AUSTIN | ABIA Updates

[ATCZERO]

Originally Posted by AvgeekDL

Well by then, we should know about a transatlantic route.

What happened? Did your source go AWOL?

No, just not in a position to hear any of the plans.

[ILUVSAT]

Originally Posted by ATCZERO

No, just not in a position to hear any of the plans.

...until "early October," right?!?

[ahealy]

Any news on upcoming international flights? Perhaps though BA?

Duuuuude, I just got back from Italy and flew business on the upper level of the queen. JESUS MARY AND JOSPEH that was marvelous. I highly recommend spending the extra coins for that experience before they're all shelved

It truly felt like just closing my eyes and waking up in a different country....with the help of 8 hours of AbFab/Golden Girls....

[Jdawgboy]

Originally Posted by ahealy

Any news on upcoming international flights? Perhaps though BA?

Duuuuude, I just got back from Italy and flew business on the upper level of the queen. JESUS MARY AND JOSPEH that was marvelous. I highly recommend spending the extra coins for that experience before they're all shelved

It truly felt like just closing my eyes and waking up in a different country....with the help of 8 hours of AbFab/Golden Girls....

I love those shows!!!

[paul78701]

Originally Posted by AvgeekDL

So the big news in Texas Aviation today is American is launching Tel Aviv from DFW. One of the reasons cited was connecting tech centers in Austin and San Jose.

I’m curious, does anyone know how much traffic goes from AUS-TLV?

I'm not sure, but Israel does have it's fair share of tech companies. They punch above their weight tech wise.

FWIW, I once interviewed with an Israeli tech company that had a downtown Austin office. I can't remember the name at the moment. I wouldn't be surprised to hear of others with ATX outposts.

[GoldenBoot]

Originally Posted by AvgeekDL

So the big news in Texas Aviation today is American is launching Tel Aviv from DFW. One of the reasons cited was connecting tech centers in Austin and San Jose.

I’m curious, does anyone know how much traffic goes from AUS-TLV?

It's not daily, correct?!?

I think it's more wishful thinking than actually trying to connect San Jose and/or Austin with TLV. There are direct flights to TLV from the west coast and I hear more about people going to Dublin than TLV for tech from Austin. If there were truly that many people flying from AUS to TLV (for AA to list AUS a one of its reasons to begin the route), then why isn't TLV listed as a "Priority Route" (see Austin1971's latest post)? There really isn't that many...

Having said that, there is a market of people living in Texas (and the central part of the U.S.) who travel to that region for business, religion and/or pleasure, so a gateway to Israel from DFW might work (instead of heading north to Chicago or to the east coast to catch a transfer).

But, think it is still quite a stretch. I'm curious to see if this works. And, initially, have my doubts.

[The ATX]

Originally Posted by AvgeekDL

I mean, it’s better than the endless Delta speculation right?

Absolutely.

[psychlotron]

Originally Posted by AvgeekDL

Didn't see this on here, but Southwest is cutting San Francisco and reducing Boston to seasonal.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/trave...as/2049341001/

Looks like we lost AUS-SFO. I don't see that as much of a loss, unless you're super loyal to Southwest - plenty of other ways to reach SFO from here.

[atxsnail]

Originally Posted by AvgeekDL

Didn't see this on here, but Southwest is cutting San Francisco and reducing Boston to seasonal.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/trave...as/2049341001/

20 seems like a lot of routes to cut. is this typical or possibly fallout from the continued 737 Max groundings?

[freerover]

Originally Posted by atxsnail

20 seems like a lot of routes to cut. is this typical or possibly fallout from the continued 737 Max groundings?

I guess it depends on how many Hawaii flights they are launching. Will it only be from Oakland?

[GoldenBoot]

Originally Posted by atxsnail

20 seems like a lot of routes to cut. is this typical or possibly fallout from the continued 737 Max groundings?

If one only looks at the total number vs. overall non-stop routes. However, you have to dig deeper. More than two-thirds of those 20 routes came from the failure of ViaAir and the overall route reduction of Frontier - neither fly the Boeing 737Max.

Overall - it's not really anything to worry about at this time.

Southwest's changes to the SFO and BOS routes may have to do with the current challenges with the Max jet...and maybe they could not compete with UA, DL &/or jetBlue on said routes.

[OU812]

Security camera footage of Spirit Airlines' passenger exit protocol
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wg5lIpQkoOg

[ILUVSAT]

Originally Posted by AvgeekDL

With the bombshell news of Alaska joining oneworld this week and ramping up codesharing with American, I have to think it will be even harder for Delta to do anything here now. All the major business markets will now be served by oneworld.

Is it really a bombshell? This has been in the works for a while. Additionally, it doesn't become official until next Spring (2021).

I believe this move will have little impact on AUS & its future plans. Nonetheless, it may affect places like SEA, LAX, JFK, & MIA more than in Austin. Also, one must remember the conditions in which the government approved Alaska's merger with Virgin America. Clauses which could make it quite difficult to implement any new domestic route or expansions.

This will be a wait and see situation. But, I definitely would not be sounding any alarm bells. Simply look at AUS' 2040 plan. AUS would not be planning to double in size in the coming 20 years (most of that planned to come online in the next 5-8 years) if there wasn't something already moving behind the scenes.

Just think...How many times in the last 20-30 years has the FAA approved a 20-year plan to double the size of a mid-market airport?

I'm not saying anything IS going to happen...but, where there is smoke, there's at least a flame.

[freerover]

Originally Posted by AvgeekDL

So why the change of heart on the tunnel? I thought there were issues with groundwater?

Also, it was mentioned that the taxiways will be built to accommodate a third concourse in the future, yet the above pictures don’t show it.

New boss came in and wants the tunnel. A third concourse is not in the 2040 plan.

Originally Posted by keiffers

I see no reason to replace the tower....its only 20-25 yrs old and its probably no where near needing replacement. It has the necessary view and in the eyes of the FAA it does just fine I'm sure barring any kind of structural issues, so it'll probably last another 20 or so years before they consider replacing it. It wouldn't surprise me they regularly review it in passing but its not like its the old BAFB tower that was only 1/2 the height of the current tower.

Personally I take alot of these plans with a grain of salt. What we the public sees is probably different than what the actual plans are....similar yes, but there are alot of behind the scenes things that we'll never see until the actual plan, approved by the FAA comes out. Yeah they'll come and show pictures and plans, but I think alot of those are just what they'd "like" it to be, and I'm sure it'll be pretty close. If they do go with the tunnel, they must have a remedy to the water table issue, and as well any potential limestone interference. Granted the airport is east of the escarpment, but you'll still hit limestone at some point. But that's just my two cents worth.

And yes, nice touch with the mini-Pennybacker bridge

The reason repalacing the tower was considered was due to terminal concourse expansion options. Ultimately, an option was picked that did not require the relocation of the tower.

[freerover]

Originally Posted by AvgeekDL

I meant the taxiways in the above image don’t seem to be configured in a way that leaves open space for a third concourse as was mentioned.

There is nothing but open space south of the taxiway with the exception of the airport tower, deicing facility and south terminal. Everything else can go.

[freerover]

Originally Posted by AvgeekDL

Isn’t the South Terminal being demolished?

I guess I just don’t get why the blue taxiway east of the satellite is on a diagonal. Don’t they realize they are probably going to have to expand the satellite eastward eventually so they’ll have to redo that area again?

Also, I’ll say it again that they should completely clear the area where a third concourse would go, for maximum flexibility purposes.

They don't have to demolish that blue diagonal when they do the 3rd concourse post 2040. They would just have to fill in what they aren't paving now. The reason they aren't paving now for the future is because they don't need it for what they are planing to open in the 1st expansion. Sure, it would be great if they could just apron the whole area and install all the necessary drainage that would be required for that but there isn't some infinite pot of money for the port to pull from. It seems they are being smart about what they can do in the sequence they can do it. Also, you never know what could change. The 2003 master plan never called for any of this. We were suppose to be working on the new actual south terminal on the south side of the port. Things change. Don't spend money on something unless you are going to use/monetize it.

What I've heard more recently was that they were not going to buy out the south terminal but I would default to Mikey as he is more in the loop than I am.