So my wife and I are finally guilty of contributing to the leakage to DFW. Last minute trip to LA - tickets out of OKC were $700+ each, out of DFW barely over $200, and this is on AA, not Spirit. At least we'll get to have dinner with friends tonight. That drive back when we return is going to be hell though. Bizarre but makes sense given low oil prices and AA aggressively matching Spirit's fares. If only OKC was a big enough market for Spirit, I'm sure we'd see fares go down across the board here. Hopefully we don't have to do this again!

Last minute tickets are notorious for having the prices jacked up, it probably just means the flight out of DFW was nowhere near full.

http://www.flyokc.com/statistics/October2015Enplanement.pdf

Alaska still doing well on filling flights, north of 80% LF. Averaging 63 people per departing flight, 69 on the way back. Plane holds 76.

What really sucks is that Frontier leaving the market has really skewed our overall numbers. United is up big time though.

What really sucks is that Frontier leaving the market has really skewed our overall numbers. United is up big time though.

Yeah I'd venture to say oil being down isn't really hurting us that bad. We might even be up in November, those October numbers are solid.

What really sucks is that Frontier leaving the market has really skewed our overall numbers. United is up big time though.

United has captured most of the Frontier traffic by beefing up capacity to DEN (Went from all Q400 to mostly Airbus after Frontier pulled out), Alaska probably picked up a bit of that slack to SEA and PDX.

Looks like Delta captured Southwest and some AA traffic last month.

Just noticed, looks like November Alaska (SkyWest) is operating the CRJ7 on SEA-OKC, which is a monumental mistake IMHO.

4 hours westbound on a CRJ is brutal, especially now that the winter North American jetstream is beginning to pick up, some of these flights may approach 4 1/2 hours with the winter headwind.

Why make that switch, catch?

Why make that switch, catch?

I keep track of schedules quite a bit and as far as I can recall, November was always for sale as an E175. Which makes me believe this was a pretty recent switch.

That leads me to believe that SkyWest had an E175 go out of service unexpectantly for something requiring a few weeks of work. Or they planned on having a frame available but a delivery was late from Embraer so they had to backfill the route with a CRJ.

It's still a poor decision, they should have pulled an E175 off of the SEA/PDX-SLC routes to keep a 4 hour route on the most comfortable plane, especially since it is a brand new market and any hiccup can turn a customer off of the new carrier in the market.

agreed, surely they could have put the crj onto a shorter SEA/PDX to SLC route and let OKC have the E175 while 'ours' is being repaired. Why didn't they give the crj to Milwaukee or whatever the other city Alaska expanded to along with OKC?

Anyway, hopefully the switch is just for November.

Last minute tickets are notorious for having the prices jacked up, it probably just means the flight out of DFW was nowhere near full.

Nope - DFW-LAX flights were damn near full all day. It's just fares were coincidentally much cheaper around the time spirit operates their flights. No idea why that would be!

So maybe this is a stupid question, but I saw the UA 757-300 flying in today for OU's charter to Waco. Does that plane fly in dry from IAH? I couldn't find on UA's website where that was a revenue flight.

So maybe this is a stupid question, but I saw the UA 757-300 flying in today for OU's charter to Waco. Does that plane fly in dry from IAH? I couldn't find on UA's website where that was a revenue flight.

Yes, by contract of the charter it is required to be flown non-revenue on the way in to pick up a charter. The idea behind this is because they don't want any passenger related issue to compromise the charter segment which the airline would be required to refund the cost to the team fully. A good example would be a medical diversion or unruly passenger creating a diversion situation.

Makes perfect sense, thanks catch for the clarification. I was confused when I saw the 753 flying over downtown, so I had to check it out on flightaware tonight.

Going to add some speculation.

Last few weeks American has been announcing several routes from PHX to the region. While I can't say for certain if OKC is in line, it is possible.

America West never had the brand in OKC to fight against Soithwest to LAS or PHX. Us airways never had the brand loyalty in OKC to continue PHX after the LAS hub closed for HP.

I think with the strength of the AA brand in OKC, it is logical to see PHX return to compete with DL's SLC and UA DEN access to the desert / mountain west.

Of course, the jury is still out on PHX as a hub anyway. It may be a last breath like UA CLE service was, we end up getting tied in to the hub in its last days.

I think PHX has potential in the AA network, but how profitable once fuel skyrockets again?

Just some Sunday morning thoughts.

Going to add some speculation.

Last few weeks American has been announcing several routes from PHX to the region. While I can't say for certain if OKC is in line, it is possible.

America West never had the brand in OKC to fight against Soithwest to LAS or PHX. Us airways never had the brand loyalty in OKC to continue PHX after the LAS hub closed for HP.

I think with the strength of the AA brand in OKC, it is logical to see PHX return to compete with DL's SLC and UA DEN access to the desert / mountain west.

Of course, the jury is still out on PHX as a hub anyway. It may be a last breath like UA CLE service was, we end up getting tied in to the hub in its last days.

I think PHX has potential in the AA network, but how profitable once fuel skyrockets again?

Just some Sunday morning thoughts.
Fuel won't be skyrocketing for a while, unless the wars in the Middle East cranks to another level.

I see AA announced PHX-MEM and PHX-MAF. I know West Texas towns have been dying for west bound flights (Abilene,Lubbock and Amarillo) for quite some time now that was not on a Southwest plane. I'm guessing AA has a few planes sitting around...

Would OKC-PHX flights take away from OKC-LAX ???

Depends on how they handle LAX traffic. They briefly ran 3 daily to LAX. In lieu of that returning, they may look to add 1 daily PHX.

PHX offers domestic west coast connections that LAX doesn't. LAX handles transpacific connections and premium O&D traffic that PHX can't. With the right strategy, they can keep both hubs profitably.

Why use seats on OKC-LAX for west coast connections, when PHX can handle some of that, leaving LAX as a premium??

Would be a logical add, given the constraints at LAX. Would hate to see OKC-PHX somehow replace LAX though - hopefully the 2x LAX service stays! I'd think 2x PHX should work on E75/CR7/9 equipment. Lots of connections still available at PHX.

Oklahoma City airport expects busy holiday week | News OK (http://newsok.com/oklahoma-city-airport-expects-busy-holiday-week/article/5462448)

I never flew until recently. I was still in school and not making the money that gave me the opportunity to fly. Well now we've flown several times, several places all out of okc until just the other day. We decided to go to Miami/Ft Lauderdale. The tickets out of OKC even months in advance were around $350-$400 per person. However through spirit, it was $175. Also the flight out of Dallas was a direct flight where the flight from OKC had a 2 hour layover in Atl I think. Anyway we decided to visit the wife's grandma who lives right off I635 and then fly out.

Alaska has a fare sale $119 o/w to SEA and $159 o/w to PDX. That is tax included. Good opportunity.

are the planes still full? I'm a little nervous that there's a fare sale.

are the planes still full? I'm a little nervous that there's a fare sale.

Systemwide Cyber Monday "Week". I just purchased ABQ-SEA-PDX for $97 all in. Amazing deal.

oh freew. (wiping sweat!)

Dang I wish I had seen that about the deal...

Flew OKC-CLT on AA this past week and while flipping through The American Way Mag saw that the EMB-190 was being used on mainline while the EMB-175 was being used by AE. First, let this show that the EMB 175/190 series is a good enough plane to be deemed mainline. (I remember someone saying how much they hated that equipment type). Anyways, does anyone have info on how well the CLT flights have been doing? Our flight out on Weds AM was full. The flight back (Sat PM) was about 80% full. I don't mind the CRJ-900 on this route but didn't know if there would ever be an upgauge in equipment type or are the 175/190 not going to be used in CLT.

When the route first started, for about a month they ran an E170. I think it was a last minute sub for a month. I think Mesa had a few frames out of service unexpectantly so they backfilled.

Really wish that we could get direct flights to Austin from OKC. I travel there pretty frequently with work and the layovers kill me. lol

Really wish that we could get direct flights to Austin from OKC. I travel there pretty frequently with work and the layovers kill me. lol

If the market grew just a bit more, it might be viable for Southwest. With DAL becoming unrestricted, Southwest might look to overfly DAL in order to free up space in the DAL schedule for markets that are important to dal. For example, by sending a trip OKC-AUS (instead of OKC-DAL-AUS), they free up the gate of one turn which may help them add a DAL-LGA or something like that.

Just an idea, the industry is in a huge change cycle right now again. Strategies are changing. DL is causing havoc in SEA, VX is trying to stir up some DAL action, AA is adjusting LAX/PHX, AS is adding routes to diversify their network in case DL starts winning share in SEA, UA is rapidly trying to increase mainline service to markets, F9 is rearranging their network away from DEN, and WN is adjusting to more freedom at DAL. All this signals changes for the way OKC has been traditionally served, and I think opens some exciting opportunities.

Speaking of, I see on Airliners.net that AA will introduce the E175 on DFW-OKC beginning Feb 11.

I don't know which flights as they are not up for sale yet. But I doubt it will be every flight. Prob a 10 a day mix like we currently see. I could see the future schedule looking *something* like this once the S80's are fully retired:

0530 - E175
0600 - B738
0700 - A319
1030 - E175
1155 - E175
1330 - A319
1445 - B738
1540 - E175
1700 - A319
1930 - E175

Added emphasis, I don't want anyone to think that is the actual schedule -- just what I think will happen once the E175's enter for Envoy and the S80's exit the mainline fleet.

It will be a truly sad day to no longer see the S80's anymore.... they are one of my favorite rides and they mean a lot to me personally for nostalgia reasons.

It will be a truly sad day to no longer see the S80's anymore.... they are one of my favorite rides and they mean a lot to me personally for nostalgia reasons.

Can't agree with you more! My wife and I love the S80 if nothing else for the 2-3 seating, far more comfortable than the 737/A320 series. Plus I believe the economy seats on the S80 are actually 0.5-1 inch wider. Makes a difference in steerage. Not to mention they're an easy upgrade these days!

I've always loved the S80 as well, so I will be sad to see it go. Especially because it decreases my chance of being upgraded to FC by removing 4 seats.

I, too, have flown them a bunch over the years both on AA and TWA. In the '90s I thought they were so boring. But flying them some in the last ten years I really like them--such a remarkably quiet ride if you are sitting near the front of the cabin! Lots of fond spring breaks going STL-DFW-PSP on S80s.

I still refer to the MD-80 as "Super". But only AA's are Super...Delta not-so-much. I love love love the MD-80..I'll never forget taxing behind one while in a Cessna 210 once.. when the S80 took off..there was this deep punch in my gut that the engines left..it felt so cool.

Got to fly on the MD-80 this week and it's always fun to catch a ride on those old birds. The seats are bigger, the flight feels smoother than the tiny regional jets that fly around, and if you have a window seat you feel like you can actually sit straight up instead of having the window push into your space.

They are loud (not that there's anything wrong with that) and pollute a lot more than newer birds. It's nice that there are fewer middle seats than most mainline jets, and it's a quiet ride.

November traffic is out.

http://www.flyokc.com/statistics/November2015Enplanement.pdf

Alaska numbers will be a little harder to dissect because of the CRJ7 operating some of the flights and I don't have the time to go through and see exactly which days.

But, it did probably bring their average down. Average of 60 passengers per flight outbound, 66 inbound.

United and Delta look good. I think Allegiant began their OKC-LAS in November.

Slight increase overall for deplanements. Slight decrease of outbound.

So, catch, is Alaska doing poorly or as expected?

So, catch, is Alaska doing poorly or as expected?

I don't know the financials. But given the low price of oil, and the fact they are pulling consistent 80+% LF's I would say they are doing well.

My wife flew to Seattle and back and she had a hard time finding flights that were not sold out.

She took Alaska up on a Wednesday and came back on Continental/United on a Monday, back in October.

Right now is when WRWA needs to be lobbying as hard as they can for more flights. Oil is cheap. Airlines will be adding capacity to take advantage of this. American is adjusting PHX and PHL. Get on the phone and lobby. Alaska is growing PDX. Get on the phone and lobby. Spirit is trying to grow to protect FLL marketshare. Call them up and get us connected to FLL. You never really hear much out of OKC while all of these other cities are getting the dots connected.

Of note is that AA has added a nonstop flight between OKC and MIA for the Orange Bowl leaving on Dec. 30th and returning on Jan. 1st. It's expensive though. Prices start at over $1,200.00.

Of note is that AA has added a nonstop flight between OKC and MIA for the Orange Bowl leaving on Dec. 30th and return on Jan. 1st. It's expensive though. Prices start at over $1,200.00.

Good catch! Looks like a B738 both ways. Departs OKC at 6pm and arrives back into OKC at 530pm.

Of note is that AA has added a nonstop flight between OKC and MIA for the Orange Bowl leaving on Dec. 30th and return on Jan. 1st. It's expensive though. Prices start at over $1,200.00.

Interesting. I wonder if the Saturday-only AA TUL-MIA nonstop will get any additional flights as well?

Good catch! Looks like a B738 both ways. Departs OKC at 6pm and arrives back into OKC at 530pm.

There were plenty of seats left the last time I checked this morning.

Interesting. I wonder if the Saturday-only AA TUL-MIA nonstop will get any additional flights as well?

It's not impossible, but I doubt it.

Of note is that AA has added a nonstop flight between OKC and MIA for the Orange Bowl leaving on Dec. 30th and returning on Jan. 1st. It's expensive though. Prices start at over $1,200.00.

The price for this today has dropped to a low of $778.20.

Experienced my first taste of the AA OKC-LAX E75 last week in 1A en route to SFO. MUCH preferred this routing as opposed to OKC-DFW-SFO for a couple of reasons (greater upgrade potential for the long leg being at the top of the list). I welcome E75s to OKC on the DFW route with open arms.

I'm surprised it is only one flight and only a 737-800. You'd think OU fans would be traveling en-mass (at least more than a hundred) would be on the route. I would think it would need a 777 and likely a few flights for the day or two before and after the game. Do OKC people really not travel or is the existing scheduled flights really good enough to handle that crush load?

Here's the official "travel package" I found on soonersports.com, looks like they have a direct charter(s) to FLL from OKC.

https://www.primesport.com/d/oklahoma-sooners?utm_source=oklahoma_sooners&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=bowl_packages&utm_campaign=oklahoma_sooners_newsletter

*Edit: Last week, they had a package that included airfare/transportation/hotel and it looks like it's completely booked because all they have now is same day air travel, which sounds rough! Fly to Miami, watch the game, fly back to OKC directly afterwards.

I'm surprised it is only one flight and only a 737-800. You'd think OU fans would be traveling en-mass (at least more than a hundred) would be on the route. I would think it would need a 777 and likely a few flights for the day or two before and after the game. Do OKC people really not travel or is the existing scheduled flights really good enough to handle that crush load?

There is enough slack in the system during the holidays to handle leisure traffic. There's virtually zero business demand during the Christmas/New Years holiday weeks. these empty seats normally occupied by business travelers are being filled by leisure traffic. This add by AA allows them to capture the most willing to pay that much. If they added more they would have to charge less, most likely.

I'm surprised it is only one flight and only a 737-800. You'd think OU fans would be traveling en-mass (at least more than a hundred) would be on the route. I would think it would need a 777 and likely a few flights for the day or two before and after the game. Do OKC people really not travel or is the existing scheduled flights really good enough to handle that crush load?

Don't forget there are many more options (most cheaper) connecting through places like DFW, ATL, HOU, etc. This nonstop is simply about convenience.

I'm surprised it is only one flight and only a 737-800. You'd think OU fans would be traveling en-mass (at least more than a hundred) would be on the route. I would think it would need a 777 and likely a few flights for the day or two before and after the game. Do OKC people really not travel or is the existing scheduled flights really good enough to handle that crush load?

I would expect some people would want to take the normal flights to make a week of it (lows mid 70's and highs mid 80's) verses basically flying down and right back, plus with the original price if you were going with one other person the price difference covers a decent chunk of a weeks hotel (at the original price possibly more than that).

Wow - on the OKC-MIA nonstop, only 1 F seat left on the outbound and just two F seats left on the return! Pretty impressive yields :)

thanks for the insights, all! :)

Our friends up the turnpike are losing their Dulles flight on UA this year.

Yikes. No TUL-IAD? I'm assuming it was on a CRJ-700?

Tulsa is an interesting market IMO. It's overserved with equipment that is far greater than the city needs thanks to AA's maintenance yard. 757's..737's.

I think it was an E145

Our friends up the turnpike are losing their Dulles flight on UA this year.

Hopefully that opens the door for TUL-BWI on Southwest. Or TUL-DCA. :)

Doubt Southwest would touch it if UA can't even profitably fill a 50 seater at insanely cheap fuel prices.