steex

NK has agreed to sell its limited DCA slot portfolio (four slots, two pairs) to WN, which has the intention of starting double daily STL-DCA service pending DOT approval to "slide" the slots to commercially viable times. A brief summary of WN's application for exemption can be found here:

http://airlineinfo.com/Sites/DailyAirline/web-content/ost14/ost070312.html#southwest7312

Good news for STL, WN continues to grow in business markets.

N830MH

Obviously, NK will move to BWI by replace of DCA-FLL. It will freeing up the slots for WN to need more room.

ElmhurstNick

If the timing is right, MDW-STL-DCA even with a plane change would be almost as fast for me than driving up to ORD and dealing with hassles of parking in a remote lot and flying UA ORD-DCA with no status.

MrMan

My gut DAL - STL - DCA

N830MH

I think HOU-STL-DCA. That's my guess.

rtalk25

I wonder if NK will expand significantly from BWI since BWI will be the airport for the Wash DC-Baltimore presence with DFW and FLL service now announced. In Philadelphia market not too far north, service that ACY has includes: RSW, TPA, MCO, FLL, MYR year-round daily. Unlike DCA with slot issues, that could be attempted at BWI. MYR would be a nice offering since WN doesn't offer it, although offers service to CHS 2 hours away.
The Washington-Baltimore market is bigger than the Philadelphia market which has US, WN and NK (at ACY) all offering Florida service.

While there is benefit to buy out the slots from NK, NK at BWI could be a thorn for WN's ops at BWI. But likely not soon or all that significant. I suppose in 2014, WN will launch BWI-DAL to get the customers who may switch to NK for BWI-DFW, from flying WN with a 1-stop, now back to WN on a nonstop.

I figured it would be B6 that would offer the competition at BWI (after FL dissolves), but now it appears that it's more likely to be NK.