AUSTIN | ABIA Updates

[Jdawgboy]

Check out what I just found!

• Video Link

http://xplanereviews.com/index.php?/topi...ergstrom-international-tx-by-airportech/

Looks like it's for a plane simulation but it has some pretty actuate information and some cool pictures.

Not sure if I linked the video right cause its showin error so I put the YouTube link below.

https://youtu.be/0_oVyYt-YRs

[LoneStarMike]

That was cool. The funny thing about the video was that it showed the new east terminal infill project, but not the CONRAC facility. I guess AUS is just growing too damn fast for them to be able to keep up.

[Digatisdi]

Looks like the new Frontier flight to Vegas might not start until tomorrow because of delays. By that I mean the inbound flight was scheduled to depart DEN at 20:15 MDT and acording to flightaware just took off at 21:23 MDT. The AUS departure to LAS was supposed to depart at 22:15, and now delayed for a 00:49 departure.

[ILUVSAT]

International Carrier Rumor Tally:

-Korean Air
-Air France
-Lufthansa

[ATXboom]

Originally Posted by ILUVSAT

International Carrier Rumor Tally:

-Korean Air
-Air France
-Lufthansa

Missing Japan Air... that has been documented by the city as a target (direct to Tokyo) - if we are keeping tally.

[the Genral]

I have heard that Turkish Airways is not interested in ABIA at this time. I consider my source pretty reliable so I'll go on a limb and say this is accurate.

[DoubleC]

Japan Air or ANA wouldn't surprise me for said reasons. I think ANA would be more willing to fly such a route.

Lufthansa and Air France... Either or could appear in less than 5 years, I'm guessing. Assuming growth continues at this rate.

[ILUVSAT]

Originally Posted by ATXboom

Missing Japan Air... that has been documented by the city as a target (direct to Tokyo) - if we are keeping tally.

The post was meant to be funny.

If we really want to be technical, only KE and Lufthansa have, at least, expressed their initial interest with port officials OR are/were working on initial, simple due diligence to see if the route can work for them (which by no indication means an eminent route announcement). The Air France rumor was basically reported as coming from a friend of a friend. JAL has never been apart of the discussion. In fact, ICN would be a far better Asian transfer location than NRT or HND (combined).

Just because a city was identified Tokyo as a target does not mean that JAL or ANA have expressed any interest in an Austin connection. The city's "interest" in Tokyo can very easily be switched to Seoul. The focus on Tokyo was solely (no pun intended) based on the fact that it is the largest megalopolis on the planet. In fact, Seoul (ICN) is the far better option, in terms of available transfer connections to other Asian destinations vs. NRT or HND (as previously mentioned).

[GoldenBoot]

Originally Posted by the Genral

I have heard that Turkish Airways is not interested in ABIA at this time. I consider my source pretty reliable so I'll go on a limb and say this is accurate.

Yes, I heard that too

My sister's boyfriend's cousin told me that his brother's boss' wife's sister's former roommate in college - who works for Hooter's - told her that the following are not interested in the route (at this time):

-Ethiopian
-Jet
-Air Tahiti Nui
-Azerbaijan
-Royal Brunei
-MEA
-Thai
-Arik
-Mauritius
-Cubana

a few others were approached, but, were not identified at this time.

[DoubleC]

Originally Posted by GoldenBoot

Yes, I heard that too

My sister's boyfriend's cousin told me that his brother's boss' wife's sister's former roommate in college - who works for Hooter's - told her that the following are not interested in the route (at this time):

-Ethiopian
-Jet
-Air Tahiti Nui
-Azerbaijan
-Royal Brunei
-MEA
-Thai
-Arik
-Mauritius
-Cubana

a few others were approached, but, were not identified at this time.

That Spaceball's reference . Do these airlines even know about AUS? It's not a major airport, so airlines like those mentioned (albeit it's a joke) would probably choose a big port like IAH or DFW before even serving AUS. BA already served DFW and IAH, so the next step was to move down the ladder to semi-major airports. It makes sense to me.

[Austin1967]

Lets see if i can clear a few things up from all the previous posts!!

1. A 773 is a cargo beast and holds three positions more than a 747. A 787 is a beast aswell as it hold 1 less position than a 747. Also should note this is all subject to change based on pax bags and weight of cargo.

2. Cargo does not drive a route PAX's do !!! Cargo is the icing on the cake. Not the cake itself.

3. LH not coming to AUS anytime soon. I know this because my company is the GHA in several other locations.( So I have an inside track)

4. Someone mentioned KE seeking vendors and the sort and in particular cargo space etc...They are not. cargo is generally contracted out unless your the HUB( exceptions are out here UA-IAH, AA-CLT( my CO), UA- CLE (my Co and not much of a HUB anymore))
RFP's and vendor acquisition comes after the announcement otherwise there would be no point to the announcement as the airline activity would be leaked.

[electricron]

Originally Posted by DoubleC

That Spaceball's reference . Do these airlines even know about AUS? It's not a major airport, so airlines like those mentioned (albeit it's a joke) would probably choose a big port like IAH or DFW before even serving AUS. BA already served DFW and IAH, so the next step was to move down the ladder to semi-major airports. It makes sense to me.

You are all forgetting that international flights are reciprocal. For foreign airlines to land in America, an American airline gets permission to land in that foreign country. While Austin may have plenty of room and plenty of landing slots, the international airport in the other country may not. Especially countries overseas with high air traffic at the most desirable airports. Delta and American have recently been in FAA court fighting for rights to land at Tokyo's closest airport.

[Austin1967]

5. KE just started back in IAH and the PAX count YOY dropped 20% in DFW since AA started the route. So, IMO seems unlikely but who know's??

6. My creds in all this, My staff and I currently handle over 60% of the belly freight for four airlines at ABIA in our two locations that I affectionetly refer to as the North side and South side !!!

7. If I would have had one more drink I would have corrected some of the errors when someone on here talks about BA Cargo. I'll be watching..or not LOL

[Jdawgboy]

Originally Posted by DoubleC

That Spaceball's reference . Do these airlines even know about AUS? It's not a major airport, so airlines like those mentioned (albeit it's a joke) would probably choose a big port like IAH or DFW before even serving AUS. BA already served DFW and IAH, so the next step was to move down the ladder to semi-major airports. It makes sense to me.

Well you know British Airways took notice of AUS and that sent a ripple effect around the world in the airline industry. You better believe most airlines around the world know about Austin. Whether or not they are interested in expanding here us a different story.

[Digatisdi]

Record breaking passenger count this March at Austin’s airport

"March 2015 set a new passenger record with 1,006,899 traveling through Austin-Bergstrom. Events in Austin, including the SXSW festival, contributed to the monthly passenger record being set and bringing ABIA its second 1 million passenger month in airport history. The previous monthly record of 1,006,417 was set in July 2014."

[GoldenBoot]

Originally Posted by Digatisdi

Record breaking passenger count this March at Austin’s airport

"March 2015 set a new passenger record with 1,006,899 traveling through Austin-Bergstrom. Events in Austin, including the SXSW festival, contributed to the monthly passenger record being set and bringing ABIA its second 1 million passenger month in airport history. The previous monthly record of 1,006,417 was set in July 2014."

That is awesome news. I hope that mysterious "executive session" the advisory board entered a few months back was to discuss a larger-scale expansion of the terminal gate capacity and not in regard to the Uber/Lyft deal.

As it stands now (and it has been mentioned several times before on this tread), when the current gate expansion opens in 2017, the airport will be within 2 years of reaching the newly expanded PAX capacity of 15 million. ABIA will reach 15 million PAX by the end of 2019 (at its current annual growth rate).

Kind of silly if you ask me. The port should seriously consider revising their current expansion to allow a few more years to pass before another expansion is warranted.

[Jdawgboy]

Originally Posted by GoldenBoot

That is awesome news. I hope that mysterious "executive session" the advisory board entered a few months back was to discuss a larger-scale expansion of the terminal gate capacity and not in regard to the Uber/Lyft deal.

As it stands now (and it has been mentioned several times before on this tread), when the current gate expansion opens in 2017, the airport will be within 2 years of reaching the newly expanded PAX capacity of 15 million. ABIA will reach 15 million PAX by the end of 2019 (at its current annual growth rate).

Kind of silly if you ask me. The port should seriously consider revising their current expansion to allow a few more years to pass before another expansion is warranted.

I agree. They need to get on double time to keep up. It's better to be one step ahead than one step behind.

[GoldenBoot]

Oh, and before anyone goes crazy over the BA numbers...remember, they did not start flying until March 3, 2014 AND they were only flying 5x per week (through May 2014). From June 2014 to present time are the only complete months in which BA has executed daily flights.

So that 53% increase is pretty skewed. We'll need to wait until June to see a more true YOY number. However, I would't expect to see to much of a rise, if any. BA has not increase its frequency nor up-gauged its equipment. Furthermore, flights are averaging roughly 70%-80% full (depending on the time of year).

[Digatisdi]

Honestly I wouldn't be surprised if we have a few percentage points down some months with BA's numbers considering the economic situation in the EU.

One thing I don't think we've talked about much is how the number of major international airlines reflects on the port. For example I feel like when Aeromar joined the reaction was very "The hell is Aeromar?" but then with the entry of British Airways and the reentry of Air Canada—I mean these are major... Almost prestige companies if that makes sense, and most of the other airports that have similar levels of passenger traffic just do not have the number of options we do. I personally see it as a very positive reflection of the port.

[DoubleC]

Originally Posted by Digatisdi

Honestly I wouldn't be surprised if we have a few percentage points down some months with BA's numbers considering the economic situation in the EU.

One thing I don't think we've talked about much is how the number of major international airlines reflects on the port. For example I feel like when Aeromar joined the reaction was very "The hell is Aeromar?" but then with the entry of British Airways and the reentry of Air Canada—I mean these are major... Almost prestige companies if that makes sense, and most of the other airports that have similar levels of passenger traffic just do not have the number of options we do. I personally see it as a very positive reflection of the port.

Right, right. Did you also see the price of the flight? I believe it started at around $300 round trip? That sounds pretty pricy for a 1000 mile journey (although it's international), and I'm sure most people would consider just driving to San Antonio to find a cheaper flight.