Site Admin

Joined: 15 Jun 2005
Posts: 2316
Location: Indianapolis, IN

There was a time when NW ran 2x daily to LAS from IND. That ended around the time the Denver service ended I believe. Is the 2nd daily ever going to come back? This seems to be the one destination already served by NW that could really use the additional seats. It is the #1 destination from IND but the number of flights are very limited. NW has one A319 going to LAS and Southwest has two 737's. What do those total in seats? 350ish? 1,186 people a day fly IND-LAS. They could go 3x daily and that market would still be under served. 3x might kill yields to what is now a good market. But why not two A319's a day? Maybe even one 753 instead of one A319? This would allow NW to gobble up a little bit bigger piece of the IND market.

Site Admin

Joined: 17 Jun 2005
Posts: 949
Location: Carmel, IN

How many n/s seats were there when it was just WN and TZ splitting up the market? I seem to recall as many as 3 TZ 757s and 3 WN 737s. What does that equate to compared to the service we have today?

Site Admin

Joined: 15 Jun 2005
Posts: 2316
Location: Indianapolis, IN

The three WN 737's is basically the number of seats that we have today. The ATA seats were nearly 600 additional. Remember they also ran an L1011 at times. Also HP ran IND-LAS at one time. I think they ran 2x daily. The seats now are easily half what it used to be.

Member

Joined: 27 Jun 2005
Posts: 333
Location: St. Louis, MO

The three daily flights between Southwest and Northwest still baffle me.

I'm surprised US Airways or AirTran haven't jumped back on this route as of yet.

Site Admin

Joined: 15 Jun 2005
Posts: 2316
Location: Indianapolis, IN

I assume the route is too long for a DC9. I wonder if NW has a lack of A319's and A320's where increasing the frequency isn't possible? But in any case if FL decides to launch the service I'd bet the far that NW would find a jet and make it 2x or 3x daily.

AirTran Reporter

Joined: 17 Jun 2005
Posts: 341
Location: Indianapolis

It will be interesting to see what the airlines do, especially NW and FL, when the new terminal opens.

Member

Joined: 15 May 2006
Posts: 728
Location: West Lafayette, IN

FL - They wouldn't suprise me if they went to LAS, in fact I'm surprised they haven't yet.

US - I have to admit that would surprise me, when is the last time they added a route at IND?

Site Admin

Joined: 15 Jun 2005
Posts: 2316
Location: Indianapolis, IN

As far as I can remember US has done nothing but subtract routes for a long time. I don't think they've added a route in years.

Member

Joined: 15 May 2006
Posts: 728
Location: West Lafayette, IN

Exactly why the addition of LAS by U.S. would surprise me.

Member

Joined: 27 Jun 2005
Posts: 333
Location: St. Louis, MO

7E72004 wrote:

It will be interesting to see what the airlines do, especially NW and FL, when the new terminal opens.

the airlines won't do a thing except raise fares unless the airport authority tosses out some initiatives for new services.

Site Admin

Joined: 15 Jun 2005
Posts: 2316
Location: Indianapolis, IN

Part of the increased fees will be offset by shorter taxi times. Airlines can also reduce their cost per passenger by increasing service.

Member

Joined: 15 May 2006
Posts: 728
Location: West Lafayette, IN

I'm not as far out as others, but stlpgh, don't you think you're being just a tiny bit pessimistic here? When the new terminal opens, yes fares will be higher, but schedule flexibility for the airlines will also open up. I don't think this will generate a drastic number of flight additions, but maybe some new routes, bumped up freq., and more connecting pax. I understand how you're saying just because where getting a new terminal doesn't mean where guaranteed a hub airline, but I don't think we won't see any growth at all.

Site Admin

Joined: 17 Jun 2005
Posts: 949
Location: Carmel, IN

ATAIndy wrote:

Exactly why the addition of LAS by U.S. would surprise me.

Except that since US now includes the old HP, which used to fly IND-LAS. Perhaps their new combined business model would include trying to fly bidirectionally from the top 50 airports, or something like that. Who knows. Still, it remains that we have a fraction of the seats we used to going to LAS. You'd think SOMEONE would come in on that route.

Member

Joined: 14 Jun 2006
Posts: 142
Location: IND

Indy wrote:

Part of the increased fees will be offset by shorter taxi times. Airlines can also reduce their cost per passenger by increasing service.

But increasing passengers (and flights) means increasing fees. Airlines pay landing fees. Decreased taxi time is hardly going to make up financially for the increased rental fees.

What IND/BAA/IAA needs to do is offset the increased rent with diiferent landing fee structure as to capture more revenue from the freight operation!

Site Admin

Joined: 15 Jun 2005
Posts: 2316
Location: Indianapolis, IN

I'm thinking about 18 months to 2 years ago IND did restructure the landing fees.

Member

Joined: 15 May 2006
Posts: 728
Location: West Lafayette, IN

If I'm not mistaken, I think IND already has some of the lowest landing fees in the country, so maybe a landing fee increase won't have as much of an impact.