FlyerTalk Forums - Vx To Miami???

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Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeyZBT (Post 9211046)

Why would you want a niche out of the SEA/Alaska market? The population center up there is so small it doesn't make sense. Seattle is just about the same size as San Diego and has no nearby medium-large cities to connect to. LA and SF are MUCH larger areas with MUCH larger population bases.

If VX is going to look for a secondary market on the west coast, San Diego would offer the benefit of closer connection cities (LAX, TUS, PHX, LAX, etc.) and also with better weather in SAN vs. SEA, you will have less delays.

So your saying San Diego is the place to go because of better weather & shorter distances?! Shorter distances are bad if anything in the States because more people will drive. You also forget that the corportate market out of Seattle is huge. Microsoft & Boeing (to name 2) are massive users of the airlines. Yields will be much higher out of Seattle. However, it will have to break the grip that Alaska/Horizon have on the place. Seattle - Anchorage could work but if VX were to fly from anywhere to there it would be San Francisco.

Quote:

Originally Posted by aviators99 (Post 9211498)

I think LAX and SFO is plenty for one coast.

Yeah, for now:D

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeyZBT (Post 9211046)

From April-October AK is full of destination traffic because of its natural scenery and attractions. From November-March people that live in AK vacation more than others to sunnier places to get out of the winter. In addition, VX would be able to attract biz travelers during the winter months (all months really). Also VX would be able to provide quick one-stop flights to SFO/LAX (SAN/IAD/FLL/JFK if my fantasy plan is followed). Why go on AS for the same price as VX using the same SEA connection?

SEA is much bigger than SAN in people who use the airport. SEA has the combined O/D of BLI south to Centralia. At BLI and Centralia people would look for the lowest airfare and go to YVR or PDX (also BLI, but BLI is very small, flights to LAS/RNO,PSP (seasonal)/SLC/SEA, recently discontinued CMH). SAN has the combined O/D of everyrthing North of the Border to CLD, at CLD people choose whether to use SNA, CLD, or SAN.

SEA has good weather, not as good as SAN, but better than many other places.

Overseas flights

Regarding Virgin America flying to Hawaii, it will require ETOPS approval on it's Airbus fleet which will only come after a certain number of hours of no engine shutdowns in flight if at all. Hawaii would be a logical & major step for VX as it could channel the traffic all through it's west coast hubs. Alaska to a lessor extent.

What would be interesting is if VX got a widebody fleet in the future & started flights to the booming economies of the world in Brazil, India & China but hey I'm just speculating...;)