Innovation! Love it. Remember, it was crazy to ship every package to Memphis every night.

Texas could us Hou Sat Aus Dal. Southwest does this route well but the TSA hassle and parking makes it a cattle call. I could see business exec using this.

Remember Air West?

Thought ya' didn't.

How about convenient turboprop service between Love Field and West Houston (KIWS)? Idea was, the flights were very convenient to the energy corridor in Houston. Who knows if they could have made it, but their marketing budget got eaten up by failed engines right after start-up. They flew DHC Dash 7s, the 4-engine turboprop, very nice inside. My wife flew them... once. They did not last long enough for a second time.

There's the answer, by the way, to the question, "Why is the terminal at IWS so big?"

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I hope the Surf guy makes it big.

As soon as someone offers that, SWA will offer 89$ flights until the startup is dead. The economics of SurfAir must be sheer hell, they need enough customers to have a load factor or 3-4 per leg, but enough accounts to cover the monthly operating costs even if empty.

As soon as someone offers that, SWA will offer 89$ flights until the startup is dead.

The good news is that there will probably be a few nice used Pilatus's on the market soon.

As soon as someone offers that, SWA will offer 89$ flights until the startup is dead. The economics of SurfAir must be sheer hell, they need enough customers to have a load factor or 3-4 per leg, but enough accounts to cover the monthly operating costs even if empty.

> all you can eat^H^H^H fly ...

Interesting gimick. It certainly got all of us talking about it.

We have yet another start-up airline @ PTK; doing flights to MDW and PLN. If those
were my routes, I'd fly a Saab 340 rather than endure the TSA shennanigans @ DTW.

The most important thing is passenger load that is willing to pay. "I'd rather fly than drive". "I'd rather pay a couple of extra bucks to avoid the 'airport'".

Southwest was created as competition to driving:
http://sweddr.com/how-to-write-a-successful-business-plan-on-the-back-of-a-cocktail-napkin/

"How" they pay for it is somewhat gimmickry. If there is a market then there will be a market with other pricing schemes... if you solve the customer's main problem. They can tinker with pricing methods all day.

Of course it doesn't hurt to have Herb Kelleher onboard <lol>

Dan

The most important thing is passenger load that is willing to pay. "I'd rather fly than drive". "I'd rather pay a couple of extra bucks to avoid the 'airport'".

Southwest was created as competition to driving:
http://sweddr.com/how-to-write-a-successful-business-plan-on-the-back-of-a-cocktail-napkin/

"How" they pay for it is somewhat gimmickry. If there is a market then there will be a market with other pricing schemes... if you solve the customer's main problem. They can tinker with pricing methods all day.

Of course it doesn't hurt to have Herb Kelleher onboard <lol>

Dan

Right idea, but you have it backwards.

It was Texas Air Corp. that bought Continental, not the other way around. CO was on the ropes, and Texas Air had money. The rest is (very contentious and not entirely savory) history.

Which means, in essence, that the airline we now call "United" is the successor to Trans-Texas Airways.

I posted that seeking BTers' advice because I was considering joining them at the time. There were just the 2 Eyerly brothers doing it full-time at that point.

While I wish them all the luck in the world, I'm glad I elected to pass! Sounds like it's been a long, tough road for them so far, and I doubt that's going to change any time soon. Here's hoping they can stick with it and find the winning forumula.

Right idea, but you have it backwards.

It was Texas Air Corp. that bought Continental, not the other way around. CO was on the ropes, and Texas Air had money. The rest is (very contentious and not entirely savory) history.

Which means, in essence, that the airline we now call "United" is the successor to Trans-Texas Airways.

Correct.

Jet Capital (IIRC) was the holding company from which Texas Air Corp was formed.

At the time, many did not realize just who bought who; it was to many inconceivable that the little airline with the Peanut Fares (TI) could acquire the big carrier (CO). The CO name was kept for fairly obvious reasons,mand CO 's hq was moved from Ls Angeles to Houston.

Sounds like another "Dayjet" concept. (FL)