Please continue from last year's discussion.

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1404483

Covering JAX, UST, GNV, DAB, MLB, VRB

DAB 2019 service summary:

In:
-FLL (3M (new carrier), daily Saab begins in Jan, connects to B6 and UA networks)
-LGA (AA, seasonal weekend E175 begins in May; I feel like this has potential to go daily given how B6 did to JFK)
-YYZ (WG (new carrier), 2x/week 738 begins in Jan)

Additional:
-CLT (AA, extra frequency)

Out:
-JFK (B6 ends service)

I have thought for a number of years that DAB would be a good city for Spirit but more likely it will be Frontier adding DAB and MLB this year.

The markets for F9 or NK would be interesting if DAB saw one of them go to town. If they do, I'm willing to bet one of the markets would be ORD.

jetBlue 393 arrived in DAB for the final time today at 11:04 AM. jetBlue 500 is scheduled to depart on time at 12:06 PM.

There are a few more routes that could be added by WN at JAX such as JAX-CMH, JAX-IND, JAX-MCI, JAX-LAX, JAX-STL, and JAX-DCA. WN could also increase JAX-MDW and JAX-HOU to at least 2 daily nonstops.

NK could also add nonstop service to JAX from ATL, DFW, IAH, LAS, and LAX.

jplatts wrote:

There are a few more routes that could be added by WN at JAX such as JAX-CMH, JAX-IND, JAX-MCI, JAX-LAX, JAX-STL, and JAX-DCA. WN could also increase JAX-MDW and JAX-HOU to at least 2 daily nonstops.

NK could also add nonstop service to JAX from ATL, DFW, IAH, LAS, and LAX.

What is the current JAX schedule for WN?


In the previous thread, JAXDan wrote:
Making some predictions for JAX in 2019, feel free to add your own.
1) JAX finally gets a west coast nonstop, my guess is UA SFO or DL LAX on an A220.
2) Nonstop to MSY, I'm thinking NK or WN
3) San Juan comes back on a low cost carrier.


Can A220 make JAX-LAX?
I could have sworn WN already did JAX-MSY....was this cut a few years back?

727LOVER wrote:

jplatts wrote:

There are a few more routes that could be added by WN at JAX such as JAX-CMH, JAX-IND, JAX-MCI, JAX-LAX, JAX-STL, and JAX-DCA. WN could also increase JAX-MDW and JAX-HOU to at least 2 daily nonstops.

NK could also add nonstop service to JAX from ATL, DFW, IAH, LAS, and LAX.

What is the current JAX schedule for WN?


In the previous thread, JAXDan wrote:
Making some predictions for JAX in 2019, feel free to add your own.
1) JAX finally gets a west coast nonstop, my guess is UA SFO or DL LAX on an A220.
2) Nonstop to MSY, I'm thinking NK or WN
3) San Juan comes back on a low cost carrier.


Can A220 make JAX-LAX?
I could have sworn WN already did JAX-MSY....was this cut a few years back?

Currently WN flies JAX-ATL/BWI/MDW/DAL/DEN/FLL/HOU/BNA
WN ended JAX-MSY quite a few years ago, the last airline to try JAX-MSY was G4 but that ended about 2 years ago.
From what i've read an A220 can go up to 3,200 nautical miles and JAX-LAX is only about 1,900 nautical miles.

evank516 wrote:

jetBlue 393 arrived in DAB for the final time today at 11:04 AM. jetBlue 500 is scheduled to depart on time at 12:06 PM.

jetBlue 500 took off from DAB at 12:17 PM today. It's over.

JAXDan wrote:

727LOVER wrote:

jplatts wrote:

There are a few more routes that could be added by WN at JAX such as JAX-CMH, JAX-IND, JAX-MCI, JAX-LAX, JAX-STL, and JAX-DCA. WN could also increase JAX-MDW and JAX-HOU to at least 2 daily nonstops.

NK could also add nonstop service to JAX from ATL, DFW, IAH, LAS, and LAX.

What is the current JAX schedule for WN?


In the previous thread, JAXDan wrote:
Making some predictions for JAX in 2019, feel free to add your own.
1) JAX finally gets a west coast nonstop, my guess is UA SFO or DL LAX on an A220.
2) Nonstop to MSY, I'm thinking NK or WN
3) San Juan comes back on a low cost carrier.


Can A220 make JAX-LAX?
I could have sworn WN already did JAX-MSY....was this cut a few years back?

Currently WN flies JAX-ATL/BWI/MDW/DAL/DEN/FLL/HOU/BNA
WN ended JAX-MSY quite a few years ago, the last airline to try JAX-MSY was G4 but that ended about 2 years ago.
From what i've read an A220 can go up to 3,200 nautical miles and JAX-LAX is only about 1,900 nautical miles.

In that case, then yes.....JAX-LAX would seem feasible. DL tried this route before, what a/c were they using then? I think UA to SFO is certainly possible. I know WN flew to TPA because I flew that route twice. Didn't they also do ORF?

727LOVER wrote:

JAXDan wrote:

727LOVER wrote:

What is the current JAX schedule for WN?


In the previous thread, JAXDan wrote:
Making some predictions for JAX in 2019, feel free to add your own.
1) JAX finally gets a west coast nonstop, my guess is UA SFO or DL LAX on an A220.
2) Nonstop to MSY, I'm thinking NK or WN
3) San Juan comes back on a low cost carrier.


Can A220 make JAX-LAX?
I could have sworn WN already did JAX-MSY....was this cut a few years back?

Currently WN flies JAX-ATL/BWI/MDW/DAL/DEN/FLL/HOU/BNA
WN ended JAX-MSY quite a few years ago, the last airline to try JAX-MSY was G4 but that ended about 2 years ago.
From what i've read an A220 can go up to 3,200 nautical miles and JAX-LAX is only about 1,900 nautical miles.

In that case, then yes.....JAX-LAX would seem feasible. DL tried this route before, what a/c were they using then? I think UA to SFO is certainly possible. I know WN flew to TPA because I flew that route twice. Didn't they also do ORF?

DL flew JAX-LAX around 2006-07 using a 738 i believe.
I flew WN JAX-ORF in 2004 I'm not sure when it ended. WN also used to fly JAX to LAS, IND, BHM, and PHL just off the top of my head.

727LOVER wrote:

In that case, then yes.....JAX-LAX would seem feasible. DL tried this route before, what a/c were they using then? I think UA to SFO is certainly possible. I know WN flew to TPA because I flew that route twice. Didn't they also do ORF?

IIRC, WN flew JAX-ORF for at least a decade, most of it as 2x daily. Ended sometime around the the AirTran acquisition. At that point WN also cut a bunch of other destinations from ORF. G4 flew this route 2x weekly last summer and most flights were completely sold out. It will resume next summer at 3x weekly and my guess is that it would probably operate year-round from then on.

Is there any hope of VRB getting any commercial service?

Also, what is with GNV to ATL service? It's been on everything from a CR2 to a 739.

maps4ltd wrote:

Also, what is with GNV to ATL service? It's been on everything from a CR2 to a 739.

It's just frequency really. The jets are different sizes to meet different periods of demand throughout the day. The mainline jet in the morning is always full, but it hits a big connection bank. I've been on it about 3 times in the last couple months. I've been on the CR2 on it too, which isn't nearly as nice.

Silver starts DAB today. Flight 60 is scheduled to depart FLL at 6:30 PM from Terminal 1, gate C8. No gate info for DAB, but I'm guessing they're using jetBlue's gate since they took over jetBlue's old counter. They probably got to work on redesigning the counters pretty darn fast, though I can't imagine that stuff takes too long.

evank516 wrote:

gate info for DAB, but I'm guessing they're using jetBlue's gate since they took over jetBlue's old counter.

based on the signage I saw when I traveled through there they're using Gate 1 because their logo was on the TV screen behind the desk at gate 1, which sort of surprised me, I also expected them to use JetBlue's former Gate 6.

Oslim540 wrote:

evank516 wrote:

gate info for DAB, but I'm guessing they're using jetBlue's gate since they took over jetBlue's old counter.

based on the signage I saw when I traveled through there they're using Gate 1 because their logo was on the TV screen behind the desk at gate 1, which sort of surprised me, I also expected them to use JetBlue's former Gate 6.

Which gates have the ground-level "Commuter Gates"? If 6 doesn't have one and 1 does, that might be the difference.

DeltaRules wrote:

Oslim540 wrote:

evank516 wrote:

gate info for DAB, but I'm guessing they're using jetBlue's gate since they took over jetBlue's old counter.

based on the signage I saw when I traveled through there they're using Gate 1 because their logo was on the TV screen behind the desk at gate 1, which sort of surprised me, I also expected them to use JetBlue's former Gate 6.

Which gates have the ground-level "Commuter Gates"? If 6 doesn't have one and 1 does, that might be the difference.

I'm pretty sure that 1 does. When CO Connection flew DAB-TPA back in the early 2000s I believe they were using gate 1.

So we have Silver at 1 and Sunwing at 5 plus DL at 2 and 4 with AA at 3. I'm guessing AA will use 5 for overflow as well since Sunwing has an AM turn only twice a week coming up.

Anyone else planning on staring at FlightAware tonight for the first flight? I do. 3M 60 is scheduled to depart at 6:30 PM.

evank516 wrote:

Anyone else planning on staring at FlightAware tonight for the first flight? I do. 3M 60 is scheduled to depart at 6:30 PM.

I have a notification set up for 3M's flights on FR24, but I know that Silver's flight and FR24 tend not to mix well so we'll see if that works but i'll be occasionally stalking FlightAware for that flight.

Oslim540 wrote:

evank516 wrote:

Anyone else planning on staring at FlightAware tonight for the first flight? I do. 3M 60 is scheduled to depart at 6:30 PM.

I have a notification set up for 3M's flights on FR24, but I know that Silver's flight and FR24 tend not to mix well so we'll see if that works but i'll be occasionally stalking FlightAware for that flight.

T-Minus 29 minutes until 3M 60 is scheduled to depart FLL.

evank516 wrote:

DeltaRules wrote:

Oslim540 wrote:

based on the signage I saw when I traveled through there they're using Gate 1 because their logo was on the TV screen behind the desk at gate 1, which sort of surprised me, I also expected them to use JetBlue's former Gate 6.

Which gates have the ground-level "Commuter Gates"? If 6 doesn't have one and 1 does, that might be the difference.

I'm pretty sure that 1 does. When CO Connection flew DAB-TPA back in the early 2000s I believe they were using gate 1.

So we have Silver at 1 and Sunwing at 5 plus DL at 2 and 4 with AA at 3. I'm guessing AA will use 5 for overflow as well since Sunwing has an AM turn only twice a week coming up.

Anyone else planning on staring at FlightAware tonight for the first flight? I do. 3M 60 is scheduled to depart at 6:30 PM.

Cape Air shared 3 with CO.

Looks like Silver left from a remote stand off 5 or 6: https://www.facebook.com/flydaytonafirs ... 283726115/

DeltaRules wrote:

evank516 wrote:

DeltaRules wrote:

Which gates have the ground-level "Commuter Gates"? If 6 doesn't have one and 1 does, that might be the difference.

I'm pretty sure that 1 does. When CO Connection flew DAB-TPA back in the early 2000s I believe they were using gate 1.

So we have Silver at 1 and Sunwing at 5 plus DL at 2 and 4 with AA at 3. I'm guessing AA will use 5 for overflow as well since Sunwing has an AM turn only twice a week coming up.

Anyone else planning on staring at FlightAware tonight for the first flight? I do. 3M 60 is scheduled to depart at 6:30 PM.

Cape Air shared 3 with CO.

Looks like Silver left from a remote stand off 5 or 6: https://www.facebook.com/flydaytonafirs ... 283726115/

This was before Cape Air. In late 2001 or early 2002 Continental Connection, ironically operated by Silver's predecessor Gulfstream International provided DAB-TPA flights during the post 9/11 hiatus of CO's EWR-DAB flights. I believe that was out of gate 1. The service ended shortly after EWR-DAB resumed on CO Express.

https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/ ... ys-Expands

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for Silver was in front of Gate 6, so they have in fact taken over jetBlue's former facilities minus the jetway.

Here's an article about Tortuga One, the DAB/Tortugas livery plane for 3M, from MILB.com: https://www.milb.com/milb/news/daytona- ... j0AciN5Fy0

The most interesting thing seen is the reference to the Tortugas' president hearing DAB was in discussions with two airlines, of which 3M was one. I wonder if WG was the other or if there's the possibility of someone ELSE adding service in addition to those two.

Had Sunwing announced before or after B6 said they were leaving?

DeltaRules wrote:

Had Sunwing announced before or after B6 said they were leaving?

Sunwing Announces service to DAB in September of Last Year, JetBlue announced cutting service in early October, and Silver then announced service in early December and AA announced their LGA service very shortly after silver

not sure when they were talking with Silver/Sunwing/AA but because AA and silver's announcements came so close together i'd imagine that they were talking with AA (and possibly DL) about NYC service, due to JetBlue's departure, around the same time.

Oslim540 wrote:

DeltaRules wrote:

Had Sunwing announced before or after B6 said they were leaving?

Sunwing Announces service to DAB in September of Last Year, JetBlue announced cutting service in early October, and Silver then announced service in early December and AA announced their LGA service very shortly after silver

not sure when they were talking with Silver/Sunwing/AA but because AA and silver's announcements came so close together i'd imagine that they were talking with AA (and possibly DL) about NYC service, due to JetBlue's departure, around the same time.

My guess is they called both Delta and AA as soon as they got word from jetBlue. AA took the bait, and they didn't even ask for incentives based on the announcement in Daytona Beach's local newspaper. The switch from JFK to LGA service will probably bode well considering JFK will be down a runway from April through November, and I honestly expect it to perform well enough to either A) become daily and run from February to September and then November to December or B) continue on Saturday and Sunday only year round.

evank516 wrote:

AA took the bait, and they didn't even ask for incentives based on the announcement in Daytona Beach's local newspaper.

interesting that you say that, because when I first read the announcement I didn't read too much into that comment that Jay Cassens made, but now that you say that it does appear american didn't/won't get incentives for that route, which surprised me because I thought that AA would get the incentives regardless; so that certainly is a weird situation.

Oslim540 wrote:

evank516 wrote:

AA took the bait, and they didn't even ask for incentives based on the announcement in Daytona Beach's local newspaper.

interesting that you say that, because when I first read the announcement I didn't read too much into that comment that Jay Cassens made, but now that you say that it does appear american didn't/won't get incentives for that route, which surprised me because I thought that AA would get the incentives regardless; so that certainly is a weird situation.

I don't think they're really going to need it. Remember, jetBlue didn't leave DAB because of poor loads. People used the service, but jetBlue couldn't get the premiums they needed to keep it viable, so you had say 120 people flying JFK-DAB, but maybe they were all paying somewhere between $99 and $129 each way when jetBlue wanted more people paying $149-$169 each way (numbers are just random here) to increase their profit margins. The demand for NYC service exists out of DAB, but maybe jetBlue wasn't the best fit for it, at least not on an A320. AA had nearly 3 years of data thanks to jetBlue to make a sound decision, and they have a smaller aircraft to justify the flight. Now, when the A220 comes online with jetBlue could I see them possibly give it another go? Maybe. If they averaged 80% loads on their flight using a 150 seat Airbus A320 and the A220 has 130 seats (is that how much they're planning?), we know they can fill the plane over 90%, and we know AA won't have a problem unless people don't use it as much because it is less than daily.

Honestly, Delta could probably fill a daily 717 on this route without a hitch (and if they had more A220s, that would be a viable option as well), and they could probably get the premium for it too, but AA took the bait first. I think they'll do fine though.

evank516 wrote:

I don't think they're really going to need it. Remember, jetBlue didn't leave DAB because of poor loads. People used the service, but jetBlue couldn't get the premiums they needed to keep it viable,

while that is true, i'm surprised AA didn't take what is essentially 1 year of free/semi-free flying if they took the incentives; but it does make sense why they probably won't need it.

Oslim540 wrote:

evank516 wrote:

I don't think they're really going to need it. Remember, jetBlue didn't leave DAB because of poor loads. People used the service, but jetBlue couldn't get the premiums they needed to keep it viable,

while that is true, i'm surprised AA didn't take what is essentially 1 year of free/semi-free flying if they took the incentives; but it does make sense why they probably won't need it.

What may happen is DAB will offer the incentives to AA in order to continue the service past the seasonal end point.

The parallels between DAB and MLB in terms of service, in light of recent adds/drops, are still remarkable:

DAB:
AA- CLT, Northeast hub (LGA)
DL- ATL
Regional carrier (3M)- FLL
Niche Canadian carrier (WG)- YYZ
Casino charter (SY)- GPT

MLB:
AA- CLT, Northeast hub (PHL, DCA)
DL- ATL
Regional carrier (Elite)- PWM
Niche Canadian carrier (PD)- YTZ, YOW, YQG
Casino charter (SY)- GPT

First Sunwing flight from YYZ arrived in DAB yesterday. The flight used Gate 6 which leads me to believe that Silver and Sunwing will probably share a gate. I also noticed that the flight did not return to YYZ directly from DAB as the plane flew YYZ-DAB-MCO-PIE-YYZ (Source: FlightAware). Anyone know what happened?

DeltaRules wrote:

The parallels between DAB and MLB in terms of service, in light of recent adds/drops, are still remarkable:

DAB:
AA- CLT, Northeast hub (LGA)
DL- ATL
Regional carrier (3M)- FLL
Niche Canadian carrier (WG)- YYZ
Casino charter (SY)- GPT

MLB:
AA- CLT, Northeast hub (PHL, DCA)
DL- ATL
Regional carrier (Elite)- PWM
Niche Canadian carrier (PD)- YTZ, YOW, YQG
Casino charter (SY)- GPT

Well...they've been similar for a very, very, very long time. No surprise
Destination wise, it's
DAB-5 MLB-9
I excluded the charters and added SRQ to MLB total.

evank516 wrote:

First Sunwing flight from YYZ arrived in DAB yesterday. The flight used Gate 6 which leads me to believe that Silver and Sunwing will probably share a gate. I also noticed that the flight did not return to YYZ directly from DAB as the plane flew YYZ-DAB-MCO-PIE-YYZ (Source: FlightAware). Anyone know what happened?

Sunwing does a bunch of multistop flights.

They often do YYZ-MCO-FLL-YYZ. More often than not Sunwing flights are billed as direct, not nonstop.

dabpit wrote:

evank516 wrote:

First Sunwing flight from YYZ arrived in DAB yesterday. The flight used Gate 6 which leads me to believe that Silver and Sunwing will probably share a gate. I also noticed that the flight did not return to YYZ directly from DAB as the plane flew YYZ-DAB-MCO-PIE-YYZ (Source: FlightAware). Anyone know what happened?

Sunwing does a bunch of multistop flights.

They often do YYZ-MCO-FLL-YYZ. More often than not Sunwing flights are billed as direct, not nonstop.

That's some pretty harsh false advertising on DAB's part then. The airport announced the flights as nonstop. Take a look:

http://www.flydaytonafirst.com/about-da ... y_id=20369

evank516 wrote:

dabpit wrote:

evank516 wrote:

First Sunwing flight from YYZ arrived in DAB yesterday. The flight used Gate 6 which leads me to believe that Silver and Sunwing will probably share a gate. I also noticed that the flight did not return to YYZ directly from DAB as the plane flew YYZ-DAB-MCO-PIE-YYZ (Source: FlightAware). Anyone know what happened?

Sunwing does a bunch of multistop flights.

They often do YYZ-MCO-FLL-YYZ. More often than not Sunwing flights are billed as direct, not nonstop.

That's some pretty harsh false advertising on DAB's part then. The airport announced the flights as nonstop. Take a look:

http://www.flydaytonafirst.com/about-da ... y_id=20369

Well DAB's management team is not really the brightest bunch of bulbs in the box and truthfully Rick Carl needs to go and that is something I have said for years. He is in charge of economic development for Volusia County in addition to overseeing the airport.

evank516 wrote:

dabpit wrote:

evank516 wrote:

First Sunwing flight from YYZ arrived in DAB yesterday. The flight used Gate 6 which leads me to believe that Silver and Sunwing will probably share a gate. I also noticed that the flight did not return to YYZ directly from DAB as the plane flew YYZ-DAB-MCO-PIE-YYZ (Source: FlightAware). Anyone know what happened?

Sunwing does a bunch of multistop flights.

They often do YYZ-MCO-FLL-YYZ. More often than not Sunwing flights are billed as direct, not nonstop.

That's some pretty harsh false advertising on DAB's part then. The airport announced the flights as nonstop. Take a look:

http://www.flydaytonafirst.com/about-da ... y_id=20369

Sunwing will begin twice weekly seasonal, non-stop flight service between Toronto and Daytona Beach beginning January 2019.

Well....it flew YYZ-DAB, didn't it ??

They didn't have enough people to fill the flight to YYZ. The flight cancelled yesterday here in PIE and this morning it had 170 people go out on it.

727LOVER wrote:

evank516 wrote:

dabpit wrote:

Sunwing does a bunch of multistop flights.

They often do YYZ-MCO-FLL-YYZ. More often than not Sunwing flights are billed as direct, not nonstop.

That's some pretty harsh false advertising on DAB's part then. The airport announced the flights as nonstop. Take a look:

http://www.flydaytonafirst.com/about-da ... y_id=20369

Sunwing will begin twice weekly seasonal, non-stop flight service between Toronto and Daytona Beach beginning January 2019.

Well....it flew YYZ-DAB, didn't it ??

And tomorrow it flies YYZ-MIA-DAB. Now that I'm seeing the real deal I'm thinking this will be a total disaster and it won't survive it's first season.

dabpit wrote:

evank516 wrote:

dabpit wrote:

Sunwing does a bunch of multistop flights.

They often do YYZ-MCO-FLL-YYZ. More often than not Sunwing flights are billed as direct, not nonstop.

That's some pretty harsh false advertising on DAB's part then. The airport announced the flights as nonstop. Take a look:

http://www.flydaytonafirst.com/about-da ... y_id=20369

Well DAB's management team is not really the brightest bunch of bulbs in the box and truthfully Rick Carl needs to go and that is something I have said for years. He is in charge of economic development for Volusia County in addition to overseeing the airport.

You really think so? I don't know much about Rick Carl. I knew Steve Cooke really well and I thought very highly of him. Jay Cassens is only 3 years into his time at DAB after replacing Steve and he seems to have done well. Pretty knowledgeable guy.

VRB---Elite will return AVL service starting May 23, twice weekly

Silver moved to Gate 1 at DAB.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-J327A using Tapatalk

Here's the gate rundown at DAB with the new carriers:
1- 3M
2, 4- DL
3, 5- AA
6- WG

I think this is the first time I can remember all 6 gates having an airline laying some sort of claim to them. 5 doesn't have any signage, but does have American computer equipment and the contract of carriage placards.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-J327A using Tapatalk

AA's inaugural DAB-LGA was Saturday. Photos and video here: https://www.facebook.com/flydaytonafirst/

Looks like they used Gate 5.

AA's PHL-MLB goes daily in December per enirlia's thread.

DeltaRules wrote:

AA's PHL-MLB goes daily in December per enirlia's thread.

That's the good news. Bad news is Elite Airways is leaving MLB...actually, they already left

Can't find anything on google, but nothing bookable.

They'll have 1 flight to Appleton, Wis on July 22 and a return on July 25

727LOVER wrote:

DeltaRules wrote:

AA's PHL-MLB goes daily in December per enirlia's thread.

That's the good news. Bad news is Elite Airways is leaving MLB...actually, they already left

Can't find anything on google, but nothing bookable.

They'll have 1 flight to Appleton, Wis on July 22 and a return on July 25

Yep, I confirmed it with the people I know who work at MLB. I think they're keeping MLB as a maintenance base, but that's about it. Elite constantly adds/deletes routes, so this isn't too surprising honestly.

Kronesian wrote:

727LOVER wrote:

DeltaRules wrote:

AA's PHL-MLB goes daily in December per enirlia's thread.

That's the good news. Bad news is Elite Airways is leaving MLB...actually, they already left

Can't find anything on google, but nothing bookable.

They'll have 1 flight to Appleton, Wis on July 22 and a return on July 25

Yep, I confirmed it with the people I know who work at MLB. I think they're keeping MLB as a maintenance base, but that's about it. Elite constantly adds/deletes routes, so this isn't too surprising honestly.

I was surprised to see MLB on the arrival board in SRQ today since reading what you guys posted. Did the flight come in or was it just a ghost destination. I checked later online and it said it arrived.

SRQLOT wrote:

Kronesian wrote:

727LOVER wrote:

That's the good news. Bad news is Elite Airways is leaving MLB...actually, they already left

Can't find anything on google, but nothing bookable.

They'll have 1 flight to Appleton, Wis on July 22 and a return on July 25

Yep, I confirmed it with the people I know who work at MLB. I think they're keeping MLB as a maintenance base, but that's about it. Elite constantly adds/deletes routes, so this isn't too surprising honestly.

I was surprised to see MLB on the arrival board in SRQ today since reading what you guys posted. Did the flight come in or was it just a ghost destination. I checked later online and it said it arrived.

Ghosted. Months after Bimini flights ended, they still showed up on Flightaware as scheduled.

Runway 7L-25R was closed last week. Had to land on runway 16 this past Friday when I went down to visit. They actually warned us ahead of time of an abrupt landing which I've never witnessed before on flights to DAB when 7L-25R was closed. The only time I heard a short runway/abrupt landing warning was when I was flying to EYW.