Major Air Service Announcement for PIT 11/15/17

SCHATC422 · Wed Nov 15, 2017 4:35 pm

According to PIT's Facebook page, there's a "major air service announcement that will help shape the future of our region" at 1:30pm local today.

Any ideas?

SCHATC422 · Wed Nov 15, 2017 4:36 pm

https://www.facebook.com/PITairport/pho ... =3&theater

graham697 · Wed Nov 15, 2017 4:38 pm

A380 service to NRT?

FLYKTPA · Wed Nov 15, 2017 4:42 pm

Alaska to SEA or SFO?
Copa to PTY?

ericm2031 · Wed Nov 15, 2017 4:47 pm

Probably something TATL. I don't see anything domestic that would fall under the category of "helping to shape the future of the region"

Jshank83 · Wed Nov 15, 2017 4:49 pm

The whole shaping the future statement throws me off. Seattle isn't future shaping, imo. PIT doesn't have much west coast so AS announcing a couple different routes might make sense though. Would have to be more than just Seattle.

Weren't there rumors of a AA 757 route coming to someone at some point soon ?

raylee67 · Wed Nov 15, 2017 4:50 pm

If it is truly "shape the future of our region", I would have to think it's international. Since Delta is already flying to Paris and Condor to Frankfurt from PIT, I suppose it could be BA to London with 788? Or could be Aer Lingus to DUB with 757 or A321NEO?

cledaybuck · Wed Nov 15, 2017 4:51 pm

Jshank83 wrote:
The whole shaping the future statement throws me off. Seattle isn't future shaping, imo. PIT doesn't have much west coast so AS announcing a couple different routes might make sense though. Would have to be more than just Seattle.

SEA could be future shaping if it helps land HQ2 from Amazon. I realize that is a bit of a stretch from a rational perspective, but it would be completely normal from a PR perspective.

SCHATC422 · Wed Nov 15, 2017 4:52 pm

I'm off to work in a bit, someone keep this updated when they announce it and I'll check back later. I'm thinking something big TATL as well.

RL757PVD · Wed Nov 15, 2017 4:53 pm

"major" and "reshaping" means either 1) London or 2) focus city operation with 6-10 routes on a an RJ or larger.

AaronPGH · Wed Nov 15, 2017 4:56 pm

My guesses in order are 1) Seattle (because of PIT apparently landing in the short list for Amazon HQ2), 2) COPA to Panama City (they've been courting them for years 3) Aer Lingus to Dublin

BA isn't happening, ACAA has flat out said "it's not happening" recently

msycajun · Wed Nov 15, 2017 4:58 pm

I wonder if it could be something about the China charter service they've been working on. Shaping the future does seem to indicate something more of hub/focus city nature than a single flight though, especially since PIT already has a good amount of TATL service. Maybe F9 is opening a hub with all of the new Airbuses they're ordering

KLMatSJC · Wed Nov 15, 2017 5:01 pm

My guess would still be BA with a 788.Seattle would make sense if Amazon had already released their announcement on the new HQ.

AaronPGH · Wed Nov 15, 2017 5:03 pm

Sounding like west coast:

http://www.wtae.com/article/airport-off ... e/13732285

rajincajun01 · Wed Nov 15, 2017 5:05 pm

AS/VX just announced dropping some routes yesterday. That could free up some aircraft.

stlgph · Wed Nov 15, 2017 5:09 pm

Alaska Airlines is available for booking to Seattle with a 5:20 p.m. nonstop.
Not sure when it starts.

richierich · Wed Nov 15, 2017 5:10 pm

Is this a foretelling of Amazon HQ2 coming to the PIT region? My guess is the area could use that sort of economic shot in the arm...

DeltaRules · Wed Nov 15, 2017 5:13 pm

AS makes sense. Wasn't there talk of a pile of new cities being added this year and next? I could see PIT/CMH/CLE/CVG all being in the mix.

flymco753 · Wed Nov 15, 2017 5:19 pm

DeltaRules wrote:
AS makes sense. Wasn't there talk of a pile of new cities being added this year and next? I could see PIT/CMH/CLE/CVG all being in the mix.

Someone told me GRR could get service to SEA too, but I disagree. I do agree with CMH, CLE, CVG because everyone else has AS but that region.

loisencroach · Wed Nov 15, 2017 5:23 pm

stlgph wrote:
Alaska Airlines is available for booking to Seattle with a 5:20 p.m. nonstop.
Not sure when it starts.

I did a mock booking for 3OCT and the nonstop fare was $176

DeltaRules · Wed Nov 15, 2017 5:23 pm

flymco753 wrote:
DeltaRules wrote:
AS makes sense. Wasn't there talk of a pile of new cities being added this year and next? I could see PIT/CMH/CLE/CVG all being in the mix.
Someone told me GRR could get service to SEA too, but I disagree. I do agree with CMH, CLE, CVG because everyone else has AS but that region.

I could've sworn there was something posted here a while back from AS directly talking about what they wanted to do in 2018 in terms of network expansion. I feel like it was around the time where how the VX product would continue into the future was the hot topic.

wnflyguy · Wed Nov 15, 2017 5:24 pm

AS dropping LAX-HAV in January and adding LAX-PIT in its place.

Flyguy

AaronPGH · Wed Nov 15, 2017 5:25 pm

richierich wrote:
Is this a foretelling of Amazon HQ2 coming to the PIT region? My guess is the area could use that sort of economic shot in the arm...

It could be another clue. City officials have had quite a bit of swagger dropping hints lately.

dumbell2424 · Wed Nov 15, 2017 5:25 pm

sw733 · Wed Nov 15, 2017 5:27 pm

richierich wrote:
Is this a foretelling of Amazon HQ2 coming to the PIT region? My guess is the area could use that sort of economic shot in the arm...

Seems awfully soon after the proposal due date to already have a route ready to go. Plus, it doesn't matter how much PIT wants a nonstop to SEA (or the moon, for that matter), it has to be worth it to the airline as well. Now, that could be with incentives, sure, but AS still has to see a market there beyond a hypothetical Amazon HQ

KLMatSJC · Wed Nov 15, 2017 5:29 pm

loisencroach wrote:
stlgph wrote:
Alaska Airlines is available for booking to Seattle with a 5:20 p.m. nonstop.
Not sure when it starts.

I did a mock booking for 3OCT and the nonstop fare was $176

Starts September 6th.

rajincajun01 · Wed Nov 15, 2017 5:30 pm

Thurs Sept 6 is first bookable day.

msycajun · Wed Nov 15, 2017 5:32 pm

I'm sure PIT has been working on AS for a long time now - it really is underserved to the west coast, so it may not even be Amazon related (although that helps put the route on the front burner). Odd that it's apparently starting in the fall and not summer.

usairways85 · Wed Nov 15, 2017 5:40 pm

AaronPGH wrote:
richierich wrote:
Is this a foretelling of Amazon HQ2 coming to the PIT region? My guess is the area could use that sort of economic shot in the arm...

It could be another clue. City officials have had quite a bit of swagger dropping hints lately.

No

There have been like 10 cities listed as top contenders. And AS isn't going to somehow have insider Amazon information that they are opening HQ2 in PIT.

TheLion · Wed Nov 15, 2017 7:46 pm

Is that it to “shape the future of the region”? A service to LAX..?! That can’t be right...

hiflyeras · Wed Nov 15, 2017 7:49 pm

SEA-PIT starting Sept 6th on AS....I imagine LAX and SFO will hopefully follow.

LambertMan · Wed Nov 15, 2017 8:02 pm

AaronPGH wrote:
richierich wrote:
Is this a foretelling of Amazon HQ2 coming to the PIT region? My guess is the area could use that sort of economic shot in the arm...

It could be another clue. City officials have had quite a bit of swagger dropping hints lately.

Clearly this is part of a regionally coordinated scheme between Seattle, Pittsburgh, Alaska, and Amazon. :rotfl:

FoxtrotSierra · Wed Nov 15, 2017 9:03 pm

usairways85 wrote:
AaronPGH wrote:
richierich wrote:
Is this a foretelling of Amazon HQ2 coming to the PIT region? My guess is the area could use that sort of economic shot in the arm...

It could be another clue. City officials have had quite a bit of swagger dropping hints lately.

No

There have been like 10 cities listed as top contenders. And AS isn't going to somehow have insider Amazon information that they are opening HQ2 in PIT.

Or do they... :stirthepot:

AaronPGH · Wed Nov 15, 2017 9:22 pm

usairways85 wrote:
There have been like 10 cities listed as top contenders. And AS isn't going to somehow have insider Amazon information that they are opening HQ2 in PIT.

Yes, it's a crowded field, but PIT seems to be emerging as more of a top 5 contender as time goes on. AS was likely planning this route for a while, regardless of any HQ2, but I'm sure their decision to announce 10 months in advance was to beat Delta to any incentives, just in case.

flymco753 · Wed Nov 15, 2017 9:27 pm

Alright, so how long do y'all think it'll be until Delta announces a daily 737 from PIT to SEA? I'm giving it a month.

FWAERJ · Wed Nov 15, 2017 9:34 pm

flymco753 wrote:
Alright, so how long do y'all think it'll be until Delta announces a daily 737 from PIT to SEA? I'm giving it a month.

A DL response to a new AS SEA flight isn't always guaranteed. For one, AS has more gates and is getting more still than DL at SEA.

Case in point: It's been over a year since AS started IND-SEA and DL hasn't launched IND-SEA... and DL is the number one legacy at IND. Most on here expected DL to retaliate within months of AS's announcement.

HPRamper · Wed Nov 15, 2017 9:34 pm

What equipment is SEA-PIT showing?

stlgph · Wed Nov 15, 2017 9:38 pm

FWAERJ wrote:
flymco753 wrote:
Alright, so how long do y'all think it'll be until Delta announces a daily 737 from PIT to SEA? I'm giving it a month.

A DL response to a new AS SEA flight isn't always guaranteed. For one, AS has more gates and is getting more still than DL at SEA.

Case in point: It's been over a year since AS started IND-SEA and DL hasn't launched IND-SEA... and DL is the number one legacy at IND. Most on here expected DL to retaliate within months of AS's announcement.

isn't space in Seattle the biggest problem for Delta right now?
although we are seeing them trim some flights here and there in upcoming schedules.

flymco753 · Wed Nov 15, 2017 11:41 pm

HPRamper wrote:
What equipment is SEA-PIT showing?

-800

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