Delta has a list of focus cities, and some are surprising
Jun 4, 2019, 5:45 am
#46
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Surprised to see no mention of ORD as yet. DL plans to beef up O'Hare, especially when they move over to a newly expanded Terminal 5 in a couple of years.They are said to be building the biggest SkyClub in the system @ T5. DL will never be Chicago's #1 network carrier for obvious reasons but they want to fly a bigger flag here and a lot of the AA/UA-captive customer base wants them to do it. They're opening non-spoke routes like ORD-BOS and ORD-SEA. Even just connecting Chicago to all these other alleged "focus cities" would be huge.
Jun 4, 2019, 7:09 am
#47
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: DTW
Posts: 322
Looks like their online flight map directory is updated with BOS as a hub!
https://dl.fltmaps.com/en
Oddly enough, CVG is still listed as one as well. Won't expect to see NRT on there for long either.
https://dl.fltmaps.com/en
Oddly enough, CVG is still listed as one as well. Won't expect to see NRT on there for long either.
Jun 4, 2019, 7:20 am
#49
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Delta: “we aspire to grow our operations in this list of cities we’re focusing on.”
FlyerTalk: “those cities can’t be focus cities - they don’t have much service yet!”
This list makes total sense all around. Particularly SJC, which gives Delta some fresh real estate to grow in the Bay Area outside of the multiple constraints of SFO. But overall, this list of focus cities can also be viewed as just a list of growing cities - BNA, RDU, AUS are all growing really rapidly.
Through that lens, the odd one out is actually CVG, but that can be explained by the legacy of the former hub. And I do think there’s space there for Delta to continue to be the leading carrier in town and maybe even grow back a bit - it’s certainly fared better than STL/MEM/PIT post dehubbing, and there’s enough local business traffic to keep a modest sized operation heathy.
Of course there are other cities with tons of service, including leisure destinations like LAS and MCO. But all Delta is telling us here is that they believe service in those cities is already about right and that they don’t think more resources are required for growth there.
FlyerTalk: “those cities can’t be focus cities - they don’t have much service yet!”
This list makes total sense all around. Particularly SJC, which gives Delta some fresh real estate to grow in the Bay Area outside of the multiple constraints of SFO. But overall, this list of focus cities can also be viewed as just a list of growing cities - BNA, RDU, AUS are all growing really rapidly.
Through that lens, the odd one out is actually CVG, but that can be explained by the legacy of the former hub. And I do think there’s space there for Delta to continue to be the leading carrier in town and maybe even grow back a bit - it’s certainly fared better than STL/MEM/PIT post dehubbing, and there’s enough local business traffic to keep a modest sized operation heathy.
Of course there are other cities with tons of service, including leisure destinations like LAS and MCO. But all Delta is telling us here is that they believe service in those cities is already about right and that they don’t think more resources are required for growth there.
Jun 4, 2019, 7:20 am
#50
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 3,394
Surprised to see no mention of ORD as yet. DL plans to beef up O'Hare, especially when they move over to a newly expanded Terminal 5 in a couple of years.They are said to be building the biggest SkyClub in the system @ T5. DL will never be Chicago's #1 network carrier for obvious reasons but they want to fly a bigger flag here and a lot of the AA/UA-captive customer base wants them to do it. They're opening non-spoke routes like ORD-BOS and ORD-SEA. Even just connecting Chicago to all these other alleged "focus cities" would be huge.
Second, if it seems like DL is playing offense in ORD it makes UA/AA and just across town WN play Defense. And they probably aren't looking for or ready for that if they're also gearing up in AUS, SJC, BNA etc.
Jun 4, 2019, 7:52 am
#51
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: BNA
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Posts: 1,027
I thought focus city meant they are focusing their efforts, both marketing and operationally, to increase the business they have in those cities. I am really not understanding all the posts saying it can't be a focus city because of X and Y.
Jun 4, 2019, 8:11 am
#52
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The reality is that neither AUS (10 destinations N/S) or BNA (12) have any destinations served by DL that aren't already DL hubs or other DL focus cities. By that rationale, there are a lot more "focus cities" out there... IND with an Int'l flight and 13 destinations (at least one is 1x weekly), should certainly be one of them.
SJC isn't even worth a discussion in the DL network right now. But if calling it a focus city gets an RDU-SJC non-stop, I'm all for it! Heck, call it a hub!
Jun 4, 2019, 8:58 am
#53
Join Date: May 2009
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The reality is that neither AUS (10 destinations N/S) or BNA (12) have any destinations served by DL that aren't already DL hubs or other DL focus cities. By that rationale, there are a lot more "focus cities" out there... IND with an Int'l flight and 13 destinations (at least one is 1x weekly), should certainly be one of them.
I think it’s worth reiterating this is just an internal label. Once upon a time, the “focus city” designation mattered because it determined cities where connections were permitted in routing rules in fares. But now, DL almost always publishes specific constructed routes, and those lists of cities don't match the designations anymore. (For example, LAS sometimes shows up as a permitted connecting city, but AUS and RDU rarely seem to.)
Jun 4, 2019, 9:34 am
#54
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I think part of the reason that SJC is seeing so much domestic seat growth is the upgauges of RJs to the A220, especially on SEA/SLC-SJC. This will be the first year DL operates mainline on SEA-SJC. Highly doubt that they're looking to launch international flights out of SJC like what some Anetters are saying.
CVG should always have a special place in DL's network given its former hub status and large FF base.
CVG should always have a special place in DL's network given its former hub status and large FF base.
Jun 4, 2019, 9:49 am
#55
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 3,394
Exactly. DL is pretty much choosing every growing area (and/or tech city) and calling them focus cities. I think it's more to get free press than anything else. It remains to be see what they actually do. With the current economic climate, things are dicey to say the least.
The reality is that neither AUS (10 destinations N/S) or BNA (12) have any destinations served by DL that aren't already DL hubs or other DL focus cities. By that rationale, there are a lot more "focus cities" out there... IND with an Int'l flight and 13 destinations (at least one is 1x weekly), should certainly be one of them.
SJC isn't even worth a discussion in the DL network right now. But if calling it a focus city gets an RDU-SJC non-stop, I'm all for it! Heck, call it a hub!
The reality is that neither AUS (10 destinations N/S) or BNA (12) have any destinations served by DL that aren't already DL hubs or other DL focus cities. By that rationale, there are a lot more "focus cities" out there... IND with an Int'l flight and 13 destinations (at least one is 1x weekly), should certainly be one of them.
SJC isn't even worth a discussion in the DL network right now. But if calling it a focus city gets an RDU-SJC non-stop, I'm all for it! Heck, call it a hub!
Jun 4, 2019, 9:55 am
#56
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Jun 4, 2019, 9:57 am
#57
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Is that right? I thought SJC got a bunch of the 717 traffic when those were out west... the SJC-LAS flight has always been a bit of a headscratcher to me but I guess this would explain it, somewhat.
Jun 4, 2019, 9:58 am
#58
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Jun 4, 2019, 10:09 am
#59
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I can't see them expanding to cities based on a cities tech sector. My megacorp is using technology in an attempt to eliminate as much travel as possible and we are a technology company. I believe more and more companies are doing the same thing. My boss has been telling me for over a year that he is trying to eliminate my travel as much as possible. My days as a DM are probably numbered.
Jun 4, 2019, 10:10 am
#60
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I wish DL would actually focus on ATL but thats just me....
(disclaimer: obviously I know ATL is the global HQ etc my point is I wish DL would FOCUS on all the issues/failures with DL at ATL instead of focusing on where they can build out next. In other words sometimes you grow too quickly and need to focus on what made you successful to begin with)
(disclaimer: obviously I know ATL is the global HQ etc my point is I wish DL would FOCUS on all the issues/failures with DL at ATL instead of focusing on where they can build out next. In other words sometimes you grow too quickly and need to focus on what made you successful to begin with)