OKC/Will Rogers Air Service Discussion 2011

[SkyWestOKC]

Yeah it's a 900. I've heard more of our RJ's will move up to the -9.

[OUman]

^Or upgrade to the EMB 175s/190s. I've seen DL Conxn operate those to/from both ATL and DTW from time to time.

[SkyWestOKC]

We have 1 E175 that runs ATL-OKC-DTW everyday.

[brianinok]

I was on an E175 last week. What a great rj! Plenty of room for people and luggage. You could even fit the smaller rolling suitcases in the overhead bins. I wish airlines would drop the E145 and the CRJ-200 (and even the -700) for more of these E175s! I prefer mainline, but when that isn't an option I'll be looking for an E175 from now on.

[venture]

I was on an E175 last week. What a great rj! Plenty of room for people and luggage. You could even fit the smaller rolling suitcases in the overhead bins. I wish airlines would drop the E145 and the CRJ-200 (and even the -700) for more of these E175s! I prefer mainline, but when that isn't an option I'll be looking for an E175 from now on.

I think we'll see the trend go that way. Also with Bombardier working to get the C-Series launched here soon, the smaller RJs will be fading out. Of course the big issue with these are the price tags. Couple that with the inability to sell the 50-seaters they have now (no market), it'll take some time.

The next thing I would like to see is a new turboprop product put out there in the 19 to 70 seat market. The Dash 8 Q400 is a great aircraft, fast and roomy, but just too darn expensive. The ATR-72-600 (or is it 500 we are on?) isn't much better than the earlier versions. Just new engines and such.

[SkyWestOKC]

From the ramp agent perspective, I much rather CRJs over Emb jets. From the passenger perspective, vice versa.

[OUman]

The next thing I would like to see is a new turboprop product put out there in the 19 to 70 seat market. The Dash 8 Q400 is a great aircraft, fast and roomy, but just too darn expensive. The ATR-72-600 (or is it 500 we are on?) isn't much better than the earlier versions. Just new engines and such.

Yeah, the -600's the latest variant. It has more powerful engines (PW127M) which provide a 5% greater thermodynamic peformance for hot and high airports. I've read that there is a boost option which allows the plane to takeoff from airports like London City (LCY) with a full load and also has a 6-degree glideslope approach capability.

I've flown in the ATR 72-200 and the -500, and this past March I had my first opportunity in the Dash 8-Q400. While many people sing its praises, my opinion is I was not impressed by any means. Unless it's just Colgan that cannot maintain its Q400s properly, the Q400's propellers produce a constant drone in-flight, they're very loud on takeoff, and the entire cabin (the seats, tray tables and the ceiling) were vibrating during cruise. As in fast, rhythmical movements to the chord of the props. (I flew in it twice-OKC-IAH and again on IAH-OKC, both times I experienced the same thing, though to a somewhat lesser degree on the way back).

On the other hand in my experiences, aside from the -200, the ATR 72-500 (which I've flown in twice as well) has absolutely no vibrations in the cabin (even the -200 didn't), sounds much more like a jet in-flight, and has larger overhead bins. The Q400 has the same bins as the CRJs, so you have to gate-check larger roller carry-ons. Oh and did I mention while boarding the Q400, anyone taller than 5' has to duck while entering from a jetway?

[venture]

Ahhh okay. I personally haven't had a chance to get on the Q400 yet. I have been on the older AT7s that Eagle had back in the day. Really wish the RJ fad didn't go completely extreme with the 30-50 seaters. A lot of cities/markets lost service because of their horrible economics and many routes would still be around today with lower costing, newer generation turboprops. An airport near where I grew up use to have 11-12 flights a day on Delta to Cincinnati...today, zero. RJs are just too expensive and destroyed short haul markets.

[OUman]

^True that. You're not talking about Lexington are you? I read a story recently about it having about as many flights to/from CVG daily at one time.

I remember LAW having 5-6 daily flights back in the day with the Saabs and ATRs (Eagle), it lost those with the RJs for a while but now that the ATRs are back it's gained some flights.

The props are making a comeback though. Pinnacle even has a decent fleet of Q200s it has based at EWR for regional feeds.

[SkyWestOKC]

Heard from a friend that we might be finally getting an OKC-Chicago Midway (MDW) flight. Schedules released tomorrow. Fingers crossed, hope he's right!

[SkyWestOKC]

Actually, just found them posted right now. It is confirmed. Begins June 3, 2012.

[SkyWestOKC]

Departs OKC at 1215pm return is arrives at 615pm

[redrunner]

Which airline?

[SkyWestOKC]

Southwest.

[venture]

http://www.airliners.net/aviation-fo....main/5305391/

There is the thread on a.net where they are discussing it. About freaking time.

A couple random things that will interest me...
- Will they pull a nonstop to Kansas City or St. Louis to make up for this - I wouldn't be shocked.
- Will this push AA to return mainline to ORD, or UA to introduce it - probably not unless WN goes to 2 or 3 a day.

[ljbab728]

Departs OKC at 1215pm return is arrives at 615pm

I'm sure this will be attractive but not so much with business travelers. They normally prefer early flights. The return schedule leaves at 4:15PM which isn't bad. I think the nonstop schedule will do well though. At this time they are not showing any downgrades to either Kansas City or St. Louis.

[SkyWestOKC]

I'm sure this will be attractive but not so much with business travelers. They normally prefer early flights. The return schedule leaves at 4:15PM which isn't bad. I think the nonstop schedule will do well though. At this time they are not showing any downgrades to either Kansas City or St. Louis.

I'm optimistic, I think it will work. The times are decent for most travelers. Remember AA's OKC-LAX started as a 2pm arrival into OKC and a 3pm departure to LAX. It was well received and quickly got upgraded to 2 flights. Midday flights are a good medium for new markets. (technically it's a new market as Midway hasn't been served nonstop from what I can gather). It is a part of the larger Chicago market which has two main submarkets (ORD and MDW), though. Time will tell.

You are correct, the MCI and STL flights haven't been affected as of yet. Still trying to figure out where they are getting the airplane to do this flight from. We have had no additions or subtractions to make this flight work. The airplane won't RON in OKC, so the plane has to come from somewhere else. Unless they RON one of the other flights that normally rotates through and uses that "plane" to do this one, pushing the other flight to leave in the morning. For example, the MDW flight will use the BWI flights normal airplane (normally from DAL) and they change the BWI times to make it stay overnight (RON).

[venture]

Just to toss this in there. I have it on extremely good authority that US Airways will be revisiting the Great Lakes and Midwest starting in 2013. So we may yet see them return with flights going East instead of West...which would be very welcome. Not sure on where OKC is on the list, but many former US Airways markets are going to be targeted.

[OUman]

I thought OK was considered South or Southwest U.S?

[venture]

I thought OK was considered south or Southwest?

I really think it depends who you talk to. LOL

[ljbab728]

http://newsok.com/southwest-airlines...adlines_widget

[venture]

Looking at the latest frequency changes post on a.net, United will be axing 1 flight to both Denver and Chicago in March.

[damonsmuz]

Routes that WON'T AND WILL be at KOKC within 5 years.

I'm trying to think of which routes we won't see here in OKC within 5 years. Something tells me that Memphis will become the next CVG in Delta's system. Keep a few routes, but many cuts likely. I expect that OKC-MEM will be gone.

Maybe an added flight to Washington-Dulles. EWR seems to be maxed out on slots and IAD has more room for growth for United. Maybe Cleveland gets axed and flights shift to IAD, making IAD more important for United

Not sure if AA sees much change...

USAir returns to OKC... flights to PHX and CLT. (FINGERS CROSSED)

Southwest flights to ATL.


Thoughts? Ideas?

[OUman]

Hopefully we get a daily between here and SEA, and MDW goes to double dailies. If US Airways Express returns it will likely be to/from CLT.

Oh and MCO will be tried again and will no doubt fail again.

[ljbab728]

Maybe Cleveland gets axed

That already happened long ago from OKC.

Southwest has cut back service to PHX so there might be room for USAir to move back into that market. Another one I would like is OKC to PHL or PIT by USAir giving a lot of options for connections in the NE.

This doesn't affect OKC so much directly but certainly affects destinations for OKC passengers.

http://news.yahoo.com/airlines-cut-s...161057500.html