DL takes over as largest service provider at BHM. More routes?
Aug 17, 2018, 6:07 am
#31
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: RDU
Programs: DL DM+(segs)/MM, UA Ag, Hilton DM, Marriott Ti (life Pt), TSA Opt-out Platinum
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For the record I wasn’t comparing SLC and BHM airports. Someone called Birmingham a small metro. I pointed out that the metros were similar in size per census data. Numbers 48 and 49 respectively.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List...tistical_areas
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List...tistical_areas
CSA population rank:
SLC #26
BHM #47
Aug 17, 2018, 6:52 am
#32
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: MEM
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Posts: 5,431
This argument is really weird, why doesn't anyone just look at O/D numbers?
Also, looking at the relative rank of MSAs/CSAs etc doesn't make any sense, it's the absolute size that matters for a discussion like this.
Anyway, I don't really understand the premise of the OP. The fact that Delta has become the largest provider at BHM doesn't obligate them to do anything additional. How much they're doing relative to other carriers is completely irrelevant when they're deciding whether new routes, upgauges, etc make sense.
Also, looking at the relative rank of MSAs/CSAs etc doesn't make any sense, it's the absolute size that matters for a discussion like this.
Anyway, I don't really understand the premise of the OP. The fact that Delta has become the largest provider at BHM doesn't obligate them to do anything additional. How much they're doing relative to other carriers is completely irrelevant when they're deciding whether new routes, upgauges, etc make sense.
Aug 17, 2018, 9:00 am
#33
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: ATL/SLC
Posts: 3,540
Birmingham - Orlando: 192
Birmingham - Dallas: 191
Birmingham - Washington DC: 170
Birmingham - New York City: 145
Birmingham - Chicago: 135
Salt Lake City - Los Angeles: 2,196
Salt Lake City - San Francisco: 1,193
Salt Lake City - New York City: 927
Salt Lake City - Phoenix: 736
Salt Lake City - Denver: 722
I expected SLC to be higher than BHM, but I didn't think it would be this much. I'm guessing the amount of traffic leaked to Atlanta is massive.
Aug 17, 2018, 12:10 pm
#37
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: BHM LEX NYC
Programs: 3MM DM, DL Reserve, HH Diamond, Nat Exec Elite, SPG, PC, etc...
Posts: 440
The original intention of my thread had nothing to do with a SLC vs BHM airport debate. I originally asked what metrics trigger more hub routes.
Many other carriers have less frequency and more routes here at BHM. All I wanted to know is if there were metrics that triggered the same for DL.
Many other carriers have less frequency and more routes here at BHM. All I wanted to know is if there were metrics that triggered the same for DL.
Aug 17, 2018, 12:29 pm
#38
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: ATL/SLC
Posts: 3,540
In DLs case, only ATL and DTW are within 700 miles. MSP is over 800 miles away, has less than half the O&D of Detroit, and none of the upper midwest markets provide any significant traffic to Birmingham (Milwaukee is the biggest at 14 passengers per day - and easily served over ATL or DTW). SLC is even worse - the same O&D level as MSP, but nearly 1500 miles away. It's hard to justify that for the eight people per day flying to Reno.
I think BHM's best bet for additional service is a handful of flights to La Guardia. I think MSP could be feasible as a summer seasonal route.