ABE's largest carrier, Southeast shut down. That was generally four non-stop full MD-80's to FLL, St. Pete and Sanford/Orlando or about 400 PAX a day to Florida who are going to left to the wind.

With the downsizing of lift by US, I wonder who will pick up those PAX with additional lift. US has cut the PIT flights to Saab's (Three years ago five MD-80's a day along with non-stop MCO flight that was cut. CLT is down to one 319 a day and PHL is still PHL) No real change to PHL other than in FEB, they dropped the 6AM for a 7AM flight to PHL that won't allow morning connections to the first west coast flights from PHL. I wonder if they ever talk to their customers. The rolling hub shouldn't have problems with a 6:45 Expres landing since it often was the first flight of the day. Last spring they dropped the same flight only to bring it back a couple months later. In meantime I was forced to fly DL via CVG to get to the west coast in the morning for afternoon meetings.

It's time to get the labor strife behind them so they could take advantage of the flux in the industry such as Southeast's departure to further their point to point plan. Then again its time US looked at their schedule of how a business traveler would want to fly and not what they "think" the business person will accept.

ABE's largest carrier, Southeast shut down. That was generally four non-stop full MD-80's to FLL, St. Pete and Sanford/Orlando or about 400 PAX a day to Florida who are going to left to the wind.

With the downsizing of lift by US, I wonder who will pick up those PAX with additional lift. US has cut the PIT flights to Saab's (Three years ago five MD-80's a day along with non-stop MCO flight that was cut. CLT is down to one 319 a day and PHL is still PHL) No real change to PHL other than in FEB, they dropped the 6AM for a 7AM flight to PHL that won't allow morning connections to the first west coast flights from PHL. I wonder if they ever talk to their customers. The rolling hub shouldn't have problems with a 6:45 Expres landing since it often was the first flight of the day. Last spring they dropped the same flight only to bring it back a couple months later. In meantime I was forced to fly DL via CVG to get to the west coast in the morning for afternoon meetings.

It's time to get the labor strife behind them so they could take advantage of the flux in the industry such as Southeast's departure to further their point to point plan. Then again its time US looked at their schedule of how a business traveler would want to fly and not what they "think" the business person will accept.

Didn't realize Southeast was ABE's largest carrier... will be interesting to see what happens even though i'm no longer in the Allentown area since i do occasionally fly into ABE when travelling back home!

Remember the good old days when we used to have MetroJet ABE to MCO service? Well Southeast made it work after US pulled the plug on MetroJet. Now that US is converting itself into a MetroJet II wouldn't ABE to MCO and FLL make sense?

Remember the good old days when we used to have MetroJet ABE to MCO service? Well Southeast made it work after US pulled the plug on MetroJet. Now that US is converting itself into a MetroJet II wouldn't ABE to MCO and FLL make sense?

Soon enough...

-JC

Yes, US returning service from ABE to MCO would be wonderful ...FLL would be an added bonus. Now if I was truly dreaming, and I guess it shows my age, mainline flights from ABE to Bos again. What the heck, why can't they just a return one Dash-8 to Boston in the morning and a late return at night. We had three a day before 9/11. I guess eventually someone will step up to the plate and see the value of no-hassle ABE for north of Philly and northern NJ via I-78.

Meanwhile, Air Tran took advantage of Southeast's departure and agreed to fly on space available basis for $50. Goodwill...something a customer will remember in the future. US unfortunately hasn't matched it. Even if they settle their labor issues, I wonder if it will be too late to overcome all the bad press.

My wife just received an application for a Southeast VISA Signature Credit Card.

They were the largest carrier (in terms of pax) out of SWF too

My wife just received an application for a Southeast VISA Signature Credit Card.

Well, if SE couldn't make those destinations work with just 4 planes and the required crews, why would US step in to fill a "void" that's clearly not all that profitable on a monthly or annual basis.

Maybe, if/when they start getting the EMB170 deliveries, they can run some of those routes. Otherwise, I wouldn't hold my breath on it.

You missed the point. Air Tran steps in to "aid" displaced Southeast PAX. Now if those 400+ per day flying out of ABE or SWF need a future flight, Air Tran will be remembered as the one that tried to help them out when no legacy carrier did. Their offer is $50 each way on space available basis for ticketed SE PAX. In short they are getting $50 for what would have been an empty seat. And Air Tran doesn't fly into ABE. You'd have to fly into PHL. US could have done the same thing. It's a customer relations and PR matter.
I keep telling my employees "perception" is as important in most cases as reality. You step in the void to "help" distressed PAX for future business, especially when you can do it and it doesn't cost you anything.

As to profitability on those routes US made money per GA with their non-stop flight to MCO which was full even during the days after 9/11. They charged more than Southeast and could again. They cut the service when ABE went Mainline Express and they gave up some of their MCO gates. Extremely profitable? Probably not as they were, but as a LCC probably.

This is pretty limited:

US AIRWAYS ACCOMMODATES SOUTHEAST AIRLINES PASSENGERS
ARLINGTON, Va., Dec. 02, 2004 -- US Airways has implemented a ticket acceptance policy for passengers whose travel plans were disrupted as a result of Southeast Airlines' cessation of service. US Airways will honor tickets issued to Southeast Airlines passengers who already have originated travel and who contact US Airways for alternative return accommodations by Dec. 16, 2004.

US Airways will accept tickets held by Southeast Airlines customers for return travel on the originally ticketed routes and on the date originally scheduled, for a $25 processing fee. A Southeast customer first must present proof of a Southeast-ticketed reservation by presenting an electronic ticket confirmation letter, electronic ticket receipt, paper ticket or itinerary card at a US Airways airport ticket counter or US Airways City Ticket Office. Seats may not be available for all dates or from all cities, and travel must be completed between Dec. 2 and Dec. 16, 2004.

Southeast customers should call US Airways Reservations at 1-800-428-4322.

Reporters needing additional information should contact US Airways Corporate Affairs at (703) 872-5100.

Remember the good old days when we used to have MetroJet ABE to MCO service? Well Southeast made it work after US pulled the plug on MetroJet. Now that US is converting itself into a MetroJet II wouldn't ABE to MCO and FLL make sense?

Yeah, Southeast really made it work ... guess that's why they stopped operations ...

This is pretty limited:

US AIRWAYS ACCOMMODATES SOUTHEAST AIRLINES PASSENGERS
ARLINGTON, Va., Dec. 02, 2004 -- US Airways has implemented a ticket acceptance policy for passengers whose travel plans were disrupted as a result of Southeast Airlines' cessation of service. US Airways will honor tickets issued to Southeast Airlines passengers who already have originated travel and who contact US Airways for alternative return accommodations by Dec. 16, 2004.

US Airways will accept tickets held by Southeast Airlines customers for return travel on the originally ticketed routes and on the date originally scheduled, for a $25 processing fee. A Southeast customer first must present proof of a Southeast-ticketed reservation by presenting an electronic ticket confirmation letter, electronic ticket receipt, paper ticket or itinerary card at a US Airways airport ticket counter or US Airways City Ticket Office. Seats may not be available for all dates or from all cities, and travel must be completed between Dec. 2 and Dec. 16, 2004.

Southeast customers should call US Airways Reservations at 1-800-428-4322.

Reporters needing additional information should contact US Airways Corporate Affairs at (703) 872-5100.


This is the type of thing US should be doing and its great to see it. Only wish they had been out in front of Air Tran in the press.

As to comments that SE somehow didn't make it work, so US shouldn't look at it. SE ceased operations. They have not filed bankruptcy, so at least at this point their creditors apparently will be paid in full. Can't say that for US.

Yeah, Southeast really made it work ... guess that's why they stopped operations ...

There are other issues that caused SE's demise. A lack of passengers was not one of them. Their flights were packed to the overheads and they had squeezed every row they could into their DC-9s and MD-80s. The problem was fuel costs and getting hit with a hefty fine from the FAA for maintnenace violations.

The routes from ABE to MCO & FLL make sense. You are serving the 3rd biggest metropolitan area in PA and giving it point to point service. Wasn't that part of the new business plan - point to point service? I'm not saying US should pull a 757 from the PHL MCO run to serve ABE but an E-170 RT per day would do nicely. Hey, anything to reduce the stress to the PHL Hub is worth a try. A daily RT to MCO would have good O&D from ABE and it could then continue to FLL for those bound to South Florida or the Carribean.

Finally, as the only carrier on the ABE-MCO run, US could bump the prices a little. Convenience does demand a slight premium.

There are other issues that caused SE's demise. A lack of passengers was not one of them. Their flights were packed to the overheads and they had squeezed every row they could into their DC-9s and MD-80s. The problem was fuel costs and getting hit with a hefty fine from the FAA for maintnenace violations.

The routes from ABE to MCO & FLL make sense. You are serving the 3rd biggest metropolitan area in PA and giving it point to point service. Wasn't that part of the new business plan - point to point service? I'm not saying US should pull a 757 from the PHL MCO run to serve ABE but an E-170 RT per day would do nicely. Hey, anything to reduce the stress to the PHL Hub is worth a try. A daily RT to MCO would have good O&D from ABE and it could then continue to FLL for those bound to South Florida or the Carribean.

Finally, as the only carrier on the ABE-MCO run, US could bump the prices a little. Convenience does demand a slight premium.

Actually at one time the market supported US and DL --all with nonstops to MCO(Delta Connection-737's) from ABE-- and all at a higher rate than SE charged.

They also had a horrible on-time rating and load factor (McCorkle's newsletter).

They also had a horrible on-time rating and load factor (McCorkle's newsletter).

You're right with the DL flight. It was a mid-day flight from MCO to ABE to MCO. Incovenient and it seemed always late getting to ABE and therefore departing.

The US flight if it is being reported as late and with a low load factor doesn't seem right and not with my experience. It was always on time leaving ABE at 6:30AM (one of first flights) and was one of the last to leave MCO at night (that was frequently 1/2 hour late). Anytime I was on it (normally to conferences in Spring and Fall), it was normally full. In fact two weeks before they cancelled the flight two months after 9/11 on a Tuesday it was in an oversold situation. Can't say the rest of year other than my observation waiting for another flight, but the load factor seemed okay and the GA at ABE always claimed a full flight during their announcements.

I meant Southeast Airlines (flyseal.com). It was basically the worst of 19 airlines in the DOT measurements for October 2004. 71.5% on time (avg 81.0%) and 2.6% cancelled (avg 1.1%), 12.21 per 1000 baggage handling complaints (avg 4.02), all worst of the 19 airlines rated for October 2004.

SE shouldn't be compared to US regarding ABE-MCO, FLL, or even BOS routes. Flying an airline of four planes is virtually impossible. There are fixed costs which are spread over very few passengers. Even with US's trouble, they can add flights with far less marginal cost per additional flight than SE had. While fuel, labor, and aircraft time are obviously unavoidable, you can spread gate agents thinner, reservations agents thinner, website support people much thinner and so on. Yeah fuel and FA & pilot labor charges are still a massive proportion of the cost, but in this penny pinching business those differences can make all the difference. US should look into it.

This morning's paper noted that ABE expects layoffs and delaying new security area as result of folding of SE. Paper noted that both US and Air Tran will "honor" SE tickets with US being more limited for only those stranded, while Air Tran will honor all for a fee on space available.

Paper indicated "new" service should be announced already next week for a replacement for MCO flight. Someone sees the opportunity. I wish it was US, but with their financial condition and labor troubles, probably not. Maybe Air Tran is coming. I don' know their presence in MCO.

Paper said it will probably be a year or more to get service back to FLL or Tampa area. FLL would fit in nicely with US as SE's gate was right next to US at FLL and now will be empty. US should grab it.

Southwest is apparently enjoying the success of PHL, so it wouldn't suprise me if they stepped in. For years people have been predicting(or hoping) SW would serve ABE. Maybe now is as good as any time to do it.

Here's the article abeflyer was referring to:

http://www.mcall.com/news/local/all-a1_5lviadec05,0,8056.story?coll=all-news-hed

This morning's paper noted that ABE expects layoffs and delaying new security area as result of folding of SE. Paper noted that both US and Air Tran will "honor" SE tickets with US being more limited for only those stranded, while Air Tran will honor all for a fee on space available.

Paper indicated "new" service should be announced already next week for a replacement for MCO flight. Someone sees the opportunity. I wish it was US, but with their financial condition and labor troubles, probably not. Maybe Air Tran is coming. I don' know their presence in MCO.

Paper said it will probably be a year or more to get service back to FLL or Tampa area. FLL would fit in nicely with US as SE's gate was right next to US at FLL and now will be empty. US should grab it.


It took a little longer than the local paper predicted but a charter company, Meridian, is now going to start the ABE MCO run. I thought this would have been a great run for US, even using an E-170, but it looks like they missed the boat. :(