Rockford airport officials say they're sitting on 'gold mine'
#16
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: ORD
Programs: Mileage Plus Dirt, Wyndham Rewards
Posts: 316
It won't work.
I lived in Rockford for about 5 years in the 90s and now live about halfway between ORD and RFD. It is a post-industrial crater of a town. And I say that with affection.
IF major airlines flew out of RFD, I'd still pick ORD as my starting point. It would mean one fewer connection every time. I don't care that parking is free. My opinion would change if flights went from RFD to STL, DEN and IAD for connections, but they won't. TPA (rather than PIE) is competitive from ORD. As is BWI--better to go to DCA anyway if you're going to DC. I don't have any opinion about EWR. I'll bet that none of those flights connect.
And RFD to BWI? Seriously? Why not ORD to DCA? That is so much easier, even if you have to drive from RFD to ORD.
My advice to them would be to stick to cargo. Or find a way to make the day trip concept they ran a few years ago work better.
I lived in Rockford for about 5 years in the 90s and now live about halfway between ORD and RFD. It is a post-industrial crater of a town. And I say that with affection.
IF major airlines flew out of RFD, I'd still pick ORD as my starting point. It would mean one fewer connection every time. I don't care that parking is free. My opinion would change if flights went from RFD to STL, DEN and IAD for connections, but they won't. TPA (rather than PIE) is competitive from ORD. As is BWI--better to go to DCA anyway if you're going to DC. I don't have any opinion about EWR. I'll bet that none of those flights connect.
And RFD to BWI? Seriously? Why not ORD to DCA? That is so much easier, even if you have to drive from RFD to ORD.
My advice to them would be to stick to cargo. Or find a way to make the day trip concept they ran a few years ago work better.
#17
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: United States
Programs: UA, AA, DL, Amtrak
Posts: 4,647
Not a death, as such...but the service already appears to be in trouble:
http://www.businessrockford.com/home...-delays-launch
That said, hopefully they'll come up with a much better name than "Air Azul".
http://www.businessrockford.com/home...-delays-launch
That said, hopefully they'll come up with a much better name than "Air Azul".
#18
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: United States
Programs: UA, AA, DL, Amtrak
Posts: 4,647
IF major airlines flew out of RFD, I'd still pick ORD as my starting point. It would mean one fewer connection every time. I don't care that parking is free. My opinion would change if flights went from RFD to STL, DEN and IAD for connections, but they won't. TPA (rather than PIE) is competitive from ORD. As is BWI--better to go to DCA anyway if you're going to DC. I don't have any opinion about EWR. I'll bet that none of those flights connect.
And RFD to BWI? Seriously? Why not ORD to DCA? That is so much easier, even if you have to drive from RFD to ORD.
My advice to them would be to stick to cargo. Or find a way to make the day trip concept they ran a few years ago work better.
On the other hand, RFD has had considerable success with its non-connecting service to leisure destinations. I don't think anyone there imagines RFD will become an ORD-clone. Like Allegiant Air (one of the major players in RFD), RFD has carved out a niche. Not everything that works at ORD will work in RFD.
You're right, the flights to BWI and EWR seem to have limited potential (see my previous post, for instance). But to say "stick to cargo" doesn't really reflect the major successes they've had there in recent years.
Last edited by fairviewroad; Apr 27, 2009 at 12:02 pm
#19
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: ORD
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 16,900
On the other hand, RFD has had considerable success with its non-connecting service to leisure destinations. I don't think anyone there imagines RFD will become an ORD-clone. Like Allegiant Air (one of the major players in RFD), RFD has carved out a niche. Not everything that works at ORD will work in RFD.
Direct Air 2 flights per week to Myrtle Beach and then on to Ft. Meyers
Allegiant 2 per week to Vegas
Allegiant 2 per week to Phoenix
Allegiant 3 per week to Orlando
Allegiant 2 per week to St. Pete
And it looks like Apple runs charters from time to time.
That's a grand total of 11 flights per WEEK. Not what I'd call "considerable success"!
#20
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: United States
Programs: UA, AA, DL, Amtrak
Posts: 4,647
In 2007, the most recent year for which FAA statistics are available, more than 110,000 people boarded flights at RFD. In that same year, RFD was the 215th busiest commercial airport in the U-S, out of a total of 575 airports with commercial service. RFD has risen in the rankings every year since it regained passenger service.
So yes, they have just 11 flights per week (all on mainline aircraft, I might add). But clearly they are doing something right. From ZERO passengers to 110,000 in 5 years. I'm guessing a lot of airport managers would love to experience that kind of growth. (Keeping in mind that RFD is also in the TOP 20 for cargo airports in the U-S)
#21
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Orlando, FL, US
Programs: DL-Dirt Medallion;US-Cast Iron Preferred; HH-Gold; Avis First
Posts: 3,617
My quick check shows:
Direct Air 2 flights per week to Myrtle Beach and then on to Ft. Meyers
Allegiant 2 per week to Vegas
Allegiant 2 per week to Phoenix
Allegiant 3 per week to Orlando
Allegiant 2 per week to St. Pete
And it looks like Apple runs charters from time to time.
That's a grand total of 11 flights per WEEK. Not what I'd call "considerable success"!
Direct Air 2 flights per week to Myrtle Beach and then on to Ft. Meyers
Allegiant 2 per week to Vegas
Allegiant 2 per week to Phoenix
Allegiant 3 per week to Orlando
Allegiant 2 per week to St. Pete
And it looks like Apple runs charters from time to time.
That's a grand total of 11 flights per WEEK. Not what I'd call "considerable success"!
#22
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: ORD
Programs: Mileage Plus Dirt, Wyndham Rewards
Posts: 316
No, it will never be an ORD, but it won't be the third passenger airport that RFD's boosters want either. I don't think the demographic in and around Rockford works in favor of that.
For another poster, Allegiant (if memory serves) flies to Mesa (AZA?), which isn't PHX, though that might not be a bad swap.
#23
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Rockford, Il
Posts: 115
Not a death, as such...but the service already appears to be in trouble:
http://www.businessrockford.com/home...-delays-launch
That said, hopefully they'll come up with a much better name than "Air Azul".
http://www.businessrockford.com/home...-delays-launch
That said, hopefully they'll come up with a much better name than "Air Azul".
Keep in mind that NW shot themselves in the foot on those DTW flights by pricing them so high. Although with the GM plant in Janesville being shut down and the spectacular implosion of Chrysler, I don't know how long those flights would have lasted even if NW had priced them more reasonably than the ~$750rt that they quoted me once.
Last edited by joer; May 6, 2009 at 3:18 pm Reason: The call was coming from INSIDE MY HOUSE!!!1!!1ONE!
#24
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Rockford, Il
Posts: 115
You can learn more from the Cranky Flier here.
#25
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: United States
Programs: UA, AA, DL, Amtrak
Posts: 4,647
Who uses RFD?
Oprah! Or her employees, at least.
http://www.businessrockford.com/bizn...ckford-airport
UPDATE: So Oprah herself did not fly out of RFD. The article says five flights departed to Barcelona on Saturday but I only see 3 listed on Flightaware. Two were DC-10's and one was an MD-11. Must have been an impressive sight for RFD.
http://www.rrstar.com/communities/x9...out-their-boss
Oprah! Or her employees, at least.
Oprah Winfrey is flying 1,500 of her employees and their families from Chicago Rockford International Airport to Spain on Saturday, according to sources familiar with the arrangements.
UPDATE: So Oprah herself did not fly out of RFD. The article says five flights departed to Barcelona on Saturday but I only see 3 listed on Flightaware. Two were DC-10's and one was an MD-11. Must have been an impressive sight for RFD.
http://www.rrstar.com/communities/x9...out-their-boss
Last edited by fairviewroad; Jun 22, 2009 at 10:58 am Reason: add new article link
#26
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Rockford, Il
Posts: 115
The latest vein in the gold/silver/bronze mine that is the Greater Rockford Airport leads to Branson, MO!
For those that find that article to be tl;dr, I'll summarize: The Greater Rockford Airport is protecting ExpressJet from losses to the amount of $30,000 so that ExpressJet can operate 50 seat RJ's between RFD and Branson 3 times a week for 5 weeks.
The big selling point for the new Branson airport is that it's 45-minutes closer to Branson than the current Springfield, MO airport is. So, to get to Branson from Chicago by air, you either have to drive for 45 minutes from Springfield, MO to Branson after your flight, Or drive 45 Minutes to Rockford before your flight.
Am I the only one who thinks that they didn't really think this one through?
For those that find that article to be tl;dr, I'll summarize: The Greater Rockford Airport is protecting ExpressJet from losses to the amount of $30,000 so that ExpressJet can operate 50 seat RJ's between RFD and Branson 3 times a week for 5 weeks.
The big selling point for the new Branson airport is that it's 45-minutes closer to Branson than the current Springfield, MO airport is. So, to get to Branson from Chicago by air, you either have to drive for 45 minutes from Springfield, MO to Branson after your flight, Or drive 45 Minutes to Rockford before your flight.
Am I the only one who thinks that they didn't really think this one through?
#27
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: United States
Programs: UA, AA, DL, Amtrak
Posts: 4,647
The big selling point for the new Branson airport is that it's 45-minutes closer to Branson than the current Springfield, MO airport is. So, to get to Branson from Chicago by air, you either have to drive for 45 minutes from Springfield, MO to Branson after your flight, Or drive 45 Minutes to Rockford before your flight.
Am I the only one who thinks that they didn't really think this one through?
Am I the only one who thinks that they didn't really think this one through?
#28
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: United States
Programs: UA, AA, DL, Amtrak
Posts: 4,647
#29
Moderator: CommunityBuzz!, OMNI, OMNI/PR, and OMNI/Games & FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: ORD (MDW stinks)
Programs: UAMM, AAMM & ExPlat, Marriott lifetime Plat, IHG Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 23,500
Rockford rebates are back again, this time to Cancun (CUN): http://www.flyrfd.com/WQ4CUN2.ASP
#30
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: United States
Programs: UA, AA, DL, Amtrak
Posts: 4,647
The latest destination from Rockford is .....
Belgrade!
However, aside from this article I can't find any confirmation of this. It should be noted that Ryan International Airlines is different than the much maligned Ryanair of Europe.
Belgrade!
Ryan International Airlines will commence summer charters from Chicago Rockford International Airport and Toronto’s Pearson Airport to Belgrade. Each service will operate once per week with a Boeing B767-300, Serbian media report.