Southwest Airlines has announced and will continue to announce a slew of new routes in Denver. They are currently the number three airline there, behind Frontier Airlines, and United. I’m actually interested to see how they might fare against hometown favorite Frontier. After the new routes are in place, Southwest will have 56 daily departures and serve 16 cities from the mile high city.
Via The Airline Hub
In Scott McCartney’s The Middle Seat section today in the Wall Street Journal he takes a look at the ever increasing differences among low cost carriers (LCCs). While at one time he claims everyone just tried to copy Southwest, differentiation is now the name of the game as low prices become common across all carriers.
Of course he hits on Virgin America, the supposedly-US-owned-but-everyone-knows-is-controlled-by-Richard-Branson upscale low cost airline, and how they offer premium services once you get on board. I’ve tried to fly VA several times, but every time I’ve priced the trip (mostly between LA and New York) they’ve been several hundred dollars more expensive than legacy carrier Delta. Between LA and San Francisco however they remain extremely competitive.
What boggles the mind however is why Scott spends so much time profiling Spirit Airlines. Never have I seen such dishonest advertising as that spewed by Spirit. They tout their $9 fares, which of course there is no chance of you actually being able to get because there is so little availability, but then neglect to tell you about how you are going to have to pay to check your bag, be able to fit in your seat, or even go for a glass of water! They make their living bringing first time naive customers on board, but never have I heard of repeat business with their airline.
Spirit’s CEO’s quote in the article shows us a lot about his attitudes towards customers: “We realize we’re either trendsetters or jerks, depending on your view of the world.” Well from his perspective I’m sure he’s a trendsetter, he saves his company lots of money and shows the public really low fares, while making his real revenue selling them add-ons that should be included in the fare once they are already committed. Anyone who has flown on Spirit knows them as jerks who falsely advertise rock bottom fares, but end up actually paying the same amount they would pay to any other carrier.
Delta Airlines is adding two daily non stops between Tucson, AZ and LAX. The flights will be operated by ExpressJet as Delta Connections flights and will use the amazingly cramped ERJ 50 passenger jets. Delta already operates flights to Atlanta and Salt Lake City out of Tucson, but is adding service to LAX as part of its broad build up of service at the airport.
Delta must be counting on a lot of connecting traffic on flights through LAX, because people traveling exclusively between LA and Tucson have a much better choice in the form of Southwest Airlines. Southwest flies their ubiquitous 737s which come with a lot more room, and also has much greater frequency, flying the city pair six times daily.
All in all this announcement shouldn’t bring about a great upheaval in Tucson, unless you are stuck with lots of miles and are heading to LA.