Frontier Airlines recently announced it will discontinue LGB service April 16, 2011. Frontier started LGB service in May 2010. Unfortunately, flight times were inconvienient 7:00am and 11:00am LGB to DEN and 8:40am and 6:30pm DEN to LGB - the morning turn only operated Tue/Thur/Sa. Obviously, the limited schedule hampered flyers to look to LAX/SNA on F9, or another carrier into LGB, making load factors dismal.
With the departure of F9 from the LGB market, two slots will become available. After Alaska Airlines gave up 5 slots (that's how Frontier and Allegiant got into LGB), they wanted slots - probably to compete with Allegiant's then plans to fly LGB-HNL. With Alaska's SkyWest partnership, there will be 4 LGB-SEA rountrips in May - with the increase in frequency and Allegiant's still proposed HNL service, expect Alaska to apply for LGB slots.
Spirit Air is expanding westward. In May, they are starting FLL-DFW-LAS roundtrips. In order to accomodate LGBANC, jetBlue is switching the LGBFLL to LAXFLL. Could Spirit Air consider LGBFLL? Spirit would be good for LGB opening up not only FLL, but connections to the Caribbean and Latin America.American Airlines has served LGB in the past, could they return to LGB? It certainly seems possible with their tie up with jetBlue. Even one slot would benefit AA. Several commuter slots are available allowing American Eagle to apply for slots and supplement AA mainline. United Express (SkyWest) has proved LAXDFW viable operating CRJ-700s, could AA Eagle operate CRJ-700s on LGBDFW?
Southwest Airlines never started service unless they were able to operate 6-8 flight between a city pair. After purchasing Morris Air, that philosphy changed. They found it was profitable to operate as few as 2 flights between city pairs (TUSLAX, SANTUS, etc). With AirTrans hub and spoke system, would Southwest or AirTran consider applying for LGB slots? Don't think it hasn't crossed their mind!
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