Travel News - "Flight Cuts Hit Midsize Cities As They Try For A Turnaround" - BOI (Boise) Specific

This report uses the example of Alaska Airlines reducing non-stop service between BOI-SJC. Looks like more Boise PAX will be connecting through SLC.

... "He says the city is lucky to be just a short trip from major hubs, like Salt Lake City and Denver." ...

http://stateimpact.npr.org/idaho/2012/03/20/flight-cuts-hit-midsize-cities-as-they-try-for-a-turnaround/

"The airlines aren’t here for us,” he says. “The airlines are here for themselves and their shareholders. And it’s what we, our market, can do for them that is the most important thing.”

Exactly.
So stop whining and fly MORE if you want air service to continue at your airport.

I wonder if there is a way to do service with less non-stops but still directs without having to change.

I agree that this is market driven. Columbia Missouri (COU) is a good example. For years it had government subsidized Essential Air Service provided by a succession of carriers including TW Express, American Connection, and US Airways Express. All flew small turbo props with minimal service. DL (actually NWA at the time) came in offered Saab 340 service to MEM. The local chambers of commerce in Columbia and Jefferson City MO realized that without passengers, the area might loose all air service. They began heavily marketing the little known service (few people in the area even realized that there were local flights). With the locally sponsored promotions, passengers started showing up in greater numbers, and DL switched from turboprops to CRJ 200s. Over the past couple of years Columbia flights have been leaving with all 50 chairs full. DL decided not to apply to renew EAS because they decided that someone else might take the award. DL now runs this as market based business and apparently finds it profitable. I think to keep flights in small and mid size markets, people need to actively embrace the service.

...people need to actively embrace the service.

...and stay loyal.

A good example is BOS-PHL.

1) Pax are b*tching about high US fares on BOS-PHL.
2) Southwest comes in and due to competition, fares are lower.
3) People are happy with lower fares and stay with US.
4) SW cannot make a dime since people stay with US.
5) SW pulls out, fares skyrocket again.
6) back to square 1.

This is not a DL specific topic so I am moving it over to Travel News.

RSSrsvp - Moderator

I wonder if there is a way to do service with less non-stops but still directs without having to change.

In a $40 a barrel oil world, probably! In a $100+ per barrel oil world, absolutely not -- unless there is an intermediate stop with very strong demand.