TIMBERWOLF24 From United States, joined Jun 2001, 370 posts, RR: 1 Posted (5 years 5 months 3 weeks 11 hours ago) and read 1028 times:
I was just wondering if anyone might know of any new routes ATA or Chicago Express might be adding in the near future? I know ATA was planning on starting MDW-SNA but that has been postponed (from what I have heard it may start in April '04). What is the likelihood of a MDW-SAN or PDX taking the place of SNA? I have also heard talk on expanding at SFO, any idea on new routes being looked at out of SFO?
How is Chicago Express doing, last year they had a lot of growth but haven't heard too much from them this year.
AS739X From United States, joined Apr 2003, 4318 posts, RR: 20 Reply 1, posted (5 years 5 months 3 weeks 10 hours ago) and read 990 times:
Timberwolf24: I have heard SFO-FAT/RNO/MRY/RDM and maybe a few other. I will believe it when I see it. I do hope for it though. One snag is that they had to operate from the remote Skywest terminal on the other side of the airport. No way around that I dont think. TZSFO may have more info then I do.
ASSFO
"Some pilots avoid storm cells and some play connect the dots!"
Ouboy79 From United States, joined Nov 2001, 2712 posts, RR: 21 Reply 2, posted (5 years 5 months 3 weeks 10 hours ago) and read 974 times:
Chicago Express isn't really planning anymore growth for awhile. They are running at near maximum utilization of the fleet (so much so that if one plane has a mx issue, they don't have the ability to swap). Chicago Express asked ATA last year for the ability to aquire a couple more Saabs, but they were denied. Until they are able to aquire more aircraft...don't expect any major expansion. Of course...the Saab won't be the only aircraft in the C8 fleet for much longer.
My blog on life and chasing. :) No URL in signature please
Trvlr From United States, joined Feb 2000, 4417 posts, RR: 21 Reply 3, posted (5 years 5 months 3 weeks 9 hours ago) and read 943 times:
ATA missed out on the opportunity to start MDW-SAN, I think. Southwest started the route with 3 daily flights a few months ago, and apparently it's been successful enough to merit a 4th starting soon. I'm not sure ATA would want to go head-to-head with WN on this route.
Wmupilot From United States, joined Jan 2003, 1473 posts, RR: 9 Reply 5, posted (5 years 5 months 3 weeks 6 hours ago) and read 875 times:
I have heard a ton of rumors from as many different sources. Right now I believe we have 18 SAAB 340's. As stated before we are at near maximum utilization of the fleet as it is. IND has 10 flts a day, MKE and GRR are next with 8, DAY is next with 7, followed by FNT at 6 and so forth on down with SPI at 4. The latest rumor that I have heard is the C8 is looking at the SAAB 2000 to open up some longer routes. I wouldn't look at jet soon however with the B6 order for 190's and the introduction into many C8 markes the management at C8 may have a different strategy. From our flight ops line they are saying that we shouldn't expect any big changes this summer or fall...but things change so let's all hope we will see some more, different and even jets in C8's near future.
Ouboy79 From United States, joined Nov 2001, 2712 posts, RR: 21 Reply 7, posted (5 years 5 months 3 weeks 5 hours ago) and read 852 times:
TZ/C8 wants a plane with more capacity. The Saab 2000 is a dead issue. They looked at them and were offered 4 of them to test out...they were turned down. The jets will not replace the existing Saab fleet at this time, but it will be part of a compatible family that could open the window.
I've talked to several people and the jets are on the way. It is no longer a matter of if...but when, and it will be sooner than most think.
My blog on life and chasing. :) No URL in signature please
LN-MOW From United States, joined Jan 2000, 1783 posts, RR: 15 Reply 8, posted (5 years 5 months 3 weeks 4 hours ago) and read 830 times:
There are so many rumors from all parts of the company now, so don't beleive anything until you see a press release.
Since SNA didn't happen, I would assume another destination is being evaluated - we must have some spare capacity now - but it could be anywhere. ATA has a number of cities on the wishlist, it could be any of these.
OzarkD9S From United States, joined Oct 2001, 3474 posts, RR: 30 Reply 9, posted (5 years 5 months 3 weeks 4 hours ago) and read 829 times:
I would love to see C8 do some PIA-MDW flights. PIA is the second largest city in Illinois (besides Rockford, too close to Chicago) without a link to MDW. 250,000 in the metro area...and no LCC's to be found.
AS739X From United States, joined Apr 2003, 4318 posts, RR: 20 Reply 10, posted (5 years 5 months 3 weeks 3 hours ago) and read 809 times:
Any chance of seeing C8 into CAK? Little LCC competion with F9. Do you really think that C8 would get ATR's after the AAEagle incident over Indiana? Seems to me that the airlines try to keep ATR's out of icing as much as possible.
ASSFO
"Some pilots avoid storm cells and some play connect the dots!"
WMUPilot From United States, joined Jan 2003, 1473 posts, RR: 9 Reply 11, posted (5 years 5 months 3 weeks 2 hours ago) and read 786 times:
I really don't think you will see any ATR's in a C8 paint scheme. Everybody knows that the jet's are coming. We just can't compete with the other carriers. The SAAB has a very limited range. Mainly due to the whine of the engines and how annoying it get's with the passengers. I work with them day in and day out and even i can't stand the whine on the little 40 minute flight to MDW from GRR. I think the furthest you will see C8 SAAB's from MDW is at LEX. As far as the jets go you won't see C8 getting any CRJ-200's, at least flying out of MDW as they don't have leading edge slats and would be weight restricted in the summer. Rumor has it is that if and CRJs are coming the will be the 700's. It would be nice to see a 700 in C8 colors leaving GRR in the morning, taking the place of our 0530 and 0900 departures and move the SAAB's else where. Say to PIE or LAX to feed ATA out of there. The SAAB's won't leave C8 for some time they will just supplement the next supply of aircraft that we get...whenever that will be..hopfully sooner than later.
TZSFO From United States, joined Dec 2002, 202 posts, RR: 6 Reply 13, posted (5 years 5 months 3 weeks ago) and read 772 times:
LV - I have heard RNO thrown around a bit.
I THINK (this statement contains forward looking statements....I have tried to identify those statements with BIG CAPITAL LETTERS and words like THINK) the next city on the list will be PDX with a similar flight schedule to SJC.
Also look for some big announcements regarding SFO here in the next few weeks...When our fall schedule begins to firm up....That's all I can say about that though....
TZ
It takes nerves of steel to stay neurotic. — Herb Kelleher
Ouboy79 From United States, joined Nov 2001, 2712 posts, RR: 21 Reply 14, posted (5 years 5 months 2 weeks 6 days 17 hours ago) and read 735 times:
Brian...it isn't as much of a rumor as you think.
Just don't expect to see them on the shorter hops at first, especially those with high frequencies already. Will there every be RJs in GRR? Absolutely. However stations such FNT and TOL will see them first (including IND & SBN by default). You'll then see cities in western New York, CAK, and so on added into the system. Commuter flights out of PIE is also pretty likely to happen, along with the long range ability of some RJs to be taken advantage of to link other C8 cities with the south.
My blog on life and chasing. :) No URL in signature please
WMUPilot From United States, joined Jan 2003, 1473 posts, RR: 9 Reply 15, posted (5 years 5 months 2 weeks 6 days 15 hours ago) and read 698 times:
I know i was just commenting on what version we would be getting. I at least hope that we will get a CRJ during GRR's peak times. The morning flights, which are always oversold. Would make life easier.
Ouboy79 From United States, joined Nov 2001, 2712 posts, RR: 21 Reply 17, posted (5 years 5 months 2 weeks 6 days 14 hours ago) and read 656 times:
I don't think ATA is going to have a problem making payments. When the pilots ripped the financials of ATA open...just say there is more money there than you think.
Brian - I think just about every city could go for an early AM CRJ. Of course I would really like for an evening (8pm) flight from TOL-MDW. Oh well...Ryan can bug Mike when he is here this week.
My blog on life and chasing. :) No URL in signature please
TIMBERWOLF24 From United States, joined Jun 2001, 370 posts, RR: 1 Reply 18, posted (5 years 5 months 2 weeks 6 days 13 hours ago) and read 633 times:
I just read that US Airway will be leaving SNA September 3rd, could this have ATA rethink service to SNA? Does US Airways have an RON slot that ATA is looking for?
It will be interesting to see news out of SFO and what kind of expansion ATA is looking at there. I know 2 years ago ATA was looking at expanding LAX and have C8 place 2 saabs out here for feeder service, but nothing ever came of that.
SegmentKing From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 19, posted (5 years 5 months 2 weeks 6 days 10 hours ago) and read 596 times:
Ouboy, then why did ATA's ratings just crash? Why did lending instutions and brokerage firms lower ATA's ratings? There is a reason.
ATA may be doing "fine" but they need to be outperforming and saving cash to make these huge debt payments... I believe the first one is due in December of 2003 for over $300 million (lump sum) and the other is for $470 million due by next May 2004...
Unless ATA had $800 million stacked away somewhere, they are going to be in a HEAP of trouble next year.
Fly_ATA From United States, joined May 2001, 616 posts, RR: 5 Reply 20, posted (5 years 5 months 2 weeks 6 days 8 hours ago) and read 567 times:
leave it to segmentking to say something negative about ATA, he has been bashing them for years, yet he still loves that free ride on them !! He started whining about them years ago when he worked for National in MDW and hasn't stopped. By the way those lease payment figures he mentions are way off the mark.
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