AUSTIN | ABIA Updates

[KevinFromTexas]

AeroMexico is also leaving.

Austin loses Aeromexico and American nonstops
http://www.statesman.com/blogs/conte...co_and_am.html

[Jdawgboy]

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

AeroMexico is also leaving.

Austin loses Aeromexico and American nonstops
http://www.statesman.com/blogs/conte...co_and_am.html

As far as Aeromexico is concerned, I doubt it will matter much. Not sure how many people were really flying to Mexico City from here anyways. With VivaAerobus flying to Cancun and Monterrey wich IMO more people would like to go, I think will do much better.

[KevinFromTexas]

Council member: No airport deal
http://www.statesman.com/news/conten...09roundup.html

[ATXboom]

I'm torn on the airport lease thing... I simply don't know enough.

In regard to american, etc...

We are seeing old business models that didn't evolve die off. The hub/spoke system and small aircraft do not make sense anymore.

Meanwhile we see the growth and added flights of the new business models - SW and JetBlue...

Lets hope we don't subsidize dead business models! ...if there is demand a better business will come in to address the need [air travel]

[nixcity]

If this hurts the possibility of funding the light rail line then it is negative.

[GoldenBoot]

Leasing, or even selling ABIA, is a brilliant idea. The city should have done this a long time ago!

It would be a huge advantage to have our airport run by a free market corporation who has experience in running medium-to-large airports. By allowing ABIA to enter the free market economy, those who run it should be more inclined to listen to their “customers” and make necessary changes to please said customers – a lot quicker that the City of Austin would!!!!

Expansion of facilities and routes would occur in a much shorter timeframe that the City of Austin can accomplish. Having ABIA run by an outside corporation will free-up many more avenues to funding project than are open to a municipality-run facility.

I’m keeping my fingers crossed that the City wakes up and realizes this potential boon. However, we’re talking about the City of Austin here…

[ATXboom]

OK... I'm for selling or leasing. IT would allow us to pursue a majore infrastructure investment without taxing or bonds... probably make our airport bigger/more efficient.


On that note... we made a list with some impressive company:

this time "Tripadvisor's 2008 Travelers Choice Destination Awards"; yes i know lists are frowned upon on this site and i have done my fair share of frowning regarding lists but i thought some people may be interested in this regarding future holiday destinations. Tripadvisor is one of my favourite travel websites

not saying i fully agree with it; the town where i was born got into the top 50 destinations in the world, yeah its nice and all with a great nightlife but i doubt it deserves a place that high and salzburg at number two in europe personally i wouldn't have salzburg in my top 3 austrian destination but there you go


Quote:
2008 Travelers' Choice World Destinations

1. Milford Sound, New Zealand
2. Queenstown, New Zealand
3. Philipsburg, St. Maarten
4. Cayo Largo, Cuba
5. Rhodes, Greece
6. Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas
7. Cruz Bay, St. John
8. Bridgetown, Barbados
9. Banff, Canada
10. Lake Tahoe, California

2008 Travelers' Choice U.S. Destinations

1. Lake Tahoe, California
2. Big Sur, California
3. San Francisco, California
4. Poipu, Hawaii
5. Sedona, Arizona
6. New Orleans, Louisiana
7. Carmel, California
8. Napa, California
9. Lahaina, Hawaii
10. La Jolla, California
11. Jackson, Wyoming
12. Wailea, Hawaii
13. West Yellowstone, Montana
14. Honolulu, Hawaii
15. Hani, Hawaii
16. Bar Harbor, Maine
17. Boulder, Colorado
18. Charleston, South Carolina
19. Monterey, California
20. Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
21. Santa Fe, New Mexico
22. Estes Park, Colorado
23. New York City, New York
24. Austin, Texas
25. Washington D.C.

[bgrn198]

I'm curious as to how well Express Jet is doing on it's route from Austin to Tucson? cause Southwest always was full flying From Austin to Phoenix also it would be nice if Southwest added another direct flight from Austin to Harlingen cause on holidays like fourth of July that filght as full I tried to get a flight onn it but couldn't I had to fly Contenental into Houston and most other times i've flown to the Valley the flight was crowded.

[KevinFromTexas]

There's a discussion going on over in the 'Transportation' section of the forum about ABIA and Austin becoming a hub. Feel free to jump in:
http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=151513

[MAH4546]

Two more destinations bite the dust, as Austin will lose non-stop service to Tucson and Jacksonville - both operated by XJET - on August 23rd.

[LoneStarMike]

So won't that leave just 5 daily Expressjet departures? 2 to ABQ, 2 to MSY and 1 to ONT?

edited to add - What about AUS-ONT? If I try to make a reservation in that city-pair at xjet.com, I see one daily flight through August 22. After that (checking several random dates in late Aug, Sept and Oct,) I get a message every time that there are no seats available.

Also, if I go here:

http://timetables.oag.com/aus/flights.asp

and try to view schedules after August 22, Expressjet's current daly nonstop beteen AUS and ONT is no longer listed. I suspect that's another city pair that's being dropped and if that's the case Express jet will have only 4 daily departures remaining.

If that's the case, I wonder if AUS can convince Expressjet to consolidate it's operations at Gate 1 - the ground-floor commuter. That would open up Gate 4 for another carrier - maybe JetBlue.

Also, what are your thoughts on AA possible giving up Gate 25, Mark? It seems like with AA's upcoming reductions in the fall, that 5th gate wouldn't really be needed. Then again, they may want to hang on to it just to keep it out of the hands of other carriers who might want to expand.

[MAH4546]

Originally Posted by LoneStarMike

Also, what are your thoughts on AA possible giving up Gate 25, Mark? It seems like with AA's upcoming reductions in the fall, that 5th gate wouldn't really be needed. Then again, they may want to hang on to it just to keep it out of the hands of other carriers who might want to expand.

I'm not really sure. I think AA will just hang on to it. While AUS had a great early year, it's already starting to "crumble" just like every single other U.S. airport, and I don't think anybody is interested in expanding right now.

[texboy]

So sounds like Austin won't have its current 52 nonstops by the end of the year....If Im counting correctly and remembering if other carriers serve those destinations, It seems like the total for nonstops will be at about 46? Correct me if I'm wrong here....

Thats close to SA again which has about 42? and I believe they've only had one or two carriers announce pulling nonstops that currently are the only carriers on a route.

[Dom"n"Converse]

We have, we're losing flights that not too many people use.

[alexjon]

I hope SA gets Seattle flights soon! I want a direct flight back home, but not to ABIA

[texastarkus]

Originally Posted by alexjon

I hope SA gets Seattle flights soon! I want a direct flight back home, but not to ABIA

Look for the Austin-Seattle announcement on JetBlue soon.

[texboy]

Originally Posted by texastarkus

Look for the Austin-Seattle announcement on JetBlue soon.

American just dropped their Seattle flight...where are you getting your info on this "announcement" about Jetblue doing a Seattle route.

[sammyk]

Originally Posted by texboy

American just dropped their Seattle flight...where are you getting your info on this "announcement" about Jetblue doing a Seattle route.

I don't know where his info comes from but it makes sense. If true, Jetblue is looking to capitalize on part of the 200+ seat void left by American. Didn't American use a 757 on that route?

[Dom"n"Converse]

I hope SA gets Seattle flights soon! I want a direct flight back home, but not to ABIA

United does Seattle to SA direct and US and whatever WN is do SA to Seattle direct.

[alexjon]

Originally Posted by Dom"n"Converse

United does Seattle to SA direct and US and whatever WN is do SA to Seattle direct.

Ack! They must not be cheap flights since I use priceline and hadn't seen a direct flight in the past.