Globalflyer From United States, joined Dec 2005, 122 posts, RR: 0 Posted (2 years 3 months 2 weeks 1 day 7 hours ago) and read 1862 times:
Wow! Spirit has announced new nonstop Airbus service from ATL-LAS/TPA/MCO (the latter two destinations being seasonal).
My question is what are they thinking? I know that in Feb they started a daily FLL nonstop from ATL that continues to various points in the Caribbean. Does anyone know how this service is doing? It must be doing well if they are going to challenge both DL and FL. Remember that B6 tried the same thing to LGB and OAK and unfortunately for us in ATL they had to drop the service and cut their losses.
Iowaman From United States, joined May 2004, 3250 posts, RR: 5 Reply 4, posted (2 years 3 months 2 weeks 1 day 7 hours ago) and read 1802 times:
Jeez, all low yield highly competitive routes, that both DL and FL have high frequency on and low fares as well as connection feed. ATL-LAS also has HP/US and has feed from LAS.
Srbmod From United States, joined Mar 2001, 13454 posts, RR: 43 Reply 5, posted (2 years 3 months 2 weeks 1 day 7 hours ago) and read 1774 times:
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Considering that DL, FL, and HP/US pretty much send out full flights on the route, it's almost a no-brainer flight for NK. At the same time, it's a bit of a surprise as well. If this succeeds for them, I might consider trying them out the next time I fly to Vegas.
Vegas means comedy, tragedy, happiness and sadness all at the same time.
ClearedDirect From United States, joined Oct 2004, 222 posts, RR: 0 Reply 6, posted (2 years 3 months 2 weeks 1 day 7 hours ago) and read 1774 times:
Well as a frequent patron of the MCO-ATL-MCO route, all I can say is there is definately a demand. I think there are about 12 flights a day between MCO and ATL combining DL and FL and they are always pretty full. You can expect to pay through the nose if you book late.
Maybe this will help.
Humberside From United Kingdom, joined Dec 2005, 3927 posts, RR: 5 Reply 7, posted (2 years 3 months 2 weeks 1 day 7 hours ago) and read 1719 times:
Quoting MAH4546 (Reply 3): Spirit has done very well on FLL-ATL, but don't be fooled. Somebody announced a major Detroit expansion just a few hours ago.
Isn't this the last thing Spirit need to be doing? They are having a few troubles at the moment and now they are getting in a 'battle' with a far larger and stronger airline. Isn't this going to end in tears for Spirit?
Although good aircraft utilisation by Spirit - especially the LAS red eye
MAH4546 From Sweden, joined Jan 2001, 22951 posts, RR: 66 Reply 8, posted (2 years 3 months 2 weeks 1 day 7 hours ago) and read 1692 times:
Quoting Humberside (Reply 7): Isn't this the last thing Spirit need to be doing? They are having a few troubles at the moment and now they are getting in a 'battle' with a far larger and stronger airline. Isn't this going to end in tears for Spirit?
Spirit's "troubles" are far over-exageratted. Their expansion has gone quite well with few sour spots (Turks & Caicos and Dallas). The losses lately have come from the huge costs associated with switching from an all-MD80 fleet to an all-Airbus fleet in less than two years. Those losses were inevitable.
The flights are using planes that would otherwise sit on the ground in Tampa, Orlando, or Atlanta, so it isn't a huge risk they are taking, though I question if they will be very successful.
PVD757 From United States, joined Aug 2003, 3111 posts, RR: 16 Reply 10, posted (2 years 3 months 2 weeks 1 day 7 hours ago) and read 1652 times:
Looking at the schedule - it appears to be an aircraft utilization effort. The ATL-LAS-ATL is the aircraft matches up perfetly with the aircraft that arrives from FLL and otherwise would have RON'd in ATL. The MCO and TPA are clealy aircraft that would have otherwise RON'd in those cities and they are simply sending them up to ATL to fetch whatever revenue they can and back down in the morning in time to go to FLL, ACY, DTW, or wherever.
Good move on thier part to maximize revenues on a short(er) length flight (not too much fuel burn) between large markets.
WorldTraveler From United States, joined Aug 2003, 5195 posts, RR: 19 Reply 11, posted (2 years 3 months 2 weeks 1 day 6 hours ago) and read 1621 times:
Flight times aren't great but the real story may be that FL and NK are getting into a fight on DL and NW's doorsteps. This could be interesting to watch. I think NK will come away with the most wounds.
SESGDL From United States, joined Jan 2001, 2543 posts, RR: 17 Reply 13, posted (2 years 3 months 2 weeks 1 day 6 hours ago) and read 1502 times:
Quoting ClearedDirect (Reply 6): Well as a frequent patron of the MCO-ATL-MCO route, all I can say is there is definately a demand. I think there are about 12 flights a day between MCO and ATL combining DL and FL and they are always pretty full. You can expect to pay through the nose if you book late.
Maybe this will help.
There are actually 25 or so daily flights each way daily between ATL and MCO on DL and FL, with DL using 7-8 widebodies on the route. MCO is the busiest route from ATL.
ScottB From United States, joined Jul 2000, 3966 posts, RR: 22 Reply 17, posted (2 years 3 months 2 weeks 1 day 5 hours ago) and read 1390 times:
Quoting MAH4546 (Reply 8): The flights are using planes that would otherwise sit on the ground in Tampa, Orlando, or Atlanta, so it isn't a huge risk they are taking, though I question if they will be very successful.
Well, except that Spirit still has to pay for crew costs, fuel, amortized maintenance, and airport costs for these flights. The actual airframe costs (leases and depreciation) only run in the neighborhood of 10-15% of operating costs for most carriers.
I have my doubts (like you) that Spirit will find much success with these flights, what with Delta and AirTran both having a strong presence in the ATL market. The only way they're going to fill these planes is with rock-bottom prices, and that doesn't seem like a good way to ensure profitability.
ATA767 From United States, joined Jul 2003, 419 posts, RR: 1 Reply 18, posted (2 years 3 months 2 weeks 1 day 1 hour ago) and read 1190 times:
1 flight from ATL-LAS is hardly a threat to anyone but if it is in addition to the existing service Spirit has in ATL, it will cause some eyebrows to raise.
MAH4546 From Sweden, joined Jan 2001, 22951 posts, RR: 66 Reply 19, posted (2 years 3 months 2 weeks 1 day ago) and read 1162 times:
Quoting ScottB (Reply 17): Well, except that Spirit still has to pay for crew costs, fuel, amortized maintenance, and airport costs for these flights. The actual airframe costs (leases and depreciation) only run in the neighborhood of 10-15% of operating costs for most carriers.
That doesn't add to the risk. That is what any airline will see when adding any new route. The fact remains that the planes would otherwise be parked at these times. They are not taking capacity from other routes, they are not hiring new employees, they are not adding a new station, they are not adding new markets, they will not need to advertise the flights heavily. There is virtually zero risk involved, and if the flights perform poorly to the point where it is cheaper to the park the plane, then they park the planes again. Nothing wrong with that.
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