A rumor about LAX
Sep 28, 2014, 8:13 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: LA (mostly) NY (sometimes)
Programs: Skymiles, LifeMiles, AA Advantage
Posts: 87
A rumor about LAX
Well I flew out of LAX this morning and it was business as usual today. However I had not a long conversation with one of the red coats at the gate that I have gotten to know during the past few months/years of flying this same flight. And he told me that by the end of October LAX will be officially name a HUB. I usually don't make much of this "rumors" however I have gotten to know him and he's always pretty accurate on the things he had said in the past. So I have no reason to doubt him, however I just don't see LAX being a HUB for the simple reason of gate space or the lack of.
Any thoughts fellow FT's
Natalie
Any thoughts fellow FT's
Natalie
Sep 28, 2014, 8:31 pm
#3
Join Date: Oct 2008
Programs: HH Diamond
Posts: 612
Well I flew out of LAX this morning and it was business as usual today. However I had not a long conversation with one of the red coats at the gate that I have gotten to know during the past few months/years of flying this same flight. And he told me that by the end of October LAX will be officially name a HUB. I usually don't make much of this "rumors" however I have gotten to know him and he's always pretty accurate on the things he had said in the past. So I have no reason to doubt him, however I just don't see LAX being a HUB for the simple reason of gate space or the lack of.
Any thoughts fellow FT's
Natalie
Any thoughts fellow FT's
Natalie
LAX is growing for Delta and will continue to grow over the next year.
Sep 28, 2014, 8:58 pm
#4
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: LAS HNL
Programs: DL DM, 5.7 MM, UA 3.1 MM, MARRIOTT PLATINUM, AVIS FIRST, Amex Black Card
Posts: 4,479
I guess LAX is currently a focus city. LAX was considered a hub with the merger with Western in the late 1980's, and remained so for many years. From DL:
Source: http://news.delta.com/Stats-Facts
From SkyTeam:
SOURCE: https://www.skyteam.com/en/Why-SkyTe.../SkyTeam-Hubs/
So according to SkyTeam MEM and CVG are still hubs and SEA and LAX are not. Perhaps this is an old link?
Updated June 2014
Worldwide Service
Delta Air Lines serves nearly 165 million customers each year. This year, Delta was named the 2014 Airline of the Year by Air Transport World magazine and was named to FORTUNE magazine’s 50 Most Admired Companies, in addition to being named the most admired airline for the third time in four years. With an industry-leading global network, Delta and the Delta Connection carriers offer service to 333 destinations in 64 countries on six continents. Headquartered in Atlanta, Delta employs nearly 80,000 employees worldwide and operates a mainline fleet of more than 700 aircraft. The airline is a founding member of the SkyTeam global alliance and participates in the industry’s leading trans-Atlantic joint venture with Air France-KLM and Alitalia as well as a newly formed joint venture with Virgin Atlantic. Including its worldwide alliance partners, Delta offers customers more than 15,000 daily flights, with key hubs and markets including Amsterdam, Atlanta, Boston, Detroit, Los Angeles, Minneapolis-St. Paul, New York-JFK, New York-LaGuardia, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Salt Lake City, Seattle and Tokyo-Narita. Delta has invested billions of dollars in airport facilities, global products, services and technology to enhance the customer experience in the air and on the ground. Additional information is available on delta.com, Twitter @Delta, Google.com/+Delta, Facebook.com/delta and Delta’s blog takingoff.delta.com.
Worldwide Service
Delta Air Lines serves nearly 165 million customers each year. This year, Delta was named the 2014 Airline of the Year by Air Transport World magazine and was named to FORTUNE magazine’s 50 Most Admired Companies, in addition to being named the most admired airline for the third time in four years. With an industry-leading global network, Delta and the Delta Connection carriers offer service to 333 destinations in 64 countries on six continents. Headquartered in Atlanta, Delta employs nearly 80,000 employees worldwide and operates a mainline fleet of more than 700 aircraft. The airline is a founding member of the SkyTeam global alliance and participates in the industry’s leading trans-Atlantic joint venture with Air France-KLM and Alitalia as well as a newly formed joint venture with Virgin Atlantic. Including its worldwide alliance partners, Delta offers customers more than 15,000 daily flights, with key hubs and markets including Amsterdam, Atlanta, Boston, Detroit, Los Angeles, Minneapolis-St. Paul, New York-JFK, New York-LaGuardia, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Salt Lake City, Seattle and Tokyo-Narita. Delta has invested billions of dollars in airport facilities, global products, services and technology to enhance the customer experience in the air and on the ground. Additional information is available on delta.com, Twitter @Delta, Google.com/+Delta, Facebook.com/delta and Delta’s blog takingoff.delta.com.
From SkyTeam:
Delta Air Lines
Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL)
Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG)
John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York (JFK)
Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC)
Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW)
Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport (MSP)
Memphis International Airport (MEM)
Tokyo Narita International Airport (NRT)
Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL)
Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG)
John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York (JFK)
Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC)
Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW)
Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport (MSP)
Memphis International Airport (MEM)
Tokyo Narita International Airport (NRT)
So according to SkyTeam MEM and CVG are still hubs and SEA and LAX are not. Perhaps this is an old link?
Sep 28, 2014, 9:07 pm
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Bye Delta
Programs: AA EXP, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, Hyatt Plat, Marriott Plat, Nat'l Exec Elite, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 16,273
Delta apparently already considers LAX to be a hub...
http://news.delta.com/index.php?s=20309&cat=3191
http://news.delta.com/index.php?s=20309&cat=3191
Sep 28, 2014, 9:12 pm
#6
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: LAS HNL
Programs: DL DM, 5.7 MM, UA 3.1 MM, MARRIOTT PLATINUM, AVIS FIRST, Amex Black Card
Posts: 4,479
What does it matter if an airport is called a "hub" or "focus city"? The pay is the same, I believe.
I understand a "base" for FA's and pilots being a huge factor, but for agents/ramp on the ground. Who cares if it is a "hub".
I see LAX, similar to BOS. "Focus city".
I remember when DL had hubs at MCO, DFW, CVG. Times change.
I understand a "base" for FA's and pilots being a huge factor, but for agents/ramp on the ground. Who cares if it is a "hub".
I see LAX, similar to BOS. "Focus city".
I remember when DL had hubs at MCO, DFW, CVG. Times change.
Sep 28, 2014, 9:15 pm
#7
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: East Coast, USA
Posts: 1,032
Delta apparently already considers LAX to be a hub...
http://news.delta.com/index.php?s=20309&cat=3191
http://news.delta.com/index.php?s=20309&cat=3191
Sep 28, 2014, 9:20 pm
#8
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,403
It would be more convincing if DL were grabbing the four gates in T6 that are apparently going to AA. Then DL would have space to expand at LAX.
However, more generally, I'm not sure I see the wisdom of DL stressing "hubs" like JFK, LAX, and SEA now as they're very competitive markets with much more competitive fares in general than ATL, DTW, MSP, CVG, MEM, SLC, etc. Why expand in places where you must offer low prices and might get into price wars?
However, more generally, I'm not sure I see the wisdom of DL stressing "hubs" like JFK, LAX, and SEA now as they're very competitive markets with much more competitive fares in general than ATL, DTW, MSP, CVG, MEM, SLC, etc. Why expand in places where you must offer low prices and might get into price wars?
Sep 28, 2014, 9:26 pm
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: 45° North
Programs: DL DM MM, HH Diamond
Posts: 10,196
Sep 28, 2014, 9:28 pm
#10
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Huntsville, AL
Programs: DL DM 1.929MM, Hilton Lifetime Diamond, IHG Platinum, Avis CHM, Marriott Titanium (lifetime gold)
Posts: 7,859
Personally, I think AA pax are going to hate walking through two sets of tunnels as I also understand that the existing bus service from T4 to T6 is going to be discontinued once the T4 to T5 tunnel reopens. Maybe Dougie knows best, but the latter seems downright stupid.
David
Sep 28, 2014, 9:30 pm
#11
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,403
I wonder whether those AA passengers will be using the DL electric golf carts for free in the tunnel between T5 and T6 to ease their pain.
Sep 28, 2014, 9:31 pm
#12
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: LAS HNL
Programs: DL DM, 5.7 MM, UA 3.1 MM, MARRIOTT PLATINUM, AVIS FIRST, Amex Black Card
Posts: 4,479
Does anyone remember the club DL had for the LAX-SFO "shuttle" flts they had every hour from Terminal 6 around 1990? It was great. It was not a Crown Room - it was only for the LAX-SFO shuttle flts.
Sep 28, 2014, 10:02 pm
#13
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: LAS HNL
Programs: DL DM, 5.7 MM, UA 3.1 MM, MARRIOTT PLATINUM, AVIS FIRST, Amex Black Card
Posts: 4,479
As far as the FA/pilot bases it makes no difference. If a FA lives in RNO and DL adds - RNO-LAX as a NEW flt nonstop as a "hub", that would make a big difference for that FA.
DL used to fly LAX-RNO, LAX-FAT-RNO, all on 737's back in the day. This came from Western. They got rid of it and WN has that market.
Again, what does it matter if a city is called a "hub".
I've always considered LAX a DL hub. Still do when I fly out of LAS (home). It is a "hub" for me. I use it, but SLC works so much better.
DL used to fly 767's LAS-LAX years ago. Than they went RJ's/mainline. Than nothing (nothing on DL). Than all mainline. Now back to all RJ's (SkyWest).
Sep 28, 2014, 10:07 pm
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 23,050
They seem to be at odds with themselves as LAX and BOS are not listed as hubs here -- http://news.delta.com/Stats-Facts
Sep 28, 2014, 10:14 pm
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,387
However, more generally, I'm not sure I see the wisdom of DL stressing "hubs" like JFK, LAX, and SEA now as they're very competitive markets with much more competitive fares in general than ATL, DTW, MSP, CVG, MEM, SLC, etc. Why expand in places where you must offer low prices and might get into price wars?
Now, if you're basically arguing that DL should just sit back and let natural rate of growth take over in their cities, OK, except DTW is shrinking as a metro area, CVG and MEM are backwaters that really don't have O/D to support much in the way of hub operations, so you have ATL, MSP and SLC, and the rate of growth isn't huge.
If, on the other hand, you have shareholders who like hearing that you want to get bigger as a company, you have to go where the new customers you can steal from other airlines are. Thus NYC/SEA/LAX. Given DL's profits, it's hard to see where they're going wrong. Now, granted, we'll see what happens in a down market, but it's not like AA and UA are going to be immune if there's another recession...