Huntsville updates

[OCA REP]

Originally Posted by David1502

It's not surprising to me at least, but AirTran is only getting about half the flight loads at HSV that it receives systemwide (A 44% Load Factor at HSV verses 85% Systemwide). If this continues, they will pull out.

I hate to read this, even though lots of us knew (and said) that the Delta loyalists would not change carriers even though Delta is matching their fares. Maybe Delta's discontinuation of direct HSV to DCA service will help AirTran's flights to BWI.

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

AirTran should do well in HSV, add two Atlanta flights and see what happens.

Delta elites would LOVE that even more! They would be scrambling for the first class seats available on the multiple 757s with which Delta would flood the market. Two flights a day from AirTran would not make a dent and probably would not be a good utilization of the jets required for that service.

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

Also continue to show how flying to Baltimore can help get to destinations along the east coast.

That is not a selling point AT ALL. Have you even looked at connection opportunities in BWI from HSV? Boston, Portland, and Rochester... that's about it. I did not list any of the BWI connection opportunities to Florida or the Caribbean, since it is not very smart to fly all the way to BWI just to access points further south, when ATL is so close.

[DavidH74]

I like using travel sites like Priceline or Expedia because you can combine airlines. So, you can fly Airtrain to BWI and catch a connecting flight on JetBlue or Southwest if you book through an online company. In other words, that opens up all the Southwest connections in BWI, too.

[huntsvillefan]

Originally Posted by tredici

My mom, grandfather, and I flew from Huntsville to Baltimore with AirTran. Easy, and VERY cheap. I agree, if they would simply add flights to Atlanta, they wouldn't have any problems. Plus, I think they realize, it's gonna take time for the people of North Alabama and Southern Middle Tennessee to take notice of a lower cost carrier in Huntsville.

I do hope AirTran will give it time. Their more comfortable planes, cheaper prices, and the competition they give every provider in Huntsville is too important to lose.

Folks, if you have to fly--take AirTran. I have not flown in awhile but do indeed plan to use AirTran (even though I have 60,000+ Delta miles right now).

[mlog]

I noticed that Kalou's Corner Market in Providence closed their doors. I guess that Earth Fare hurt their grocery sales, and the restaurant business part just didn't take off.

[HSVTiger]

Originally Posted by mlog

I noticed that Kalou's Corner Market in Providence closed their doors. I guess that Earth Fare hurt their grocery sales, and the restaurant business part just didn't take off.

I think the just changed their format, dropping the grocery line and adding
a bar.

[nickodemis]

http://www.lowfaresfarther.com/

For nearly 40 years, Southwest Airlines has been synonymous with great value and excellent service. Now, with our proposed acquisition of AirTran Holdings, Inc., the parent company of AirTran Airways, we’re creating new opportunities for our collective Employees, Customers, Shareholders and Communities alike.

[MovingAL]

Originally Posted by nickodemis

http://www.lowfaresfarther.com/

For nearly 40 years, Southwest Airlines has been synonymous with great value and excellent service. Now, with our proposed acquisition of AirTran Holdings, Inc., the parent company of AirTran Airways, we’re creating new opportunities for our collective Employees, Customers, Shareholders and Communities alike.

So I guess this means we lose AirTran now. I'm guessing SWA still sees no reason for serving HSV when BNA and BHM can handle any HSV low-fare traffic.

[SpawnOfVulcan]

Originally Posted by MovingAL

So I guess this means we lose AirTran now. I'm guessing SWA still sees no reason for serving HSV when BNA and BHM can handle any HSV low-fare traffic.

Not necessarily. With a larger airline comes more options, maybe with the flights that HSV already has, people will be able to change flights in Orlando or BWI and go to more destinations.

Southwest isn't stupid, they know people don't want to drive to Birmingham to fly.

[nickodemis]

Originally Posted by tredici

Not necessarily. With a larger airline comes more options, maybe with the flights that HSV already has, people will be able to change flights in Orlando or BWI and go to more destinations.

Southwest isn't stupid, they know people don't want to drive to Birmingham to fly.

I think Airtran/SWA stays in HSV. Since BWI is already a Southwest hub, you'll see more options for connecting flights in the Northeast.

I also think SWA is going after the Atlanta market, so expect to see flights from HSV to ATL coming in 2011.

Southwest doesn't currently fly out of Atlanta at all.

We may also see a flight from HSV to BNA as they expand that hub.

[nickodemis]

Q: Will you close any AirTran destinations/facilities? Where will the corporate headquarters be located?

A: We are interested in serving the vast majority, if not all, of AirTran’s markets. The only AirTran airport we know we will not continue to operate at is Dallas Ft. Worth International (DFW). In 2006, we entered into a binding agreement with five parties (including DFW), which restricts us or any wholly owned subsidiary from operating at DFW. That restriction becomes effective at closing. AirTran can continue to serve DFW until the agreement closes.

The Corporate Headquarters will remain in Dallas, TX. Plans for existing AirTran facilities will be assessed by Integration Teams and decisions announced at the appropriate time.

[huntsvillefan]

So--the SWA acquisition is good news for HSV?

[SpawnOfVulcan]

Originally Posted by huntsvillefan

So--the SWA acquisition is good news for HSV?

It should be. With the current routes to Orlando and BWI with AirTran, you couldn't get to many more places, so the lower fares weren't worth that much unless you were going to Baltimore or Orlando. With SWA, Huntsville passengers will be able to get to MANY more places than AirTran would have allowed them to.

[HSVTiger]

Yes, this is good news, it will bring many new options to HSV.
Glad that we got the AirTran service before the announced merger

[HSVTiger]

Long range road plans Madison wants to add

* Extending Dunlop Boulevard 2.8 miles north and east to Zierdt Road at an estimated $11.2 million cost.

* Extending Hughes Road one-half mile from Madison Boulevard south to the proposed Dunlop Boulevard extension including a tunnel under I-565 for an estimated $11.6 million.

* Building an I-565 interchange at the proposed Dunlop Boulevard extension about three quarters of a mile west of Zierdt Road at an estimated cost of $20 million.

* Extending Intergraph Way from Disk Drive to the proposed Dunlop Boulevard extension for an estimated $1.6 million.

Mayor Finley said there is no money in place for the projects.
The four projects with an estimated $44.4 million cost were discussed Wednesday at the Metropolitan Planning Organization meeting, but the organization decided to wait two months before adding the projects to the 2035 Transportation Plan

[David1502]

Originally Posted by huntsvillefan

So--the SWA acquisition is good news for HSV?

That is the $64,000 question. The recent HSV Times article stated that AirTran's HSV-BWI route is only around 40% full and the HSV-MCO (Orlando) route is only 52% full, whereas systemwide,AirTran's planes are running 85% full. Southwest is not going to loose money (they never have) and if they believe that the local business travelers are so loyal to Delta and its frequent flyer program that they'll never fly another carrier, why should they loose money flying out of HSV?

I saw the empty seats first hand while flying AirTran out of HSV to Boston a week ago - the flights from HSV to and from BWI were a third to 40% full, but the BWI-BOS-BWI flights were almost completely full. I thought then AirTran will pull out of HSV within 6 months - they are loosing too much money.

The most likely scenario which Southwest will do is to build up the existing AirTran hub at ATL by adding service to additional southern cities so they can create more connecting passengers to the larger cities where AirTran currently flies to from ATL and then add more flights so for example instead of having 4 flights a day to LAX, they would have 6 or 7. The most obvious cities for this would be BHM and BNA (Nashville). Also, Southwest has announced that they are beginning service to Charleston and Greenville, SC which again would be obvious destinations to add from ATL. With this strategy, HSV will be a second tier market to add service to from ATL. With AirTran's experience so far, it doesn't bode well. Also, keep in mind that out of both BHM and BNA, Southwest is already the dominant carrier so it will be easy to get their customers to fly to their new ATL hub.

The bottom line is that the business travelers around HSV have a tremendous opportunity for across the board lower fares to almost all business destinations through the new Southwest hub at ATL, but it is all dependent on supporting AirTran now.

[ThatGuy]

Why was Safety City demolished? I know the budget is tight this year and that Safety City was one place to cut costs, but I didn't know that meant a permanent closure. What a shame.

[TimCity2000]

ah, safety city...

haven't heard about that place in ages, lol.

[David1502]

Under the recent construction permits listed in the Business Section of Sunday's Huntsville Times, a construction permit for $320,00 was listed for Costco to do renovations at 5900 University Dr. Suite E. This address is the location of the former Circuit City/Old Navy/Linens-n-Things Shopping Center which presently houses EarthFare and the Power Fitness Gym. It is hard to see how there will be enough space in the remaining empty space where Linens-n-Things used to be. Also, it is hard to see how there will be adequate parking for a store as large as Costco. Look at how large the lot is where Sam's Club is located.

It is understandable that Costco would find this location preferable to their present site behind Home Depot at the Parkway - University Dr. intersection. Just being near Sam's Club, Best Buy, and HH Greg alone is enough to entice them, not to mention all of the other retail. However, it is hard to see how this small portion of this old shopping center and its parking lot will be sufficient to handle the Chrismtas shopping season. For those who have memberships in Power Fitness, parking will be a challenge at that time of the year.

Does anyway know if Costco has another smaller store concept? Also what does this mean to their existing location on the Parkway? Will Toys-R-Us also be looking to move perhaps to the old Barns and Noble location or maybe the former Winn Dixie location in the shopping center which houses Burlington Coat Factory and Phil Sandoval's Restaurant. Even with all of the challenges which Madison Square faces, this section of University Dr. still holds the strongest restaurant and retail market in the Huntsville area.

[hsvdj84]

Originally Posted by David1502

Under the recent construction permits listed in the Business Section of Sunday's Huntsville Times, a construction permit for $320,00 was listed for Costco to do renovations at 5900 University Dr. Suite E. This address is the location of the former Circuit City/Old Navy/Linens-n-Things Shopping Center which presently houses EarthFare and the Power Fitness Gym. It is hard to see how there will be enough space in the remaining empty space where Linens-n-Things used to be. Also, it is hard to see how there will be adequate parking for a store as large as Costco. Look at how large the lot is where Sam's Club is located.

It is understandable that Costco would find this location preferable to their present site behind Home Depot at the Parkway - University Dr. intersection. Just being near Sam's Club, Best Buy, and HH Greg alone is enough to entice them, not to mention all of the other retail. However, it is hard to see how this small portion of this old shopping center and its parking lot will be sufficient to handle the Chrismtas shopping season. For those who have memberships in Power Fitness, parking will be a challenge at that time of the year.

Does anyway know if Costco has another smaller store concept? Also what does this mean to their existing location on the Parkway? Will Toys-R-Us also be looking to move perhaps to the old Barns and Noble location or maybe the former Winn Dixie location in the shopping center which houses Burlington Coat Factory and Phil Sandoval's Restaurant. Even with all of the challenges which Madison Square faces, this section of University Dr. still holds the strongest restaurant and retail market in the Huntsville area.

I'm guessing that might have been a typo on HSV Times part. I have no idea what the paper said because I didn't see it but the name of the owner of that property is Casto, based out of Ohio. It's most likely that the permit was issued to them to start the development of the JoAnn Fabrics that is going in on the far end of the complex, closest to Research Park. EarthFare, Powerhouse and JoAnn are the only listed tenants on their website at this time. According to their website there are still two spaces open but they are on the smaller side.

Just my guess.....

http://www.castoinfo.com/retail/collaterals/aerial/accp-196246-oct08.pdf

http://www.castoinfo.com/retail/collaterals/leaseplan/accp-plan.pdf

[David1502]

Originally Posted by hsvdj84

I'm guessing that might have been a typo on HSV Times part. I have no idea what the paper said because I didn't see it but the name of the owner of that property is Casto, based out of Ohio. It's most likely that the permit was issued to them to start the development of the JoAnn Fabrics that is going in on the far end of the complex, closest to Research Park. EarthFare, Powerhouse and JoAnn are the only listed tenants on their website at this time. According to their website there are still two spaces open but they are on the smaller side.

Just my guess.....

http://www.castoinfo.com/retail/collaterals/aerial/accp-196246-oct08.pdf

http://www.castoinfo.com/retail/collaterals/leaseplan/accp-plan.pdf

You must be right. It didn't make sense for Costco to move to such a small space. I didn't know that Joann's Fabrics is moving there. It is pretty remarkable in this economy that they have been able to lease out almost all of this shopping center. It seems to me that the old Barnes and Noble, a more attractive looking space would have been leased before this center did.