Airport traffic up again (Pittsburgh, Harrisburg: leases, buy, price)

[LIRefugee]

Originally Posted by bradjl2009

Not good. I wish an airline would pick up the slack but that doesn't look promising.

It's a very tough business, and Southwest's costs are not as low anymore compared to the "legacies" (I dislike that term) as they had been before. It isn't the company it was six years ago.

It's fascinating flying out of an airport designed to handle more than double the traffic it handles now, and a bit sad.

[Craziaskowboi]

Originally Posted by LIRefugee

It's a very tough business, and Southwest's costs are not as low anymore compared to the "legacies" (I dislike that term) as they had been before. It isn't the company it was six years ago.

It's fascinating flying out of an airport designed to handle more than double the traffic it handles now, and a bit sad.

Pittsburgh International Airport is as overbuilt as I-376 through Pittsburgh is underbuilt.

[BrianTH]

I think as the economic recovery picks up, we'll likely see originations increasing slowly but steadily. Still, we are likely never going to get close to fully utilizing the airport.

[Velvet Jones]

Originally Posted by BrianTH

I think as the economic recovery picks up, we'll likely see originations increasing slowly but steadily. Still, we are likely never going to get close to fully utilizing the airport.

A few years ago a reporter asked a US Air executive what it would take to get PIT back as either a hub or at least near capacity. His reply, "Have everyone in the Detroit area move to Pittsburgh". That comment really ticked me off, as these idiots are the ones that asked for the increased size. Now they turn around and act as if it is such an overbuilt and non-feasible hub.

[BrianTH]

Unfortunately, bankruptcy washes away a lot of corporate sins.

[Copanut]

I recall when Onorato and Roddey were running against each other, they agreed that USAir and the airport were not up for debate since they couldn't be trusted.

I flew to Florida on the 2nd and returned on the 9th. It was nice to see the airport busy.

And as much as I feel for the USAir employees, the coroporate guys should pound salt.

[ferraris]

I still cant' believe that Southwest dropped their direct flights to Philly.

[LIRefugee]

Originally Posted by ferrarisnowday

I still cant' believe that Southwest dropped their direct flights to Philly.

It's really more of a Philly reduction than a Pittsburgh reduction as they dropped flights to Manchester, Providence, Boston, and Jacksonville from there as well. They are apparently not making enough money on the routes.

[Geeo]

There was an article in the Tribune this morning that quoted someone who said Southwest has been having problems in Philadelphia. No wonder, with them trying to cram too many flights into a small airport that doesn't have the capacity. Too many delays to make money.

[pman]

Originally Posted by LIRefugee

It's really more of a Philly reduction than a Pittsburgh reduction as they dropped flights to Manchester, Providence, Boston, and Jacksonville from there as well. They are apparently not making enough money on the routes.

most of the routes made sense at lower fuel prices but higher fuel prices cut margins and US Air's service isn't just short distance, but also carries connecting passengers to their philadelphia international hub. I doubt it had anything to do with the airport itself, the number of flights are down substantially there already as airlines have increased plane sizes and load factors. what changed was us airways ability to compete.

Takeoffs and landings at Philadelphia International declined from a peak of 535,666 a year in 2005 to 460,779 in 2010.

Read more: US Airways opposes Philadelphia International Airport expansion plan | Philadelphia Inquirer | 01/09/2012
that article also points out that Philadelphia's loss is pittsburgh's loss and that jetblue's flights may also be at risk
http://pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsbur.../s_775816.html