So, WestJet has confirmed that it was the winner of one bundle of La Guardia airport slots in the recent auction (as a result of the Delta / US airways deal) and some sources say that JetBlue won the other two bundles. 

I find this disappointing.  If JetBlue was the high bidder, I have to ask how we’re better served by an airline already fully entrenched in the North Eastern corridor gaining more of a foothold in two strong markets? 

On the other hand, how often can Southwest afford to make low ball bids to enter slot controlled markets?  (Presuming it did bid and I feel sure they did.) 

Yes, I wanted Southwest to win those slots.  I wanted to see pressure on airlines such as JetBlue and United to get with the program and start competing more aggressively again.  I think both airlinese have acted to consolidate their positions without attempting to actually, you know, really grow into new markets.

The trend of entrenchment isn’t going to serve any public interest.  It will stave off bankruptcies for SuperLegacy airlines and even allow them to earn fair sized profits.  I’ve nothing against profits but I’ve seen the results of entrenchment first hand.

I live in the DFW area where Southwest is entrenched at Love Field holding a death grip on regional flying and where American Airlines has a stranglehold on national flying.  Let me tell you that it is neither fun nor affordable when an airline is entrenched into a market to the exclusion of every other airline.

And that’s what we have going on in the Northeast Corridor.  Delta (JFK and La Guardia) is gaining step by step in the New York area with JetBlue (JFK and now La Guardia) the incumbent (and rather lazy) LCC carrier.  United Airlines has a death grip on Newark Airport.  

In the Washington DC Area, we have dominance by US Airways (National) and United Airlines (Dulles).  This isn’t good.  We aren’t promoting healthy competition and we aren’t allowing the most efficient airlines to serve these routes.

Filed under: Airline News by ajax