This Week’s Featured Link
JetBlue and Spirit to Create a National Low-Fare Challenger to the Dominant Big Four Airlines – JetBlue Newsroom
The hostile bid has worked. JetBlue and Spirit, together forever… if the feds say it’s ok.
Video of the Week
Two for the Road
Too few pilots and airline seats at smaller airports despite record pay; ‘auction’ pushes fares up – WHTM 27
Why is this small outlet doing a deep dive into airline issues? Check that byline. Seth Kaplan, formerly of Airline Weekly, is at the station, and when they let him do airline work, it’s great.
New Plane Here, Limited Booking Available – The Molokai Dispatch
Thanks to @quanterium for pointing out that Mokulele is now running a Saab 340 on Molokai and Lānaʻi. This is hugely important for Molokai, because it is much easier for wheelchair passengers, and it allows more in the belly.
13 comments on “3 Links I Love: SpirBlue is Happening, Small Airports with Big Problems, Big Props in Molokai”
My friend Suzanne watched that planewrck of an CNBC interview yesterday & she couldn’t believe it.
You say SpirBlue. I say jetBlue-it. We shall see.
I say “The Spirit of JetBlue.” Now will they serve St. Louis?
Spirit does already, but will B6 keep the station?
CF,
Why would Molokai purchase a 20+ year old “new plane” than actually ordering a ATR (or similar). I don’t understand the logic.
Angry – An ATR is much bigger and much more expensive. The Saab is far better-sized for this market while still giving the benefit of a larger option than the Caravans.
I fondly remember my day trip on Mokulele to Lanai many years ago, shortly after Ellison bought the island. First flight on a Sunday morning. At checkin I was told I was the only booked passenger, and I don’t know if they would have canceled the flight and tried to put me on a later one (which would have ruined the trip), but they also had to deliver a bag to a resort guest on Lanai that had missed the connection the night before. So I got a personal guide (gate agent) to the plane (with photo shoot), then got to choose any seat, and had a wonderful scenic flight over to Lanai. Closest I have ever been to flying private. Then upon arrival Larry’s driver picked me up and drove me to Lanai City and later to the resort. (I called him Larry’s driver because Ellison owns pretty much everything on the island, including the free shuttle).
The big picture is this. Like everything else in hawaii. Mokulele has in most markets, a monopoly. Price are high. Seats are usually scarce. Until the State
does something major to end all the monopolies (the State should compete with private companies; Matson, Young Brothers
Air freight, Hawaii Electric, Gasoline distributors) prices will remain out of control.
A public company’s owners (stockholders) ultimately decide what direction the company takes, not its executives.
Why does a brand have to disappear? B6 and NK have two very different business models. Both have some degree of brand recognition. Why not buy it but keep the brand and their profits?
That’s what happened when BP bought out ARCO 22 years ago.
ARCO as a corporate entity ceased to exist. But the brand was so valuable that BP kept it alive.
Why not something similar here?
It causes brand confusion. For example, AMC theatres once had different names on it’s theatres such as… Star, Loews & Starplex. Now there’s AMC, AMC Classic or AMC Dine in depending on the market & demand.
Mainly because JetBlue does not want spirit the airline. They want Spirit’s planes, pilots, and other employees.
Or the Spirit “taxicab of the skies” reputation.