Originally Posted by
GrayAnderson
Actually, as a serious question: How does winter service to FLL fit VX's model? I guess I stereotype FLL as being not too different from MCO (rather tourist heavy, albeit with a bias towards cruises to make up for not having Disney next door...and with MIA having most of the connecting traffic to overseas), but is that incorrect?
I was in Miami at a music launch last winter, and while I was there, I learned that there is Dec - April is one of their busiest periods. Nearly everyone I met at the event told me they were vacationing from New York or Boston. It was the first time I'd heard of this, but it seems to be a big thing.
While JFK-FLL isn't a traditional fit for Virgin America's model, it does suit a seasonal niche market very well. Simultaneously, there is reduced West Cost-NYC demand during the winter months, so VX has less yield stemming from their JFK slots. Temporarily allocating one JFK slot for FLL instead of LAX/SFO helps match capacity with demand, while also catering to a seasonal market.