OKC/Will Rogers Air Service Discussion

[SkyWestOKC]

Yeah, I'm used to the A.net script that makes them an acronym. LOL

About the website, I am pretty good with PHP/HTML/JS etc. I started to make one a few months ago, but I kinda forgot about it. If you and I want to go at it together I'd be more than happy to help. okcaviation.net if isn't taken is a pretty good name.

[AAC2005]

Not to interrupt the acronym party, but are there any places near the airport that are good for watching planes come and go (preferably an area where Homeland Security/OKCPD won't get the heebie-jeebies)?

[SkyWestOKC]

I'm a pretty frequent spotter. The parking garage is good, just park in the short term. I've never been run off. OKC is spotter friendly, just don't break the law or look like you are breaking the law and they'll leave you alone. The Post Office is also good. I wrote this:

Spotting In Oklahoma — Aviation Photography Forum | Airliners.net

I mistyped, Spot C is actually S. Meridian not Portland.

[SkyWestOKC]

Nashville International Airport - BNA

I think our airport could change the site to something like that, it wouldn't take a ton of work. Hell, I would do it for free, just because it is an embarrassment to our city, if they gave me the opportunity.

[AAC2005]

I'm a pretty frequent spotter. The parking garage is good, just park in the short term. I've never been run off. OKC is spotter friendly, just don't break the law or look like you are breaking the law and they'll leave you alone. The Post Office is also good. I wrote this:

Spotting In Oklahoma — Aviation Photography Forum | Airliners.net

I mistyped, Spot C is actually S. Meridian not Portland.

Thanks! Very informative (I forget sometimes that there is a west side of the airport, LOL!)

[Kerry]

Nashville International Airport - BNA

I think our airport could change the site to something like that, it wouldn't take a ton of work. Hell, I would do it for free, just because it is an embarrassment to our city, if they gave me the opportunity.

The Nashville web site isn't any better than any other. Just text arranged in boxes.

Instead of boxes and texts an illustration showing the inside of the terminal with roll-over hotspots would be much more user friendly. For example, instead of a box that says "Wi-Fi Services" how about a lady sitting in a chair using her lap top. When you roll-over that part of the illustration it displays the text "Wi-Fi Services". People are visual in nature which is why even the youngest children can play video games before they can read.

Here is another example. Instead of text in a box that says "Construction Updates" there could be some Bob the Builder type guys in the background cutting wood on a saw horse. When you roll your mouse over it the text "Construction Update" appears. It will make people want to explore the web site.

[scapula]

Just joined the forum but, as a GA pilot pursuing a professional position, it's good to see aviation discussion here. Glad people recognize aviation as a lifeline for Oklahoma.

[SkyWestOKC]

November 2009 statistics are now available:
http://flyokc.com/releases%5CNov%2009%20Activity.pdf
Everything is down except for Passenger Numbers, which is a good thing. November 2009 saw a 1.53% increase in passengers than November 2008. Now, that is not a number to get too excited about, but it does indicate either a bottoming out of traffic declines (which is supported by the past few months) or an increase in holiday traffic. YTD traffic is down approximately 9%, though.

The Nashville web site isn't any better than any other. Just text arranged in boxes.

Instead of boxes and texts an illustration showing the inside of the terminal with roll-over hotspots would be much more user friendly. For example, instead of a box that says "Wi-Fi Services" how about a lady sitting in a chair using her lap top. When you roll-over that part of the illustration it displays the text "Wi-Fi Services". People are visual in nature which is why even the youngest children can play video games before they can read.

Here is another example. Instead of text in a box that says "Construction Updates" there could be some Bob the Builder type guys in the background cutting wood on a saw horse. When you roll your mouse over it the text "Construction Update" appears. It will make people want to explore the web site.

It looks 1,000x better than our site:

http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/7351/compq.jpg

[Kerry]

It looks 1,000x better than our site:

LOL - yes but 1000 X 0 is still 0.

[SkyWestOKC]

OKC-LAX goes from 1X->2X daily starting in April.

Oklahoma City -> Los Angeles Intl. 1 daily to 2 daily, beginning April. Will be served on a CRJ7 (Canadair Regional Jet 700).
OKC-LAX 640pm-750pm (local times)
LAX-OKC 709pm-1153pm (local times)

Also, people -- our new F9 (Frontier) service to MCO (Orlando) and TPA (Tampa) is NOT selling good. I think it is due to the bad flight times and (lack of) advertising. If you want this service to continue, support this route. I know if the service makes it until summer I will be supporting it.

[venture]

Frontier could be doing so much better here if they just advertised. Their commercials would get people talking. Instead, they'll be stupid and shoot themselves in the foot and not get out and spread the word. Granted, the airport has to do their part as well to help market it.

All in all...Florida has never done good from here, so I'm not shocked to hear it selling poorly.

[SkyWestOKC]

The flight times are really bad. OMA (Omaha) got the good end of this deal. OKC sells flights best that depart in the morning, especially vacation.

A 230 departure with a 6pm arrival is not attractive for vacation spots, like MCO. You lose an entire day to travel. OMA has a 7am departure with about a noon arrival. Perfect - and guess what? Their flights to both TPA and MCO are just about sold out solid each day. Typical that OKC gets the short end of the stick.

[ljbab728]

The flight times are really bad. OMA (Omaha) got the good end of this deal. OKC sells flights best that depart in the morning, especially vacation.

A 230 departure with a 6pm arrival is not attractive for vacation spots, like MCO. You lose an entire day to travel. OMA has a 7am departure with about a noon arrival. Perfect - and guess what? Their flights to both TPA and MCO are just about sold out solid each day. Typical that OKC gets the short end of the stick.

I've been in the travel business in OKC for over 20 years and I can tell you without doubt that nonstop flights to business destinations will always be more successful than to vacation destinations which are much too seasonal. I hope the Florida flights work but I've seen that tried before and it didn't. Even with better flights times it would be difficult.

[SkyWestOKC]

The EMB190 is a perfect jet for this route. It seats 99. Southwest attempted Saturday only in Spring of 2008. That was on 137 seat airplanes. Delta also operated this route with CRJ700's (70 seats). The CASM (Cost per Available Seat Mile) was too high for a 70 seat plane on that long of a stage length. The 737 (137 seats, which Southwest flew) has a lower CASM divided upon 137 full seats. But riding at say half the capacity, it's CASM was higher than they could make a profit on. The EMB190 in theory splits the gap. It sits at 99 seats, which is enough to lower the CASM among more seats, but not excess seats, to make it profitable. We should just give it time, but I am just about ready to write these two routes off due to Frontier and our Airport's own doing.

WRWA needs to not only court the airlines and routes, but they also need to try to put forth a little effort in advertising them. It's a win-win situation. If the route is good it will stay and make the airport look good.

Use it or lose it.

[SkyWestOKC]

Frontier is now beginning to advertise some.

I have seen some internet ads on google, and I have seen some banner ads on local news websites (KOCO, KWTV, for example). I have also heard some radio advertising, but I only heard the last 3 seconds on 947 the Brew, while I turned my car on.

EDIT: I would also like to add, the Airport Trust approved last meeting (16 DEC 2009) to allocate $75,000 in advertising support for Frontier's new service to MCO (Orlando) only. The Trust voted in 2002 to assist new airlines/routes in local advertising support if they met the following prerequisites: Service must be at least 5x weekly; Service must be non-stop jet service to a major east or west coast city. Frontier's service fits the criteria for the MCO (Orlando) route only.

[venture]

Some good news for AAR at Will Rogers. Not sure if this will lead to Allegiant doing what Reno Air did.

AAR to Perform Heavy Maintenance for Allegiant Air - Yahoo! Finance

AAR to Perform Heavy Maintenance for Allegiant Air

WOOD DALE, Ill., Jan. 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- AAR (NYSE: AIR) announced today that it has signed a five-year agreement with Allegiant Air, LLC to provide maintenance and modification services for Allegiant's fleet of 46 MD-80 aircraft.

Scheduled maintenance work will be performed at AAR's MRO facilities in Miami and Oklahoma City. Additionally, AAR's Indianapolis facility will be available to support Allegiant's unscheduled maintenance requirements and Allegiant may request that AAR provide technical and engineering support services from various field locations. The contract builds upon an October 2008 agreement, under which AAR was contracted to perform maintenance on six of Allegiant's MD-80 aircraft.

"We've built an excellent working relationship with Allegiant and are pleased to be taking the MD-80 maintenance program to a new level," said Donald J. Wetekam, AAR's Group Vice President of MRO. "Our team is committed to providing reliable service with competitive turn times that will enable Allegiant to operate its fleet cost-effectively while maintaining their high levels of passenger service."

AAR leverages its diverse MRO, engineering and logistics capabilities to offer airlines customized, integrated solutions that lower costs, increase asset availability and ensure high levels of quality, safety and service. With heavy maintenance facilities located throughout the United States, AAR is the second largest independent MRO provider in North America and ranks among the top ten in the world.

A subsidiary of Allegiant Travel Company (Nasdaq: ALGT), Allegiant Air, LLC is a low-cost, high-efficiency, all-jet passenger airline focused on linking travelers in small cities to world-class leisure destinations such as Las Vegas, Phoenix, Los Angeles, Orlando, Fla., Tampa/St. Petersburg, Fla., and Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

AAR is a leading provider of products and value-added services to the worldwide aviation/aerospace industry. With facilities and sales locations around the world, AAR uses its close-to-the-customer business model to serve airline and defense customers through three operating segments: Aviation Supply Chain; Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul and Structures and Systems. More information can be found at AAR CORP..

[venture]

Frontier is now beginning to advertise some.

I have seen some internet ads on google, and I have seen some banner ads on local news websites (KOCO, KWTV, for example). I have also heard some radio advertising, but I only heard the last 3 seconds on 947 the Brew, while I turned my car on.

F9 (Frontier) is airing the Florida "Thong" commercial on TV now. Oh how I missed that one. LOL



Two others of my all time favorites from them.

[SkyWestOKC]

Are these on local TV?

I saw a billboard in Midwest City with the F9 (Frontier) tails and advertising OKC-MCO (Orlando)

[brianinok]

I saw that first commercial ("Thong") on tv tonight. It was in the 7:00 hour on NBC/KFOR during Chuck (which is an awesome show-- you should all be watching it). I cracked up. First time I'd seen one of Frontier's commercials.

[HOT ROD]

use the flights and SPREAD THE WORD!. ...

I want to see OKC keep this route and establish others (even if we only get a few days a week service, so be it).

By the way, any idea what plane F9 uses for the OKC-MCO (TPA) routes and if they are dailies?

[venture]

Flights are being operated by Embraer 190s flown by parent Republic Airlines. Not sure if it will be in Midwest colors or not, since the same aircraft is being use to fly a couple routes out of Omaha I believe under the Midwest brand. For those that don't know, Republic owns both Frontier and Midwest.

[SkyWestOKC]

I am going to run out to OKC and grab a pic of the E190 departing tomorrow, I doubt I will be able to catch the inbound.

Glad to hear that Frontier is advertising the route now, I think by the time the schedule ends, the flight will be doing well, and they make keep them for the summer.

[LakeEffect]

Unrelated to the Frontier stuff...

What's the biggest equipment Delta (NWA) is flying out of OKC right now? What time(s)?

[SkyWestOKC]

Unrelated to the Frontier stuff...

What's the biggest equipment Delta (NWA) is flying out of OKC right now? What time(s)?

CRJ9's...they go to ATL (Atlanta), MSP (Minneapolis), MEM (Memphis), and DTW (Detroit).

The Thunder and other NBA teams charter Delta A319's into OKC, but the times vary.

I didn't have time to hit the airport up today, going to go out Saturday or Sunday and get a pic of the Frontier (Midwest) E190's.

[LakeEffect]

CRJ9's...they go to ATL (Atlanta), MSP (Minneapolis), MEM (Memphis), and DTW (Detroit).

The Thunder and other NBA teams charter Delta A319's into OKC, but the times vary.

I didn't have time to hit the airport up today, going to go out Saturday or Sunday and get a pic of the Frontier (Midwest) E190's.

Thanks. I recall flying an E175 in from Memphis last year. Maybe those aren't bigger than CRJ9s, but they feel a bit roomier... I like getting in and out a bit faster due to the smaller planes, but I don't like how small I feel and how little luggage I can bring on board. Oh well.