Feb 5, 2013, 12:06 am
Last edit by: beckoa
- WN has not proposed service to Alaska
- This thread is a theoretical discussion of WN's expansion
- Specifically its interesting to explore what WN would do
- And how AS would react
If WN entered ANC...
Feb 2, 2013, 3:06 pm
#1
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If WN entered ANC...
Which route would they pick up?
A friend of mine in Phoenix told me that an FA for WN just told her that they were coming into Alaska in under a year. Not sure how valid that is, but I doubt the FA just made it up.
Thoughts on which route they would run? Surely SEA-ANC doesn't need another carrier...
A friend of mine in Phoenix told me that an FA for WN just told her that they were coming into Alaska in under a year. Not sure how valid that is, but I doubt the FA just made it up.
Thoughts on which route they would run? Surely SEA-ANC doesn't need another carrier...
Feb 2, 2013, 4:13 pm
#2
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They might announce something in under a year, but if they come into this market they'll start in the summer, and it's pretty late in 2013 for a brand new airline to announce ANC starting in May.
As for routes, it really depends on how many flights per day they intend to have here:
1. ANC-SEA is a no-brainer. It's far and away the most O&D heavy route to/from Alaska; it's the same reason B6 saw an opportunity there.
2. Other destinations that could make sense from an O&D perspective:
2A. PDX; it's a decent O&D route and WN has a decent PDX base. However, I don't see WN starting ANC-SEA and ANC-PDX at the same time; I think AS would react accordingly and they know that.
2B. DEN; O&D goes down a bit in winter but WN offers a myriad of connecting opportunities here.
2C. OAK; as California-heavy as WN is, I think they might look at tapping into some of the Alaska-California traffic.
2D. LAS; Vegas is actually a decent market in terms of passenger numbers from ANC, and WN has a substantial operation there that can connect folks all over the southwest and south. We all know AS used to do ANC-LAS before fuel prices spiked a few years ago (and they've hinted at it again at a recent Gold event), and US also used to serve ANC-LAS before they de-hubbed Vegas.
I personally think WN's entrance to ANC is not a matter of if but when. It's the same reason B6 has dipped their toe in and hinted at going year-round...it's a high-fare market that is fairly wealthy and full of people who fly a lot. There's plenty of open gate space, too...B4 and B9 are underutilized, the upstairs portion of concourse A (where CO and others used to be) is currently mothballed and could probably be re-opened fairly easily, and of course there's the entire North Terminal.
As for routes, it really depends on how many flights per day they intend to have here:
1. ANC-SEA is a no-brainer. It's far and away the most O&D heavy route to/from Alaska; it's the same reason B6 saw an opportunity there.
2. Other destinations that could make sense from an O&D perspective:
2A. PDX; it's a decent O&D route and WN has a decent PDX base. However, I don't see WN starting ANC-SEA and ANC-PDX at the same time; I think AS would react accordingly and they know that.
2B. DEN; O&D goes down a bit in winter but WN offers a myriad of connecting opportunities here.
2C. OAK; as California-heavy as WN is, I think they might look at tapping into some of the Alaska-California traffic.
2D. LAS; Vegas is actually a decent market in terms of passenger numbers from ANC, and WN has a substantial operation there that can connect folks all over the southwest and south. We all know AS used to do ANC-LAS before fuel prices spiked a few years ago (and they've hinted at it again at a recent Gold event), and US also used to serve ANC-LAS before they de-hubbed Vegas.
I personally think WN's entrance to ANC is not a matter of if but when. It's the same reason B6 has dipped their toe in and hinted at going year-round...it's a high-fare market that is fairly wealthy and full of people who fly a lot. There's plenty of open gate space, too...B4 and B9 are underutilized, the upstairs portion of concourse A (where CO and others used to be) is currently mothballed and could probably be re-opened fairly easily, and of course there's the entire North Terminal.
Feb 2, 2013, 6:43 pm
#3
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Was curious what happened to terminal A. Remember boarding CO out of the end of it...
Was curious what happened to terminal A. Remember boarding CO out of the end of it...
Feb 2, 2013, 6:47 pm
#4
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In related news, B6 just announced the extension of their ANC-SEA service through October 15. Introductory fares for the extension are half of AS's.
Feb 2, 2013, 7:09 pm
#5
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Wow, I hadn't heard that. Good to hear and good for them, though.
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Right now it appears to be a whole lot of wasted space.
Originally Posted by jackal
In related news, B6 just announced the extension of their ANC-SEA service through October 15. Introductory fares for the extension are half of AS's.
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Originally Posted by beckoa
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Was curious what happened to terminal A. Remember boarding CO out of the end of it...
Was curious what happened to terminal A. Remember boarding CO out of the end of it...
Last edited by jackal; Feb 2, 2013 at 8:10 pm Reason: Merging consecutive posts
Feb 2, 2013, 8:09 pm
#6
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Feb 2, 2013, 10:42 pm
#7
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Which route would they pick up?
A friend of mine in Phoenix told me that an FA for WN just told her that they were coming into Alaska in under a year. Not sure how valid that is, but I doubt the FA just made it up.
Thoughts on which route they would run? Surely SEA-ANC doesn't need another carrier...
A friend of mine in Phoenix told me that an FA for WN just told her that they were coming into Alaska in under a year. Not sure how valid that is, but I doubt the FA just made it up.
Thoughts on which route they would run? Surely SEA-ANC doesn't need another carrier...
Feb 3, 2013, 12:57 am
#8
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Feb 3, 2013, 12:38 pm
#10
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2C. OAK; as California-heavy as WN is, I think they might look at tapping into some of the Alaska-California traffic.
2D. LAS; Vegas is actually a decent market in terms of passenger numbers from ANC,
I personally think WN's entrance to ANC is not a matter of if but when. .
2D. LAS; Vegas is actually a decent market in terms of passenger numbers from ANC,
I personally think WN's entrance to ANC is not a matter of if but when. .
Feb 3, 2013, 12:50 pm
#11
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Not much different than some MIA/FLL-SEA flights in the winter that hit 7+ hours.
http://flightaware.com/live/flight/A...325Z/KMIA/KSEA
http://flightaware.com/live/flight/A...325Z/KMIA/KSEA
Feb 3, 2013, 12:50 pm
#12
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Doesn't make sense, WN has very few transcon flights as it is (1x BWI-LAX daily). They focus on shorter flights and flying people point-to-point. They handle connecting passengers well enough, but it isn't really their goal. I could see ANC-SEA and ANC-LAS easily, with ANC-DEN a maybe and ANC-somewhere in California also a maybe. BWI is simply too far, MDW is probably too far as well, and there's almost no chance WN could get a 737 out of MDW to take that long of a flight during the summer heat in Chicago without major, profit killing weight restrictions.
Feb 3, 2013, 12:55 pm
#13
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LAS seems most likely although I agree on the California markets. Maybe SAN(not sure how many Alaskans go to san dieho or how many southern californians go to Alaska for a cruise), OAK, or LAX
There's not much O&D on ANC-SAN. That's a route that, if the traffic was there, AS would have probably tapped for seasonal service with their SAN push.
Originally Posted by ANC
2C. OAK; as California-heavy as WN is, I think they might look at tapping into some of the Alaska-California traffic.
2D. LAS; Vegas is actually a decent market in terms of passenger numbers from ANC,
I personally think WN's entrance to ANC is not a matter of if but when. .
2D. LAS; Vegas is actually a decent market in terms of passenger numbers from ANC,
I personally think WN's entrance to ANC is not a matter of if but when. .
Feb 3, 2013, 1:56 pm
#15
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There's not much O&D on ANC-SAN. That's a route that, if the traffic was there, AS would have probably tapped for seasonal service with their SAN push.
There's not much O&D on ANC-SAN. That's a route that, if the traffic was there, AS would have probably tapped for seasonal service with their SAN push.