Site Admin

Joined: 15 Jun 2005
Posts: 2316
Location: Indianapolis, IN

Effective November 8th AirTran will be adding the following service to Indianapolis International Airport.

7:30am IND to FLL Flight 403
10:40am FLL to IND Flight 414

11:45am IND to RSW Flight 395
3:00pm RSW to IND Flight 396

6:00pm IND to MCO Flight 397
8:30am MCO to IND Flight 394

11:40am IND to SRQ Flight 401
2:30pm SQR to IND Flight 398

7:50pm IND to ATL Flight 419
5:45pm ATL to IND Flight 420

Edit: Corrected start dates and added SRQ and ATL flights.

Site Admin

Joined: 17 Jun 2005
Posts: 949
Location: Carmel, IN

Interesting. I think FL knows what a lot of the other airlines know or are learning: that the success of discount airlines/routes is breeding more success at IND. I think we're really starting to see IND drawing pax from much further away. IND is definitely drawing pax away from CVG - I've seen articles about this in the past. But it's probably drawing a lot from SDF and DAY as well, plus lots of folks from the smaller airports around the state, like SBN, FTW, LAF. IND has always drawn a lot of pax from central Illinois (I know this from when I lived there a few years ago), as places like Champaign (CMI), Bloomington (BMI), and Decatur (DEC) have only expensive flights to hubs and are more convenient to IND than to either Chicago airport. And my own informal survey has determined that the number of non-Indy and out of state license plates has definitely increased over the last 2 years. I see a lot of Illinois and Ohio plates and a TON of kentucky plates in the IND parking lots these days.

But I digress...

As for FL's flight expansion specifically, it makes a lot of sense. TZ's implosion at IND has still left quite a hole, and service to the state of Florida is important if FL wants to be competitive.

One thing that concerns me longer term is that much of this might be a tug of war between FL and WN. There were a lot of bruised egos at FL, I'm sure, when they thought they had the deal sealed to buy into TZ. Then WN swooped in and "stole" TZ at the eleventh hour. I worry that FL might be beefing up in IND as a way of trying to stick it to WN, and when the dust clears, IND could end up with less competitive service and higher prices than otherwise. But for now, enjoy the new service and low fares.

Site Admin

Joined: 15 Jun 2005
Posts: 2316
Location: Indianapolis, IN

The only airport in this region of the country that has more than 5 routes is Akron, OH strangely enough. They have 7 routes. IND will be 2nd with 5 routes and there are a few locations with 4. The thing that will keep FL from doing too much damage is that they only have a gate or two at the most to work with. Can't really do much damage with 2 gates. You cap yourself at 15 flights a day. 20 flights at the most if you really cram things in. It will be interesting to see how this works out. More than how WN reacts will be how NW reacts since these are all NW routes.

Site Admin

Joined: 17 Jun 2005
Posts: 949
Location: Carmel, IN

Interesting about Akron. I had to go look at the interactive route map myself. If you've followed FL's expansion into some of the second and third tier cities, you can discern a lot about their strategy in the Midwest. It's clear that they try to draw traffic away from hub cities to smaller airports where they can still charge somewhat strong fares but have far lower landing fees and op costs. Their moves into Quad Cities (MLI), Bloominton-Normal (BMI), and arguable Milwaukee (MKE) were designed to draw hub traffic from ORD - pax that would drive to Chicago otherwise. (And believe me, when I lived in central IL, I would drive 3+ hours to Chicago to take a 2 hour flight from ORD or MDW to the east coast.

It's clear that Dayton service was intended to draw pax from fortress hubs at CVG and CLE, and that Flint service was to draw from DTW. The service from Akron was probably strategized to draw from fortress hubs at CLE as well as PIT (although US has de-hubbed at PIT now).

Member

Joined: 27 Jun 2005
Posts: 333
Location: St. Louis, MO

I guess Air Tran has made a splash at Indianapolis.

As an ATA fan, I hope these additions to Orlando and entrance to the Ft. Myers market doesn't create more difficulties for them.

Site Admin

Joined: 15 Jun 2005
Posts: 2316
Location: Indianapolis, IN

Is that two of that ATA routes? I know they fly MCO, LAS and LAX. Couldn't remember what the 4th route was.

Site Admin

Joined: 15 Jun 2005
Posts: 2316
Location: Indianapolis, IN

Missed in all this was that AirTran is adding Sarasota service as well as an additional Atlanta flight.

http://www.indystar.com/apps/p...D=/20050629/NLETTER08/50629005

The Atlanta flight starts August 16th and the rest actually start on November 8th and not the 9th.

Site Admin

Joined: 15 Jun 2005
Posts: 2316
Location: Indianapolis, IN

Here is the official AirTran press release.

Press Release Issued June 29, 2005 10:00:00 AM ET

AirTran Airways Expands Service From Indianapolis with New Nonstop Flights to Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers and Sarasota/Bradenton
Additional Flights to Atlanta and Orlando Scheduled

ORLANDO, Fla., June 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- AirTran Airways, a
subsidiary of AirTran Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: AAI), today announced the airline will start new daily nonstop service to Southwest Florida International Airport in Ft. Myers, Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport and Sarasota Bradenton International Airport from Indianapolis International Airport, effective November 8, 2005. The airline also will commence additional daily nonstop flights between Indianapolis and both Atlanta (effective August 16, 2005) and Orlando (effective November 8, 2005). All Indianapolis routes will be served by the airline's popular Boeing 717 aircraft with 12 Business Class and 105 coach seats.

"Our Indianapolis service launch has been one of the most successful in
AirTran Airways history," said John Kirby, AirTran Airways Director of
Strategic Planning & Scheduling. "Travelers from Central Indiana have clearly embraced AirTran Airways' low-cost, high-quality air service. We are pleased to enhance our existing service to Atlanta and Orlando, as well as add popular Florida destinations like Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers and Sarasota/Bradenton to our growing portfolio of service from Indianapolis."
Patrick Dooley, airport director at Indianapolis International Airport,
commented, "We are very pleased that AirTran Airways has had a successful launch of service in Indianapolis and with this new service AirTran Airways continues to demonstrate its confidence in the Indianapolis market. With an increased flight schedule and low fares, AirTran Airways will help us meet the air service needs of both the business community and our growing number of leisure travelers from throughout the region."

AirTran Airways will offer the following daily nonstop flight options
to/from Indianapolis:

Nonstop Service from Indianapolis

To Departs Arrives Frequency
Atlanta 6:00 a.m. 8:40 a.m. Daily
Atlanta 12:50 p.m. 3:25 p.m. Daily
Atlanta 3:31 p.m. 6:06 p.m. Daily
Atlanta 5:40 p.m. 8:19 p.m. Daily
Atlanta * 6:50 p.m. 9:20 p.m. Daily
Ft. Lauderdale ** 7:30 a.m. 10:00 p.m. Daily
Ft. Myers ** 11:45 a.m. 2:20 p.m. Daily
Orlando 2:15 p.m. 5:20 p.m. Daily
Orlando ** 6:00 p.m. 8:05 p.m. Daily
Sarasota / Bradenton ** 11:40 a.m. 1:50 p.m. Daily
Tampa 10:45 a.m. 1:55 p.m. Daily

* Denotes new flights effective August 16, 2005.
** Denotes new flights effective November 8, 2005.

Nonstop Service to Indianapolis

From Departs Arrives Frequency
Atlanta 9:35 a.m. 10:10 a.m. Daily
Atlanta 1:10 p.m. 1:40 p.m. Daily
Atlanta 4:30 p.m. 5:05 p.m. Daily
Atlanta * 5:45 p.m. 6:15 p.m. Daily
Atlanta 9:00 p.m. 9:39 p.m. Daily
Ft. Lauderdale ** 10:40 p.m. 1:15 p.m. Daily
Ft. Myers ** 3:00 p.m. 5:30 p.m. Daily
Orlando ** 8:30 a.m. 10:45 a.m. Daily
Orlando 11:00 a.m. 12:15 p.m. Daily
Sarasota / Bradenton ** 2:30 p.m. 4:50 p.m. Daily
Tampa 1:41 p.m. 2:56 p.m. Daily

* Denotes new flights effective August 16, 2005.
** Denotes new flights effective November 8, 2005.

AirTran Airways, one of America's largest low-fare airlines with 6,000
friendly, professional Crew Members, operates over 500 daily flights to more than 40 destinations. The airline's hub is at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, where it is the second largest carrier. AirTran Airways recently added the fuel-efficient Boeing 737-700 aircraft to create America's youngest all-Boeing fleet. The airline is also the first carrier to install XM Satellite Radio on a commercial aircraft. For reservations or more information, visit http://www.airtran.com (America Online Keyword: AirTran).

Member

Joined: 22 Jun 2005
Posts: 4
Location:

I'd love to see a LGA or EWR flight added as well. I really miss the days of TZ servicing LGA from IND.
I'm glad FL has decided to step up and battle NW.

AirTran Reporter

Joined: 17 Jun 2005
Posts: 341
Location: Indianapolis

I think, if they really got desparate, they could use remote stands for any extra flights and just use buses to take the passengers from terminal to plane. The fact of the matter is, the new terminal will not be done for at least 3 years meaning that either there will be no room for any new flights or a termporary area for extra flights will have to be established.

Site Admin

Joined: 15 Jun 2005
Posts: 2316
Location: Indianapolis, IN

I'll post pics later but the FL gate was a zoo. Delays and 2 flights due in around the same time. And C4 is very small as it is. BTW AirTran will be getting C2. Found this out from an agent.