WN Ceasing Operations In Three Cities
#12
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Nov 2013
Position: 737CA
Posts: 123
#13
Branson was an interesting city for SWA to keep from the AirTran network. It is a great family destination and the number one tour bus destination in the country. The city did not pull its subsidy ( I think they pay about $8 to SWA for every passenger), SWA just decided to reallocate their capital (aircraft) to other markets. With a flat fleet, if you take on other routes (LGA and hopefully DCA), you have to cut somewhere. Load factors were at or above the SWA system-wide average, but perhaps the yields were not there. SWA only served Branson from DAL, MDW and MCO (on weekends), so that isn't much of a feed. AirTran served Branson from ATL, which gave connecting opportunities to anywhere on the east coast. But SWA continues to downsize ATL and hand it to DAL on a silver platter. Now Branson is left with just Frontier service to Denver. The airport is privately funded and has missed 2 bond payments already. I suspect, absent another big carrier coming in, the airport will be in bankruptcy within a year. Anyone want to buy an airport, cheap?
#14
Logbook...
Joined APC: Sep 2008
Posts: 416
Branson was an interesting city for SWA to keep from the AirTran network. It is a great family destination and the number one tour bus destination in the country. The city did not pull its subsidy ( I think they pay about $8 to SWA for every passenger), SWA just decided to reallocate their capital (aircraft) to other markets. With a flat fleet, if you take on other routes (LGA and hopefully DCA), you have to cut somewhere. Load factors were at or above the SWA system-wide average, but perhaps the yields were not there. SWA only served Branson from DAL, MDW and MCO (on weekends), so that isn't much of a feed. AirTran served Branson from ATL, which gave connecting opportunities to anywhere on the east coast. But SWA continues to downsize ATL and hand it to DAL on a silver platter. Now Branson is left with just Frontier service to Denver. The airport is privately funded and has missed 2 bond payments already. I suspect, absent another big carrier coming in, the airport will be in bankruptcy within a year. Anyone want to buy an airport, cheap?
#15
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Nov 2013
Position: 737CA
Posts: 123
Most were FAT cities but so what. If they can't money or better yet get better yields out of other routes or cities then it's a no brainer. Airtran may have made money in those cities under their cost structure but can't under SWA. If anything it shows good discipline in making sure they run a profitable operation. That's all that matters in the end.
#16
Most were FAT cities but so what. If they can't money or better yet get better yields out of other routes or cities then it's a no brainer. Airtran may have made money in those cities under their cost structure but can't under SWA. If anything it shows good discipline in making sure they run a profitable operation. That's all that matters in the end.
#17
Banned
Joined APC: Nov 2013
Position: 7th green
Posts: 4,378
SWA hasn't been an LCC for a long time. They are more expensive on numerous routes served by other major airlines.
The SWA LCC legend lives on, however. And they do provide a service level that is attractive to lots of passengers.
The SWA LCC legend lives on, however. And they do provide a service level that is attractive to lots of passengers.
#19
A long time bud of mine who crossed over to SW about a year ago told me they recently bussed 35 pax out of EWY. He says they're limited to about 40 pax with a wet runway. No wonder why they dropped it.
#20
What series 737 and what motors? At DL, I routinely carried a butt in every seat out of there including cockpit jumpseater...
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post