SMF777

What are the stats like on the JFK-SMF-JFK service? Are the flights performing well??

ISP

SMF has far exceeded everyone's expectations.

For the week ended today (8/18), JFK-SMF ran at an incredible 98.4% load factor, while SMF-JFK ran at 92.3%

SMF777

That is incredible. I am sure that Delta Airlines is regretting not entering the SMF-JFK market when they advertised it in 2001-2002?

ISP

I guess so!

It is my feeling that B6 initially entered this market to try and please the California politicians (hopefully get more LGB slots), but I think it has turned out to be quite a revenue generating route.

ISP

I also hear that AA is limiting the amount of non-rev reservations they will take out of SMF because they also are running in the upper 90% LF range.

L Dude 7

Is AA flying a SMF-NYC route now?
If loads are so high, they may try extending the SMF-ORD through the year.

SMF777

SMF-ORD
2 X MD-80
Summer Seasonal

SMF-JFK : No

channa

Very interesting. CO SMF-EWR-SMF has been lighter.

CO's service ends 9/7. So I wonder if that means some spillover to JetBlue.

SkaterJasp

I think jetBlue already had a following in the Sacramento area plus those in the east bay. I talked to many travelers from Sacramento and even in my little college town of Chico where people, especially me and my professors, would drive to Oakland just to fly jetBlue across the country to New York or DC. The drive from Chico to Oakland is about 3 to 4 hours (depending on traffic) and drive from Chico to Sacramento is always 90 minutes (unless if theres a huge accident). In addition, I think there are people who live between Oakland and Sacramento where they already flying out of Oakland but switch to SMF as soon as they heard jetBlue is flying out of SMF to avoid the traffic to OAK. Those that live in contra costa county know how bad traffic gets right before the tunnels and on the freeway to the airport. Than there are those that heard so many good things about jetBlue that by the time jetBlue rolled into town, everyone knows about them. Who knows, maybe their even drawing people from Reno too hehe. Reno is only about 2hrs away.

SMF777

Jet Blue is at or around 95%.... Any overflow will go to alternate airlines!