History of Delta operations at DCA?
Mar 17, 2018, 11:56 am
#31
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https://web.archive.org/web/20000815...able/sked2.pdf
https://web.archive.org/web/20010701...able/sked2.pdf
Mar 17, 2018, 1:34 pm
#32
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There are varying opportunity costs involved to go looking for old printed material.
Mar 17, 2018, 2:05 pm
#33
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Mar 17, 2018, 4:24 pm
#34
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Mar 17, 2018, 7:35 pm
#35
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History of the Hangars:
https://ggwash.org/view/62960/buildi...tional-airport
Some pictures of the food court:
http://www.kernsgroup.com/portfolio/shop-3
Last edited by Jet Doctor; Mar 17, 2018 at 8:27 pm
Mar 17, 2018, 8:21 pm
#36
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My first flight on Delta was in 1981, DCA-ATL-MSY, which was a direct flight; we didn’t get off the plane in Atlanta. The plane was a 727-200.In those days, Delta was located in the now demolished North Terminal. The major tenant there was Piedmont; Delta was in a gatehouse accessed by stairs, which they shared with PanAm, National (those two merged around 1983) and Braniff.
I joined the Delta Frequent Flyer program in 1984.At that time, Delta flew from DCA principally to ATL, BOS and MEM, where their flights to DFW had to land due to the interpretation of the 750 mile rule in place then. I remember being on a direct flight DCA-BOS-YUL in the 1980s. They may well have had a non-stop to MSY then.
For me, the most interesting feature of the old North Terminal was Delta’s VIP room, which was as close to a speakeasy as I’ve ever attended. It was on the right side of the corridor as you headed out to the gate; it was behind an unmarked door; you either had to know the right door to knock on, or get a Red Coat who knew you to get you in. Liquor bottles were self-serve, sitting on a counter; the beer and white wine were in either ice buckets or a refrigerator. The Virginia ABC changed their regulations to prohibit self-service liquor at airline clubs circa 2006.
They added MCO at the end of the 80s when DL became the official airline of Walt Disney World and their new airside midfield concourse (together with a second N-S runway) opened at MCO.
When Delta was developing their hub at CVG, they didn’t initially have a CVG-DCA route; I think that started in the early 90s, when they pulled out of the DCA-MEM route. Delta started flying the former PanAm shuttle possibly in 1991.
The new “Interim Terminal”, which was created in a former hangar north of the North Terminal, opened in 1991. This was the location of the first proper Crown Room at DCA. When Delta moved over there they were flying 757s to DFW.
The terminal where Delta is located now opened circa 1997.
They acquired NW in 2008-09, and that is when they started flying to DTW and MSP and resumed the MEM route. Some of the RJ routes, such as GRR, MSN and DSM, they inherited from NW. I think they also flew to MCT for a little while. I think the only RJ route they added was LEX, and there were political considerations in that route. They swapped their RJ slots to AA for some of US Air’s excess capacity at LGA; they ended their really nice DCA-BOS shuttle as a result.
Delta started flying from IAD to SLC in 1987 when they bought Western Airlines. I’m not sure when they moved this route from IAD to DCA.
I joined the Delta Frequent Flyer program in 1984.At that time, Delta flew from DCA principally to ATL, BOS and MEM, where their flights to DFW had to land due to the interpretation of the 750 mile rule in place then. I remember being on a direct flight DCA-BOS-YUL in the 1980s. They may well have had a non-stop to MSY then.
For me, the most interesting feature of the old North Terminal was Delta’s VIP room, which was as close to a speakeasy as I’ve ever attended. It was on the right side of the corridor as you headed out to the gate; it was behind an unmarked door; you either had to know the right door to knock on, or get a Red Coat who knew you to get you in. Liquor bottles were self-serve, sitting on a counter; the beer and white wine were in either ice buckets or a refrigerator. The Virginia ABC changed their regulations to prohibit self-service liquor at airline clubs circa 2006.
They added MCO at the end of the 80s when DL became the official airline of Walt Disney World and their new airside midfield concourse (together with a second N-S runway) opened at MCO.
When Delta was developing their hub at CVG, they didn’t initially have a CVG-DCA route; I think that started in the early 90s, when they pulled out of the DCA-MEM route. Delta started flying the former PanAm shuttle possibly in 1991.
The new “Interim Terminal”, which was created in a former hangar north of the North Terminal, opened in 1991. This was the location of the first proper Crown Room at DCA. When Delta moved over there they were flying 757s to DFW.
The terminal where Delta is located now opened circa 1997.
They acquired NW in 2008-09, and that is when they started flying to DTW and MSP and resumed the MEM route. Some of the RJ routes, such as GRR, MSN and DSM, they inherited from NW. I think they also flew to MCT for a little while. I think the only RJ route they added was LEX, and there were political considerations in that route. They swapped their RJ slots to AA for some of US Air’s excess capacity at LGA; they ended their really nice DCA-BOS shuttle as a result.
Delta started flying from IAD to SLC in 1987 when they bought Western Airlines. I’m not sure when they moved this route from IAD to DCA.
Mar 18, 2018, 12:34 am
#37
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Rand lives in Bowling Green, I don't know exactly what side of BG he lives in but BNA is over an hour closer by driving(1:30 vs 2:30)
Frankfort is the capital of Kentucky, however it is closer to Lexington than Louisville.
AUS would strike me as the top candidate, although SEA as mentioned up thread also makes a lot of sense.
AUS would strike me as the top candidate, although SEA as mentioned up thread also makes a lot of sense.
Mar 18, 2018, 4:20 am
#38
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I find it interesting that articles still mention the terms "commuter flights" or "commuter terminal". Those largely don't exist anymore. A regional jet is not a commuter aircraft and that's what the new terminal at DCA is designed for. A flight on American Eagle on a regional jet from DCA-JAX is not a commuter flight.
About the only examples of commuter airlines left in the US are PenAir, Cape Air, and Mokulele. And I suppose Janet should you be fortunate enough to have such a security clearance.
About the only examples of commuter airlines left in the US are PenAir, Cape Air, and Mokulele. And I suppose Janet should you be fortunate enough to have such a security clearance.
Mar 18, 2018, 4:28 am
#39
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I find it interesting that articles still mention the terms "commuter flights" or "commuter terminal". Those largely don't exist anymore. A regional jet is not a commuter aircraft and that's what the new terminal at DCA is designed for. A flight on American Eagle on a regional jet from DCA-JAX is not a commuter flight.
About the only examples of commuter airlines left in the US are PenAir, Cape Air, and Mokulele. And I suppose Janet should you be fortunate enough to have such a security clearance.
About the only examples of commuter airlines left in the US are PenAir, Cape Air, and Mokulele. And I suppose Janet should you be fortunate enough to have such a security clearance.
If you think the terms are different, please elaborate why. I only know them from general use, which I'm happy to say could be technically incorrect.
Mar 18, 2018, 4:42 am
#40
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Word definitions can be controversial but in general, 'commuter' and 'regional' seem to be interchangeable, and mean a short flight (less than 750 miles?) on an aircraft with less than 100 seats.
If you think the terms are different, please elaborate why. I only know them from general use, which I'm happy to say could be technically incorrect.
If you think the terms are different, please elaborate why. I only know them from general use, which I'm happy to say could be technically incorrect.
1. One that travels regularly from one place to another, as from suburb to city and back.
2. An airplane or airline that carries passengers relatively short distances and often serves remote communities and small airports
The OAG also defined commuter flights as being under 100 miles. That certainly doesn't apply to most regional jets. Regional airline is also a silly name as they are used on some very long flights such as IAH-Canada. Some flights can last nearly four hours. Just refer to them as the cheaper contract carrier. That would be far more accurate.
Mar 18, 2018, 4:48 am
#41
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I know people that regularly commute on planes with distances well over 100 miles. In fact the difference in commute time is not very significant from 100-500 miles IMO, because the flight bit is the quickest part of it all.
Mar 18, 2018, 4:57 am
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Mar 18, 2018, 6:50 am
#43
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Because you insist on using a narrow, convoluted definition of the word that nobody else uses? OK.
Mar 18, 2018, 9:07 am
#45
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AUS on the other hand is only competing against WN. There's definitely room for a legacy to enter (a CS100 could be perfect).
Last edited by KDCAflyer; Mar 18, 2018 at 9:20 am