SouthJet
Regional Carrier - SouthJet Connect
Hubs:
IAD (
DCA if slots were available),
MEM, possible future hub @
MSP
Focus Cities:
MSY,
CLT,
MCO,
RDU,
STL
IATA - DX
Callsign -
Low cost/low fare carrier
Mainline - Airbus 319, Embraer 190, Embraer 170, DHC-8 Q400; possibility of Airbus 320s for heavy routes
Regional - ERJ-140 for very light routes -- limited use; opens only after airline is safely established and turning a profit
Business Plan:
Cities would be served initially from
IAD and/or
MEM depending on the geography. As our name suggests, we will focus on bringing regular jet service to cities throughout the South.
We would be P2P heavy using the
FL model with large focus city operations. Ideal would be 3-5x daily frequency using the appropriate plane; some destinations may be 2x daily with service only to
MEM or
IAD. Most longhauls/transcons will be only from the hubs and heavy routes from the focus cities, as short hops are our money makers like
WN and
FL. We would not require the frequency that
WN prefers in opening markets, which would allow use to open smaller markets like
FL.
On Board Product: IFE will be
XM radio. On board, we will serve a snack and a free soft drink. Alcoholic drinks will cost several dollars, though may be free to Elite flyers, if costs permit. Flights over 2 hours will have a BOB program with limited cold dishes such as sandwiches and salads.
Seating: All planes will feature leather seating with 31-33'' pitch.
WN's open seating will be used to ensure quick turns. Once our
FF program is in place, Elite flyers will have priority to board. Otherwise, boarding will be done in groups based on check-in time.
Customer Service: Our call-centers will be based in the United States. While this is not as inexpensive as outsourcing to a foreign country, customer satisfication tends to be higher. It is a possibility that we could follow
B6's approach in using home-based workers.
Additionally, we will place great emphasis on creating a fun, low-stress environment such as
WN,
B6, and
J7.
FF Program - Our
FF program will be based on segments and have two tiers. Elite flyers will have no change fees, priority boarding, priority check-in, priority baggage, and possibly a free alcoholic drink on-board, by showing their Elite card.
Interlines/Codeshares - We would accept interlines from EAS providers, assuming the cost to us is negligble. We would attempt to establish interlines with similar international carriers such as
FI and
EI. Additionally, we would explore an interline/codeshare with operators such as
KX,
JM, and
UP, but only providing that costs are not prohibitive.
Destinations
*Larger markets will open before the smaller markets, especially outside the South. Growth will be controlled and some projected destinations may not be open. We are intentionally avoiding
WN and
FL as much as possible until we have grown considerably.
B6's ops are not as heavily considered given the product differential, and their east-west strategy.
To note on the destinations, since our strategy is to serve the Washington area and the South, and to essentially take people from those destinations elsewhere, we will largely serve primary airports outside of this area unless a very reasonable secondary airport is available. It is largely impractical to serve secondary airports from the markets we serve, at least initially. Secondary airports might open in the future, though some are listed herein. If costs are prohibitive, we would move service to a reasonable secondary airport.
New England -
BOS,
BDL,
PVD,
MHT,
BTV,
PWM
New York -
LGA,
ALB,
HPN,
SWF,
ROC,
SYR,
BUF,
ISP
Mid-Atlantic -
PHL,
PIT,
MDT, ACY,
BWI,
DCA (seek all available slots aggressively)
Midwest -
SDF,
IND,
LEX,
CMH,
CVG,
CLE,
DTW,
MDW,
MKE,
DSM,
MSP,
MCI,
ICT,
GRR, FNT, CAK,
DAY,
BMI,
FWA, MLI,
MSN,
Texas/Oklahoma -
HOU,
DFW,
SAT,
AUS,
ELP,
OKC,
TUL
Southwest -
LAS,
PHX,
SLC,
ABQ,
TUS,
RNO,
DEN
West Coast -
SAN,
LAX,
SFO,
PDX,
SEA,
SMF,
Foreign - BDA,
NAS, FPO,
SJU,
CUN,
ACA,
YTZ (excellent use of a Q400!)
South
Virginia -
RIC,
PHF,
ROA
North Carolina -
AVL,
CLT,
GSO,
RDU
South Carolina -
CHS,
CAE,
GSP,
MYR
Georgia -
ATL,
SAV
Florida -
JAX,
TLH,
PNS,
PIE,
SRQ,
RSW,
FLL,
PBI,
MIA,
DAB, MLB; seasonal -
PFN,
VPS,
EYW
Alabama -
BHM, HVL, MGM
Mississippi -
GPT, JAN
Tennessee -
TYS,
BNA,
MEM,
CHA
Arkansas -
LIT,
XNA
Louisiana -
MSY,
BTR,
SHV
Other destinations could be added throughout the South, but this is unlikely as we would prefer to not outsource to a regional carrier, and there are few destinations not already listed that could be profitably served by jet service.