San Antonio International Airport News & Updates

[Dot]

https://x.com/xjonnyc/status/1816200402901016645?s=46

Saw on twitter jetblue is exiting the SA market on 10/26. FWIW they’re also exiting MSP and CLT.

[texboy]

Originally Posted by Dot

https://x.com/xjonnyc/status/1816200402901016645?s=46

Saw on twitter jetblue is exiting the SA market on 10/26. FWIW they’re also exiting MSP and CLT.

Wow... shocked only because I believe these routes were doing well, but Jetblue is undergoing a major cut back so guess its not totally surprising. Losing that Boston route definitely hurts. I've taken that flight a couple times and it was packed. Maybe Delta can fill the void?

[LSPaul]

Originally Posted by Dot

https://x.com/xjonnyc/status/1816200402901016645?s=46

Saw on twitter jetblue is exiting the SA market on 10/26. FWIW they’re also exiting MSP and CLT.

Meanwhile Jet Blue is trying to block direct SAT to DCA service.

From the San Antonio Business Journal

"While JetBlue Airways Corp. notes in comments filed with the U.S. Department of Transportation that the agency should award slot exemptions to underserved communities, it suggests that the Alamo City isn’t one of them.

JetBlue officials contend that because Southwest Airlines currently offers a roundtrip flight from Austin to Washington National San Antonio doesn’t warrant one of the D.C. slots.

“The catchment area for Southwest’s Austin DCA flight in fact includes San Antonio,” JetBlue officials note in their comments to the DOT, adding that “people in San Antonio can drive to Austin for the existing non-stop service to DCA.” "

[texboy]

Originally Posted by LSPaul

Meanwhile Jet Blue is trying to block direct SAT to DCA service.

From the San Antonio Business Journal

"While JetBlue Airways Corp. notes in comments filed with the U.S. Department of Transportation that the agency should award slot exemptions to underserved communities, it suggests that the Alamo City isn’t one of them.

JetBlue officials contend that because Southwest Airlines currently offers a roundtrip flight from Austin to Washington National San Antonio doesn’t warrant one of the D.C. slots.

“The catchment area for Southwest’s Austin DCA flight in fact includes San Antonio,” JetBlue officials note in their comments to the DOT, adding that “people in San Antonio can drive to Austin for the existing non-stop service to DCA.” "

Wow.... Bye to them. Jet Blue can't even make a point with this when you see that you can literally fly from 13 cities in Florida to DCA.... THIRTEEN. Iowa with its sparse population has TWO cities with flights to DCA. Peace out Jet Blue. It wouldn't surprise me at all if American runs packed A321's on this route damn near every day of the week.

[JACKinBeantown]

Originally Posted by Dot

https://x.com/xjonnyc/status/1816200402901016645?s=46

Saw on twitter jetblue is exiting the SA market on 10/26. FWIW they’re also exiting MSP and CLT.

Well, f@¢k.

[Tornado]

Sucks about jet blue, mainly because that was our only BOS service, if I’m correct. Maybe American would be willing to open that one up. Does anyone have insight how the load factors were?

[JACKinBeantown]

I've done the BOS-SAT / SAT-BOS round trip direct flight five or six times this year and the flights have always been full. JetBlows.

[aggie2008]

I did the SAT - JFK flight last week and it was 100% full both ways. Always has been honestly. I do hope AA picks up that flight now that the NE alliance is over.

[AI0120]

Here are the load factors for JetBlue from March 2023 to March 2024

3/23
To BOS- 91%
From BOS- 88%

To JFK- 89%
From JFK- 90%

4/23
To BOS- 87%
From BOS- 88%

To JFK- 91%
From JFK- 87%

5/23
To BOS- 94%
From BOS- 84%

To JFK- 90%
From JFK- 78%

6/23
To BOS- 95%
From BOS- 86%

To JFK- 89%
From JFK- 83%

7/23
To BOS- 93%
From BOS- 82%

To JFK- 90%
From JFK- 89%

8/23
To BOS- 77%
From BOS- 72%

To JFK- 84%
From JFK- 81%

9/23
To BOS- 75%
From BOS- 61%

To JFK- 73%
From JFK- 62%

10/23
To BOS- 87%
From BOS- 85%

To JFK- 75%
From JFK- 72%

11/23
To BOS- 79%
From BOS- 74%

To JFK- 81%
From JFK- 77%

12/23
To BOS- 65%
From BOS- 74%

To JFK- 84%
From JFK- 81%

1/24
To BOS- 69%
From BOS- 65%

To JFK- 63%
From JFK- 58%

2/24
To BOS- 66%
From BOS- 73%

To JFK- 57%
From JFK- 58%

3/24
To BOS- 79%
From BOS- 77%

To JFK- 83%
From JFK- 78%

[cole world11]

Originally Posted by aggie2008

I did the SAT - JFK flight last week and it was 100% full both ways. Always has been honestly. I do hope AA picks up that flight now that the NE alliance is over.

I feel that. I was on the Jetblue BOS-MSP (RIP for us too) last week and by chance, the SAT flight was at the gate next door and the holdroom was packed 30 mins until boarding. My hope would be Delta picks up the flight and ups frequencies on the JFK route.

[Tornado]

Sainz has mentioned in a couple of news articles that passenger counts were good and the Boston route is proven. They are working on getting someone to take on the route as soon as possible

[JACKinBeantown]

I notice that the load factor numbers drop a bit in late 2023 in the BOS flights. I don't know if the timing is the same, but originally the flight from Boston was around 10:00 a.m. Then they changed it to 7:00 a.m. That made me find a different flight with a connection because I don't want to wake up at 4:30 a.m. to catch a direct flight; I'd rather get proper sleep and make a connection somewhere. For example, I flew BOS-SAT-BOS a month ago and found a flight with a reasonable time on another airline, then took the Jetblue flight back to Boston in the afternoon. That early morning departure time from Boston probably made many other people do the same as me, thus dropping the passenger count. Maybe looking at the data and understanding your passengers is something Jetblue could work on.

[Tornado]

Originally Posted by JACKinBeantown

I notice that the load factor numbers drop a bit in late 2023 in the BOS flights. I don't know if the timing is the same, but originally the flight from Boston was around 10:00 a.m. Then they changed it to 7:00 a.m. That made me find a different flight with a connection because I don't want to wake up at 4:30 a.m. to catch a direct flight; I'd rather get proper sleep and make a connection somewhere. For example, I flew BOS-SAT-BOS a month ago and found a flight with a reasonable time on another airline, then took the Jetblue flight back to Boston in the afternoon. That early morning departure time from Boston probably made many other people do the same as me, thus dropping the passenger count. Maybe looking at the data and understanding your passengers is something Jetblue could work on.

Yeah, that is great insight and I’m sure a contributing factor like you mentioned.

[texboy]

Originally Posted by JACKinBeantown

I notice that the load factor numbers drop a bit in late 2023 in the BOS flights. I don't know if the timing is the same, but originally the flight from Boston was around 10:00 a.m. Then they changed it to 7:00 a.m. That made me find a different flight with a connection because I don't want to wake up at 4:30 a.m. to catch a direct flight; I'd rather get proper sleep and make a connection somewhere. For example, I flew BOS-SAT-BOS a month ago and found a flight with a reasonable time on another airline, then took the Jetblue flight back to Boston in the afternoon. That early morning departure time from Boston probably made many other people do the same as me, thus dropping the passenger count. Maybe looking at the data and understanding your passengers is something Jetblue could work on.

Yeah, this isn't one of those get up early and be at your 9 or 10am meeting in another city flights. Its an almost 4 hour flight that with the time change makes it 5 hours from wheels up to touch down going from SAT to BOS, then you have to deal with Logan airport and Boston traffic. Why frazzle yourself with the early flight to not really even get to Boston until after noon local time when you can take a later flight and have the same amount of productivity? I believe this is primarily a business route and not leisure, which is why I'm speaking from that perspective.

[AI0120]

Volaris is starting nonstop service to Monterrey starting November 3. Daily service on an Airbus A320 is what the schedule is showing.

Article in Spanish
https://www.debate.com.mx/viajes/Mas...0730-0200.html

[babysal]

SAEN
By Richard Webner,
Aug 1, 2024

https://www.expressnews.com/news/art...a-19613828.php

Mexican airline Viva Aerobus will start the new route on Dec. 2, and fly between San Antonio and Guadalajara four times each week. The low-cost Mexican airline Viva Aerobus plans a new route between San Antonio International Airport and the popular business and vacation destination of Guadalajara.

The route will begin on Dec. 2 and fly back and forth between San Antonio and Guadalajara International Airport — in Mexico's Jalisco Valley — four times a week, according to a news release from the airport. Viva is also ramping up its service between San Antonio and Monterrey, Mexico, starting on Nov. 1, according to the airport. That route currently operates twice a day and the airline plans to increase it to three times a day on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

San Antonio already has a direct flight to Guadalajara operated by the Mexican airline Volaris, according to the airport's website. Volaris introduced the flight in 2013, with its CEO, Enrique Beltranena, calling Guadalajara the "Silicon Valley of Mexico." He also mentioned that thousands of migrants from the area had settled in U.S. cities and wanted to travel back to visit friends and relatives, with the alternative being a 28-hour bus ride.

"Viva Aerobus is doing so well expanding its nonstop service to Mexico,” Jesus Saenz, director of airports with the city of San Antonio's Aviation Department, said in a written statement. “Guadalajara is a popular destination for business travelers, tourists who want to check out the birthplace of mariachi music and for people in our community who want to visit their friends and relatives.” The San Antonio flight is one of eight that Viva is launching from Guadalajara International, with half of those to U.S. destinations.

“The four new routes to the USA will strengthen the region’s international connectivity," Viva's CEO Juan Carlos Zuazua said in a written statement.. "We see great potential in the Guadalajara market." The new flight announcement is a patch of blue sky in an otherwise gloomy week for the San Antonio airport after JetBlue Airways revealed that it will cut its daily flights between San Antonio and Boston and between San Antonio and New York as it struggles to return to profitability after losing $716 million in the first three months of this year. A spokesperson for the airline said it was leaving San Antonio due to "under-performance and lack of customer demand." Boston has long been a coveted flight destination for the local business community.

After JetBlue pulls its service, travelers will still be able to fly nonstop to New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport on Delta Air Lines. Saenz told the Express-News that his team was “a little surprised” by JetBlue’s decision and that the daily Boston flights have mostly been full. He said the airport aims to attract another airline to offer a nonstop route to Boston.

“Boston is very critical to us,” he said. “We’re already leaning in and having conversations with other carriers about obtaining that service. Or if at some point JetBlue wants to resume service, then we would be excited for that as well.”

[JACKinBeantown]

Originally Posted by babysal

SAEN
By Richard Webner,
Aug 1, 2024

https://www.expressnews.com/news/art...a-19613828.php

Saenz told the Express-News that his team was “a little surprised” by JetBlue’s decision and that the daily Boston flights have mostly been full. He said the airport aims to attract another airline to offer a nonstop route to Boston.

“Boston is very critical to us,” he said. “We’re already leaning in and having conversations with other carriers about obtaining that service. Or if at some point JetBlue wants to resume service, then we would be excited for that as well.”

Hopefully they make it work. And not a ducking 7:00 a.m. flight.

[Runner]

The airport director is definitely not doing his job. Should have fought to the very end to keep that “Boston” flight. He definitely wouldn’t keep his job in Austin.

[texboy]

Originally Posted by Runner

The airport director is definitely not doing his job. Should have fought to the very end to keep that “Boston” flight. He definitely wouldn’t keep his job in Austin.

I definitely think this was out of his hands. Jetblue is dealing with lots of financial issues right now, alot of it related to its failed (and ill conceived IMO) bid to purchase Spirit. Their line about these flights not being profitable is probably more of ruse to to excuse poor financial oversight of their business. The flights (up until the change to 7a SAT-BOS) were 90ish% full. Now that this route is proven, I definitely could see either AA or Delta picking this one up, maybe even Frontier.

[ILUVSAT]

Originally Posted by Runner

The airport director is definitely not doing his job. Should have fought to the very end to keep that “Boston” flight. He definitely wouldn’t keep his job in Austin.

As previously mentioned, this has zero to do with Saenz. In fact, I believe he is doing an admirable job.

Regardless of who helms the port, airlines are going to do what is in the best interest for them. Period.