^ I can't read the poster's motive, but PEG's business plan calls for near-total reliance on air freight for distribution. The proximity of Hopkins north and south cargo ramps was a large part of the appeal of the old Ford plant as a production site.

 

Didn't know that! OK, so then maybe there is a link to PEG. Wouldn't it be lovely if Cleveland lands PEG and Amazon HQ2, plus a sh!t-load of air cargo development to go with both? That would be an economic boon to the region.

I can't fathom that many kits in cases and pallet loads going out via plane to warrant any excitement. The bulk of this is the American market.  Easily can move via trucks to distribution facilities.  i can't see more than 3-5 jets a week being needed.

  I worked for a chocolate company and this is going to be about the same size product. There was nothing going out via airplane even though product was going to 5-6 major store chain distribution centers throughout the country. I think this will be the same idea going out to autozone and the ilk.

Is it this?

 

NASA’s longshot bet on a revolutionary rocket may be about to pay off

https://arstechnica.com/science/2017/02/nasas-longshot-bet-on-a-revolutionary-rocket-may-be-about-to-pay-off/

 

I see from page 2 of this article that at least some of the R&D work is being done at NASA Glenn.

^ Love articles like that, but I'll still go with PEG. 

North American Airports Effectively Navigating Construction, Capacity Challenges, J.D. Power Finds

 

http://www.jdpower.com/press-releases/jd-power-2017-north-america-airport-satisfaction-study

 

Overall passenger satisfaction with North American airports has reached an all-time high, as airports of every size have found creative ways to address the challenges of constant construction projects and increased passenger capacity demand. That’s the finding of the J.D. Power 2017 North America Airport Satisfaction Study,SM released today.

 

“Capacity has become a huge challenge for North American airports, with many reporting 100% of available parking spots being filled and large airports, such as Orlando International, setting passenger volume records each month for more than three years straight,” said Michael Taylor, Travel Practice Lead at J.D. Power. “Despite these difficulties, airports are responding with new technology and old-fashioned personal skills to win over harried travelers. These range from smartphone apps that tell travelers where to find a parking spot to therapy dogs—and in one case, a therapy pig—mingling with travelers to relieve stress and improve the overall airport experience.”

 

Following are some of the key findings of the study:

 

Overall satisfaction reaches all-time high: Overall customer satisfaction scores have reached an all-time high of 749 (on a 1,000-point scale), which is up 18 points from last year’s all-time high. Improvement is driven primarily by a 25-point increase in satisfaction with security check, thanks largely to fewer TSA staffing issues this year, and gains in two factors: check-in/baggage check (+19 points) and food, beverage, and retail (+15 points). Self-service bag-check kiosks and other bag-tagging technologies have played a significant role in improving the baggage check process.

 

Tech investment helps overcome logistical hurdles: With nearly every airport in the country dealing with challenges of high passenger capacity and ongoing construction projects to address increased demand, technology is helping to directly address these issues. For example, Sacramento International Airport has developed a smartphone app that tells travelers where they can find a parking spot, and virtually every airport in the country has invested heavily in improving phone-charging stations and internet access in their terminals.

 

Dogs, horses and pigs! Oh, my!: Many airports have also found success in improving customer satisfaction through creative use of high-touch traveler outreach initiatives. Phoenix Sky Harbor, for example, deploys a team of therapy dogs for passengers to pet while they wait to board; San Francisco International features a pet therapy pig that roams the terminal looking for pets and selfies; and Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Airport has more than 30 stress-relieving ponies on staff with which travelers can interact.

 

Big city construction projects remain obstacle to satisfaction: Despite the most creative efforts to address traveler frustration, major city airports that are in the thick of massive construction efforts—notably Newark Liberty, LaGuardia, Los Angeles International and Chicago O’Hare—are still fighting the headwinds of traveler disruption and access challenges that are handicapping their overall satisfaction scores.

 

“The trifecta of a steadily improving economy, record passenger volume and billion-dollar renovation projects unfolding in airports across the country has created a challenging environment for customer satisfaction,” Taylor added. “The fact that many airports are overcoming those challenges is incredibly instructive for the industry as it remodels and improves airport infrastructure.”

 

Frontier Airlines cuts six routes from Cleveland Hopkins, including San Diego, San Francisco and Los Angeles

http://www.cleveland.com/travel/index.ssf/2017/09/frontier_airlines_cuts_six_rou.html

 

Frontier is discontinuing Atlanta, Charlotte, Houston, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego, most in early October.

Well, that experiment didn't last long...San Diego is the only city that Cleveland will not have nonstop to after this, as Frontier wasn't the only airline flying the other five. I guess this isn't too devastating, many of the routes were low-demand and seasonal.

bummer, i personally am affected by the Charlotte route, was full every time i was on it.  Now that they have pulled, American kicked it pricing back up to 600

Frontier Airlines cuts six routes from Cleveland Hopkins, including San Diego, San Francisco and Los Angeles

http://www.cleveland.com/travel/index.ssf/2017/09/frontier_airlines_cuts_six_rou.html

 

Frontier is discontinuing Atlanta, Charlotte, Houston, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego, most in early October.

 

Does the reporter actually follow Frontier? She's reporting like the UA hub is closing. San Diego is the only city not served by another carrier. Who knows what next week will bring with these guys.

 

Clearly if Frontier is picking up another gate they're still expanding as hinted by the airline rep. in the article.

The CLE-SAN nonstop was good while it lasted. I recently flew for 66.00 round trip.

 

Darn. This is going to affect me personally. 

The CLE-SAN nonstop was good while it lasted. I recently flew for 66.00 round trip.

 

Darn. This is going to affect me personally. 

 

Is it done? Frontier does two waves of summer expansion. One is early, one is late. They haven't announced any new flights that start in May or June. I'm trying to figure out if Frontier is actually contracting long term. It's very unclear in this article.

The CLE-SAN nonstop was good while it lasted. I recently flew for 66.00 round trip.

 

Darn. This is going to affect me personally. 

 

Is it done? Frontier does two waves of summer expansion. One is early, one is late. They haven't announced any new flights that start in May or June. I'm trying to figure out if Frontier is actually contracting long term. It's very unclear in this article.

 

Agree the article is unclear on the matter, but I sensed a foreboding tone.

I understand Hopkins being in the lower half of the JD rankings, but how it's below places like Epply Airfield in Omaha I will NEVER get.

Charlotte ended early august, so she is behind a bit

The CLE-SAN nonstop was good while it lasted. I recently flew for 66.00 round trip.

 

That's the only real loss, other airlines fly to the other Frontier cities non-stop.  Frontier's June load factor at CLE was 81.5% - not horrible, but the ultra low fare carriers are disappointed by anything under the high 80's. Also TransPacific Group, which owns Frontier, is trying for an IPO - without much luck; they are probably desperate for earrnings NOW before their chance to sell evaporates.

 

Since the major airlines began selectively matching ULCC fares, there is bound to be some fallout. I hope the ULCCs don't get chased out of town and then UA, etc. jack the fares back up to nose-bleed levels.

 

 

Is there some kind of announcement today? Somebody upthread mentioned something coming out Tuesday.

Frontier is owned by Indigo Partners. The IPO is coming and the wait is no indication on the profitability of the airline.

Frontier is owned by Indigo Partners. The IPO is coming and the wait is no indication on the profitability of the airline.

 

Oops, you're absolutely right about Indigo.

I think you are going to see some really great things coming out of the airport as an economic generator for the region and as a center for scientific discover...on Tuesday

 

Cbus T, was this just a tease?  Any update for us?

So, with CommutAir relocating its headquarters from Vermont to North Olmsted (presumably to be closer to Hopkins), does this mean they may take over ExpressJet's maintenance facility at Hopkins?  Since ExpressJet is going to be drawing down/eliminating the ERJ-145 from its portfolio and CommutAir is adding it, this makes sense from a facilities usage standpoint.  Either way, it would appear that ERJ-145 flying by United Express will continue from Cleveland for the foreseeable future.  Hopefully this means they will keep some of the routes that use that exclusively (MKE, BOS, CHS, LGA, DCA).  Although on each of those routes minus Charleston, they now have competition with larger aircraft.

Travel writer Susan Glaser, at the PD/Cleveland.com, seeking input/story ideas... (No shortage of ideas, here...)

 

"CLEVELAND, Ohio - Air service options in Northeast Ohio have changed dramatically in recent years: There are new airlines, cheaper fares, fewer nonstop destinations. Some of this has pleased air travelers, some of it has frustrated them.

 

I'm interested in taking a closer look at the evolving state of air travel in the region, including service offered from Cleveland Hopkins, Akron-Canton and other local airports.

 

But first I'd like to hear from you.

 

What topics would you like us to explore? Are you interested in stories about destinations, fares, low-fare airlines vs. legacy carriers - or something else?

 

Please share your ideas atFacebook.com/susanglasertravel, email me at [email protected] or call me at 216-316-6959."

 

 

http://www.cleveland.com/travel/index.ssf/2017/10/calling_all_readers_share_your.html

Thanks. I sent to her a story idea.

Ahh, sometimes it seems like Cleveland can be its worst enemy.  I wonder if more of this story will come out.

 

http://www.cleveland.com/naymik/index.ssf/2017/10/cleveland_hopkins_airport_chie.html#incart_river_home

Ahh, sometimes it seems like Cleveland can be its worst enemy.  I wonder if more if this story will come out.

 

I bet both sides (Kennedy and city hall) downplay it.

 

I also bet Jackson's staff will think twice before they mess with Kennedy again, which is good; he seems like a nice pick for the job.

She should do a story on how utterly stupid and inappropriate the idea is of giving a tremendous public asset to a single private company that may not even exist in 10 years  (I'm referring to the PD's push for giving Burke to Amazon)...but her paper is pushing that idea so I'll bet she couldn't do it....

Tremendous public asset?  Burke?  Talk about utterly stupid ideas!

Tremendous public asset?  Burke?  Talk about utterly stupid ideas!

 

Do you know how long it would take the city to convince the FAA to shut down Burke?  Long enough that Amazon will have built 40 buildings in Detroit by the time it clears all the committees.  This is an idea that should be shelved in replace with an Amazon campus in the CBD using Burke as an additional tool for Amazon's business, not a landfill to build on. 

Yes I sincerely hope that "giving them Burke" is just some goofy internet meme and not the actual proposal.

This is an idea that should be shelved in replace with an Amazon campus in the CBD using Burke as an additional tool for Amazon's business' date=' not a landfill to build on. [/quote']

 

Yes! This! Let's position Burke as an attraction to lure Amazon---a very convenient and downtown airport! It seems obvious, but apparently its not. And folks would rather sacrifice our future for one company.

 

If Burke is such an asset why have so many Fortune 500's left Downtown Cleveland and access to that "wonderful asset" to move out to Beachwood?  It's a perk, maybe.  But it clearly isn't attracting, or even retaining business.  Time to do what Chicago did.

Like a lot of public infrastructure, it can be a weight around your neck when times are tough, and an asset when times are good. I don't know how much we subsidize Burke annually, but it would cost a fortune to build new. It seems shortsighted to tear it down now. The alternative is what, lightly used green space? Because the demand clearly isn't there for commercial/retail. Hell, we can barely get anything substantial built downtown as it is.

Im sure that Burke would not be 'lightly used green space.' Lakefront parks are massively visited across the region. And are spurring adjacent development in many cases, something that Burke has yet to really do

Tremendous public asset?  Burke?  Talk about utterly stupid ideas!

 

Do you know how long it would take the city to convince the FAA to shut down Burke?  Long enough that Amazon will have built 40 buildings in Detroit by the time it clears all the committees.  This is an idea that should be shelved in replace with an Amazon campus in the CBD using Burke as an additional tool for Amazon's business, not a landfill to build on.

 

Didn't Chicago once tear down an airport without going through the proper channels?

Didn't Chicago once tear down an airport without going through the proper channels?

 

Yes, the mayor did, illegally. But that's like comparing Akron-Canton to JFK. Meigs Field was a tiny airport that served turboprops. BKL is a far more capable airport that REGULARLY handles 757s. Meigs was too inadequate to be a reliever to ORD or MDW, like BKL is for CLE.

Didn't Chicago once tear down an airport without going through the proper channels?

 

Yes, the mayor did, illegally. But that's like comparing Akron-Canton to JFK. Meigs Field was a tiny airport that served turboprops. BKL is a far more capable airport that REGULARLY handles 757s. Meigs was too inadequate to be a reliever to ORD or MDW, like BKL is for CLE.

 

So to further derail this thread with discussions as it pertains to Amazon, unless Mayor "Action" Jackson is willing to drop the dirt track and secretly mow down Burke in the middle of the night, this site for Amazon is a non-starter.  To legally close Burke via FAA channels would take DECADES, especially as a Class D airspace.  Amazon moves at the speed of light compared to the Feds.

 

If Burke is such an asset why have so many Fortune 500's left Downtown Cleveland and access to that "wonderful asset" to move out to Beachwood?  It's a perk, maybe.  But it clearly isn't attracting, or even retaining business.  Time to do what Chicago did.

 

I think we all know the answer is much more complex than can be detailed in this post.  You'd have to asses those companies' corporate culture, combined with years of racial politics, school segregation, white flight, etc etc.  Thankfully Amazon is a much more progressive culture and they WANT to be in the middle of the city with its transit and amenities, not on some new freeway exit clogged with traffic.

https://www.independent.ie/business/irish/aer-lingus-targets-up-to-10-more-us-destinations-from-dublin-36268794.html

 

Aer Lingus says they could begin new service to as many as 10 new US cities when their Airbus 321LR's are delivered in 2019.  Based on the range of the plane, these 10 would have to be in the eastern half of the country, something like a line drawn from Minneapolis to Mobile. They already fly to most of the usual suspects, so I'd guess CLE might have a shot at being one of the new 10, especially if one of the Icelanders drops out after 2018.  Any announcement is probably a year away.

Given the corporate and ancestral linkages between Cleveland and Ireland, I would think Cleveland is a natural for this expansion. I hope that Hopkins Airport officials are on the phone with Aer Lingus to press our case with them.

Southwest Airlines continues slow growth at Cleveland Hopkins, with Milwaukee flight and more to come

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Southwest Airlines launches its ninth year-round destination from Cleveland Hopkins next week, continuing a pattern of slow growth at the airport in the years following the shuttering of the United Airlines' hub.

Southwest, the second largest carrier at Hopkins after United, begins twice-a-day nonstop service to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on Sunday. It's a route that is already served by United, and marks a continued press by Southwest to cut into United's market share in Cleveland.

 

http://www.cleveland.com/travel/index.ssf/2017/10/whats_next_for_cleveland_hopki.html#incart_river_home

No wonder the nonstop round trip to Milwaukee that I purchased with United recently was so cheap.

 

Does the CLE-MKE route really have that strong of numbers?  I've taken this route multiple times on United and I don't think their ERJ-145 has ever been full.

CLE announced info briefings on the FAA's new draft plan for the CLE-DTW Metroplex Project.  It probably means rerouting landings and takeoffs to some extent to optimize traffic flow for both regions.

 

http://www.clevelandairport.com/comment-period-opens-november-10-cleveland-detroit-metroplex-project

 

CLE announced info briefings on the FAA's new draft plan for the CLE-DTW Metroplex Project.  It probably means rerouting landings and takeoffs to some extent to optimize traffic flow for both regions.

 

http://www.clevelandairport.com/comment-period-opens-november-10-cleveland-detroit-metroplex-project

 

 

Now if we could get a high-speed rail line between the two....

CLE announced info briefings on the FAA's new draft plan for the CLE-DTW Metroplex Project.  It probably means rerouting landings and takeoffs to some extent to optimize traffic flow for both regions.

 

http://www.clevelandairport.com/comment-period-opens-november-10-cleveland-detroit-metroplex-project

 

 

Now if we could get a high-speed rail line between the two....

 

Amtrak has proposed rerouting one of the Chicago trains to run via Detroit, but the suggested speed is an embarrassment.

Privatize Cleveland Hopkins airport?

Readers weigh in with ideas on air travel: Calling All Readers

Updated Oct 27; Posted Oct 27

By Susan Glaser, The Plain Dealer [email protected]

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Cleveland Hopkins International Airport has been city owned and operated since its founding in 1925. 

 

It's been that way forever - but does that mean it has to be that way forever?

 

Ken Prendergast doesn't think so. The executive director of All Aboard Ohio, a Cleveland-based nonprofit that advocates for improved access to passenger rail  service, was one of dozens of area readers who responded to a recent request for suggestions and questions regarding air travel. 

 

Prendergast offered a concrete suggestion: Hire a private company to run the airport. He proposes using the money generated from a lease to invest in transportation infrastructure, bolstering the regional economy by linking employers in the outer ring suburbs with employees in the city.

 

MORE:

http://www.cleveland.com/travel/index.ssf/2017/10/privatize_cleveland_hopkins_ai.html

Hopkins is one the few assets that businesses have to use, that the suburbs can't [easily] steal. I say they should go ahead and shamelessly profit from it. Because the city owns the airport, I would think the county and/or suburbs would have zero say in what the funds are spent on.

LOVE the self-promotion KJP[/member]!!! I dig it.

 

Also, you have an excellent idea.

November 16, 2017 12:59 pm      UPDATED 4 HOURS AGO

Travel through Cleveland Hopkins International Airport continues to accelerate

By JAY MILLER 

 

Passenger traffic at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport continues to outpace last year's results, with traffic through October up nearly 8%. Passenger flow through the airport is expected to top 2014, the year before United Airlines stopped using Hopkins as a connecting airport.

 

In October of this year, Hopkins saw 816,543 passengers coming and going, compared with 741,363 passengers in 2016, airport officials reported in a press release. That lifted the passenger count for the first 10 months of 2017 to 7,677,639, up from 7,120,243 in 2016.

 

MORE:

http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20171116/news/142521/travel-through-cleveland-hopkins-international-airport-continues

A reliable poster on another board has suggested that United might add back a few of the routes they discontinued. We'll see.

December 11, 2017 9:27 am

United is said to mull investing in regional airline ExpressJet

BLOOMBERG

 

United Continental Holdings Inc. is exploring a deal to invest in regional airline ExpressJet to boost its pipeline of pilots and expand service in the eastern and midwestern U.S., people familiar with the matter said.

 

ExpressJet is a major carrier at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. It had about 275,000 enplaned passengers there in 2016, according to a Crain's list published last March 20 of the largest airlines serving Hopkins. That made ExpressJet the airport's sixth-largest carrier in 2016.

 

Chicago-based United is looking at acquiring an ownership stake in ExpressJet among other options in negotiations that are still developing, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the talks are private. There's no guarantee the discussions will lead to a deal with ExpressJet, an unprofitable subsidiary of SkyWest Inc. that already flies for United.

 

The tie-up would help United beef up the domestic network that feeds travelers to other flights, as the No. 3 U.S. carrier works to close a profit gap with Delta Air Lines Inc. and American Airlines Group Inc. United has been adding dozens of flights between smaller cities and its largest airports, trips that can be more lucrative than the heavily-trafficked routes between big hubs.

 

MORE:

http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20171211/news/145231/united-said-mull-investing-regional-airline-expressjet

^Hmmm, sounds a little bit like history repeating itself for a third time!