Originally Posted by
kingairfun
Have you looked at SWA's anticipated flight schedule? They are going to be doing the exact same service as every other airline coming from the West Coast. OAK-HNL,OGG, KOA, LIH.. same with their other West Coast cities.. The exact same flying as AK, UA, AA, DL, HA... They haven't discovered some secret formula to doing Hawaii flights..
Yet. This thing is in its infancy, and not doing it like the others while winning is kinda their thing.
Originally Posted by
kingairfun
And if you take a real look at SWA tix prices, they are not cheaper than other airlines on many routes. It's all based on what day, time etc. I've found many OAK-HNL tix that are $100 more on SWA. Same with interisland. Picked a day at the end of April.. HA $80, SWA $179 OGG -HNL one way. SWA being the lowest cost is a myth based on good marketing. They are offering introductory fares, nothing new here or unexpected..
Yes, I said this very thing in the opening post. I can quote it if you like. They are kings of marketing, and if that's the manner they chose to take business away from you then fine. But there's also the fact that they have the ability to get in an extended price war with you and others if and when they choose. The fact that they want to do inter island flying means that the crosshairs are on HAL even though SWA will certainly hurt other legacies with this new endeavor.
Originally Posted by
kingairfun
If anything the only airline that utilizes long haul to Inter-Island connected flying is Hawaiian... You forget about our extensive network to the East.. Japan, Australia, S.Pacific, NZ, S.Korea...And if and when the JAL JV goes through that may be set to increase even more. Also we codeshare with many carriers especially interisland. Off the top of my head I've watched my Inter Island flights advertise as DL, Korean Air , JAL, and UA. Think you're ever gonna see a plane full of Japanese passengers board a SWA flight?
Two things here. 1. SWA isn't trying to connect long haul passengers via codeshare initially. That's not their niche though I could certainly see them offering fares for inter island flying that undercut the long haul plus codeshare flight on HAL. It's a long walk over to the domestic terminal anyway at HNL. Might as well get the bags bother with security if you're gonna save enough cash. 2. They're not going to be a guppy only airline forever, and what is convenient for them now might not be what is convenient for them in the future.
Originally Posted by
kingairfun
What SWA is gonna do is compete with every carrier from the West Coast and compete with Hawaiian (and codeshares with Korean, JAL, UA, DL etc) on interisland. The only passengers SWA is gonna serve on their interisland, are locals shopping for fares. If the cheaper ticket for a particular time is on Hawaiian, they will go with Hawaiian and vice versa. Initially SWA will get some connecting SWA passengers, but once their non-stops are up and running, it will cannibalize some of their inter island traffic.. Same thing happened when HA started doing more outer island-west coast flying.
Having spent considerable time on the islands I'd argue against the locals only stance. I've jumped on an HAL 717 many times to jump to another island on a lark, and don't think they won't aggressively push that angle when they get set up.
Originally Posted by
kingairfun
Then there is the elephant in the room.. Gate space.
Now that is an interesting argument, and one to take seriously. But do you know what fixes gate space given a strong commitment to Hawaiian flying? Money and concrete. They're not short on the former.
It's interesting that in later posts that you too see HAL eventually merging with another airline. It tells me that you also see this cutting into slim profit margins and forcing hands regardless of what you think of your current product. Who that dance partner will be is anyone's guess, but I could see this as being one of the first dominoes to fall when the dance starts up again with the airlines.