Welcome CMHLCK, you should use the search feature because there is already a thread on CMH in existence. You may also search in the transportation sub-forum.

Thanks, I hadn't had a lot of time to search.  I saw the Skybus topic and figured this went beyond the scope of that.  But, i will search out more CMH topics already started.

Welcome to the forum!  Even though I'm from Columbus, I know next to nothing about Port Columbus/airline issues.  However, there been two recent threads that deal with Port Columbus.

 

First thread is SkyBus related . . .

http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php?topic=6932.0

 

Second thread is JetBlue related . . .

http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php?topic=9646.0

 

From the posts to these threads, CMH_Downtown is probably the most knowledgable poster on this issue.

Welcome, CMHLCK. Like you, my passion is and has always been aviation. Also like you, I have a keen interest in our local airports. I have tried to accumulate as much knowledge as possible regarding the airline industry. I hold a degree in Aviation Management from OSU and have worked for 3 different airlines at CMH as well as participate in several strictly aviation-related forums. Hopefully I can shed some insight into your questions and concerns.

 

Things are very exciting these days at the airport with record passenger numbers.  I hope the trend continues because I would love to see them start building the second terminal (which would eventually replace the original terminal). 

 

The record passenger numbers are certainly inspiring, especially since CMH was starting to break passenger records even before Skybus' arrival. I too would love to see work start on the new terminal building, however the CRAA has stated that they won't begin construction until the current facility handles roughly 10 million passengers a year. The airport has figured out that at that point, the current terminal cannot be added to or renovated effectively anymore, requiring the need for a new facility. The airport is on track to break the 7 million passenger mark for the first time by quite a bit this year.

 

Skybus Airlines seems to be doing well to the chagrin of some people.  There are those that think SX presence will eventually hurt the CMH market.  With JetBlue leaving, perhaps that is starting to happen.  I really hope not, but we shall see. 

 

You can count me among those that are not happy about Skybus and its implications on the local market. First off, Skybus is not doing well by what I can see. If one checks their website and the fares available, you can see that markets like MCI, RIC, and CEF are barely cracking $55 in advance purchase fares for the month of November, minus the Thanksgiving travel period. October and much of September was the same way. The west coast routes are fuller, but with oil prices exponentially increasing, not to mention the costs associated with flying one plane that far on one route with the limited market that CMH provides is financial suicide. They've slightly figured that out with the cessation of BLI and SAN. They would be toast by now if not for all the financial incentives being provided by the airport, city and state, which irks me even more.

 

If Skybus does "succeed" in the Columbus market, it will mean the overall degradation of air service from CMH. We've already seen a taste of it from jetBlue's decision to pull out, though there were additional factors involved in their decision. The fact of the matter is, no airline, not even Southwest, can afford to compete at the same fare level as Skybus. If it gets to the point that enough of the market is choosing Skybus and therefore eroding the market available to the rest of the carriers operating from CMH, they will pull out. Such a scenario would create havoc on the business market from CMH, which by in large does not consider Skybus a valid travel option for a multitude of reasons.

 

What do any of you think of CMH and what do you hope to see in terms of new destinations and airlines? 

 

I love CMH, but as long as Skybus is here, do not expect any new airlines or destinations.

 

I was hoping that WN would expand here, but they seem to have settled on expanding PIT for some unknown reason.  According to Pittsburgh papers, they are looking to offer up to 65 daily flights in the next few years.  I think CMH could handle more from WN, surely not 65, but maybe 40-45 daily flights.  I think we need WN to open DEN.  UN has a monopoly there, so flying nonstop costs a fortune.  According to CMH personell, Frontier has no interest in CMH, so WN is our only LCC hope, unless of course SX begins flights to COS. 

 

Actually, Southwest has been slowly expanding in CMH over the past year. The most recent expansion will occur in November, when 1 flight each is added to MDW, STL, and TPA, bringing the total number of daily nonstop flights operated by WN up to 29. Also this year they have added 2 additional nonstops to MCO and another to MDW, not to mention the addition of nonstops to PHL last year. While PIT has shot up on Southwest's to do list (most likely due to the complete pull down of USAirways' hub/focus city operations at PIT), I do think there is room to grow for WN at CMH. However, I think they will approach any expansion here far more cautiously due to Skybus.

 

I agree that competition is needed between CMH and DEN. Though with Frontier in DAY, it will be much harder to attain low fare service from CMH, since a good portion of the local traffic is content with driving to DAY for the lower fares. Though United's monopoly on the route isn't all bad; in December the afternoon mainline flight to DEN is being upgraded to a 757.

 

It's definitely great to see another local aviation aficionado here, and welcome aboard. Hopefully the happenings at CMH will continue to foster more discussion, preferably positive in nature, in the future.

"As I mentioned earlier, Columbus is now a pariah in the airline industry due to Skybus. AirTran could have been a possibility had CMH been given the opportunity to grow organically. But with the steroidal presence of Skybus placing a glut of insanely low seats in the market, no airline in their right mind would come here. Even worse, those that are here are thinking twice about their presence in the market, including Delta. "

 

Not sure how to reference posts other than by copying and pasting, but my question here is, do you believe that Delta may end CMH's focus city status?  They really don't compete with SX other than in Hartford.  I could see DL dropping it in that I doubt they see the route as a huge money-maker.  I see other focus cities and they seem to have much more mainline, like AA at AUS.  Why does Delta only put RJ's here?  There are some mainline, yes, but not much.  Do you think they would have considered SFO or SEA is SX had not been here or is it pointless since CVG is right down the road? 

 

I've read on another site (airliners.net) where people have stated that SX will never work because CMH can't support a hub-like carrier since HP folded here.  Someone on there stated that HP ruined the hub here due to bad decisions and that at one point they were going to go to 90 flights a day and possibly run int'l flights from CMH.  They didn't give any specifics though, but I wish I knew what they were planning on doing and where they were going to fly to.  This person also said there's a plan in the now-US office showing an expanded terminal for HP.  Sounded exciting, but unfortunately never happened. 

 

There was also the rumor of WN taking all of the A gates, but doesn't appear true.

 

I appreciate all the answers to my questions.  I've asked someone at CMH from time to time about things, but there's only so much that person can divulge. 

 

Oh yeah, whatever happened to the NW CMH-AMS route?  The Dispatch said is seemed likely.  Guess they were wrong, what with PDX of all places getting n/s to AMS. 

Some of us interested in the discussions but don't understand the shorthand. (mostly airlines not the airports).

Full story: http://columbus.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2007/10/29/daily15.html 

 

Wednesday, October 31, 2007 - 9:55 AM EDT

Port Columbus traffic up 20% in September

Business First of Columbus

 

Port Columbus International Airport posted another strong boost in passenger traffic during September, closing its busiest third quarter ever.  The Columbus Regional Airport Authority said more than 100,000 passengers used the airport in September, a 20 percent increase over traffic in September 2006.  More than 5.7 million passenger have used the airport year-to-date, up 15.6 percent from the first three quarters of 2006.

 

Sorry about the short hand.

HP=America West Airlines, WN=Southwest

PDX=Portland, OR

do you believe that Delta may end CMH's focus city status?  They really don't compete with SX other than in Hartford.  I could see DL dropping it in that I doubt they see the route as a huge money-maker.  I see other focus cities and they seem to have much more mainline, like AA at AUS.  Why does Delta only put RJ's here?  There are some mainline, yes, but not much.  Do you think they would have considered SFO or SEA is SX had not been here or is it pointless since CVG is right down the road?

 

It's possible that Delta could call it quits in Columbus, but it really depends on whether the yields stick or not. One of the main reasons the focus city was started and expanded in the first places was because Delta was seeing some very good margins on routes from CMH. Hartford has actually been a very good route for Delta, since the traffic is mostly made up of high-paying business traffic. But if enough of that is leaked to Skybus out of Chicopee, Westover, or whatever you want to call it, then Delta might throw in the towel. As for why so many routes are flown by RJs, the biggest factor is the Chautauqua/Shuttle America maintenance and crew base in Columbus. Aircraft being sent to CMH for maintenance are sent in and out as revenue flights. It's the same reason you see Chautauqua flying as American Connection from here instead of Trans States, or Shuttle America flying CMH-DEN instead of Skywest. Delta Connection carrier Comair does fly some route from CMH, but by in large they are to other Comair domiciles, such as LGA and CVG. Lastly, no, I don't think Delta would have considered flying CMH-SFO/SEA. While over 100 people per day fly between Columbus and both cities, the demographics don't add up to make a nonstop on Delta viable.

 

I've read on another site (airliners.net) where people have stated that SX will never work because CMH can't support a hub-like carrier since HP folded here.  Someone on there stated that HP ruined the hub here due to bad decisions and that at one point they were going to go to 90 flights a day and possibly run int'l flights from CMH.  They didn't give any specifics though, but I wish I knew what they were planning on doing and where they were going to fly to.  This person also said there's a plan in the now-US office showing an expanded terminal for HP.  Sounded exciting, but unfortunately never happened. 

 

That someone is me. I'm "FlyCMH" on the airliners.net message boards. We were never told exactly where HP was planning on expanding from CMH, but it would've included doubling the amount of RJs dedicated to flying under the America West Express banner to 24. The rendering of the expanded Concourse B is still in the USAirways breakroom. Basically it would have created 6 more regional jet jetbridges stretching from B28 to B29 along the northern end of the "T", basically where United currently operates. UA would've moved to Concourse C, and B29 would've become another America West mainline gate.

 

Oh yeah, whatever happened to the NW CMH-AMS route?  The Dispatch said is seemed likely.  Guess they were wrong, what with PDX of all places getting n/s to AMS. 

 

Not sure. All I know is that it has been discussed locally by several parties.

Oh so that was you?  Thats funny.  I always thought "Flycmh" had very interesting viewpoints and had much more knowledge than others on that site.  So, you did work for America West?  Are you still working at CMH?

 

As for the link to the latest record-breaking numbers, that is very good to see.  I hope that SX doesn't ruin everyone though.  They need to find their niche and stay there.  There's room for them at CMH, but they can't try to control every last city pair there is.

 

Maybe this belongs in the Skybus thread, but what do any of you feel are destinations that Skybus can/can't make work (or should/shouldn't)?  I think the ones that won't last are MCI (not enough pax for 3 flights a day including the ones on Midwest), MKE (same as MCI), CEP, RIC (though its rumored to become a focus city), BUR (they'll end their transcons eventually), OAK, CHA.  GPT might be okay since no one flies anywhere close to that region currently.  All the Florida ones should be okay as well.  Opinions out there?

West Coast routes head into sunset

Tuesday,  December 11, 2007 3:07 AM

By Marla Matzer Rose

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

 

For the more than 1,000 people a day who fly between Port Columbus and West Coast airports, the journey is about to get more difficult.  By early next month, Columbus will lose half of its six nonstop flights to the coast, leaving Skybus Airlines as the only carrier flying to California without connections.  Delta will cut its nonstop service to Los Angeles on Jan. 7, one day after Skybus scales back its flights to the Los Angeles suburb of Burbank from two to one. Skybus also will drop Bellingham, Wash., its near-Seattle destination, that weekend.  With oil prices recently nearing $100 a barrel, the high cost of fuel is mainly to blame.

 

Read more at http://dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2007/12/11/CMH_westcoast.ART_ART_12-11-07_A1_US8O7O5.html?sid=101

Chalk up yet another discontinued route for CMH.

 

While fuel was noted as a primary reason for discontinuing service, one not mentioned was the fact that Skybus siphoned away much of Delta's market share. What people fail to realize is that for a non-hub market like Columbus, flights to the West Coast can be difficult to make work, even if there is a large demand. Skybus came in and inflated the market with a glut of unreasonably priced seats, killing the market for Delta. Now, we have no business connection to Los Angeles, nor one-stop service to the majority of Hawaii, Asia and Australia. I've said over and over again that Skybus will end up killing the business market out of here, and it's already started. As mentioned in the article, Honda relied on Delta's nonstop to get executives not only to L.A., but to Asia as well. These people won't be setting foot on Skybus since it doesn't provide what businesses need to get the job done, nor are there any connections available out of Burbank. As I've said before, Skybus will eventually lead to the complete degredation of air service out of Columbus.

11-27-2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

print friendly version

 

Port Columbus Passenger Growth Continues in October

 

COLUMBUS – Port Columbus is on track for a record-breaking year with over 682,000 passengers using the airport in October, resulting in an 11.6 percent increase over October 2006 figures. Year-to-date numbers reflect a 15.2 percent increase over the same time period in 2006 with over 6.4 million passengers using Port Columbus thus far in 2007.

 

“Airlines continue to do well in the Columbus market and we expect to see increased passenger numbers through the rest of the year and into 2008,” said David Whitaker, Vice President of Business Development & Communications for the Columbus Regional Airport Authority. “Southwest, which is the largest carrier at Port Columbus, added three daily flights in November while Skybus is scheduled to add eight flights through December and January.”

 

http://www.port-columbus.com/news/press/release.asp?PID=270

 

The funny thing is, if you look at the actual numbers, most airlines saw decreases in the number of passengers flown in October of this year compared to last year. If actual growth was occuring at CMH, we would be seeing increases across the board, not just from one subsidized carrier. And Dave isn't fooling anyone. Apparently, JetBlue, Delta, USAirways, United, Northwest, American, and Continental aren't "continuing to do well" out of Columbus. The continued downsizing by the aformentioned carriers could be very destructive to this city, and as long as a certain carrier continues to run amuck, it will continue to get worse.

Unforunately, there's nothing anyone can do except not fly SX.  That doesn't appear to be happening.  As long as enough people fly them to keep them afloat, they will stick around.  AA reducing the number of MD80's to DFW doesn't seem to be related to SX since they don't even fly to TX.  DL has been downsizing for years.  They've made CMH RJ-city.  The LAX cut hurts, true, but they've cut that route in other cities lately as well, not just CMH.  I think JAX and RDU were cut or are going to be cut. 

More "good" :roll: news for the flying public:

 

Airfare for business travelers to rise in '08

Sunday,  December 16, 2007 3:09 AM

By Liz Fedor

(Minneapolis) Star Tribune

 

Airfare for business travel within the United States is expected to increase 4 percent to 7 percent during 2008, according to a forecast Carlson Wagonlit Travel of Minneapolis released to its customers Friday.  Big carriers, such as Northwest Airlines and United Airlines, "are positioning aircraft and managing capacity much more stringently," which allows them to charge more, said Dale Eastlund, a Carlson Wagonlit executive.

 

Read more at http://dispatch.com/live/content/business/stories/2007/12/16/biz_airfares.ART_ART_12-16-07_D1_1G8P8TN.html?sid=101

I love airliners.net too - small world.

In additon, AeroMexico began weekly nonstop service from Cancun to Columbus this evening. The plane stays over night in CMH and departs for Cancun every Sunday morning.

 

Also, Air Canada will bring back its 4th daily departure earlier than scheduled this year, tentatively starting around mid-April. It's possible the additional flight might become permenant this year.

With the dollar as weak as it is to the Euro, it's just a lousy time to start European service.  The wife and I had contemplated a european trip this summer, but we're putting it off by a year to see if things shape up for the dollar in '09.

With the dollar as weak as it is to the Euro, it's just a lousy time to start European service.  The wife and I had contemplated a european trip this summer, but we're putting it off by a year to see if things shape up for the dollar in '09.

 

Keep dreaming... :laugh:

According to a source at CMH, there will be non-stop European service in less than 5 years.  No idea who/where, but that was the comment.  My guess is that it would be a low-cost carrier like Ryanair.  I highly doubt any foreign carriers like BA, AF or LH would enter the market.  And with NW most likely not existing in its current form in 5 years makes AMS service shaky unless the "new" carrier was willing to attempt it. 

Port Columbus traffic up 15% in 2007

Business First of Columbus

Friday, January 25, 2008 - 1:28 PM EST

 

After breaking its annual passenger record a month early, Port Columbus International Airport finished the year with traffic up 15 percent from 2006, the Columbus Regional Airport Authority reported Friday.  The authority said more than 7.7 million passengers used the airport in 2007, up from 6.7 million in 2006 and more than 10 percent above the airport's 2000 record of 6.9 million passengers.

 

Read more at http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2008/01/21/daily34.html

 

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/business/stories/2008/01/29/airport_recordyear.ART_ART_01-29-08_C10_UP96IR0.html?sid=101

 

Here's a link to the Columbus Dispatch story.  Outstanding year for the airport and the region as a whole.  Hopefully the trend will continue.

Not sure this where to post this, but I figure its as good as any.  At the end of March, my wife and I and our 17-month old are flying to MSP.  The flight out is on a CRJ-200 and the flight back is on a DC-9.  I've never flown on either of these types.  I've actually never been on any regional jet period.  Does anyone have any advice or experiences flying on either of these or on Northwest Airlines in general?  What about flying with a toddler?  She will be sitting on my lap, which I think might be uncomfortable in the RJ. 

Anyway, thanks to anyone who answers!

Not sure this where to post this, but I figure its as good as any.  At the end of March, my wife and I and our 17-month old are flying to MSP.  The flight out is on a CRJ-200 and the flight back is on a DC-9.  I've never flown on either of these types.  I've actually never been on any regional jet period.  Does anyone have any advice or experiences flying on either of these or on Northwest Airlines in general?  What about flying with a toddler?  She will be sitting on my lap, which I think might be uncomfortable in the RJ. 

Anyway, thanks to anyone who answers!

 

NorthWorst, planes are old but the flights aren't that long, so you should be OK.

 

I don't know how tall you are, but the CRJ-200 flight is going to be "tight".  I thought I was going to need knee surgery the one time I flew on one of those puppy's.

 

The DC-9s are standard, no IFE.  NW is pretty no frills.

 

Just check some traveling with children websites as to what to do with a toddler as some times the changing pressure can lead to severe ear pain, compared to what an adult experiences.  When my nephews/nieces traveled with us when they were that age, my mom (former FA/GA) told my brother to put a bottle in the baby's mouth as soon as the front wheel goes up, not a moment sooner.

 

check this site:  www.seatguru.com

Thanks for the info!  That site is great.  I'm 6'2" so I may be cramped.  I will be holding my daughter so I'll probably sit in the aisle seat on the CRJ.

 

I take it you are not a NorthWORST fan?  Any particular reason?

Thanks for the info!  That site is great.  I'm 6'2" so I may be cramped.  I will be holding my daughter so I'll probably sit in the aisle seat on the CRJ.

 

I take it you are not a NorthWORST fan?  Any particular reason?

 

You're almost as tall as me and let me tell you, you'll need an aisle.  Hopefully the plane won't be to crowded.

 

I rarely fly NorthWorst, so I can only speak on the few experiences I've had.  Basically I only take them if going to Memphis or Minneapolis.  I'm a Continental or United fan domestically. On transcons I also add American to the mix.

Dispute over flight safety: Are there enough eyes on the skies? 

Air-traffic controllers, FAA at odds over adequate staffing

Thursday,  February 14, 2008 - 3:35 AM

By Tim Doulin, THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

 

A record number of passengers flew through Port Columbus in 2007, yet the number of air-traffic controllers at the airport is down.  At the same time, takeoffs and landings have dropped almost 30 percent since 2003, so there's plenty of disagreement about how safe the skies are.  Although the union has not declared a staffing emergency at Port Columbus, Doug Church, a spokesman for the National Air Traffic Controllers Association said, "If you are flying from Columbus to one of the major cities in America, you are going to find emergency (level) staffing in place."  The New York, Chicago, Atlanta, Dallas-Fort Worth, southern California and San Francisco areas are places where the air-traffic controllers union has declared a staffing emergency because of concern about the depleted ranks of veteran controllers because of retirements.

 

Read more at http://dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/02/14/AIRCONTROL.ART_ART_02-14-08_B1_SK9BQLB.html?sid=101

 

^The number of air traffic controllers is only part of the problem.  Our air traffic control system is antiquated n(it's 25+ years old).  Yet another thing this country has been deferring maintenance on.  The world's most state-of-the-art air traffic control system is in China. 

^The number of air traffic controllers is only part of the problem.  Our air traffic control system is antiquated n(it's 25+ years old).  Yet another thing this country has been deferring maintenance on.  The world's most state-of-the-art air traffic control system is in China. 

 

Say wha? China?!!!? They're getting better, and they may have some new equipment, but there are lots of hazards in Chinese airspace.

Don't know what impact this will have on flights in and out of Ohio airports like Port Columbus, but this is a big story.

 

Southwest Grounds 41 Jets For Safety Inspections

 

DALLAS (CBS 11 News) ― Dallas' Southwest Airlines confirmed Wednesday that it has grounded 41 jets for safety inspections.  All of the aircraft are Boeing 737s, which is the only jet Southwest flies.  A Southwest spokeswoman tells CBS 11 News that the grounded jets are in several locations, including Dallas' Love Field, and a Southwest maintenance base in Chicago.

 

Read more at http://cbs11tv.com/local/southwest.airlines.planes.2.675659.html

It affects quiet a few airports.  This isn't port Columbus specific.

 

I thought about posting it separately in the Urban Bar, but since I could find specific planes (tail no. & routes) I didn't post.

NetJets plans announcement on expansion

Sources say it's good news for Columbus

Wednesday, March 12, 2008 - 1:00 PM

By Alan Johnson, THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

 

Gov. Ted Strickland, Columbus Mayor Michael B. Coleman and the chairman of NetJets have scheduled a 2:30 p.m. press conference at Port Columbus to discuss the company’s expansion plans.  No official word on the company’s decision is available, but government sources told The Dispatch that the announcement will be good news for Columbus and may mean an additional 800 jobs for central Ohio.

 

Read more at http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/business/stories/2008/03/12/netjets.html

Well, thanks to Skybus, CMH is getting hit hard by Delta's efforts to cut costs and park planes. Already announced were plans to cut Ft. Lauderdale service, now we're loosing:

 

Columbus to Ft. Myers (Ends 01MAY)

Columbus to Tampa (Ends 03JUN)

Columbus to Hartford (Ends 05JUN)

Columbus to Los Angeles (will not return for the summer as scheduled)

 

Delta already said the termination of their FLL service was in part thanks to Skybus, now we're loosing even more. What's most disconcerting is the loss of Hartford service, as this severes business ties with another large insurance market. Now all we have is bastardized service to Chicopee. This is absolutely disgusting. I forecasted this a year ago, and hoped that Skybus would be gone before it was too late, but with oil prices speeding the process up, it appears it's too late.

wow.  this is spreading like cancer.  Delta is really cutting routes from Ohio Cities.  Hopefully Continental can pick up slack and Delta can reroute via CVG without to much hassle to previous booked itin's.

 

When is the business community going to realize, skybus isn't a network carrier and can't get them where they want, on a non stop or one connection?

Did you catch that Delta is also eliminating it's only flight between Toledo & Atlanta?  The common thread is that the cost of jet fuel.  That's why airlines are increasingly trying to move away from serving short-haul air corridors.  These are precisely, however, the kind of corridors that work well for rail, being far more fuel efficient.

I wonder if service to CVG will change?

 

 

I think part of the problem is, Delta tries to route a flight to every city into Atlanta.  Some city pairs just aren't profitable.  It's not cost effective and at the same time, reducing service and laying off people has never improved the bottom line.

 

There are some cities (served by united, Northwest or Continental) that don't fly to every hub.  For instance on Continental, there are some routes from Cleveland or Houston that are not served from Newark (example Philly) or Routes from Newark or Cleveland not served by Houston (small cities in the upper Midwest) and there are small cities in Texas and Mexico only served by Houston.

 

At delta, they want to fly everywhere and shove as many flights as possible into Atlanta.

 

I wonder what the reaction from the other legacy carriers will be?  Will they step up or wait for Skybus to fail?

 

 

It seems like CVG is gets a renewed lease on life with places like Toledo now served only by CVG (though no one flies through Toledo because Detroit is closer and you have access to the entire Northwest system). This makes me nervous about Cbus over the next couple years. Trains can't come too soon.

It seems like CVG is gets a renewed lease on life with places like Toledo now served only by CVG (though no one flies through Toledo because Detroit is closer and you have access to the entire Northwest system). This makes me nervous about Cbus over the next couple years. Trains can't come too soon.

 

A "renewed lease"?  I don't follow?  Toledo is still connected to Cleveland, Chicago, detroit and Covington.

Again, I was referring to Delta. We Cincy folk are driven to abstraction by reading the tea leaves on the future of the hub at CVG. My point was that if Delta is cutting flights to save money and some of those cuts means that some cities will now be served primarily through CVG instead of ATL means that Delta isn't looking to gut the hub anytime soon. It also speaks to the possibility of maintaining or even adding international flights.

^ It seems the cuts have more to do with costs than with Skybus.  Everyone is quick to blame the new kid on the block, but even they have had to cut back.  I think on a competitive view, you can blame WN as much as SX.  WN flies to MCO and TPA with 737s vs DL RJs.  I think WN is taking much of DLs market in those two cities.  I don't think seeing those 2 go/get reduced is a huge setback, a little but not huge.  Hartford being cut is huge for those flying on business.  But, DL has been making cuts across the board, so this may only be the beginning.

 

Goodbye Delta "focus city", such as it was. 

Port Columbus Passenger Traffic Up 17.2 Percent in February, Sets New Record

 

COLUMBUS – More than 574,000 passengers used Port Columbus in February to account for a 17.2 percent increase over the same month in 2007, resulting in a new monthly record.

 

“An increase in Southwest passengers combined with the new Skybus passengers created a record-breaking February,” explained David Whitaker, Vice President of Business Development and Communications. Skybus started service in May of 2007 therefore did not serve any passengers in February of that year.

 

“Southwest handled over 122,000 passengers in February and was closely followed by Skybus with a little over 99,000 passengers. These February figures combine with January totals to result in a year-to-date 13.8 percent increase over 2007,” stated Whitaker.

 

Port Columbus provides 195 daily departures to 48 airports. The 11 air carriers at Port Columbus include Apple Vacations, Air Canada Jazz, American, Continental, Delta, Midwest Connect, Northwest, Skybus, Southwest, United, US Airways and the regional affiliates associated with many of these major airlines.

 

Meanwhile, over 15.5 million pounds of cargo moved through Rickenbacker International Airport in February which is a 1 percent decrease over the 2007 figure. Rickenbacker is a multi-modal cargo airport that features an impressive network of freight forwarders and cargo airlines such as FedEx, UPS, Evergreen International, Kalitta and Atlas as well as a U.S. Foreign-Trade Zone.

 

For additional information, visit www.ColumbusAirports.com or contact Angie Tabor, Manager of Communications, at (614) 239-4081.

Development of Port Columbus tops funding wish list

Wednesday, April 2, 2008

By Jim Siegel, THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

 

A new airport development district, a downtown park project and a hospital research center are among the top projects that area officials want funded in the new state capital construction budget.  Hoping that moving passengers does for Port Columbus what moving cargo is doing for Rickenbacker Airport -- that is, create bunches of jobs -- local officials are asking for $5 million to help craft a new development district at Port Columbus.

 

Read more at http://www.dispatchpolitics.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/04/02/CapitalHopes.ART_ART_04-02-08_A1_K49QDJ7.html?adsec=politics&sid=101 

Wild blue yonder

Port Columbus wrestles with industry uncertainty, flight cutbacks as it plans new terminal in a decade

Sunday,  April 27, 2008 4:05 AM

By Marla Matzer Rose

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

 

Airlines have made lots of news lately, most of it bad. Bankruptcies, flight cancellations and service cuts have been in the headlines.  It's a tough time to be planning an airport expansion when your customers are struggling.  Yet that's what Port Columbus officials are doing.  It's a problem that airports across the country face, even in good times.  Major airport projects, which almost always involve a stew of federal and state money, bonds and other financing tools, typically take decades from inception to execution.

 

Read more at http://dispatch.com/live/content/business/stories/2008/04/27/airport_expansion.ART_ART_04-27-08_D1_DDA1826.html?sid=101

 

 

JetSelect among those finding Columbus skies friendly

Business First of Columbus

By Scott Rawdon For Business First

Friday, April 25, 2008

 

When the government last month promised as much as $100 million in incentives for NetJets Inc. to expand its Columbus facilities, Bob Austin cheered, believing it means more opportunity for his company.  Austin runs a company that could be described as the "other guy" in the world of jet-based aviation in Columbus.  JetSelect LLC as an air charter company staffs and manages private aircraft for their owners when the planes are not in use, while NetJets sells fractional ownership in jets.

 

Read more at http://columbus.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2008/04/28/smallb1.html?b=1209355200^1626044

 

Southwest is here to stay, CEO says

But for now, airline plans no new flights to Port Columbus

Friday, May 9, 2008

By Marla Matzer Rose

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

 

Southwest Airlines expects to be a "steady, growing, stable force" at Port Columbus during a troubled time for U.S. air travel, the airline's chief executive said yesterday.  However, Southwest doesn't expect to pick up the slack left at the airport with the abrupt closing of Skybus Airlines last month.  Southwest overall is pulling back on growth as the industry rides out the current economic downturn and skyrocketing oil prices, so it's unlikely to add much service here soon.  "We're in a very different operating environment now," Kelly said during a talk sponsored by the Columbus Chamber at Ohio State University.

 

Read more at http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/business/stories/2008/05/09/SOUTHWEST_KELLY.ART_ART_05-09-08_C10_34A52NS.html?sid=101

 

CMH Downtown, if you still use these boards, have you heard anything around CMH of any carrier adding/subtracting any service?  I know you work there and thought you might hear things.  I know WN is cutting one flight/day to LAS, MCO, and TPA.  A couple months after hitting 30 flights a day, they drop back to 27.  Too bad WN has little interest in this market.  They could easily dominate it.

Yeah, I found out about the Southwest cuts recently as well. My guess is that the aircraft and being transfered over to Denver to fuel Southwest's unprecedented growth there. There is hope though, as the cuts to LAS, MCO, and TPA might just be seasonal, since they're being cut during the fall low travel period and those markets generally are most affected by seasonal travel trends. We remain with twice daily service to all 3 markets on WN, which isn't too bad either.

 

As far as other carriers are concerned, except for some minor flight reshuffling, things are overall status quo. The breakdown for August so far is as follows:

 

WN: 30 daily flights (goes to 27 in Sept)

DL: 29

AA: 27

US: 26

UA: 15

CO: 15

NW: 12

AC: 4

YX: 4

 

TOTAL: 162 peak daily flights

 

September schedules have not been finalized yet, except for Southwest. Preliminarily, the only enhancement in service is United will bring back 757 service to Columbus. The flight will originate in Denver and turn in Columbus to go back to Chicago. The overnighting mainline flight is scheduled to be upgraded from a 737-300 to an A320 as well. With American today announcing pretty severe service cuts, we'll probably see the effect locally. My guess is CMH-RDU/BOS will be discontinued altogether, and we might see the 5 daily CMH-LGA flights reduced as well. It's definitely a rough time we're going through in this industry.

 

Yeah, it seems CMH is taking hits left and right.  If we weren't underserved before, we sure are now.  Losing RDU would suck as well as the reduced capacity to BOS, which would only be served by DL I believe.  This is assuming AA were to drop it.

 

The airline I think could do quite well here is Air Tran.  We need competition to ATL.  They could also add nonstops to FLL, MSY and RSW.  Its probably hard for them to justify coming here when they have DAY right down the road. 

 

I guess there's not much anyone can do about it. 

Changes to Columbus airport entrance debut Thursday

Business First of Columbus

Wednesday, May 21, 2008 - 2:38 PM EDT

 

Columbus Regional Airport Authority officials are hoping Port Columbus International Airport's main drag isn't as much of a drag for visitors beginning Thursday.  Officials said Wednesday they expect a range of improvements to the airport's International Gateway thoroughfare to working by Thursday afternoon.  Signs, lane markings and police will be in place to make the transition, but no major road delays are expected.

 

For a map of the altered traffic flow and other details on future Port Columbus improvements, go to http://www.port-columbus.com/construction/m_plan_future.asp

 

Read more at http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2008/05/19/daily22.html