Comments on: Southwest’s Next City is Boston http://crankyflier.com/2009/02/19/southwests-next-city-is-boston/ Fri, 12 Mar 2010 17:01:47 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Robert S http://crankyflier.com/2009/02/19/southwests-next-city-is-boston/comment-page-1/#comment-70767 Robert S Sat, 21 Feb 2009 06:55:54 +0000 http://crankyflier.com/?p=2160#comment-70767 I'm surprised by Boston too. I've done plenty of trips to Boston via PVD and MHT and it's a little inconvenient to downtown Boston but not seriously so. They already more or less "cover" this market. Compare with how they didn't come near MSP until this March (OMA is the nearest SWA airport to MSP... a 6 hour drive.) I'd sure expect ATL on the short list, and well before any of the heavily served yet not huge city hubs like CLT, CVG, and MEM. I’m surprised by Boston too. I’ve done plenty of trips to Boston via PVD and MHT and it’s a little inconvenient to downtown Boston but not seriously so. They already more or less “cover” this market. Compare with how they didn’t come near MSP until this March (OMA is the nearest SWA airport to MSP… a 6 hour drive.) I’d sure expect ATL on the short list, and well before any of the heavily served yet not huge city hubs like CLT, CVG, and MEM.

]]> By: The Traveling Optimist http://crankyflier.com/2009/02/19/southwests-next-city-is-boston/comment-page-1/#comment-70761 The Traveling Optimist Sat, 21 Feb 2009 03:30:43 +0000 http://crankyflier.com/?p=2160#comment-70761 Maybe a handful is all they need in this current environment. Hourly service in any market during this Polar Bear economy makes about as much sense as hot sauce in a dry sauna. Maybe a handful is all they need in this current environment. Hourly service in any market during this Polar Bear economy makes about as much sense as hot sauce in a dry sauna.

]]> By: CF http://crankyflier.com/2009/02/19/southwests-next-city-is-boston/comment-page-1/#comment-70754 CF Fri, 20 Feb 2009 22:49:32 +0000 http://crankyflier.com/?p=2160#comment-70754 Allen - The shuttle idea is possible, but they'd immediately be at a severe disadvantage since they only have a handful of slots at LaGuardia. Allen – The shuttle idea is possible, but they’d immediately be at a severe disadvantage since they only have a handful of slots at LaGuardia.

]]> By: Allen http://crankyflier.com/2009/02/19/southwests-next-city-is-boston/comment-page-1/#comment-70750 Allen Fri, 20 Feb 2009 20:57:57 +0000 http://crankyflier.com/?p=2160#comment-70750 While adding SFO, MSP and now Logan show that Southwest is willing to go into the big main airports, I wouldn't assume that will be the only cities they'll be adding. It seems a bit like pointing to some new Walmart store in a big city and assume they won't be adding stores in smaller towns. As for Boston, it'll be interesting to see what routes they choose and how it affects other airlines. Could this be yet another step in moving in on shuttle operations on the east coast a bit like they've being in California? While adding SFO, MSP and now Logan show that Southwest is willing to go into the big main airports, I wouldn’t assume that will be the only cities they’ll be adding. It seems a bit like pointing to some new Walmart store in a big city and assume they won’t be adding stores in smaller towns.

As for Boston, it’ll be interesting to see what routes they choose and how it affects other airlines. Could this be yet another step in moving in on shuttle operations on the east coast a bit like they’ve being in California?

]]> By: SirWired http://crankyflier.com/2009/02/19/southwests-next-city-is-boston/comment-page-1/#comment-70722 SirWired Thu, 19 Feb 2009 18:47:56 +0000 http://crankyflier.com/?p=2160#comment-70722 DCA? Probably not. BWI is too close. (Unlike ISP/JFK/LGA/EWR, BWI is a viable alternative to DCA. It's just a short commuter rail, bus ride, or shuttle trip away.) The BWI operations are too large to fit in any slots that are likely to open up anytime soon in DCA. DCA? Probably not. BWI is too close. (Unlike ISP/JFK/LGA/EWR, BWI is a viable alternative to DCA. It’s just a short commuter rail, bus ride, or shuttle trip away.) The BWI operations are too large to fit in any slots that are likely to open up anytime soon in DCA.

]]> By: Randy http://crankyflier.com/2009/02/19/southwests-next-city-is-boston/comment-page-1/#comment-70721 Randy Thu, 19 Feb 2009 18:11:23 +0000 http://crankyflier.com/?p=2160#comment-70721 Chattanooga is a secondary airport contrary to the recent WN strategy. ATL and CLT would loom large owing to their current strategy, with CVG and MEM being the next echelon of obvious possibilities. DCA is tough because it is so slot constrained and makes it much less likely. FLL is so close to Miami, there isn't too much benefit of being closer as they are only 12 miles apart. If Air Train ever floundered, a Southwest purchase would make a lot of sense, bolstering BWI and Florida, and adding ATL and an expanding MKE presence. Air Train flies to a lot of little cities such as Branson that are very far off of Southwest's usual radar though. Chattanooga is a secondary airport contrary to the recent WN strategy. ATL and CLT would loom large owing to their current strategy, with CVG and MEM being the next echelon of obvious possibilities. DCA is tough because it is so slot constrained and makes it much less likely. FLL is so close to Miami, there isn’t too much benefit of being closer as they are only 12 miles apart. If Air Train ever floundered, a Southwest purchase would make a lot of sense, bolstering BWI and Florida, and adding ATL and an expanding MKE presence. Air Train flies to a lot of little cities such as Branson that are very far off of Southwest’s usual radar though.

]]> By: chris http://crankyflier.com/2009/02/19/southwests-next-city-is-boston/comment-page-1/#comment-70719 chris Thu, 19 Feb 2009 17:26:46 +0000 http://crankyflier.com/?p=2160#comment-70719 Hey Brett: If SW does not buy AirTran to get into ATL, I bet they'd consider Chattanooga, which is only about two hours north of ATL and only an hour from much of the wealthy northern arc of Atlanta suburbs. It's a nice, modern, easy to use airport. http://www.chattairport.com/ Hey Brett: If SW does not buy AirTran to get into ATL, I bet they’d consider Chattanooga, which is only about two hours north of ATL and only an hour from much of the wealthy northern arc of Atlanta suburbs. It’s a nice, modern, easy to use airport. http://www.chattairport.com/

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