Sioux Falls gets new Airlines

[89rabbit]

Sioux Falls just got two new airlines to start flying into town and is working to get a "low cost" provider. This is good news in our quest to find a conference. One of the big hang ups for the Big Sky was cost of travel.

http://www.argusleader.com/news/Wednesdayarticle3.shtml

Sioux Falls gets Delta, flights to Cincinnati
Jay Kirschenmann
jkirsch@argusleader.com

published: 4/14/2004

New carrier is 2nd in 5 weeks for city

After 14 years without a new airline at Sioux Falls Regional Airport, two carriers have been secured in the space of five weeks.

Delta Airlines announced Tuesday it will offer Sioux Falls travelers three daily nonstop flights to its Cincinnati hub starting July 29. . . .

The news follows the announcement last month that Allegiant Air will start offering $198 round-trip, nonstop flights to Las Vegas on May 6.

Other carriers that serve Sioux Falls Regional Airport include Northwest, which has nonstop service to Minneapolis; and United, which flies to Chicago and Denver; and American, which flies to Chicago. . . .

The addition comes as Sioux Falls tries to lure low-fare carriers to help drive prices down. In fact, a consultant has been retained to help. But Delta's decision was not part of that effort.

"This isn't something our consultant was talking to Delta about - apparently Delta was looking around and thought our airport fit their plans," Messerli said.

The consultant, Mark Sixel, has said he expects two announcements regarding new low-fare carrier service: one in early summer and another by the end of summer.

"This is a big deal to the city of Sioux Falls and to the flying public," said Mark Griffin, chairman of the airport board. "It's one more step in the right direction, but I don't think this is the end of the show, either.

"We are in negotiations with other carriers, to benefit our flying public. It's a nice start, and we're excited." . . .

[JACKGUY]

Re: Sioux Falls gets new Airlines

Word is America West will be coming to Sioux Falls and adding direct flights to Phoenix.

[iasomebison]

Re: Sioux Falls gets new Airlines

anybody know what the monthly traffic at the Sioux Falls airport is?

Fargo's Hector International Airport saw 22,479 passengers in March, compared to 21,601 last year – a 4 percent increase.

http://www.in-forum.com/articles/ind...p;section=News

Too bad Hector only has two airlines United (Chicago and Denver) and Northwest (Minneapolis).

I was surprised when I was in the Bozeman airport earlier this year, the airport was slightly smaller (and the "metro" much smaller) but had many more flights and carriers than Fargo.

[89rabbit]

Re: Sioux Falls gets new Airlines

anybody know what the monthly traffic at the Sioux Falls airport is?


Too bad Hector only has two airlines United (Chicago and Denver) and Northwest (Minneapolis).

I was surprised when I was in the Bozeman airport earlier this year, the airport was slightly smaller (and the "metro" much smaller) but had many more flights and carriers than Fargo.

Although I don't have monthly numbers for Joe Foss Field (Sioux Falls Regional Airport) the article did have annual numbers:

http://www.argusleader.com/news/Wednesdayarticle3.shtml

Airport officials say the addition of service from Allegiant and Delta will help prevent a more than 30 percent loss of potential customers who drive to the Omaha airport for better prices.

It is hoped the changes will turn around a downward trend: About 362,000 people boarded aircraft in Sioux Falls three years ago, compared to 303,000 last year.

[89rabbit]

Re: Sioux Falls gets new Airlines

Sioux Falls get another new airline.  Combine that with Brookings' new airline and connection city (Omaha) and travel cost should go way down for the Jackrabbits and visiting teams.

http://www.argusleader.com/news/Tuesdayfeature.shtml



New flights should bring lower fares
Jay Kirschenmann
jkirsch@argusleader.com

published: 9/14/2004

America West will begin trips to Phoenix on Dec. 18


A shuffling of airlines at Sioux Falls Regional Airport will result in lower fares for area travelers, airport officials say.

America West Airlines announced Monday that it will launch daily nonstop service between Sioux Falls and its Phoenix hub on Dec. 18.  .  .  .

The arrival of the nation's second-largest discount carrier in Sioux Falls creates competition on western routes that currently average more than $500 per round-trip ticket.

Head-to-head comparisons on six popular western routes show America West fares on average are more than 30 percent less than the lowest fares offered by competing airlines, according to Argus Leader research on the popular travel Web site Travelocity.com.

And the competition hasn't even started, said airport consultant Mark Sixel, credited with bringing America West to Sioux Falls.

"Whatever the prices are now, the new service is here, so we'll see fares come down as airlines start to understand the new market," Sixel said.

But on the same day airport officials toasted their success in luring America West, they learned that another airline - American Eagle - is pulling out of Sioux Falls.

"I got a call from American last week that said they were having problems with cutbacks in Chicago, and they were having a hard time finding room for Sioux Falls flights on their November schedule," said Mike Marnach, the airport's executive director.

With two daily flights, American Eagle accounted for just 9 percent of Sioux Falls passenger traffic in August. United Express has five daily flights to O'Hare.

"You always hate to lose an airline, but at least we didn't lose access to a hub," Marnach said.  .  .  .

Latest success

America West is the third airline to announce service to Sioux Falls this year. Airport officials lured two other carriers in recent months.

Delta began three daily flights to Cincinnati through its Comair subsidiary at the end of July. And discount carrier Allegiant Air started service in May with two weekly flights to Las Vegas.

Fares already have started to decline, and more changes are expected when America West takes off in December.

America West spokesman Carlo Bertolini said Sioux Falls is an attractive addition for the airline.

"One of the things we found when evaluating this new market is that average fares here in Sioux Falls are consistently higher than the national average," Bertolini said.

"That's the primary reason we chose to enter this market: We know that there will be an immediate demand for our everyday low fares, including business-friendly walk-up fares. Wherever we fly, air fares become more competitive because we can reduce fares 40 to 75 percent."  .  .  .

American Eagle leaving

American Airlines and American Eagle officials could not be reached Monday night to confirm they are ending service to Sioux Falls. But a check of the airline's online reservation service showed flights to and from Sioux Falls scheduled for Oct. 31 but none for Nov. 1 or later.

American entered the Sioux Falls market in December 2001 when it acquired TWA. On Nov. 1, 2003, it changed its hub from St. Louis to O'Hare, putting it in direct competition with United.

The shift affected routes to 27 airports and added to congestion at O'Hare, where on-time arrivals dipped to just 67 percent this year.

That led the Federal Aviation Administration to negotiate a deal that is expected to reduce delays at O'Hare by 20 percent and across the rest of the national air network by 5 percent.

The order, to take effect Nov. 1 and last through the end of April, cuts 37 daily peak-hour arrivals by United and American, its two largest carriers.

"O'Hare will no longer be the place where on-time schedules come to die," FAA administrator Marion Blakey said when the deal was announced.  .  .  .


To bad American Eagle is leaving but picking up America West more then offsets it.  Good news for SDSU!

Go State!  ;D