US Airways Dividend Miles (Pre-FlightFund Merger) - The end of ORH

Guess it's BDL, PVD, BED or BOS now.

WORCESTER, Mass. -- US Airways will stop flying to Worcester Regional Airport next month, leaving the airport with no commercial flights.

Airline officials said Tuesday the company will end its three daily round-trip flights between Worcester and Philadelphia on Feb. 8 because of lagging ticket sales and cost-cutting needed under a bankruptcy reorganization plan.

US Airways, the nation's seventh-largest airline, will also eliminate flights to Columbus, Ga., a spokesman said.


"Demand just doesn't exist," David A. Castelveter told the Telegram & Gazette of Worcester "We're not filling airplanes, and we're not making money."

During November and December, the US Airways' Worcester flights were only about 50 percent full, according to data collected by the Massachusetts Port Authority, which runs the airport for the city.

Thirteen local US Airways employees will lose their jobs, according to the airline. Airline officials will contact passengers who have reservations after Feb. 8 to book them on other flights or offer refunds.

Airports in Boston, Manchester, N.H., Warwick, R.I. and Windsor Locks, Conn., have been drawing passengers away from the small Worcester airport that once hosted Pan American Airways, American Eagle and ASA/Delta Connection. Those companies ended flights to Worcester last year.

The airport still serves corporate jets, air taxis and other types of noncommercial flights, and the region's political leaders say they want to discuss the airport's future with city officials, state and federal legislators, airline representatives, representatives from state and federal agencies, and the local business community.

There are fewer and fewer reasons to fly US out of the BOS area, with essentially no nonstops to anywhere but the hubs, LGA and DCA. My personal pet peeve is that they're giving up the FL market, perhaps low yield, but nevertheless heavily travelled and important to many people. A good starting point to build loyalty.

[This message has been edited by mbmbbost (edited 01-22-2003).]

Here is the link to the article:
http://www.boston.com/dailynews/022/economy/US_Airways_departure_leaves_Wo:.shtml

I wonder if USAirways Express will also pull out of Tweed New Haven Airport (HVN) as they are the only carier at HVN and they only fly one-route, HVN to PHL.

[This message has been edited by steve100 (edited 01-22-2003).]

I'm a bit surprised that this hasn't happened sooner.

The cash conservation/reduce costs mode has heretofore resulted in decreased frequency of service to many destinations. It makes sense that infrastructure remain in place so that increased frequency and return of discontinued routes can occur with additional aircraft, return of passengers, etc.

The fixed costs of a station having 3 express flights per day probably made it a loss leader, even in the best of times. Was the fare structure the same as other Boston area airports due to WN? At least the passengers have choices for nearby airports. It would not be surprising to see US vacate other small routes such as Tampa to Panama City (100 miles to TLH), Ft. Walton Beach (80 miles to PNS) and Naples (RSW is 25 miles away).

Maybe there is a method to their madness and a reasonable business plan exists. If so, they aren't sharing the specifics possibly for fear of predatory practices by OA's. It sure looks to me like they need to resolve pension issues, get out of BK on schedule, get the loans, the new equipment AND then have another airline expire.

Lots of things have to fall into place but they've had all the breaks go their way so far.

Actually, losing Worcester may make my Boston Marathon more difficult this year. I can't pull a Rosie Ruiz by flying from there to PHL to BOS. I guess that I'll have to run the whole thing.

[This message has been edited by AtlanticBeach (edited 01-22-2003).]

According to the web site, "US Airways serves 18 destinations nonstop in the U.S. and Canada from Boston..." Granted, most of these are express destinations. However, do any of the other airlines have significantly more destinations? (Being low maintenance and easy to please--I'm personally looking forward to the non-stop SJU weekly service starting next month.)

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by mbmbbost:
There are fewer and fewer reasons to fly US out of the BOS area, with essentially no nonstops to anywhere but the hubs, LGA and DCA.</font>



[This message has been edited by ATC (edited 01-22-2003).]

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by AtlanticBeach:
...Was the fare structure the same as other Boston area airports due to WN? </font>

Hardly, depending on how much advance time(21 Day, 7 Day, 3 Day) you would pay up to 3 times as much vs. BOS, PVD, MHT, or BDL

((Edited for grammar))
((Edited again to add more airports))
[This message has been edited by Ekollios (edited 01-22-2003).]

[This message has been edited by Ekollios (edited 01-23-2003).]

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by steve100:
I wonder if USAirways Express will also pull out of Tweed New Haven Airport (HVN) as they are the only carier at HVN and they only fly one-route, HVN to PHL.</font>

that would be unfortunate (but not unexpected). living in new haven, i quite like flying out of HVN, as opposed to driving an hour to BDL or going to new york.

speaking of HVN, it seems that delta is considering starting up RJ service to CVG.

My experience w/ORH was that the fares were cheap when they started but then went above the surrounding airports. A shame because it was the cutest and most efficient place to fly in/out of.

MHT is pretty much consolidating its position as the main regional alternative to Logan (north of the Rhode Island border, that is). As MHT gains traction it disadvantages not just Worcester but PWM, which has lost a lot of mainline service lately as well.

Originally Posted by:
ATC
According to the web site, "US Airways serves 18 destinations nonstop in the U.S. and Canada from Boston..." Granted, most of these are express destinations. However, do any of the other airlines have significantly more destinations? (Being low maintenance and easy to please--I'm personally looking forward to the non-stop SJU weekly service starting next month.)

I just counted 34 non-stop destinations served by American.

------------------
DC-10's Forever!

[This message has been edited by CMK10 (edited 01-22-2003).]

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by BearX220:
MHT is pretty much consolidating its position as the main regional alternative to Logan (north of the Rhode Island border, that is). As MHT gains traction it disadvantages not just Worcester but PWM, which has lost a lot of mainline service lately as well.</font>

Worcester is more than disadvantaged... once US pulls out of ORH Worcester will have the distinction of being a city with a population of 150,000+, and an airport with NO COMMERCIAL AIRLINES flying in or out.

That'll teach me!

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by CMK10:
I just counted 34 non-stop destinations served by American.</font>

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Ekollios:
Worcester is more than disadvantaged... once US pulls out of ORH Worcester will have the distinction of being a city with a population of 150,000+, and an airport with NO COMMERCIAL AIRLINES flying in or out.</font>

I suspect we are just seeing the beginning of this. A lot of places like this were still being served as a legacy of the era of regulated airlines. As the industry contracts to save money a lot of places like this are going to close out I would imagine to be replcaed by regional airports. They just cant afford to fly to that many small cities.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by ATC:
According to the web site, "US Airways serves 18 destinations nonstop in the U.S. and Canada from Boston..." Granted, most of these are express destinations. However, do any of the other airlines have significantly more destinations? (Being low maintenance and easy to please--I'm personally looking forward to the non-stop SJU weekly service starting next month.)



[This message has been edited by ATC (edited 01-22-2003).]</font>

I'm not sure how many destinations Delta serves from BOS nonstop, but it's interesting to note that they have 18 or more daily nonstops to FL, while US has none. American also has a few. Given that US is supposed to be strong in the East coast market, it doesn't seem to make sense to ignore what the competition is doing. There are a lot of people that fly back and forth regularly, and nonstops are much preferable to making a connection, especially in winter.

[This message has been edited by mbmbbost (edited 01-22-2003).]

This reminds me of the Seinfeld episode where George gets out of the cold pool and has a problem with shrinkage. Again, the US network shrinks a little more.

By continually cutting stations and service, the company runs the risk of eroding its network to the point where it becomes inconvenient to get anywhere.

If they do indeed get rid of the Dash-8s and other props, look for them to dump more cities like ORH that can't be profitably served by RJs. It's a shame, because US once was a lifeline to smaller communities that otherwise would not have air service.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by AtlanticBeach:
Was the fare structure the same as other Boston area airports due to WN? [This message has been edited by AtlanticBeach (edited 01-22-2003).]</font>

I'm not sure if you meant to imply that WN flies to Boston or not. Anyway, since it doesn't, I very often end up driving an hour to MHT for US flights to save about half of what the same trip on US would cost me leaving from BOS, which is about 3 miles from home. It's definitely worth it for a couple hundred dollars. The wildly differing fares from nearby airports, on the same airline, just add another layer of confusion to all of this.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by steve100:
Here is the link to the article:
http://www.boston.com/dailynews/022/economy/US_Airways_departure_leaves_Wo:.shtml

I wonder if USAirways Express will also pull out of Tweed New Haven Airport (HVN) as they are the only carier at HVN and they only fly one-route, HVN to PHL.

[This message has been edited by steve100 (edited 01-22-2003).]</font>

I think I read somewhere that HVN is covered under essential air service, but I'm not 100% sure.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by mbmbbost:
I'm not sure if you meant to imply that WN flies to Boston or not. Anyway, since it doesn't, I very often end up driving an hour to MHT for US flights to save about half of what the same trip on US would cost me leaving from BOS, which is about 3 miles from home. It's definitely worth it for a couple hundred dollars. The wildly differing fares from nearby airports, on the same airline, just add another layer of confusion to all of this. </font>

Thanks for the reply. I am aware that WN does not fly into BOS, but US considers BOS/MHT/PVD as the same market. My travels average five trips per year from Florida to BOS and I don't think that I have ever paid more than $210 for a Q/V fare even without a Saturday night stay. My records do show a $468 last minute fare which was immediately upgradeable.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by ATC:
According to the web site, "US Airways serves 18 destinations nonstop in the U.S. and Canada from Boston..." Granted, most of these are express destinations. However, do any of the other airlines have significantly more destinations? (Being low maintenance and easy to please--I'm personally looking forward to the non-stop SJU weekly service starting next month.)

[This message has been edited by ATC (edited 01-22-2003).]</font>

Delta serves the following from BOS:
ATL
ACY (weekend only)
ACK (summer seasonal only)
BGR
BDA
BTV
CVG
CAE
DCA
DFW
EWR
FLL
JFK
LGA
MCO
PBI
PHL
PWM
RDU
RSW
SLC
TPA
YUL
YHZ

Only 24 destinations, but DL moves more volume because of all the Florida service. DL wants to add more BOS service, but lacks the gates to do it. When the new DL terminal opens in 2005, DL could easily add another 100+ flights.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by AtlanticBeach:
Thanks for the reply. I am aware that WN does not fly into BOS, but US considers BOS/MHT/PVD as the same market. My travels average five trips per year from Florida to BOS and I don't think that I have ever paid more than $210 for a Q/V fare even without a Saturday night stay. </font>

Fares vary widely between MHT/PVD/BOS, so considering them the same market puzzles me. MHT/PVD fares on US to FL (and any other WN destinations) are often driven down by WN, while they remain higher at BOS. Not long ago I checked flights at the same times and found BOS/FLL for $238, and MHT/FLL for $158. The converse is true at times as well though. When Airtran has a sale to FL from BOS, US will match that, and MHT will be more expensive if WN isn't having a sale. I think it's the fact that Airtran flies to BOS that encourages US to have low fares to FL without Saturday stay, rather than the presence of WN at MHT or PVD. I guess Delta Express also plays a part in the BOS equation as well.


[This message has been edited by mbmbbost (edited 01-23-2003).]

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by GWU ESIA STUDENT:
I think I read somewhere that HVN is covered under essential air service, but I'm not 100% sure.</font>


Well, technically HVN is served by CO codeshares with Amtrak....

Maybe Peter Pan can sprout wings... http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif 500 miles per ORH/BOS segment would be nice!

I hope US doesn't give up on BED as well. I think there's a lot of potential there. Perhaps too distant in the future though..

I remember back in the late 80's early 90's, a few of the major carriers rediscovered ORH. I think it began with Piedmont. During thsoe years, US, PI, and NY/CO flew mainline jets into ORH. I believe that Presidential Airways also flew BAC 146's there, but am not sure. Traffic grew so much that the city built a wonderful new terminal. As soon as it was finished, the mainliners pulled out!

In the 70's, DL flew DC-9's into ORH.


Part of the problem with ORH is that it is not easy to get to.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by mbmbbost:
I hope US doesn't give up on BED as well. I think there's a lot of potential there. Perhaps too distant in the future though..</font>

In my opinion, they already have. They used to have flights to phl which made for easy connections to the rest of the US world. Free parking at BED made it especially nice. They've discontinued PHL and now offer no hub service, only flights to Trenton. Fine if you're going to South Jersey, but that's about it.

* - Edited for clarity - *


[This message has been edited by iflybos (edited 01-23-2003).]