Virgin America Elevate - Rumor: VX is considering service SFO/LAX-RDU?

Hi All,

I hear a rumored from entire a.net. VX is considering service SFO/LAX-RDU but, DL is still operated for summer seasonally. I would consider if VX will start direct flight from SFO/LAX-RDU 1 or 2 daily RT. It will get more tougher competition against DL. RDU is very popular leisure vacation trip.

Let's the speculation begin.

Hi All,

I hear a rumored from entire a.net. VX is considering service SFO/LAX-RDU but, DL is still operated for summer seasonally. I would consider if VX will start direct flight from SFO/LAX-RDU 1 or 2 daily RT. It will get more tougher competition against DL. RDU is very popular leisure vacation trip.

Let's the speculation begin.

I don't think it's a popular leisure vacation trip from SFO/LAX, is it?

Personally, I bet that VX would start ATL before RDU based upon their history of going to large airports with substantial business travel between LAX/SFO on the one hand and another airport on the other.

My two cents

~FAI PDX Flyer :)

I'm always a little surprised when I travel to/from RDU from SFO to notice two or three passengers that are on my entire flight.

So a RDU non-stop service would be great indeed. I'm a little tired of having to get there via CLT, ORD and IAD connections... Even if it's seasonal, at first, I'm game!!!

Isn't UA launching RDU-SFO?
http://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/news/2012/04/11/united-adds-nonstop-flight-from-rdu-to.html

If VX launches it as well, it'd be a once it rains, it pours type situation.

It would be great if they did. The last time I left RDU, the gate next to mine had the AA RDU-LHR flight departing. I noticed I could get to London quite a bit quicker than SFO with my routing...

Isn't UA launching RDU-SFO?
http://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/news/2012/04/11/united-adds-nonstop-flight-from-rdu-to.html

If VX launches it as well, it'd be a once it rains, it pours type situation.

WN tried RDU-California nonstops some time ago and dropped them due to low load factors. I think UA is counting on international connections from/to Asia.

The AA nonstop RDU-LHR also depends heavily on connections beyond LHR and is a leftover from the old days when AA had a mini-hub at RDU.

WN tried RDU-California nonstops some time ago and dropped them due to low load factors. I think UA is counting on international connections from/to Asia.

The AA nonstop RDU-LHR also depends heavily on connections beyond LHR and is a leftover from the old days when AA had a mini-hub at RDU.

The primary purpose is still O&D in these long haul scenarios. RDU-LHR has support in that GlaxoSmithKline purchases a lot of front cabin seats.

WN just doesn't want to do anything transcon like, with the exception of BWI. Even at BWI, WN doesn't fly BWI-Bay Area.

WN wants the coasts to support the middle of the country WN stations (BNA, STL, etc) typically. WN ended PHL-California: it doesn't mean there isn't a market for another carrier other than US, as VX and AS added transcon routes recently.

For RDU to Asia and reverse, there are a lot better ways to get there than flying through SFO. If one is going from Tokyo to SF, it's a long flight but on a big aircraft, and then another somewhat long flight on a single aisle plane from SF to RDU.