CLE Cuts Already...
Apr 15, 2008 | 6:59 pm
#1
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CLE Cuts Already...
A sign of what's to come?
Continental's new flights between Kalamazoo and Cleveland called off
by Alex Nixon | Kalamazoo Gazette
Tuesday April 15, 2008, 5:35 PM
KALAMAZOO -- An airline has pulled out of Kalamazoo before ever taking off.
Continental Airlines was to begin flying three daily flights between Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport and its hub at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport in June.
But the nation's fifth largest airline grounded the planned service due to high fuel costs, Cliff Moshoginis, director of the Kalamazoo airport, said today.
"It's tough right now," Moshoginis said. "Many airlines are reluctant to grow their capacity because of fuel costs."
Continental had announced in September it was growing its capacity at Cleveland Hopkins by adding 50 new flights, including the Kalamazoo service.
In a prepared statement, Continental spokeswoman Mary Clark said, "Market conditions have changed since September 2007 when we announced our intention to serve Kalamazoo. The dramatic increase in the cost of fuel fundamentally changes the economics of this route."
Continental is contacting passengers who purchased tickets for the flights and is offering refunds.
The announcement comes on the heels of a $3.1 billion merger agreement between Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines that would create the nation's largest air carrier.
Both carriers fly out of Kalamazoo and Moshoginis said it's too early to know what, if any, affect a merger would have on service here.
"Both those airlines combined take up 61 percent of our capacity," he said.
http://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/...mazoo_fli.html
by Alex Nixon | Kalamazoo Gazette
Tuesday April 15, 2008, 5:35 PM
KALAMAZOO -- An airline has pulled out of Kalamazoo before ever taking off.
Continental Airlines was to begin flying three daily flights between Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport and its hub at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport in June.
But the nation's fifth largest airline grounded the planned service due to high fuel costs, Cliff Moshoginis, director of the Kalamazoo airport, said today.
"It's tough right now," Moshoginis said. "Many airlines are reluctant to grow their capacity because of fuel costs."
Continental had announced in September it was growing its capacity at Cleveland Hopkins by adding 50 new flights, including the Kalamazoo service.
In a prepared statement, Continental spokeswoman Mary Clark said, "Market conditions have changed since September 2007 when we announced our intention to serve Kalamazoo. The dramatic increase in the cost of fuel fundamentally changes the economics of this route."
Continental is contacting passengers who purchased tickets for the flights and is offering refunds.
The announcement comes on the heels of a $3.1 billion merger agreement between Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines that would create the nation's largest air carrier.
Both carriers fly out of Kalamazoo and Moshoginis said it's too early to know what, if any, affect a merger would have on service here.
"Both those airlines combined take up 61 percent of our capacity," he said.
http://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/...mazoo_fli.html
Apr 15, 2008 | 7:15 pm
#2
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 3,540
Fuel is expensive. I'm not sure what you mean by 'already'. Are you suggesting that the CLE cuts are due to possible reorganization of Continental?
Apr 15, 2008 | 7:23 pm
#3
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: CLE
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Will CO cut major destinations?
My flight is rather full from CLE to LAS. Now I am worried they may cut these flights as well....what is going on here?
Can the CO Insider reassure me please?
Can the CO Insider reassure me please?
Apr 15, 2008 | 7:26 pm
#4
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That being said I don't seen them taking a LAS off from CLE.
Apr 15, 2008 | 7:30 pm
#5
Join Date: Feb 2008
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I hope not
This vacation means a whole lot to my dear daughter. We are meeting up with friends we have not seen in a couple of years. Plus, I need a little r&r from my most stressful job. (I'm a social worker, need I say more?)
I just wish I had miles or $$$ to fly BF.
I just wish I had miles or $$$ to fly BF.
Apr 15, 2008 | 7:42 pm
#6
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I thought you were joking in your previous post!You really don't need to be worrying about that sort of problem right now
Apr 15, 2008 | 7:53 pm
#7
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: CLE
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I know, I just worry about stupid stuff...
With all the other stuff that went on, like AA and their MD80's, I just wondered. I have flown on the mad dogs in the past, very past.
I don't see the cost of oil coming down in the future. I paid $3.22/gal this past weekend, well I won 2 $50.00 BP gas cards in a drawing. Some say I am a lucky person, I'm always winning something, but luck does have its endings. I just want to have a happy holiday.
I know gas/petrol is very high everywhere, especially across the pond. Many cities/countries have excellent public transport as well. In my city I take a commuter bus to work. It is about 60 miles r/t to work from where I live and the bus helps. heck, I get to nap. This will change soon as I will be manning a satellite office where I will have to drive, but only 2-3 days a week. Not to get too off topic but the government needs to do something as the costs of everything are out of control, as my population I serve are the poorest of the poor.
I don't see the cost of oil coming down in the future. I paid $3.22/gal this past weekend, well I won 2 $50.00 BP gas cards in a drawing. Some say I am a lucky person, I'm always winning something, but luck does have its endings. I just want to have a happy holiday.
I know gas/petrol is very high everywhere, especially across the pond. Many cities/countries have excellent public transport as well. In my city I take a commuter bus to work. It is about 60 miles r/t to work from where I live and the bus helps. heck, I get to nap. This will change soon as I will be manning a satellite office where I will have to drive, but only 2-3 days a week. Not to get too off topic but the government needs to do something as the costs of everything are out of control, as my population I serve are the poorest of the poor.
Apr 15, 2008 | 8:22 pm
#8
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Any cut any airline wants to make for any reason can now be blamed on fuel costs...it's the new 'delayed due to weather' 
Apr 15, 2008 | 8:36 pm
#9
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Dear Cleveland,
Give us a call, we can let you know what to expect. It happened to us a few years ago.
Love,
Pittsburgh
Give us a call, we can let you know what to expect. It happened to us a few years ago.
Love,
Pittsburgh
Apr 15, 2008 | 8:46 pm
#10
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: CLE
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These cuts were implemented well before the announcement last evening and, from what I understand, did not have enough support to justify the cost of a "new" station and service. This reporter selectively decided to link the two events though I believe the press release was issued last week.
And, as a reminder, CO Insider may be restricted from forward looking comments due to securities regulations.
Let's be positive folks until we have a reason to be negative.
And, as a reminder, CO Insider may be restricted from forward looking comments due to securities regulations.
Let's be positive folks until we have a reason to be negative.
Apr 15, 2008 | 8:58 pm
#11
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This has been discussed here: CO - $50 Million Expansion at CLE [threads merged]
I think the title of this thread is very misleading and will start a lot of CLE bashing.
Why would this be a reflection on CLE instead of overall poor sales from from this destination to CLE.
Why should CO start service only to have to drop it later. Continental cannot be the first and I'm sure wont be the last to plan for something like this then change based on actual sales.
In this day and age, no airline can go ahead with service if it's bad. I'm sure if bad sales were to either EWR or IAH I'm sure CO would cancel service to/from this destination as well.
I think the title of this thread is very misleading and will start a lot of CLE bashing.
Why would this be a reflection on CLE instead of overall poor sales from from this destination to CLE.
Why should CO start service only to have to drop it later. Continental cannot be the first and I'm sure wont be the last to plan for something like this then change based on actual sales.
In this day and age, no airline can go ahead with service if it's bad. I'm sure if bad sales were to either EWR or IAH I'm sure CO would cancel service to/from this destination as well.
Apr 15, 2008 | 8:59 pm
#12
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These cuts were implemented well before the announcement last evening and, from what I understand, did not have enough support to justify the cost of a "new" station and service. This reporter selectively decided to link the two events though I believe the press release was issued last week.
And, as a reminder, CO Insider may be restricted from forward looking comments due to securities regulations.
Let's be positive folks until we have a reason to be negative.
And, as a reminder, CO Insider may be restricted from forward looking comments due to securities regulations.
Let's be positive folks until we have a reason to be negative.
Apr 15, 2008 | 9:39 pm
#13
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Heck, just remember Islip. Those flights actually had reasonable numbers of passengers and the station was up and running with both CO express and CO connection flights, but the routes still failed.
Apr 15, 2008 | 10:07 pm
#14
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The title of this thread can be 'Michigan Cuts..."
Apr 15, 2008 | 10:08 pm
#15
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They just started OMA-CLE recently and the flights seem to be doing fine. Why they scheduled 3x daily only to pull it completely before it even flew is indicative of a lack of demand. I wonder if they ever considered trying 1x when they saw the demand wasn't there. Also don't know what the fare may have been like.
I was shaking my head 4/10 when two ERJs departed OMA for IAH, first one at 1441, mine at 1505. Both flights pretty full, why not make this jet service? 1441 allowed nice connection to PHX while later flight had me sitting there for 3.5 hours. Of course I don't know how AA mess contributed to the situation. I just continue to remain amazed at how they think people actually enjoy sitting in that little tube for 800 miles!
If you are already ticketed then the only thing you would lose is the non-stop. Getting from CLE to LAS with a connection would be the solution at that point.
I was shaking my head 4/10 when two ERJs departed OMA for IAH, first one at 1441, mine at 1505. Both flights pretty full, why not make this jet service? 1441 allowed nice connection to PHX while later flight had me sitting there for 3.5 hours. Of course I don't know how AA mess contributed to the situation. I just continue to remain amazed at how they think people actually enjoy sitting in that little tube for 800 miles!
If you are already ticketed then the only thing you would lose is the non-stop. Getting from CLE to LAS with a connection would be the solution at that point.