AirTran adds 2x daily MKE-DCA service
Mar 24, 2009, 1:48 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Chicago
Posts: 1,800
AirTran adds 2x daily MKE-DCA service
AirTran will reinstate non-stop service between Milwaukee and Washington's Reagan National Airport (DCA) starting June 11, 2009.
Two flights per day will be offered in each direction. I haven't seen the schedule yet, but if the flights are timed well this route may turn out better for AirTran than the once per day flights offered last summer.
As of now, the flights are planned to be year-round. However, once the leisure traffic dries-up I suspect AirTran will be flying a lot of empty seats (if the results of MKE-LGA are any indication).
With these new flights, AirTran will operate 33 flights per day from Milwaukee this summer.
http://www.jsonline.com/business/41718467.html
Two flights per day will be offered in each direction. I haven't seen the schedule yet, but if the flights are timed well this route may turn out better for AirTran than the once per day flights offered last summer.
As of now, the flights are planned to be year-round. However, once the leisure traffic dries-up I suspect AirTran will be flying a lot of empty seats (if the results of MKE-LGA are any indication).
With these new flights, AirTran will operate 33 flights per day from Milwaukee this summer.
http://www.jsonline.com/business/41718467.html
Mar 24, 2009, 5:06 am
#2
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,653
They didn't have any trouble filling the 717 last summer on MKE-DCA, yet things were still apparently so poor that they chose to give up the free DCA slots the DoT had awarded them rather than continue to fly MKE-DCA over summer.
It certainly will be interesting to see how all this new service does. What most casual observers don't seem to understand is that the Midwest pulldown in Milwaukee was targeted, not broad. Midwest's reductions handed a ton of traffic to AirTran in leisure markets, and AirTran has filled planes well in those markets by backfilling with far less seats so overall capacity is still smaller than it had been the prior year. But Midwest has more seats to Boston than last summer, more seats to LaGuardia than last summer, nearly as many seats to DCA as last summer, and (between YX and NW) more seats to Minneapolis than last summer. There is not a corresponding YX pullback in any of these markets handing them traffic as they received to MCO, TPA, RSW, LAS, etc.
It certainly will be interesting to see how all this new service does. What most casual observers don't seem to understand is that the Midwest pulldown in Milwaukee was targeted, not broad. Midwest's reductions handed a ton of traffic to AirTran in leisure markets, and AirTran has filled planes well in those markets by backfilling with far less seats so overall capacity is still smaller than it had been the prior year. But Midwest has more seats to Boston than last summer, more seats to LaGuardia than last summer, nearly as many seats to DCA as last summer, and (between YX and NW) more seats to Minneapolis than last summer. There is not a corresponding YX pullback in any of these markets handing them traffic as they received to MCO, TPA, RSW, LAS, etc.
Mar 24, 2009, 5:47 am
#5
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Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Chicago
Posts: 1,800
Mar 24, 2009, 5:51 am
#6
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Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Chicago
Posts: 1,800
Given how aggressively AirTran advertised fire sale fares on this route, it's no wonder they pulled the plug earlier then scheduled and returned the slot. Results had to be horrid.
Mar 24, 2009, 7:12 am
#7
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,653
It was 77.9% for the whole time it operated, from the low 60's in May to around 90% in August. They certainly did discount fares to fill those seats. Local MKE-DCA average fare received by them was $104 compared to $161 for Midwest.
Mar 24, 2009, 9:11 am
#8
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 2,412
Mar 24, 2009, 1:08 pm
#10
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: National Capitol Region
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It's already done. I checked the Air Tran schedules for July and there are a couple flights a day DCA-->MSP with a 1/stop in Milwaukee.
I'll agree with you that the convenience factor is not high (flight times and long layover in MKE) still it's an option. It must stick in D/NW's craw!
Mar 24, 2009, 2:07 pm
#11
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,653
This should illustrate what I was speaking of earlier regarding MKE markets:
Winter Peak 2009 versus 2009
MKE-Florida
-26.4% total seats year over year
-78.7% Midwest cutback in seats
MKE-Las Vegas
-33.4% total seats year over year
-65.4% Midwest cutback in seats
MKE-Phoenix
-30.6% total seats year over year
-48.8% Midwest cutback in seats
Midwest cut way back in those markets, AirTran only replaced a portion of that flying, and so in spite of the dismal economy they are carrying good loads.
Now look at Summer 2009 peak
MKE-Boston
+4.5% total seats year over year
+7.2% Midwest increased seats over last summer
MKE-LaGuardia
+3.8% total seats year over year
+7.2% Midwest increased seats over last summer
MKE-Washington
+18.0% total seats year over year
-8.0% Midwest decreased seats over last summer
MKE-Minneapolis
+62.8% total seats year over year
+22.9% Midwest increased seats over last summer (increase prior to AirTran's MKE-MSP plans)
+34.9% Northwest increased seats over last summer (increase in retaliation to AirTran's MKE-MSP plans)
Unlike Florida, Vegas, Phoenix or the west coast, these are not markets where Midwest cut back
This winter the overall pie at MKE shrunk, but because of Midwest's cutbacks AirTran found enough passengers for the expansion here by not coming close to replacing all of Midwest's trimmed capacity.
This summer, however, several of the key markets added or expanded by AirTran are about as larger or larger than last year. It may be a very different game than this current winter/spring has been.
Winter Peak 2009 versus 2009
MKE-Florida
-26.4% total seats year over year
-78.7% Midwest cutback in seats
MKE-Las Vegas
-33.4% total seats year over year
-65.4% Midwest cutback in seats
MKE-Phoenix
-30.6% total seats year over year
-48.8% Midwest cutback in seats
Midwest cut way back in those markets, AirTran only replaced a portion of that flying, and so in spite of the dismal economy they are carrying good loads.
Now look at Summer 2009 peak
MKE-Boston
+4.5% total seats year over year
+7.2% Midwest increased seats over last summer
MKE-LaGuardia
+3.8% total seats year over year
+7.2% Midwest increased seats over last summer
MKE-Washington
+18.0% total seats year over year
-8.0% Midwest decreased seats over last summer
MKE-Minneapolis
+62.8% total seats year over year
+22.9% Midwest increased seats over last summer (increase prior to AirTran's MKE-MSP plans)
+34.9% Northwest increased seats over last summer (increase in retaliation to AirTran's MKE-MSP plans)
Unlike Florida, Vegas, Phoenix or the west coast, these are not markets where Midwest cut back
This winter the overall pie at MKE shrunk, but because of Midwest's cutbacks AirTran found enough passengers for the expansion here by not coming close to replacing all of Midwest's trimmed capacity.
This summer, however, several of the key markets added or expanded by AirTran are about as larger or larger than last year. It may be a very different game than this current winter/spring has been.
Apr 8, 2009, 7:55 am
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Chicago
Posts: 1,800
Further expansion by AirTran
With little to no fanfare, AirTran has added some additional frequency on several Milwaukee routes.
This summer, MKE-LGA increases from 3 to 4 daily round-trips while MKE-SFO gets a second frequency (evening departure, red-eye return). Both of these appear to be seasonal only and are gone by early September.
In September, AirTran bumps MKE-LAS from two to three daily round-trip flights. I'm sure the MKE-LAS route could use the additional capacity, but I'm surprised AirTran is adding this in September (one of the weakest travel months) instead of holding off a month or two.
I do wonder what, if anything, Midwest will do to counter any of these moves. They may not be all that interested in chasing after price sensitive LAS traffic, but they could squeeze in another flight by swapping E170s with 717s come this fall. The real question for me is if Midwest would consider adding a sixth daily MKE-LGA flight. Again, they could probably squeeze this flight in, but is there really a need. Slots could be an issue, but they may have some left over from the MCI pull-down that they could utilize.
This summer, MKE-LGA increases from 3 to 4 daily round-trips while MKE-SFO gets a second frequency (evening departure, red-eye return). Both of these appear to be seasonal only and are gone by early September.
In September, AirTran bumps MKE-LAS from two to three daily round-trip flights. I'm sure the MKE-LAS route could use the additional capacity, but I'm surprised AirTran is adding this in September (one of the weakest travel months) instead of holding off a month or two.
I do wonder what, if anything, Midwest will do to counter any of these moves. They may not be all that interested in chasing after price sensitive LAS traffic, but they could squeeze in another flight by swapping E170s with 717s come this fall. The real question for me is if Midwest would consider adding a sixth daily MKE-LGA flight. Again, they could probably squeeze this flight in, but is there really a need. Slots could be an issue, but they may have some left over from the MCI pull-down that they could utilize.
Apr 8, 2009, 2:51 pm
#13
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 2,412
With little to no fanfare, AirTran has added some additional frequency on several Milwaukee routes.
This summer, MKE-LGA increases from 3 to 4 daily round-trips while MKE-SFO gets a second frequency (evening departure, red-eye return). Both of these appear to be seasonal only and are gone by early September.
In September, AirTran bumps MKE-LAS from two to three daily round-trip flights. I'm sure the MKE-LAS route could use the additional capacity, but I'm surprised AirTran is adding this in September (one of the weakest travel months) instead of holding off a month or two.
I do wonder what, if anything, Midwest will do to counter any of these moves. They may not be all that interested in chasing after price sensitive LAS traffic, but they could squeeze in another flight by swapping E170s with 717s come this fall. The real question for me is if Midwest would consider adding a sixth daily MKE-LGA flight. Again, they could probably squeeze this flight in, but is there really a need. Slots could be an issue, but they may have some left over from the MCI pull-down that they could utilize.
This summer, MKE-LGA increases from 3 to 4 daily round-trips while MKE-SFO gets a second frequency (evening departure, red-eye return). Both of these appear to be seasonal only and are gone by early September.
In September, AirTran bumps MKE-LAS from two to three daily round-trip flights. I'm sure the MKE-LAS route could use the additional capacity, but I'm surprised AirTran is adding this in September (one of the weakest travel months) instead of holding off a month or two.
I do wonder what, if anything, Midwest will do to counter any of these moves. They may not be all that interested in chasing after price sensitive LAS traffic, but they could squeeze in another flight by swapping E170s with 717s come this fall. The real question for me is if Midwest would consider adding a sixth daily MKE-LGA flight. Again, they could probably squeeze this flight in, but is there really a need. Slots could be an issue, but they may have some left over from the MCI pull-down that they could utilize.
Yeah, Midwest has been very quiet, and we have heard very little on any expanded service for this summer. I would have liked to book YX for SFO, but the fare was almost twice as high, and I'd have to connect.
Apr 8, 2009, 4:33 pm
#14
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: MKE
Posts: 2,161
I, for one, have zeroed out my Midwest Miles account. Closed my Midwest Credit Card account. Replaced with AirTran and Delta credit cards.
Last edited by RSVP; Apr 8, 2009 at 5:37 pm
Apr 8, 2009, 5:56 pm
#15
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Bay Area, CA
Programs: United Mileage Plus
Posts: 1,159
With little to no fanfare, AirTran has added some additional frequency on several Milwaukee routes.
This summer, MKE-LGA increases from 3 to 4 daily round-trips while MKE-SFO gets a second frequency (evening departure, red-eye return). Both of these appear to be seasonal only and are gone by early September.
In September, AirTran bumps MKE-LAS from two to three daily round-trip flights. I'm sure the MKE-LAS route could use the additional capacity, but I'm surprised AirTran is adding this in September (one of the weakest travel months) instead of holding off a month or two.
I do wonder what, if anything, Midwest will do to counter any of these moves. They may not be all that interested in chasing after price sensitive LAS traffic, but they could squeeze in another flight by swapping E170s with 717s come this fall. The real question for me is if Midwest would consider adding a sixth daily MKE-LGA flight. Again, they could probably squeeze this flight in, but is there really a need. Slots could be an issue, but they may have some left over from the MCI pull-down that they could utilize.
This summer, MKE-LGA increases from 3 to 4 daily round-trips while MKE-SFO gets a second frequency (evening departure, red-eye return). Both of these appear to be seasonal only and are gone by early September.
In September, AirTran bumps MKE-LAS from two to three daily round-trip flights. I'm sure the MKE-LAS route could use the additional capacity, but I'm surprised AirTran is adding this in September (one of the weakest travel months) instead of holding off a month or two.
I do wonder what, if anything, Midwest will do to counter any of these moves. They may not be all that interested in chasing after price sensitive LAS traffic, but they could squeeze in another flight by swapping E170s with 717s come this fall. The real question for me is if Midwest would consider adding a sixth daily MKE-LGA flight. Again, they could probably squeeze this flight in, but is there really a need. Slots could be an issue, but they may have some left over from the MCI pull-down that they could utilize.
The bay area is a very important tourist and business destination. I spend a lot there.