DL is now Official Gone from TOL
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: DTW
Programs: DL - PM, (NW - Plat), AA - Gold, Marriott - Plat, Avis - First
Posts: 955
DL is now Official Gone from TOL
The writing has been on the wall for awhile now, effective March 13, 2011, DL is pulling out of TOL.
It is cutting the 1 lone remaining flight to MSP.
http://www.wtol.com/Global/story.asp?S=14077677
It is cutting the 1 lone remaining flight to MSP.
http://www.wtol.com/Global/story.asp?S=14077677
#2
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: SJC/SFO/OAK
Programs: DL PM, SW, Hilton, , UAL PM, AA Gold-skeptic
Posts: 1,632
The writing has been on the wall for awhile now, effective March 13, 2011, DL is pulling out of TOL.
It is cutting the 1 lone remaining flight to MSP.
http://www.wtol.com/Global/story.asp?S=14077677
It is cutting the 1 lone remaining flight to MSP.
http://www.wtol.com/Global/story.asp?S=14077677
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: DTW
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FNT has much better prospects for several reasons and still continues to do well despite some challenges in the local/state/regional/national economy.
1) Larger catchment area
FNT pulls people in from the Northern suburbs of Detroit, greater Flint area, Port Huron/Sarnia, poaches passengers from LAN & MBS, plus even gets people that drive down from Northern Michigan in search of lower fares
2) Farther away from DTW
TOL was simply too close to DTW, an generally relatively easy, all-interstate drive between the two. For most people it is a 40-60 drive to the plethora of nonstop at competitive prices out of DTW versus a nearly mandatory connection out of TOL. FNT is farther and the drive can be more congestion prone. The fact that one can get to other hubsites is huge
3) Better marketing.
FNT has a very progressive airport administration, the same can't be said for TOL
1) Larger catchment area
FNT pulls people in from the Northern suburbs of Detroit, greater Flint area, Port Huron/Sarnia, poaches passengers from LAN & MBS, plus even gets people that drive down from Northern Michigan in search of lower fares
2) Farther away from DTW
TOL was simply too close to DTW, an generally relatively easy, all-interstate drive between the two. For most people it is a 40-60 drive to the plethora of nonstop at competitive prices out of DTW versus a nearly mandatory connection out of TOL. FNT is farther and the drive can be more congestion prone. The fact that one can get to other hubsites is huge
3) Better marketing.
FNT has a very progressive airport administration, the same can't be said for TOL
#6
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: CLE
Programs: UA,WN,AA,DL, B6
Posts: 4,168
This is not exactly a good comparison because of population differences but FLL and MIA airports are only 25 miles apart and FLL has over the past 30 years expanded with alot of new service with new airlines. So why can't TOL have some service at least to the hubs. DL had served ATL from TOL at one time.
#7
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: MSP
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Posts: 728
This is not exactly a good comparison because of population differences but FLL and MIA airports are only 25 miles apart and FLL has over the past 30 years expanded with alot of new service with new airlines. So why can't TOL have some service at least to the hubs. DL had served ATL from TOL at one time.
#8
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Nashville
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Posts: 6,187
This is not exactly a good comparison because of population differences but FLL and MIA airports are only 25 miles apart and FLL has over the past 30 years expanded with alot of new service with new airlines. So why can't TOL have some service at least to the hubs. DL had served ATL from TOL at one time.
#9
Moderator: Coupon Connection & S.P.A.M
Join Date: May 2000
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So I guess American Airlines is now the official airline of the Toledo Mud Hens?
#12
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2) Farther away from DTW
TOL was simply too close to DTW, an generally relatively easy, all-interstate drive between the two. For most people it is a 40-60 drive to the plethora of nonstop at competitive prices out of DTW versus a nearly mandatory connection out of TOL. FNT is farther and the drive can be more congestion prone. The fact that one can get to other hubsites is huge
TOL was simply too close to DTW, an generally relatively easy, all-interstate drive between the two. For most people it is a 40-60 drive to the plethora of nonstop at competitive prices out of DTW versus a nearly mandatory connection out of TOL. FNT is farther and the drive can be more congestion prone. The fact that one can get to other hubsites is huge
Yes, it's nice that FNT has service to other destinations but that's an outcome, not a cause.
#13
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#14
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Cincinnati
Programs: DL Silver
Posts: 110
Also, given that location, there is really NO portion of Michigan that is better served (in terms of transit time to airport) by TOL vs. DTW.
Meanwhile, FNT is a SERIOUS competitor (in terms of ease of access to the airport) for a significant portion of metro Detroit (anything north of M-59; despite Metro Detroit's general malaise, these areas are growing).
#15
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: ATL
Posts: 406
Switching to MSP was a last ditch effort to make things work. But DOT data shows that in November (first month of the nonstop to MSP) the load factor was just 36%. Thats not very good economics for a 500+ mi RJ route.
Amazingly, the peak of service for TOL in the last decade was 2003 when TOL had: AA(ORD), CO (CLE), DL (ATL,CVG), NW (DTW), TZ (MDW) and US (PIT). Amazing how the airline industry changes in less than 10 years.
Amazingly, the peak of service for TOL in the last decade was 2003 when TOL had: AA(ORD), CO (CLE), DL (ATL,CVG), NW (DTW), TZ (MDW) and US (PIT). Amazing how the airline industry changes in less than 10 years.