OKC/Will Rogers Air Service Discussion 2011

[venture]

http://www.flyokc.com/statistics/Apr...nplanement.pdf

Could be better...., not "bad" though.

4% drop in passengers isn't bad, and still up 1% for the year. It would be nice if they got a bit more detailed in their report that other airports do. Posting load factors/seats offered would be a very nice help in figuring out exactly how airlines are performing.

[SkyWestOKC]

They updated the map today:
http://flyokc.com/NonstopFlights.aspx

Posted yesterday:
http://www.flyokc.com/statistics/Apr...20Activity.pdf

I'll have images of the new ARINC hangar and the new Atlantic Aviation FBO up tonight or tomorrow. Both are coming along nicely.

[woodyrr]

Does anyone know how the schedules work?

I have received my (hopefully) last itinerary change for a flight about a month away and none of the three flights show up on flightaware. The flight out of OKC is to DEN on UX (Skywest) 6217, but there is a GoJet flight (3611) in approximately that slot right now.

[SkyWestOKC]

Regional contractors change pretty frequently. SkyWest is still operating 6217 in June.

[damonsmuz]

Hey all, I am new so forgive me if this is in the wrong "discussion", but any idea why USAirways does not serve OKC? I would think with only 1 airline hitting the southeast (Delta) to the southeast, CLT could atleast serve 2 perhaps 3 flights a day?? Thoughts???

[damonsmuz]

Can anyone tell me why USAir doesn't fly to OKC? I would think with Delta being the only airline flying n/s to the southeast, that USAir could support maybe 3 flights a day to CLT on an EMB...thoughts???

[ljbab728]

Can anyone tell me why USAir doesn't fly to OKC? I would think with Delta being the only airline flying n/s to the southeast, that USAir could support maybe 3 flights a day to CLT on an EMB...thoughts???

USAir was in OKC a couple of years ago after they merged with America West and then pulled out. I not opposed to it but CLT wouldn't benefit us much unless someone was flying there. They don't have much in the way of connections that we can't already get with other airlines (Delta would be the main competition in that area).

[venture]

Can anyone tell me why USAir doesn't fly to OKC? I would think with Delta being the only airline flying n/s to the southeast, that USAir could support maybe 3 flights a day to CLT on an EMB...thoughts???

Well as you can tell by my avatar, I may be a bit partial to US. LOL They tried maintaining the old America West routes out of here to LAS and PHX, but Southwest destroyed them. CLT would be a great market for them out of here, tons of connecting opportunities, and an great low risk hub to fly through. Not to mention it also is a major banking hub and that never hurts.

USAir was in OKC a couple of years ago after they merged with America West and then pulled out. I not opposed to it but CLT wouldn't benefit us much unless someone was flying there. They don't have much in the way of connections that we can't already get with other airlines (Delta would be the main competition in that area).

The point would be to increase competition out of OKC. Right now direct to the southeast US we have...Delta. Until Southwest looks at adding ATL (once AirTran is fully integrated), Delta will continue to control that market. CLT has a much lower delay risk than ATL and will get you anywhere along the East Coast and Central America/Caribbean.

O&D might be the only concern for the route, but that could develop once the route is started. Should be decent though with a couple ERJ-170s a day.

[SkyWestOKC]

Effective in November Southwest will reduce Houston Hobby from 4x daily to 3x through January (end of schedule). Most likely a seasonal draw-down.

[Kerry]

CLT would be a great market for them out of here, tons of connecting opportunities, and an great low risk hub to fly through. Not to mention it also is a major banking hub and that never hurts.

Not to mention that USAir is a big business carrier here on the East Coast with hubs in Charlotte and Philadelphia and with good vacation access to Florida, the Caribbean, and Europe. They fly into 8 airports here in Florida.

[SkyWestOKC]

Also, the airport is paving and lighting the north overflow lot and making it a taxi staging/waiting area. (The gravel lot on the north side of Amelia Earhart opposite the north shuttle lot.) Taxi drivers have made it too dangerous and a hassle for other drivers where they currently park. Which is on 67th street just north of the control tower. I see it every day, taxi drivers making illegal U-turns, blocking both eastbound lanes to talk window to window (sometimes facing opposite directions, with one of the cabs in the eastbound lane facing west), standing in the middle of the street talking, leaving their doors open in the middle of the street, etc.. Also, the drivers are arrogant and feel they are entitled to do it. When I see it, and I have to drive on the other side of the street to get around them, I honk and hold up my arms, they look like I am the one in the wrong, not them for blocking the street illegally. I am very pleased to see the airport is moving them off this street, but they ought to make the taxi companies pay to pave and light this lot, since it is a direct result of their drivers not obeying the law and being responsible.

[damonsmuz]

Venture, thanks for the reply. I agree, CLT would be a good option. Would OKC be willing to offer incentives to USAir in order to get them to return???

[venture]

Venture, thanks for the reply. I agree, CLT would be a good option. Would OKC be willing to offer incentives to USAir in order to get them to return???

As much as I would hope...I doubt the airport has any interest in offering revenue guarantee incentives to get them back. It is a shame, as Kerry stated...US is big back east. I missed the days of being able to take them on a quick hop to (the old) Pittsburgh hub, walk through the Air Mall, and then hop on a flight down to National, Philly, or Florida. Such an amazing airport to connect through...well it was. It was also nice when many small/medium communities had mainline service by USAir when everyone else didn't. First class all the way into many smaller midwest and northeast markets was always a treat.

Perhaps they'll come back. We'll have to wait and see. Two things that I can see happening with them though. 1) They'll finally do away with most of the America West junk. LAS was a cash pit, and it is gone. PHX is alright, but still too much exposure to Southwest and the yield poor West Coast. Would like to see them retool and finally execute on Wolf's "carrier of choice" strategy instead of being a hybrid low fare carrier. Or 2) Attempt to push a merger with either American, Delta or United. Delta and United have their hands full and don't need US's network. American on the other hand could use a secure footing on the east coast and one of the most efficient and sizable hubs back east (Charlotte). However, American needs to worry about not falling into bankruptcy right now which they are very close to. Of course, that could open the door for a US take over (which of course the American name would survive) and mash the two together anyway.

[brianinok]

I noticed on the Will Rogers Wikipedia site today that it says we have Delta (not just Delta Connection) service to Atlanta and MSP. When did/does Delta service to MSP start?

[SkyWestOKC]

Not sure who changed that. But the schedule (updated yesterday) indicates all CRJ service from now until the end of the schedule.

[venture]

Yeah not sure why someone made that change. Took it off though.

[brianinok]

Well, that's disappointing. Oh well, we still have twice daily mainline service to Atlanta. I would expect us to get mainline service to Detroit on Delta before MSP anyway.

[SkyWestOKC]

Yeah, it would have been nice to have that. One thing that is different about OKC than a lot of airports our size, we normally have mainline to only one of the carrier's hubs, while other airports have mainline to multiple hubs. We have a good chance of having mainline on United to Houston and Denver though. Depends on how the new United allocates their fleets. Right now it's just Denver, but once the merger starts to come through, I'm sure United would like to increase the overall mainline percentage of Houston. Houston will be the largest hub, so it is likely we could see mainline to there when the merger is more mature.

Anyway, here are the May numbers:
http://www.flyokc.com/statistics/May...nplanement.pdf

Looking good!

[venture]

Really wish we could get a break down of load factor in the report from the airport. Traveled over the last week and OKC specifically...outbound to STL was pretty full. However in bound yesterday from DEN was pretty pathetic. Vast majority of those on board were going on to Dallas. Only deplaned maybe 40 people at the most in OKC it seemed. Once the Love Field restrictions are gone, won't be shocked to see some of the Southwest service to OKC pulled back.

Airport overall was pretty good. Security was fast. Check in at Southwest was a little annoying because people don't understand you use to the kiosks, not all wait in line for the counter agent to call you up. The new massive FID board past security was kinda cool. I wish they would have a display somewhere over the escalators down to the baggage claim to help direct people to the right claim. Concession area wasn't bad, but pretty dirty and the service at a couple of the vendors wasn't all that friendly.

[LakeEffect]

I also flew out last week (on United). My flights were about 75% full...

I really wish we could localize our restaurant offerings even more. Get a Good Egg Dining establishment in there or something. Didn't I hear that a mini-Pops was coming?

[SkyWestOKC]

AA load factors have been very high all year. LAX service is selling good.

[dmoor82]

http://www.smartbrief.com/servlet/rd...8-4E1D589001B7

[SkyWestOKC]

Those have been discussed for quite a long time before anyone from the news covered them. I made a post about Atlantic in May or June 2010 about their FBO plans. They had a press release that the news never picked up. ARINC announced their plans for their 2nd MRO hangar (not general aviation) October or Novemberish with construction to start in January 11.

[venture]

It is nice to see ARINC staying pretty busy, as well as AAR...from a maintenance perspective anyway. Monday looked like ARINC had 3 KC-135s parked out there and AAR had a couple Allegiant (G4) MD-80s sunning themselves. Anyone know if the G4 birds are in short term storage or are they going through engine overhauls (since they were missing)? Now if they would only come back here and open up Florida.

[SkyWestOKC]

They are waiting on engines. They have completed return to service checks and received the new paint.