SANFan wrote:

I've got mixed feelings about RDU-SAN still being served by F9 (twice-weekly and appears to perhaps be year-round.)

I'm happy to see the continuation of the service, probably indicating that the loads are good. (Which I would expect.)

OTOH I'm unhappy that F9 is continuing to serve the market because it might be keeping a 'real' airline from stepping in with certainly more freq -- if not daily service -- which the market would certainly support. I bet that WN and AS (and maybe even DL) are carefully monitoring the city-pair and might jump if there's the slightest blink on Frontier's part.

With WN starting SAN-ORF this summer, I wouldn't be totally surprised to also see them jump on RDU-SAN this year or next, despite F9 already being there. WN is expanding their real estate in SAN this year -- rumored to be almost doubling their number of gates -- so they will have plenty of room for continued growth here!

bb

AS and DL had opportunities to launch RDU-SAN. Particularly during the 2014-2017 timeframe, when both AS and DL were expanding substantially in SAN and RDU respectively, they could have launched the route. They didn't and they lost out. If you snooze, you lose.

SANFan wrote:

With WN starting SAN-ORF this summer, I wouldn't be totally surprised to also see them jump on RDU-SAN this year or next, despite F9 already being there. WN is expanding their real estate in SAN this year -- rumored to be almost doubling their number of gates -- so they will have plenty of room for continued growth here!

bb

ORF and SAN have a huge Navy relationship. WN is most likely to be the first real carrier on the route though. Still hoping AS comes in with the surprise first personally.

Noise wrote:

Where's the club going to be located? In what part of T2?

Would have to assume that it would go in the space vacated by the old US airways club before it merged into the Admirals Club. There's already Club space in an elevator dedicated to reach it. Just not currently occupied. Across from D1 and D3.

Might be room for Delta somewhere to expand its RDU club when the terminal expansion takes place down the road.

RDU teasing a “BIG service announcement” tomorrow. Let’s go crazy with guesses! Aaaand go!

Duplicate of Rajincajun's post. Beat me to it!

rajincajun01 wrote:

RDU teasing a “BIG service announcement” tomorrow. Let’s go crazy with guesses! Aaaand go!

With the coming United Club RDU is getting a Frankfurt flight

casinterest wrote:

rajincajun01 wrote:

RDU teasing a “BIG service announcement” tomorrow. Let’s go crazy with guesses! Aaaand go!

With the coming United Club RDU is getting a Frankfurt flight

Be cool if it was split ops between RDU and MSY. Maybe 4x weekly from RDU and 3x weekly from MSY. Very likely not happening, but one can dream.

My more likely guess...NK entering the RDU market.

A Via Air hub!

NolaMD88fan wrote:

casinterest wrote:

rajincajun01 wrote:

RDU teasing a “BIG service announcement” tomorrow. Let’s go crazy with guesses! Aaaand go!

With the coming United Club RDU is getting a Frankfurt flight

Be cool if it was split ops between RDU and MSY. Maybe 4x weekly from RDU and 3x weekly from MSY. Very likely not happening, but one can dream.

My more likely guess...NK entering the RDU market.

NK would be a surprise , but i was figuring BIG meant a big plane.

I think it'll either be daily RDU-SAN on AS or daily RDU-MSY on DL/WN. Or more F9 dartboards.

+1 on Frankfurt. The market is ripe for another Europe nonstop.

NolaMD88fan wrote:

rajincajun01 wrote:

RDU teasing a “BIG service announcement” tomorrow. Let’s go crazy with guesses! Aaaand go!

My more likely guess...NK entering the RDU market.

I agree that NK adding service to RDU could happen since (a) FL served RDU prior to the WN-FL merger and (b) NK has recently added service to a few other former FL destinations such as AVL, CMH, IND, JAX, and RIC. On the other hand, most of the destinations that NK would be serving nonstop from RDU already have nonstop service out of RDU on F9 or WN.

If NK does add service to RDU, there are a few destinations not currently served nonstop out of RDU on F9 or G4 such as ORD, DFW, and FLL that could be served nonstop out of RDU on NK.

I do not expect F9 to be announcing more nonstop routes out of RDU tomorrow since F9 had already added several nonstop routes out of RDU this month.

While there are a few nonstop routes such as RDU-LAX, RDU-OAK, and RDU-SAN that could be added by WN out of RDU, I do not expect WN to be announcing new routes out of RDU tomorrow since WN's next schedule extension is on February 7th.

I do not expect AA to be announcing any new nonstop routes out of RDU tomorrow since AA already announced plans to serve PHX nonstop from RDU starting on May 3rd and since AA already serves its other hubs nonstop from RDU.

I am leaning towards DL announcing new nonstop routes out of RDU since (a) DL has announced new nonstop routes in January in the past and (b) DL has a focus city at RDU.

The only other possibilities other than NK adding service to RDU or DL adding more nonstop routes out of RDU that I can think of are (a) AS adding RDU-PDX, RDU-LAX, and/or RDU-SAN nonstop service, (b) G4 adding a few more nonstop routes out of RDU, and (c) an Asian or European carrier adding nonstop service to RDU.

Maybe LH to FRA.
Maybe DL to PDX or SAN
Maybe AS to PDX or SAN
Maybe DL to AMS

I’m gonna guess one of the 3....

DL to AMS, adding domestic service + Lounge expansion
UA new United Club + UA to FRA
AS to PDX and SAN

Noise wrote:

Maybe LH to FRA.
Maybe DL to PDX or SAN
Maybe AS to PDX or SAN
Maybe DL to AMS

ERJ170 wrote:

I’m gonna guess one of the 3....

DL to AMS, adding domestic service + Lounge expansion
UA new United Club + UA to FRA
AS to PDX and SAN

filipair wrote:

+1 on Frankfurt. The market is ripe for another Europe nonstop.

I hate to be that guy, but it's too late in the season for European Announcements.

It is more than likely NK, or service from AS/G4/B6/SY, those are the carriers to expect considering they tend to have midweek announcements. I didn't include F9 since they had an announcement last week.

DL has its investor call tomorrow, so they won't have announcements tomorrow, and UA/AA announce new routes on Fridays and sometimes Thursdays

ERJ170 wrote:

I’m gonna guess one of the 3....

DL to AMS, adding domestic service + Lounge expansion
UA new United Club + UA to FRA
AS to PDX and SAN

it's not going to be a lounge expansion for DL. (Unless DL moved down to the former US club space and had that all to themselves, IF (a big if) that is even a bigger space than DL has now)
United must have some substantial reason to add a lounge at RDU other than just trying to keep up with DL and AA; it's odd for an airport the size of RDU to have a club from all 3 of the US3. I think it's more likely getting a club because UA thinks there's some international potential there, rather than having a club for what is largely small aircraft service by UA at RDU.

Would be interesting if it turns out to be AA or AS service being added, but I think it's far more likely to be NK or UA announcement.

deleted dupe

LovePrunesAnet wrote:

ERJ170 wrote:

UA new United Club

it's not going to be a lounge expansion for DL. (Unless DL moved down to the former US club space and had that all to themselves, IF (a big if) that is even a bigger space than DL has now)
United must have some substantial reason to add a lounge at RDU other than just trying to keep up with DL and AA; it's odd for an airport the size of RDU to have a club from all 3 of the US3. I think it's more likely getting a club because UA thinks there's some international potential there, rather than having a club for what is largely small aircraft service by UA at RDU.

The only U.S. airports that currently have an AA Admirals Club, a DL Sky Club, and a United Club are ATL, BOS, ORD, DFW, DEN, HNL, LAX, LGA, EWR, MCO, PHL, PHX, SFO, and DCA.

AUS will have an AA Admirals Club, DL Sky Club, and an United Club once the new DL Sky Club opens at AUS this year.

How about if I go out on a limb and say DL basing X A220 at RDU and adding 8 new routes... pulling all regional jets <88 seats

I don't know anymore what constitutes a "big" announcement (we live in an age of hyperbole), but my guesses, in no particular order, are:

* NK enters the market
* Significant G4 expansion
* Condor to FRA

filipair wrote:

+1 on Frankfurt. The market is ripe for another Europe nonstop.

How so? Do you really think RDU can support FRA in addition to LHR and CDG?

Fargo wrote:

filipair wrote:

+1 on Frankfurt. The market is ripe for another Europe nonstop.

How so? Do you really think RDU can support FRA in addition to LHR and CDG?

Alas, I think RDU would do better with a flight south or west than east

ERJ170 wrote:

Fargo wrote:

filipair wrote:

+1 on Frankfurt. The market is ripe for another Europe nonstop.

How so? Do you really think RDU can support FRA in addition to LHR and CDG?

Alas, I think RDU would do better with a flight south or west than east

That's what I was thinking. FRA would be overkill with daily's to LHR and CDG already. Maybe in about another decade, but first the priority needs to be Latin America and China.

It has been confirmed by a source who works at RDU, stating it is an American based carrier who will be making the annoucement. News trucks will be present so I assume a big deal.

Allegiant.

Looked through Allegiant news release.. no RDU..

I had an 8 AM flight out of RDU today and there was no sign of any announcement in the check-in area (where past announcements have been made). I had been hoping to glean something before clearing security. Nothing shows on Spirit’s website. And if you search for “RDU Announcement” 2 of the first 3 videos to appear have “big announcement” in the title.

For once I’m actually enjoying the suspense. The announcement could be anything and, at the end of the day, more air service represents a strong regional economy and greater opportunity for those of us who live here. But I really hope it’s DL

TimeForFlight wrote:

I had an 8 AM flight out of RDU today and there was no sign of any announcement in the check-in area (where past announcements have been made). I had been hoping to glean something before clearing security. Nothing shows on Spirit’s website. And if you search for “RDU Announcement” 2 of the first 3 videos to appear have “big announcement” in the title.

For once I’m actually enjoying the suspense. The announcement could be anything and, at the end of the day, more air service represents a strong regional economy and greater opportunity for those of us who live here. But I really hope it’s DL

Agree. I’m a DL flyer and hope it’s DL, too. Regardless, big tip of the cap to the RDUAA and its staff. They are constantly moving the needle forward. We’re lucky to have such a breadth of air service options in the region.

It’s Spirit to 7 destinations. Not the DL I hoped for, but still not bad!

Time for the way too soon “who will be the next carrier” speculation now that RDU’s biggest domestic airline hole is filled?

Interesting Tidbit from the Press Release

According to the press release, RDU had more than 12.8 million passengers fly through the airport in the last calendar year and there are currently 68 nonstop destinations that can be reached from RDU. Spirit is the 10th carrier to serve travelers in the Triangle at RDU.:

That's a huge jump from the 11.65 Million last year.


Also the flight to Baltimore will be 2x daily. The rest will be 1x Daily.

https://www.cbs17.com/news/local-news/s ... 1703203899

So this sounds like the right time for an airline to come in and offer regional routes (think SC, intraNC, Tn, VA, WV, GA) and I realize with all these carriers....

ERJ170 wrote:

So this sounds like the right time for an airline to come in and offer regional routes (think SC, intraNC, Tn, VA, WV, GA) and I realize with all these carriers....

It would be cool to have a Cape Air-type of operation here, but I think the days of non-affiliated, at-risk commuter flying are unfortunately gone.

So just read on RDU twitter that the 4 T1 gates will activate this year. So I guess Frontier, Allegiant, and Spirit will move over??? JetBlue? And then DL will expand??? Wonder what the future holding.. maybe RDUAA will use the breathing room to work on the first Concourse D finger pier?

casinterest wrote:

Interesting Tidbit from the Press Release

According to the press release, RDU had more than 12.8 million passengers fly through the airport in the last calendar year and there are currently 68 nonstop destinations that can be reached from RDU. Spirit is the 10th carrier to serve travelers in the Triangle at RDU.:

That's a huge jump from the 11.65 Million last year.


Also the flight to Baltimore will be 2x daily. The rest will be 1x Daily.

https://www.cbs17.com/news/local-news/s ... 1703203899

I wouldn't be surprised if DL exits BWI after this.

While NK hasn't yet announced plans to serve DFW and LAS nonstop from RDU, NK could add nonstop service to DFW and LAS from RDU. NK also already serves DFW and LAS nonstop from other East Coast destinations.

tphuang wrote:

casinterest wrote:

Interesting Tidbit from the Press Release

According to the press release, RDU had more than 12.8 million passengers fly through the airport in the last calendar year and there are currently 68 nonstop destinations that can be reached from RDU. Spirit is the 10th carrier to serve travelers in the Triangle at RDU.:

That's a huge jump from the 11.65 Million last year.


Also the flight to Baltimore will be 2x daily. The rest will be 1x Daily.

https://www.cbs17.com/news/local-news/s ... 1703203899

I wouldn't be surprised if DL exits BWI after this.

Replace BWI with AMS and I’m sold

ERJ170 wrote:

So just read on RDU twitter that the 4 T1 gates will activate this year. So I guess Frontier, Allegiant, and Spirit will move over??? JetBlue? And then DL will expand??? Wonder what the future holding.. maybe RDUAA will use the breathing room to work on the first Concourse D finger pier?

The former JetBlue GM said the company was absolutely opposed to being at T1 at RDU. I would imagine the other carriers you mentioned will move, which will be a headache for Charter Express if they have to split their operation.

Alaska will be at T1 at some point which will likely lose their passengers ability to use the AA club.

Maybe WN has news we don’t know about yet!

I don't think F9 moves to T1 unless RDUAA builds a small customs/immigration facility in it. G4 and NK, OTOH, definitely should.

ERJ170 wrote:

tphuang wrote:

casinterest wrote:

Interesting Tidbit from the Press Release


That's a huge jump from the 11.65 Million last year.


Also the flight to Baltimore will be 2x daily. The rest will be 1x Daily.

https://www.cbs17.com/news/local-news/s ... 1703203899

I wouldn't be surprised if DL exits BWI after this.

Replace BWI with AMS and I’m sold

I feel like DL likes to keep these destinations in their profile for their frequent business fliers, and BWI is a surprisingly large O&D market from here, so I think that they'll hold onto it. I'm pretty sure that AA & DL will swap RDU-PIT within the next year, so if DL has to drop BWI, I could see them moving those frequencies to PIT.

hockyluv21 wrote:

ERJ170 wrote:

tphuang wrote:

I wouldn't be surprised if DL exits BWI after this.

Replace BWI with AMS and I’m sold

I feel like DL likes to keep these destinations in their profile for their frequent business fliers, and BWI is a surprisingly large O&D market from here, so I think that they'll hold onto it. I'm pretty sure that AA & DL will swap RDU-PIT within the next year, so if DL has to drop BWI, I could see them moving those frequencies to PIT.

Southwest runs the flight 6x a day. The DL flights are small compared to those big flights on NK/WN

I think DL is in it for the long haul.

rajincajun01 wrote:

Maybe WN has news we don’t know about yet!

WN has already announced plans to serve SJC nonstop from RDU, and WN could also add RDU-LAX, RDU-OAK, and RDU-SAN nonstop service.

WN has its next schedule extension on February 7th, which is less than 3 weeks away.

jplatts wrote:

rajincajun01 wrote:

Maybe WN has news we don’t know about yet!

WN has already announced plans to serve SJC nonstop from RDU, and WN could also add RDU-LAX, RDU-OAK, and RDU-SAN nonstop service.

WN has its next schedule extension on February 7th, which is less than 3 weeks away.

Nah, no way. I feel that any expansion by WN will be to destinations that are currently being guinea pigged by F9. SAN would fit that description, along with spots like MKE and RSW. Just a hunch, though. I'm still rather shocked that NK was the first to introduce daily MSY. I thought for sure that it would be WN.

ERJ170 wrote:

So just read on RDU twitter that the 4 T1 gates will activate this year. So I guess Frontier, Allegiant, and Spirit will move over??? JetBlue? And then DL will expand??? Wonder what the future holding.. maybe RDUAA will use the breathing room to work on the first Concourse D finger pier?

They haven't done terminal design...only terminal planning. They have to select an architectural firm for the future expansion.. Can't extend the terminal towards the runway until they move the runway. Years away from any terminal 2 changes

Looks like DL is adding PIT and MSY from RDU. MSY is less that daily. Thoughts?

what type of aircraft to MSY?

Looks like Sat/Sun CR9 to MSY. Too little too late seems to me.

msycajun wrote:

Looks like Sat/Sun CR9 to MSY. Too little too late seems to me.

I'm going to take the glass half-full approach here. I think it's great to see DL continuing to invest in RDU, particularly in markets where there is already some competition. The addition of MSY and PIT shows that DL isn't shying away from RDU.

Wouldn't be surprised to see DL add RDU-MCI sometime in the future with the CR9.

The arrival of the Airbus A220 may open up additional markets, including SAN and SJC.

It’s how DL started on MSY earlier.. in my opinion, DL should go ahead and make MIA, BDL, MSY, and RSW daily CR9/E75 and start analyzing the other routes being taken..

msycajun wrote:

Looks like Sat/Sun CR9 to MSY. Too little too late seems to me.

Given all the LCC competition on the route now, I figured DL would have gone with more of a contrarian approach and done MSY M-F to appeal more to business travelers.