rtalk25
Aug 4, 09, 11:02 am
AirTran started offering recently service from Harrisburg, Allentown and Atlantic City. I was wondering about ABE airport, if it'd be possible for more expansion there and if there was a market. I know there is a great push by SJTA to increase activity at ACY and it can handle more flights, but ACY isn't attractive to the airlines because of its location. But about ABE it does have big population centers significant, 60 miles in each direction.
I'm wondering if feasibility would exist for ABE-BOS via AirTran? Also Harrisburg (MDT) was given the once daily ATL flight. Isn't there a greater market at ABE since ABE can attract those in Philly suburbs, Scranton and NW NJ? Allentown is also the larger metro internally over Harrisburg.
rvolkcpa
Aug 4, 09, 11:29 am
Several carriers have tried ABE-BOS service and discontinued it. I believe that CO, DL, and US have had service at one point or another, with DL (operated by Big Sky) being the most recent carrier.
DL currently operates 3 RJ's from ABE-ATL. It's probably a question of whether it would be worth it for Airtran to battle with DL over another route.
rtalk25
Aug 4, 09, 11:51 am
Several carriers have tried ABE-BOS service and discontinued it. I believe that CO, DL, and US have had service at one point or another, with DL (operated by Big Sky) being the most recent carrier.
DL currently operates 3 RJ's from ABE-ATL. It's probably a question of whether it would be worth it for Airtran to battle with DL over another route.
But DL's model is very different. They fly small RJs and charge $649/RT. Aug. 25-27 (booked Aug.4) travel to ATL, price from Allentown. From Harrisburg to ATL, AirTran has a $69 $140/RT web special. I don't know how well priced the ABE-BOS model was, but I doubt it was anywhere near what a LCC would charge.
2-3 years ago, there was a glut of planes flying, TTN-BOS, ABE-BOS and 3 carriers from PHL-BOS nonstop, one AirTran coincidentally, but there was price wars decreasing profitability and viability. Now its just US Airways from PHL, and 1 daily Spirit Airways flight from ACY...which is much cheaper than US Airways.
However, there are a number of 1 connection cheap flights from ABE to BOS.
I heard the issue with ACY is that it would have to deal with NYC airspace for BOS travel? I'm wondering if ABE avoids that by flying over Scranton and then east.