2000, and we look forward to continued expansion in the future, as contemplated in our Transformation Plan."

New nonstop service between Charlotte and Barbados will begin on Feb. 12, 2005, and will operate each Saturday using Airbus A319 aircraft, subject to foreign government approval. US Airways currently operates nonstop service to Barbados from Philadelphia.

Additionally, on Nov. 7, 2004, US Airways will expand its Boston-Aruba service, adding nonstop roundtrip flights each Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday, using Airbus A319 aircraft. This service is also subject to foreign government approval. US Airways currently operates Boston-Aruba service on Saturday only. From Boston, US Airways operates service to Aruba, Bermuda, Cancun, Nassau, Montego Bay and San Juan.

Beginning Dec. 11, 2004, US Airways will add a second Saturday nonstop roundtrip flight between Charlotte and St. Thomas, using 193-seat Boeing 757 aircraft. US Airways operates nonstop service to 18 Caribbean and Latin American destinations from Charlotte.

US Airways, the US Airways Express carriers and US Airways Shuttle provide service to nearly 200 destinations worldwide, including 37 states in the U.S. and 10 destinations in Europe. In the Caribbean and Latin America, US Airways serves Antigua, Aruba, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Cancun, Cozumel, Grand Bahama Island, Grand Cayman, Grenada, La Romana, Mexico City, Montego Bay, Nassau, Providenciales, Punta Cana, San Jose, San Juan, Santo Domingo, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Thomas, St. Maarten, and St. Croix. For more information on US Airways flight schedules and fares, visit US Airways online at usairways.com.

US Airways is a member of the Star Alliance network. Star Alliance was established in 1997 as the first truly global airline alliance to offer customers global reach and a smooth travel experience. The members are Air Canada, Air New Zealand, ANA, Asiana Airlines, Austrian, bmi, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Spanair, Thai Airways International, United, US Airways and VARIG Brazilian Airlines. South African Airways and TAP Air Portugal will join the alliance in 2005.


Source: US Airways

I really, really wish they'd switch the BGI daily service to CLT. For that matter, any daily island service should run from CLT, so that you don't run the risk of half the plane misconnecting. Run the saturday only flight ex-PHL.

Subject to foreign government approval, new Charlotte-Liberia service will operate each Saturday using 120-seat Airbus A319 aircraft. Liberia is one of the fastest-growing destinations in Central America, offering customers convenient access to the north Pacific beach communities and many ecotourism attractions. Flights will depart Charlotte at 10:30 a.m., and will arrive in Liberia at 1:40 p.m. Return flights will depart Liberia at 1:15 p.m., and will arrive in Charlotte at 6:15 p.m.

Am I missing something, or does that schedule make no sense? Leaving 25 minutes before arrival of the next plane would mean parking a plane there overnight every night. If I'm not missing something, it seems like you'd want a plane to go down and back and be done with the destination, so it should have a 60-90 minute turn to make the most sense.

Am I missing something, or does that schedule make no sense? Leaving 25 minutes before arrival of the next plane would mean parking a plane there overnight every night. If I'm not missing something, it seems like you'd want a plane to go down and back and be done with the destination, so it should have a 60-90 minute turn to make the most sense.

You'll have an answer to that sooner than later. ;) :D

Am I missing something, or does that schedule make no sense? Leaving 25 minutes before arrival of the next plane would mean parking a plane there overnight every night. If I'm not missing something, it seems like you'd want a plane to go down and back and be done with the destination, so it should have a 60-90 minute turn to make the most sense.

It's just the next phase in US' plan to get you to the gate ontime. Phase one, when boarding times are printed on your boarding pass prior to the scheduled arrival time of the aircraft, was appearnlty a success ;)

interesting to see all this expansion into the Caribbean lately. By many accounts, it is the one portion of the U route system that is profitable. One wonders how long this will be the case though, with JB and Airtran's expansion into this region.

One wonders how long this will be the case though, with JB and Airtran's expansion into this region.

The only Caribbean destination AirTran serves is FPO.

And here’s a little history lesson for you: a long, long, time ago when you were still in diapers (that’s four years ago to the rest of us), AirTran received a large subsidy from a large FPO resort to inaugurate service there. Surprisingly (to me, at least) AirTran was able to develop FPO beyond the point of necessitating subsidies.

The only Caribbean destination AirTran serves is FPO.

And here’s a little history lesson for you: a long, long, time ago when you were still in diapers (that’s four years ago to the rest of us), AirTran received a large subsidy from a large FPO resort to inaugurate service there. Surprisingly (to me, at least) AirTran was able to develop FPO beyond the point of necessitating subsidies.


True, that for now Airtran only serves FPO. However, they just announced a big expansion of FPO service, and they are highly rumored to be considering other destinations. And, in terms of JB, this is much more than rumor. They have recently made significant expansions in the Caribbean, and their management is very open about their intent to expand. This seems to be a classic market in which LCC carriers can thrive--a market with relatively high fares, and lots of pent up demand for leisure travel.

True, that for now Airtran only serves FPO. However, they just announced a big expansion of FPO service, and they are highly rumored to be considering other destinations.

If you consider an additional 1 flight to be a big expansion.