I think a full 744 burns more than 16,000 lb/hr, but I get your point

JetJock, you may be on to something there. Charge more to fly the same route on a jet. I'll vote for that.

 

More efficient than a Prius, you say?! Holy cow...

 

flying is much more fuel efficient than driving, I just did a trip from BUF-RSW and we burned 11,500lbs for trip and took 100 pax thats 17.69 gallons per person. You could not drive the 1350 mile trip on that much gas unless you got better than 80mpg.

 

Sure, so let’s say they run 6 flights a day between ATL and GSP. In an effort to find its profitable combination start with 4 Q400 flights and 2 CR9 flights but have higher fuel surcharge on the RJ flights and make it know why. After a month or two then change the combination to reflect GSP's customers willingness to pay the higher surcharge or not. If the route can go all Q400 then make it so but if they're willing to pay the higher price then increase RJ service.

Now for those of you who are ready to flame, I know this won’t happen. First off it makes way to much sense for Mgmnt to figure it out but there are also a number of other reasons that I’m sure you guys will point out.

My main point is that if customers want jet service on shorter routes (1:30 block or less) then give it to them but raise prices. I guarantee that 95% of the customers who fly from GSP to ATL will make some remark about the TPROP but they will return as customers due to the low fares. The other 5% can pay the surcharge or drive seeing it’s only a 3 hour drive down to ATL or an hour up to Charlotte.

 

The problem with that approach is that you have to have both types of aircraft and someone to fly them first before you can experiment. That's a very expensive way for the losing operator to figure out if customers would pay the premium. Its far cheaper to commission surveys. What operator would accept that contract without significant penalties if the mainline dropped them?

 

That is a logical solution...but when there are a dozen other hungry vultures trying to undercut you, it doesn't always work.

 

You're assuming only one person per car....if you have a car with 4 people in it, you only have to get 20mpg, right? Very doable. Does not exactly prove your point.

 

Keep in mind that DAL's contract flying isn't leg specific. In other words, one month you can be flying into GSP and the next MEM. So all they would have to do is bring in a Q400 operator and start experimenting. It wouldn't be that hard, if they wanted they could test the markets with ASA’s ATR’s seeing their going off line here soon (heard by late 08 or early 09), do it sparingly as the ATR’s flying reduces. This would be perfect seeing they wouldn’t have to sign a long term contract and if they ended up wanting too, I’m positive SKW Inc. (or someone else) would place an order for Q’s ASAP.

 

Unless you're Mexican and then you can get 2 families or 10 people into the car, that should drop it to around 8 MPG.

OK that was wrong, I apologize to all Mexicans. I mean no offense.

 

Porque Jetjock..PORQUE!?