Why Austin and San Antonio are with sucks airport?

[Ghost Town]

Originally Posted by Lowexpectations

Where are you flying where many instances you have to connect through dfw? Unless you are flying AA I'm having a hard time understanding this issue

Different domestic destinations including NYC.

But seems like the situation improved compared to what it used to be a couple of years ago and now I see a lot more direct flights to NYC at most convenient times. Probably things are getting better.

[Lowexpectations]

Originally Posted by Ghost Town

Different domestic destinations including NYC.

But seems like the situation improved compared to what it used to be a couple of years ago and now I see a lot more direct flights to NYC at most convenient times. Probably things are getting better.

From iah to lga/ewr there are 13 direct flights available on united for tomorrow. It's been a pretty consistent route for years

[SweethomeSanAntonio]

Originally Posted by peterlemonjello

Im an airline consultant by trade so allow me to answer this.


Its all about demand.


Austin and San Antonio do not possess the demand for flights to Asia and San Antonio does not possess the demand for a flight to Europe.


In Houston you have roughly 4.2 million international O&D (meaning non connecting-Houston bound) passengers a year. Dallas/Fort Worth has roughly 3 million O&D passengers a year.


Austin and San Antonio are around the 500k mark with Austin being a bit higher than San Antonio. San Antonio's international demand is extremely Mexico top heavy with the bulk being international shoppers. They also have some military demand to Germany but not nearly enough for their own flight.


Austin is much more well rounded and has a larger market to Europe, Asia, and India than does San Antonio, but you wont ever see a plethora of international carriers there.


In short, the international demand in Texas is to DFW and especially Houston.

Austin demands flights to Europe but San Antonio does not? Not true, Austin has flights to Europe due to the fact of it being the capital of the second largest state in the country, the demand can't be that much more in Austin. Being the capital does have some advantages. San Antonio has more industry a larger economy and more people. San Antonio ranked as the 18th most visited city by international travelers to the U.S. so there is a demand on one end but most flights come through the nearby hubs DFW and Houston. San Antonio/Austin will always have to connect through hubs for transoceanic flights unless a regional Airport is built. Austin should be greatful for the few direct flights it does have to Europe.

[Trainwreck20]

Originally Posted by SweethomeSanAntonio

Austin demands flights to Europe but San Antonio does not? Not true, Austin has flights to Europe due to the fact of it being the capital of the second largest state in the country, the demand can't be that different. Being the capital does have some advantages. San Antonio has more industry a larger economy and more people. San Antonio ranked as the 18th most visited city by international travelers to the U.S. so there is a demand on one end but most flights come through the nearby hubs DFW and Houston.

*shrug* IT is possible the to Europe demand drives the connection, not the from Europe. But I don't think any airlines are choosing routes that are less than optimal for revenue for any of their planes.

[verybadgnome]

Originally Posted by SweethomeSanAntonio

Austin demands flights to Europe but San Antonio does not? Not true, Austin has flights to Europe due to the fact of it being the capital of the second largest state in the country, the demand can't be that much more in Austin. Being the capital does have some advantages. San Antonio has more industry a larger economy and more people. San Antonio ranked as the 18th most visited city by international travelers to the U.S. so there is a demand on one end but most flights come through the nearby hubs DFW and Houston. San Antonio/Austin will always have to connect through hubs for transoceanic flights unless a regional Airport is built. Austin should be greatful for the few direct flights it does have to Europe.

Actually Austin's economy measured in GDP is about 10% larger (link).

This is not my field but could the size of the runways between DAL/HOU and AUS/SAT have anything to do with not allowing larger aircraft?

Airlines are smart have have hordes of data with which to make route choices. Patience pays.

[SweethomeSanAntonio]

Originally Posted by verybadgnome

Actually Austin's economy measured in GDP is about 10% larger (link).

This is not my field but could the size of the runways between DAL/HOU and AUS/SAT have anything to do with not allowing larger aircraft?

Airlines are smart have have hordes of data with which to make route choices. Patience pays.

GDP is not a good metric to compare a city's economic strength or size solely because the cost of living is not equal.

[bgrn198]

Originally Posted by verybadgnome

Actually Austin's economy measured in GDP is about 10% larger (link).

This is not my field but could the size of the runways between DAL/HOU and AUS/SAT have anything to do with not allowing larger aircraft?

Airlines are smart have have hordes of data with which to make route choices. Patience pays.

ABIA can handle the larger planes it used to be an Air Force Base.

[SweethomeSanAntonio]

Originally Posted by bgrn198

ABIA can handle the larger planes it used to be an Air Force Base.

San Antonio's airport is compact it cannot expand because it is landlocked. Austin transformed its closed AFB into an airport while S.A. transformed the gigantic Kelly AFB into an inland logistics port, Port San Antonio. Its home to the largest hanger in the world and Boeing has made good use of it.