Newspaper: Southwest looking at possible PIT expansion
May 11, 2015, 9:15 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: PIT, EWR
Posts: 138
Newspaper: Southwest looking at possible PIT expansion
Why would Southwest look to make PIT a focus city? Is it nearing some sort of capacity at BWI? Or does it see something special at PIT? I'm a PIT cheerleader, but hard to imagine what it likes about PIT, other than a) lots of empty gates and b) being 200 mi closer to westward destinations than BWI.
http://www.post-gazette.com/business...s/201505010162
http://www.post-gazette.com/business...s/201505010162
Dave Harvey, Southwest’s senior director of network planning, said the airline sees Pittsburgh as a potential focus city, perhaps not right away but in the future. “Without a doubt, there is upside potential to take our relationship to the next level,” he said, adding later it’s “just a matter of size and timing at this point.” ...
[Since 2005, Southwest's schedule] has jumped to 32 daily departures to 14 cities...
If Pittsburgh were to become a focus city, the airline would look to “round out” its portfolio, with service to the top 15 to 20 origin and destination markets, Mr. Harvey said. Whether Pittsburgh ever reaches that point depends on a number of factors, he noted, including the availability of equipment and local demand. The city, he said, is competing with other Southwest markets for service, and the airline will add flights in those places where it is most attractive to the bottom line.
[Since 2005, Southwest's schedule] has jumped to 32 daily departures to 14 cities...
If Pittsburgh were to become a focus city, the airline would look to “round out” its portfolio, with service to the top 15 to 20 origin and destination markets, Mr. Harvey said. Whether Pittsburgh ever reaches that point depends on a number of factors, he noted, including the availability of equipment and local demand. The city, he said, is competing with other Southwest markets for service, and the airline will add flights in those places where it is most attractive to the bottom line.
May 12, 2015, 7:24 am
#2
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 33
As someone that used to live in Pittsburgh I'm not a fan of this. I couldn't stand how far the airport was from downtown especially with traffic always being a nightmare.
Being in Columbus now (again) I'd be worried about most of Columbus' connecting flights being through PIT. I've never flown the route but I'm guessing it would be a very short, wasteful flight. I'd rather see Southwest "focus" on Columbus over Pittsburgh.
Being in Columbus now (again) I'd be worried about most of Columbus' connecting flights being through PIT. I've never flown the route but I'm guessing it would be a very short, wasteful flight. I'd rather see Southwest "focus" on Columbus over Pittsburgh.
May 12, 2015, 7:47 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: PIT, EWR
Posts: 138
May 12, 2015, 7:53 am
#4
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
PIT is simply an airfield in a good location. WN isn't looking for O&D traffic any more than US did. Literally millions of US travelers who had been to PIT 100 times and Pittsburgh never.
The value of PIT is a large field with gates, OK-ish WX and little ATC issues in the surrounding area. Also likely that WN can get an amazing deal on leases and a tax break as right now the space is simply overhead.
The value of PIT is a large field with gates, OK-ish WX and little ATC issues in the surrounding area. Also likely that WN can get an amazing deal on leases and a tax break as right now the space is simply overhead.
May 12, 2015, 9:28 am
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: PIT, EWR
Posts: 138
Good point. What would Southwest want from the airport, other than reduced fees? The airport just (lightly) renovated concourse A, which opened up a number of new gates for Southwest and United. (Not sure who paid for that.)
May 12, 2015, 3:47 pm
#8
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: CMH, West Coast
Programs: AA Executive Platinum, oneworld emerald
Posts: 2,741
As someone that used to live in Pittsburgh I'm not a fan of this. I couldn't stand how far the airport was from downtown especially with traffic always being a nightmare.
Being in Columbus now (again) I'd be worried about most of Columbus' connecting flights being through PIT. I've never flown the route but I'm guessing it would be a very short, wasteful flight. I'd rather see Southwest "focus" on Columbus over Pittsburgh.
Being in Columbus now (again) I'd be worried about most of Columbus' connecting flights being through PIT. I've never flown the route but I'm guessing it would be a very short, wasteful flight. I'd rather see Southwest "focus" on Columbus over Pittsburgh.
May 13, 2015, 7:16 pm
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Programs: AA Gold AAdvantage Elite, Rapids Reward
Posts: 38,326
May 13, 2015, 7:22 pm
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: PIT, EWR
Posts: 138
Yes and yes...and that's been hashed out many times on FT. US closed the PIT hub because a) not enough O&D, b) too close to another hub, and c) operating costs at PIT too high.
PIT doesn't have much O&D because the region's economy is too small, not because PIT is too far from downtown Pittsburgh. In fact, PIT is awfully close to a number of wealthy, fast-growing suburbs.
WN may also have challenges (a) and (b), above, at PIT. But, again, PIT's distance from downtown ain't one of them.
PIT doesn't have much O&D because the region's economy is too small, not because PIT is too far from downtown Pittsburgh. In fact, PIT is awfully close to a number of wealthy, fast-growing suburbs.
WN may also have challenges (a) and (b), above, at PIT. But, again, PIT's distance from downtown ain't one of them.
May 13, 2015, 8:13 pm
#11
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: san antonio, texas
Programs: 3.2MM AA, 1.4MM UA,StwdLftPlt
Posts: 1,586
PIT has suffered a serious decline in daily departures as US has reduced presence. I would imagine the airport would offer a sweetheart deal on landing fees, gate rentals, etc.
Jul 6, 2015, 7:52 pm
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: PIT, EWR
Posts: 138
Because speculation is fun...
If this were to come to fruition, what are the next, say, 5 destinations that get added?
Today, there's: ATL, BNA, BWI, DEN, FLL, HOU, LAS, MDW, MCO, PHX, RSW, and TPA. DAL starts next month, and PBI is seasonal.
I think MKE tops the list of possible new destinations. (OneJet is already trying it.) Maybe BDL, STL, and RDU (which AA currently fly to). MCI, JAX, CHS are all possible. SAT/AUS/MSY seem less likely but possible. Anything north and east seems unlikely...BUF/ROC/ALB/ISP/PVD/MHT/PWM. Everyone in Pittsburgh would love to see WN restart PIT-PHL, but that ship has sailed. SAN/OAK/LAX/SEA seem like long shots. So does anything international. BOS is a slam dunk but only if AA blinks and trims its service on the route.
If this were to come to fruition, what are the next, say, 5 destinations that get added?
Today, there's: ATL, BNA, BWI, DEN, FLL, HOU, LAS, MDW, MCO, PHX, RSW, and TPA. DAL starts next month, and PBI is seasonal.
I think MKE tops the list of possible new destinations. (OneJet is already trying it.) Maybe BDL, STL, and RDU (which AA currently fly to). MCI, JAX, CHS are all possible. SAT/AUS/MSY seem less likely but possible. Anything north and east seems unlikely...BUF/ROC/ALB/ISP/PVD/MHT/PWM. Everyone in Pittsburgh would love to see WN restart PIT-PHL, but that ship has sailed. SAN/OAK/LAX/SEA seem like long shots. So does anything international. BOS is a slam dunk but only if AA blinks and trims its service on the route.
Jul 6, 2015, 8:38 pm
#13
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,120
I think Southwest might need to increase frequencies on a few routes first. PIT-ATL at just 2x daily seems a little feeble against DL. AirTran used to have better frequency.
I did notice that in November, the ATL-PIT first departure moves to 8:30am which should help on ATL point of sale.
PHL-PIT restoration would be great but unlikely from WN. I think WN is too BWI focused while just wanting PHL as a spoke. Maybe DL could launch PHL-PIT. DL launched RDU-PHL after WN left the market. Fares aren't low but it provides a second choice to US. I have heard that Westinghouse and a few companies in Pittsburgh use Delta for their travel needs so I wonder how that affects WN's PIT-ATL also. It'd also be great if Frontier opened in PIT and even it flew 1x daily, the low fares would be welcome.
I don't think PIT as a WN focus is likely in general. I think PIT-BOS/LGA/DCA would also be necessary and I doubt WN would launch these flights. IND just got these three. CMH is getting DCA and BOS, and would likely be next to get LGA.
I did notice that in November, the ATL-PIT first departure moves to 8:30am which should help on ATL point of sale.
PHL-PIT restoration would be great but unlikely from WN. I think WN is too BWI focused while just wanting PHL as a spoke. Maybe DL could launch PHL-PIT. DL launched RDU-PHL after WN left the market. Fares aren't low but it provides a second choice to US. I have heard that Westinghouse and a few companies in Pittsburgh use Delta for their travel needs so I wonder how that affects WN's PIT-ATL also. It'd also be great if Frontier opened in PIT and even it flew 1x daily, the low fares would be welcome.
I don't think PIT as a WN focus is likely in general. I think PIT-BOS/LGA/DCA would also be necessary and I doubt WN would launch these flights. IND just got these three. CMH is getting DCA and BOS, and would likely be next to get LGA.
Last edited by rtalk25; Jul 6, 2015 at 8:46 pm
Jul 6, 2015, 8:54 pm
#14
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: PIT, EWR
Posts: 138
The more I think about it, I think the most likely outcome in PIT is that AA decides to drop its oddball PIT-STL, -BOS, -BDL, and -RDU routes, and WN picks up some or all of them.
And, yes, Frontier 1x/day to anywhere would be great. I vote for a late afternoon arrival and departure from/to DEN.
Jul 6, 2015, 9:52 pm
#15
Join Date: Oct 2010
Programs: My opinions are my own and not that of my employer(s)
Posts: 1,411
My experience in observing Southwest's airport selection methods is they spend a fair amount of time on metrics that might not seem important to a casual traveler. For instance, one of their chief criticisms of DFW versus DAL was the unusually long taxi time associated with DFW. 3 or 4x DAL