Airline Pilot Central Forums - New Delta FA Base: AUS

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Quote:

Originally Posted by 9easy (Post 3979924)

A Florida base makes more sense than Austin. Something similar to the FLM base that AA has, covering FLL/PBI/MIA should probably already have enough critical mass on the 320/7ER fleet.

It really doesn’t. Due to the pure volume of flying we do all over Florida and its proximity to ATL overnighting crews are readily available to staff Florida flying. That’s been expressed by management on why we don’t have a Florida base.

The P2P network out of Austin is much larger than MCO. Routes will continue to up-gauge from DCI to mainline and new routes TBA over the next 4-5 years. When the 15 gates are handed over AUS operation will be much larger than any FL airport, if it isn’t already. Florida also has way to many fleets operating in and out while AUS is mostly A320 followed by A220 and 73N.

I think a FL base will happen one day, but with the plans Delta has in store for Austin I wouldn’t say a FL base makes more sense.

Pilot base for WN opening March 2026. 335 Pilots. Wonder how DL will react.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 9easy (Post 3979924)

A Florida base makes more sense than Austin. Something similar to the FLM base that AA has, covering FLL/PBI/MIA should probably already have enough critical mass on the 320/7ER fleet.

The number of airplanes in and out of a city isn't the issue - it's a certain level of flying for each airplane for the next 3 years or so... Crew Resources has said that many times - they need network to guarantee a certain number of flight to make a base - no guarantee - no base.

Network likes to swap things around so much - TPA might have a lot of 321 flying in the winter, but summertime it might switch to mostly 737 because it's Florida and the tourists don't come in the summer. So not enough guarantee for a base.

Quote:

Originally Posted by PSpuza (Post 3979976)

Pilot base for WN opening March 2026. 335 Pilots. Wonder how DL will react.

I doubt they will before 2030 (when the new terminal opens). We've only opened one new base (BOS) in like 25 years but closed lots.

southwest getting an austin base and throwing around 787 rumors….

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ripinpeace (Post 3978881)

Thank you HK :)

I appreciate you seeing my point. I’ll take it as a small victory since I doubt we’ve ever agreed on something.

Austin build-up is clearly focused around capturing the strong O&D growing in central TX and giving Delta exposure to the Texas economy. It won’t be an DFW or IAH sized hub, but it’s being developed to do what Delta needs out of Texas: capturing corporate business, young tech professionals, and high-disposable income families.

As our operation scales with the O&D, connections will grow too. In fact, we already sale connection flights through AUS such as, “SEA>AUS>MSY or LAX>AUS>JAX”. The RJ ops will be up-gauged with mainline and frequency increase given time to mature. Intra-TX will come eventually, but be last. MFE, MAF, and HRL were gate squats that have since been moved to more lucrative flying.

It’s no secret Delta has longed for a TX presence since losing DFW. Everything they have done in Austin up to this point indicates “hub building”. Delta burned money in developing NYC and LAX to become number one and from what I understand, organically built up SEA and BOS to be hubs.

As much as I wish Southwest would offer AUS up on a silver platter to Delta they will defend their incumbent position and ABIA will not play favorites. I believe, their growth in AUS is reactionary to Delta just as it was to AA growth. If they become hub and spoke I don’t see how they hub AUS, DAL, and HOU. We will find out January when ABIA publicizes the lease agreement who gets how many gates, future growth allocation, club allocation, and more. Definitely no base until new terminal unfortunately.

We are opening a crew base in March. When they build the new terminal in 2030+ you Delta boys can come join us in greater numbers. More than enough room for everyone. I hope we stay the predominant player there. Ultimately everyone can win. I’m just looking forward to some of those SAT and AUS FO’s to move to AUS base so I can stop commuting.

Quote:

Originally Posted by PSpuza (Post 3979976)

Pilot base for WN opening March 2026. 335 Pilots. Wonder ~~how~~ if DL will react.

My guess is laughter. They will have to dismantle any investment they make just like AA.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ripinpeace (Post 3933985)

AUS has no 73N operation it is overwhelmingly 320 and RJ. Maybe the one off 73N.
Southwest is losing market share month over and month and Delta is gaining and has surpassed AA. The trend is in DL’s favor.. 5 years will close that gap.

Southwest has publicly stated they’re going towards the hub & spoke model which AUS is not. HOU & DAL are. It would go against Elliot & their strategy to grow Austin when they don’t have the funds or planes after fending off AA’s AUS build-up. WN in general is foundering and doesn’t compete in DL’s business market.

The second largest Skyclub in the system will be built in AUS, the airport is mirroring ATL hub-design, DL has a massive network gap in TX, and it’s been the fastest growing DL station in the system this past 2-3 years. Even Baldoni has stated AUS is beginning to act as a connection hub and they’ve been happy with its success.

5-ish years is awhile in the airline work but not long in reality. So far, everything has logically pointed towards Delta building up AUS as a hub and the trends have been favorable. Out of any station in the system is has the best chance of being the next hub/base.

This didn’t age well.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ROTORGUY (Post 3980548)

This didn’t age well.

His only purpose on this forum is to convince himself that an AUS pilot base is imminent. That's the lense he looks through to see the world.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ROTORGUY (Post 3980548)

This didn’t age well.

This entire thread isn’t going to age well.

If you want a surefire way to be wrong about something, try to predict what an airline is going to do 5 years in advance.