Quote:
Originally Posted by meyers9163
So you do not work for the airlines and thus dont have access to the hub or any other site that shows all the stats and reasons behind the closure of LGA? Because I'm sure if you did you would understand the amount of money being lost in LGA for USairways. Its different for USairways then DAL/CAL/American etc. DAL for example has JFK and the ability to connect through NY a lot better. They can also go International out of JFK. Thus their Market share is a lot larger. USairways only has some 3% of the flying out of NY. As compared to some 30% I believe is the number for DAL. CAL has a large amount as well due to Newark..... Where USairways does not have such a network to support growth or an airport, LGA, that allows the most profitable routes.
Now if the port authority were to drop their strick rules on the distance a plane can go out of LGA. Then maybe it would be worth USairways to stick around. But that has not happen and probably never will. I think as of right now the furtherst a flight goes out of LGA is to DEN. Nothing further then that. Thus LAS/PHX are not able to be serviced out of LGA fo USairways and thus hubs they serve include PHL/CLT out of LGA for connections.... You think many want to do that when they can go to JFK/Newark and go direct?
Meyers, chill out, man. I do work for the airlines. I thought my post and my profile here make that fairly apparent...sorry if there was any confusion on my part there.
First off, no, I have not seen how much money that US is losing in LGA. I have seen the same postings that you and everyone else outside of management have seen posted on thehub/etc. But 'no', I have NOT seen definite numbers as to how much US is actually losing. The relevant stuff is too internal for a mere DH8 F/O, or any other pilot for that matter. I have just seen what management states publicly, that the slot transaction "will improve profitably by $75 million annually." Analysts are human too; there have been cases of carriers dropping profitable flying just because 'the numbers don't look right', and were misinterpreted. I don't know if that's the case. But having seen stuff like this from the mgmt. side somewhere else I wouldn't discount it.
Secondly, you bring up the competition; a very valid argument. Each carrier's goals in the NYC market are very diverse, which is another reason we can have so many large players. You mention the level of connectivity that DL/AA bring at JFK, and CO at EWR. Matching that should not/is not the goal at LGA for US, partially due to the perimeter rule that you mention. What US's strength at LGA is, is a prime, slot constrained inner city airport with frequent service to O&D perimeter markets. AA and DL don't have frequency like that even at JFK. Maybe CO at EWR, but that's a different story. If the perimeter rule would be dropped, I would only expect a small benefit if that. Transcons are either feast or famine on profitability.....even more seasonal than usual in this economy.