Bye Bye...... National Airlines......

**rsmith6621** · 11-06-2002, 11:11 PM

Well it appears as though the final nail has been hammered into National Airlines Coffin.

Another sign that there are just to many TINBIRDS up in the sky and not enough of us to fill them.

Maybe repealing Deregulation to a case by case basis wouldnt be such a bad idea....my thoughts are if a airline isnt making $$$$ after a certian period of time they should discontinue flying it.

http://www.flightsim.com/dcforum/Use...6554392ef3.jpg

**BillS511** · 11-06-2002, 11:37 PM

Sad...
It's hard to believe so many carriers are folding these days. Funny thing is, last week I flew from KIND-KPHX and the ports seemed just as busy as always.

Bill:-wave

**DaveKDEN** · 11-06-2002, 11:48 PM

The airports and airplanes may be full, but when you give away the seats at bargain basement prices, ya end up loosing money. Unfortunately, it doesn't take long for a smaller carrier to succomb (sp?).
http://www.flightsim.com/dcforum/Use...9a0a8060bb.jpg

**a1cpilot** · 11-07-2002, 01:47 AM

Unfortunately I know someone that worked for National. He was my boss while he was in the military. He had just started in September as a mechanic.
Now with the topic of the bargain prices. Southwest Airlines is the one of the few airlines that are making a profit. With my experience I find that they offer the low prices without haveing to go through the many layovers and transfers. I think the other airlines should look at how they are running their business and adjust accordingly.
Oh... almost forgot about Jet Blue. A fairly new airline with new planes and still pulling a profit. The CEO of Jet Blue worked for SWA and that is where he got the way he runs his business.

**Qballbandit** · 11-07-2002, 01:09 PM

There was an interesting snipit in Airliners mag, re: Southwest's success. It seems the big 'uns like American and some others came with tails between their legs, and wanted to observe and learn Southwest's tricks of the trade.
RE: National Airlines..sad is right. Each day on my way home from work I look forward to seeing that beautiful 757 from O'hare to Vegas (flight 88) take off over my head. We'll miss you "REDROCK 88"!!!!!!!!!

**vortac** · 11-07-2002, 01:18 PM

Dave (or any other airline experts),

I know this may be a bit OT, but my feeling is that in the near future there will no longer be such a thing as a non low-cost airline. What's happening now with UA the other majors is that they're being hammered by these "low costers" and eventually, something will give. This 'something', I believe is any differentiation a major airline has to offer.

Do you think, in order to survive, the majors (UA, AA, Delta, etc) will have to essentially become an SWA or die?

Thanks for your opinions.

Ilya

**AlaskaAV** · 11-07-2002, 01:33 PM

Dave

How true it is. If it costs $1 to make a hamburger and they sell it for $.90, a profit cannot be made no matter how many they sell. There sure were a lot of airlines shut down in Alaska in the 80s, three of which I worked for.

Ernie

**a1cpilot** · 11-07-2002, 02:39 PM

But SWA does not sell their tickets for less than the cost to fly. They are able to keep their costs low by many means. I heard on a news channel that the biggest problem is the way the big airlines work. As many know they operate on hub based system. This can get expensive haveing to pay all the fees associated with keeping the hub. SWA does not run a hub based system, this helps to eliminate delays and missed conections.

I find flying SWA is a lot easier because I don't have to fly to pheonix, Salt Lake City, or Denver just to get to my destination. Lately I have been flying to San Antonio from Las Vegas. SWA offers the only nonstop flights to S.A. On other airlines I would have to go to a hub from here to get there. I have had problems with this because of missing my connecting flight due to a delayed flight leaving Vegas.

I think SWA will thrive and grow as thier popularity will grow in the next few years.

I guess in short I feel hubs should go because they do not work like they used to.

**rsmith6621** · 11-07-2002, 03:20 PM

I must agree that all USA airlines need to rethink their philosophys. Most are running on principles that are 40-to 50 years old and this is where SWA and JBU has them beat.

I see many of our old faithful being left behind the dustcloud in the comming near future unless they make a sudden about face.

The only problem with SWA operations is that they wont wait for passengers comming in on already delyed flights, that is how SWA is able to have great ontime performance.

http://www.flightsim.com/dcforum/Use...6554392ef3.jpg