rtalk25

I was thinking that when the merger happens: not all AirTran customers will want to fly Southwest in Atlanta. In the "chaos" of change, it maybe an opportune time for new entrants.

Ok, so what if JetBlue started in ATL but took a modest approach.

Maybe rather than ATL-LGB or ATL-OAK which was tried before, (that have a high stage length of 2000+ miles),

1. JetBlue operates ATL-AUS (shorter stage length), where in AUS pax can connect to SFO or LGB. DL competition at AUS, but manageable, and JetBlue could compete for business traffic between Austin and Atlanta. FL doesn't fly into AUS, so FL doesn't offer AUS-ATL. WN could start that route. But WN will be busy at the bigger city airports, so more service at AUS likely wouldn't be priority.

2. Offer ATL-JFK. DL competition, but no WN competition. 1 competitor manageable, and at JFK, offer connections to the upstate NY cities, Pittsburgh and other NE cities that are viable, and other markets.

ATL-BOS would make sense, but with WN and DL, it might be saturating the market and might be ultra competitive. Perhaps safer to stick with ATL-JFK rather than both ATL-JFK and ATL-BOS.

Another one I was thinking is ATL-ACY. I think WN will dump ACY, even though FL's ATL-ACY 2 flights work. But it doesn't fit WN's 8x flight a day from every city model. However, JetBlue could operate fewer flights, as they do in smaller markets, and ACY could serve as Philly/Central NJ outpost. Offer connections to BOS as well.

So, ATL could have about 3 or so cities. Not large enough that DL or WN would bother to outroot them, but just another carrier in the market.

Would JetBlue be able get a couple or so gates back in ATL? If Spirit can find a way in ATL, AirTran did at CLT, although small presences, I'd hope JetBlue could squeeze back in ATL.

JetBlueFA

Yes

N830MH

Apparentally not! They won't let do that in ATL for quite long time. Because it was so tougher competitive against DL & FL. That's why the fares is getting too expensive for that. It was trying to fought the wars fares. B6 couldn't have a supports in ATL for more than 6 months.

However, I can't guaranteed you to do that. Unless WN will be coming into ATL. It will have more toughest competitive against FL&WN will very expensive tickets. I cannot allow JetBlue to bring into ATL until if they will ever try to comeback in ATL. I can't personally why B6 has already pulled out of ATL completely. I can't have to take the advantage of B6 will be reinstating back in ATL.

Seat13c

It might work. Heck, B6 is picking up BOS-EWR. That's something I would have never thought would have happened. The ATL-AUS/JFK/BOS/SJU might be doable. ATL does have a larger population with a decent professional base. A little DL competetion and WN turf war would be an interesting thing to watch.

Now if WN does pull the plug on ACY, I could see B6 picking that right up with 1X to BOS/MCO/FLL with an E190. But it is totally dependant on WN's move (IMHO). Does anyone know if FL had a subsidy agreement with the city or casino's binding them to operate there during a certain time frame?

N830MH

Do you agree with me? I think B6 will coming back into ATL. If they will ever to reinstated anytime soon. There is one condition problems due to leaks DL/FL has more tougher competitions against those routes and isn't on the profitability routes out of ATL. I can't supports B6 is back in ATL unless if they will decide to subject city of Atlanta will be approvals. I can't have a disadvantaged of those two. ATL isn't very popular cities.

Dieuwer

BOS-DTW makes more sense. No low cost airline.

N830MH

No, there is no service to DTW yet. You will wait to see sometimes in the future. If they will have enough aircraft availability.

Seat13c

With FL operating at DTW, BOW-DTW becomes a much more likely option with WN after the merger happens.

Dieuwer

AirTran does not operate DTW-BOS. Only operates DTW-ATL and DTW-MCO.

N830MH

Yes, there is correct. I believe FL does still existed DTW-MCO/ATL and no one anything else.

Seat13c

Never said they did. It just becomes a bigger possibility that FL will after they become a part of (and swallowed up by) by WN.

JBLU421NYC

This is a possibility because on WN you usually have to connect anyway so a connection or two would put people at DTW on WN if they keep DTW. I would love B6 to go there but I am sure they will be trying to get into markets that are less risky, although EWR-BOS like was said earlier in this thread was a surprise, so who knows! ATL or DTW

Seat13c

One thing I've learned is that you should never say never... It always has a way of coming back and bitting you in your a$$ when you do. However, some things are just not likely.

Just remember, 600 years ago the world was flate,150 years ago people said man could not fly, and 5 weeks I would have told you that B6 would never do EWR-BOS unless CO (now UA) would down grade EWR.

Hope it works for B6's sake.

rtalk25

I think the NK ACY-BOS, the upcoming ACY-ORD, and FL's ACY-ATL are subsidized by the ACY Air Service Expansion Coalition, which has casinos as members.

I'm not sure about NK's other routes out of ACY though.

http://www.sjta.com/acairport/news_i...nID=20&ID=1657

I also read in the Press of Atlantic City (Sep. 27th) that AirTran is receiving some subsidy at ACY.

If WN drops ACY b/c the subsidy isn't worth it - unless B6 steps up, NK unfortunately would likely be the one to pick up ACY-ATL, and it'd probably just be 1 flight rather than 2. I think Spirit did fly ACY-ATL for a short period, but after Delta left but before AirTran came to ACY.

AADC10

Anything is possible but B6 would still be in a difficult position, with limited flights and gates. WN bought their way in so they have enough gates and routes to prevent DL from crushing them. DL used predatory pricing where they lowered fares on routes where they compete with B6 to loss levels to squeeze them until they gave up. Then they raised fares back up. This has been a common practice at fortress hubs and there have never been any charges by the Justice Department, even though it is illegal, probably because it is so difficult to prove in court.

Of course DL is not as dependent on ATL as they used to be but they will still do anything within reason to protect their fortress.